It was progress.
Anything over single-digit scoring feels like progress for Lauri Markkanen these days.
There were a few layups for the Bulls big man, an actual post-up, a couple of steals and even an offensive rebound thrown in the mix in Saturday’s 118-116 comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Signs that Markkanen is finally waking up once again in the 2019-20 season? Maybe. Or was it just another tease from the 7-footer to bring false hope in Year 3 of the rebuild?
Only Markkanen will have the answer for that.
“I think he’s working on it,’’ coach Jim Boylen said on Saturday, when asked about Markkanen realizing that he needs to have star power for the franchise to succeed.