Zach is averaging 29/6/5 in 9 games (small sample size I know) in January on 47/39/87 splits. But the most important stat is that he’s averaging almost 8 FTAs per game.
We know he can get hot from 3, but even in games where he’s shot terribly from the field, he’s gone to the line more than 10 times in some games. Compared to other months, he’s already been to the line 71 times (with 62 makes), other months this season, he’s not shot even 60 in a month (in more games, he played a combined 28 games in November and December).
My guess is that he feels more confident slashing into traffic and absorbing contact since he’s had time to recover from his surgery and obviously a change in mentality since the Minnesota game. I also think he’s just had the ball more since Demar has been out for a bit.
I truly think this is the next step Zach needs to take as a scorer and get to that 30 ppg mark instead of being a 24/25 ppg player like he has been. Hopefully his improvement dovetails with us getting over 500 and being a 6th seed.
Sources:
1) [https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/zach-lavine-stats-since-january-1st#:\~:text=Zach%20LaVine%20has%20averaged%2022.6,games%20since%20January%201%2C%202022](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/zach-lavine-stats-since-january-1st#:~:text=Zach%20LaVine%20has%20averaged%2022.6,games%20since%20January%201%2C%202022).
2) [https://www.cbssports.com/nba/players/2135543/zach-lavine/splits/](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/players/2135543/zach-lavine/splits/)
by arjunsrana243
3 Comments
I agree with all your points. Obviously with Demar being back, those FTAs are gonna go down but they’ll be higher than previously. Like you said, everyone can tell his knee feels better which is probably why he’s playing better. Also I’m fine with Zach being around 25ppg since I can see he’s starting to use the threat of his scoring to open up more assist opportunities and we’ve seen some really nice flashes of his passing ability. Dangerously hopeful after the Paris game 🤞
He’s finally learning how to get to the line. You gotta to love it. Hopefully he can maintain 7-8 FTA per game.
He’s finishing through contact better for sure.
Zach hasn’t even begun to peak. I predict he’ll keep growing into his 30s like DeMar has.