Chicago Bulls will go as far as Lonzo Ball and 3-point shooting take them

The sooner Lonzo Ball is back, the better for the Chicago Bulls

© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

On the one hand, the Chicago Bulls have a lot of established talent and promising players who could take the team to new heights. On the other hand, there are also many risks and uncertainties that could derail their campaign. 

Based on their performances thus far, there's an informed guess to be made about the best and worst-case scenarios for this ongoing season. But one thing's for sure; they'll go as far as Lonzo Ball and 3-point shooting take them.

Ball's health

The Bulls' starting point guard has not seen the floor since January. He recently underwent a second surgery on his troublesome knee, and there's still no specific date or month listed for his return. However, when Ball does return to action, the Bulls will have one of the best young point guards in the league running their offense. 

Lonzo's strong court vision and playmaking skills will help set up his teammates for easy buckets while also creating scoring opportunities for himself. He'll also add a much-needed 3pt shooting, which proved to be the biggest issue for Chicago three games into the season. Furthermore, Ball's defensive prowess will bolster the Bulls' perimeter defense; something the team struggled with thus far.

As Lonzo continues to rehab, Ayo Dosunmu took his place as the Bulls' starting point guard. After a solid season debut -- 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in a win against the Heat -- the 22-year-old struggled in Chicago's last two games, combining for only 12 points and 5 assists.

Dosunmu had an impressive rookie season, and the hope is that he will continue to develop and improve in his second year. He is already a tenacious defender, and with more experience under his belt, he could become a solid contributor for Chicago.

3-point shooting

Injuries played a huge part in derailing the Bulls last season, and there is always the risk of that happening again. If Ball's recovery goes awry or other key players get hurt, the Bulls' season could quickly spiral out of control. 

Also, last year's Bulls team shied away from three-point shooting -- they attempted the league's lowest 28.8 3Ps per game. Three games into the season, DeMar DeRozan and Co. still look like a poor 3pt shooting team; they are 2nd worst ahead of only the Lakers. However, the organization is hoping to improve on that as the season goes by, and getting Lonzo back should accelerate that process.