With buzzer-beating shots on Friday and Saturday to pull out a pair of thrilling road wins, DeMar DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to accomplish that feat on back-to-back nights. He has done something even more valuable, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, changing the culture of the Bulls, who now have the best record in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s an honor to be trusted in the fourth quarter,” DeRozan said. “Whether things are going or going bad, my teammates always lean on me to be that calm presence to kind of bring us home. I always bring that calm presence as much as I can in the fourth quarter, letting guys understand as long we got time, we got a chance.”
The addition of DeRozan during the offseason was a huge step in transforming a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2017. He began talking to Zach LaVine about teaming up during free agency, Johnson adds, and their partnership grew during preseason workouts in Los Angeles and Chicago.
“The chemistry came really, really fast and really easy,” LaVine said. “We don’t have any egos. Regardless of who has it going that night or who has it going in a quarter, we’ll both come together and look for other guys and get them involved throughout the game and just try to figure out how to win the game. That’s been the first and foremost thing that has helped this team.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Chris Fleming has guided the Bulls to five straight victories while head coach Billy Donovan is in health and safety protocols, but he won’t mind going back to being an assistant when Donovan is ready to return (video link from NBC Sports). “Very fortunate enough to be able to experience this from a head coaching standpoint, and see the guys from maybe a little bit different side,” Fleming said after Saturday’s game.
- Coby White has turned in his best performances of the season with Lonzo Ball in protocols and Alex Caruso sidelined with a sprained foot, notes Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. White is averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals over the past four games.
- There’s a good chance that Ball and Caruso will return for Monday’s game with the Magic, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. He adds that the Bulls are getting close to having a full team available after being hit hard by COVID-19 over the past month.
DeRozan is 5th for mvp IMO
It’s going to be interesting to see what Lavine is willing to sign for to stay in Chicago and play with his new” buddy” DeRozan. The Bulls have to keep Lavine through the season because trading him in the last year of his deal now makes no sense. However, even letting him walk after the season wouldn’t be the most horrible scenario now because AK and Eversley have shown this to be a good FA destination again after Paxson basically ruined it. I can’t imagine anyone not willing to want to come here and play with Vujevic and DeRozan and Ball, Caruso ETC.
why would we let lavine go
Hey boss, not sure why I need to say this, but Lavine is getting the max from the Bulls
Yeah? We’ll see. I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you. And if he does he might be a sign and trade possibility.
@unclemike Do you actually watch Bulls games? They aren’t trading him, and he will get a max deal if it’s required to keep him.
Sign and trade? Yes the best team in the East as of the New Year is certainly looking for change, and not just change. No. Franchise altering change. Pull your head out man.
So if I’m getting my head out, then if Lavine getting a Max deal is a DONE deal, Then why hasn’t it been done? There’s nothing to stop the Bulls from giving him a max extension now is there? It’s not like it counts against the cap this year does it? And I never said they’re trading him this year. Get your heads out. In fact I went out of my way to say that wouldn’t happen but then reading is a skill. If the Bulls don’t want to pay him the max next year and can work out a sign and trade with another team so they get something back was my point Geez wake up.
Wake up says the man blowing up the Bulls. Ha!
It hasn’t been done yet because they needed the flexibility duh
The Bulls can offer him the most amount of money and the best chance to win. Full stop. You’re out to lunch here, unclemike
Dude what’s wrong with you. They can pay him the full max as they have his rights. Stop manufacturing problems.
DeRozan is a great feel good story of the year. Instead of bitterness of being traded by Toronto and playing for lowly Spurs, he’s once again building his legacy as a hall of famer and a winner.
DeMar DeRozan best FA signing, by Far. He more than any one player. Has totally transformed the Bulls (a team). At 24-10 right now. And the #1 seed in the East. There is no one on this board or in the world. That saw this coming.
His stats say all star. His teams success definitely puts him MVP conversation. What I love about him most. He’s not even a 3PT shooter. He’s old school with his scoring.
35.3 mins, 27 pts, 5.1 reb, 4.6 ast
I saw it coming. I said this past summer that he is the most similar player to MJ in the league today. Obviously he isn’t MJ and isn’t as good as MJ, but the most similar game for sure.
DeRozan was a sign and trade not a free agent signing. But yes he has been amazing.
He was a FA signing. They just adjusted it to a sign n trade. Spurs didn’t get equal value lol.
Nothing new there, DMDR has always been a guy for the 4th quarter, is just the way it is, some guys deliver when it counts, like him, Embiid, Jokic or Luka, you know they will always do it in clutch time!