Tomas Satoransky is shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range. That's the good news. The bad news is he may not be taking enough shots.
Acquired in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Wizards, Satoransky is walking a fine line in his first season with the Bulls. He was brought in to be a low-usage distributor who could provide the proper passing and spacing to help Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen take off this season. But he also possesses the shooting ability to keep defenses honest.
Following Monday's morning shootaround, both Satoransky and coach Jim Boylen acknowledged the need for more from the starting point guard.
"I’d like him to be a little more thirsty," Boylen said. "That being said, I think we have done a poor job of finding him. He’s open in the high quad. He’s open in corners. There have been occasions where we have found him and he has been reluctant because he’s kind of got that giving and sharing mentality. But he’s shooting 46 percent from the 3. He needs to get them up.
"He’s trying to figure it out. We’ll all trying to figure out playing together. What I’ve challenged the first group is is to move the ball like the second group has. Just trust it and move it. At times they do and at times we could do better. But Tomas is a heckuva shooter. He needs to be a little more thirsty. He’s such a good kid. He’s a team-first guy. That’s great. We love that. But sometimes you have to get them up."
Satoransky actually is attempting career-highs in both shots at 6.8 per game and 3-pointers in 2.5 per game. But this is his first season as a full-time starter. And with the Bulls struggling from 3-point range overall at just 32.5 percent, Satoransky may need to shoot more.
"I think I have to," Satoransky said. "I've been trying to a little more lately. This was my thing in the NBA that I have to be sometimes more aggressive for myself. Sometimes I'm between the balance of honoring the offense and looking for my chances to attack. Obviously, sometimes there are transition (chances) where I think I have to be a little more aggressive and keep the defense honest. From there, I'll have more opportunities."
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