Chicago Bulls' lack of 3-point shooting is a problem

Three games into the 2022/23 season, they Bulls are shooting 27-for-92 from three (29.3%)

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For all of the Chicago Bulls' offensive versatility, the lack of 3-point shooting has been a serious issue three games into the season. Yesterday's 128-96 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was no different.

Loss at home

Led by Donovan Mitchell -- he put up 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists -- the Cavs handed Billy Donovan's team their second loss of the season, spoiling Zach LaVine's debut after he sat out the Bulls' first two games due to knee injury management.

LaVine scored 17 of his 23 points in the first two quarters alone -- he finished with 23 in 28 minutes on the floor. However, thanks to Cleveland's long-range clinic -- they hit 10 3PTs on just 14 attempts -- the Bulls were down 16 going into the second half. Chicago cut the lead to 9 early in the 3rd quarter, but the Cavaliers had no trouble closing out the game.

Nikola Vucevic had 16 points for Chicago. DeMar DeRozan added 13, while Dragic, Caruso, Drummond, and White combined for 19 points on 7-for-22 off the bench. However, the Bulls' biggest issue was once again the 3-point shooting.

No threat from long range

Following a 7-for-27 long-range effort against the Wizards on Friday, Donovan's team missed 10 of their first 12 3-point attempts against the Cavs. The Bulls finished the game shooting 7-for-29, and are now the 2nd worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA ahead of only the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chicago finished the 2021/22 regular season with the 4th-best 3P% -- they converted 36.9% of the league's lowest 28.8 3PAs. Three games into the 2022/23 season, they are shooting 27-for-92 (29.3%).

The lack of 3-point shooting was expected to be an issue for the Bulls this year. And while LaVine's return will add to their long-range threat, both playmaking, and percentage-wise, Donovan and Co. are betting on Lonzo Ball to take their 3-point shooting to the next level once he's back from a knee injury.