Zach LaVine on benching: ‘You play a guy like me down the stretch’

Billy Donovan opted to bench LaVine in the final minutes of Friday’s loss.

The Chicago Bulls are all aboard the struggle bus after losing their fourth-straight game on Friday against the Orlando Magic.

And driving the struggle bus after last night’s game might just be Zach LaVine.

LaVine struggled mightily on Friday, scoring just four points on a brutal 1-of-14 from the field before being benched in the final four minutes of the game.

Billy Donovan decided to roll with a lineup of Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Javonte Green, and Nikola Vucevic, which helped bring the Bulls back into the game.

Despite LaVine’s rough night, he was not a fan of Donovan’s decision.

“That’s Billy’s decision. He’s gotta lay with it,” LaVine said postgame. “Do I agree with it? No. I think I can go out there and still be me even if I miss some shots. But that’s his decision. He has to stand on it.”

The 1-of-14 shooting performance was the worst of LaVine’s career and yet, the two-time All-Star believes a guy like him should be out there in crunch time.

“Obviously, I have to do a better job at the beginning of the game. I gotta make my shots. But you play a guy like me down the stretch. That’s what I do,” LaVine said. “Do I like the decision? No. Do I gotta live with it? Yeah and be ready to put my shoes on and play the next game.”

For LaVine, when asked if he had plans to talk with Donovan regarding the benching, he wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know,” LaVine said. “I’ll figure it out after this.”

Like LaVine, the Bulls need to figure this thing out — and quick.

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