In a loss to the Bucks punctuated by fresh injuries, the Sacramento Kings welcomed Zach LaVine back to the floor. Considering how long he was out injured, his gameplay was perfectly fine. At the same time, his performance wasn't really better than that, which is not what the Kings need from him.
LaVine is an elite shooter, which works well when you put him on the court to do exactly that. It's what he's known for in the NBA. What he isn't really known for is being a playmaker, and he definitely isn't known for his defensive play. Zach is basically a cardboard standee when he's on defense.
While he's not exactly a defensive dynamo, the Kings have been missing his offense during his extended injury. Last night's game against the Bucks was his first time on the court since the Timberwolves game on December 14. Honestly, he played reasonably well.
Keeping in mind he was on the shelf for a better part of a month, LaVine actually had a solid game. He played 35+ minutes off the bench, shot six for 12 from the field, and finished with 20 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Still, the Kings are going to need more from him in the long term.
Kings and LaVine have to figure out how to work together
Everyone knows that the Kings are looking to trade pretty much everyone on the roster, including LaVine. But there's no guarantee if that it will ever actually happen. There's a real chance that he plays out the season and a half left on his current contract in Sacramento before becoming a free agent.
Keeping that possibility in mind, the Kings' head coach, Doug Christie, needs to figure out how to work with LaVine's strengths. At the same time, Zach also needs to get his head in the game and light up the scoreboard. That's where his focus needs to be.
The best Christie is going to get out of Zach on defense is staying in front of a shooter with his hands in the air and the occasional steal. If LaVine is averaging 30 points a night, that level of defensive play should be more than acceptable for the time he remains on the Kings.
Scoring 20 points on 50% shooting in 35+ minutes is perfectly fine. The problem is that LaVine is better than fine as a shooter and needs to play that way. However the Kings and LaVine work things out during his remaining time on the team, they need to get that understanding quickly.