Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan received his second technical foul and was ejected with one second remaining in Friday’s loss at Toronto after having choice words with the Raptors’ bench.
As K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes, DeRozan was upset that Raptors forward Pascal Siakam attempted a three-pointer with three seconds remaining while Toronto was up 12 points and could have let the clock run out.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic told Bulls coach Billy Donovan after the game that they were focused on the point differential (for tiebreakers) during the in-season tournament contest, but Toronto had already been eliminated from the tournament when Orlando defeated Boston earlier in the day.
“I don’t care about no in-season tournament points, none of that. Just respect for the game,” DeRozan said. “If the roles was flip-flopped and I had the ball, hold it. It is what it is.”
“I mean, I knew that (they were eliminated),” DeRozan continued. “But I didn’t care about that either. Just everybody was yelling at him, ‘Score, score, score.’ Take the win. Get out of here. Like I said, if roles were reversed, needing in-season tournament points or not, just for the respect I have for my opponents, I hold the ball. Especially if there’s no shot clock. That’s just me.”
Of course, the bigger concern for the Bulls is the fact that they’re now 5-12, having lost three straight and six of their past seven games. According to Johnson, DeRozan was exasperated by the latest loss — he ripped a towel during a timeout and tore off his jersey after the ejection.
“I can’t fake it. I’m beyond frustrated. And I think it’s rightfully so as a competitor,” DeRozan said. “Everybody in this locker room is frustrated. It’s from a good place of being a competitor and wanting to figure it out that badly. Put a couple wins together. I really truly believe that can shift everything for us.
“… We gotta challenge ourselves. We can’t have those spiritual talks. We gotta challenge each other to leave it all the way out there. That’s a good thing to be challenged. Ask something of yourself more than you ever have at this point, myself included. That’s where we’re at.”
As we previously noted, things won’t get any easier for Chicago in the near future. The team has a really tough schedule over the next few weeks, so the Bulls will have to play much better to have a shot at turning their season around.
As a bulls fan I am so happy they lose every game, hopefully not a single ticket is ever sold to a home bulls game again, Reinsdorf deserves having franchises that lose money
joparx: That’s just silly.
No NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL franchise ever loses money. Therefore theses leagues’ oligarchs have installed welfare systems for billionaires, including subsidies out of the taxpayers’ pockets, that guarantee every owner lavish earnings. That’s why even perpetually bottom-feeding franchise are often still worth billions.
Closed leagues without relegation, rewarding of bad performances through the draft, monopolization of respective sports, financial compensation for poor attendance, etc. pp. – U.S. sports leagues are profit-oriented circuses for the super-rich rather than competitions.
I get your point, though.
History has proven that it doesn’t matter if the Chicago Bulls lose every game. The folks from the suburbs are gonna fill up the United Center, and happily buy their kids $20 hot dogs and $30 hamburgers all night long. They have been doing this since Jordan left. 20 years after Jordan left the Bulls were still leading the NBA in attendance. They had a minor blip that broke their sellout string. They have absolutely no problem selling tickets.
link to fadeawayworld.net
I believe they have the biggest arena.
link to sports.betmgm.com
Yup …..
DeMar DeRozan is definitely frustrated and he should be. The Chicago Bulls might not be the worst team in the NBA but they in one of the worst situations in the NBA. The stuck on a level of mediocrity. They not good at all but they not bad enough to get more ping pong balls to realistically land a top draft pick.
This team needs to hit the reset button!!! I mean blow it all the way up. You first have to get rid of Zach LaVine. He will bring you a 1st round pick. Then embrace the rebuild!!! Trade Alex Caruso and get two 1st round picks. Then if you can find some takers for DeMar DeRozan Nikola Vucevic Coby White Patrick Williams and if anybody wants to take a chance on Lonzo Ball you get rid of him to.
What’s sillier
Taking a meaningless 3 with 3 seconds left
Or
Caring that much about someone taking that shot ?
Yeah. Of all the things that DeR could be frustrated about, choosing to focus on this is disturbing.
It’s always been like this. It’s a sign of respect.
DeM DeR >>>> to Knickerbockers
Knickerbocker : not for 2 guards.maybe hartenstein,fournier,and 1st. Than bulls trade zach too.
“Disturbing” is a bit dramatic.
Today an emotional outburst, tomorrow a public trade demand.
Thats not demars style
Well, maybe if DeMar contributed to winning basketball instead of his boring iso my turn style with no defense.
DeRozan should care about the in season tournament it’s perfect for players like him. He did nothing of note winning wide in the playoffs with the Raptors. With the Spurs they were mediocre. Now the Bulls had a few seasons of mediocrity before now being bad. The in season tournament is the only chance he could likely win anything.
That’s why he’s upset. He heard they give out rings for the mid-season tournament winner.
I’ve always been a big fan of DeMar but he’s wrong here. A player has every right to make that shot and get a few points. Every player wants to score points. Siakim wasn’t being disrespectful, he was just playing the dang game. DeMar making a big deal about it just goes to show how bad a situation that the Bulls are in. Stop trying to deflect the responsibility that’s on you for your team playing like crap. You don’t want Siakim to take that shot than put yourself in position that he doesn’t. Bulls are a mess and need a complete teardown. And no point I’m Bulls fans complaining about the owner….he isn’t going anywhere unfortunately. clean house and start fresh. New front office, new coaching staff and new players. Anyone who knows anything about basketball has known for a few years that this setup will never work. What’s funny is the team trying to defend themselves. Stop trying to sell that crap because no one is buying it .
You’re absolutely right and I agree with you but that’s not how the NBA works. For some crazy reason they let the clock play out and stand around instead of shooting scoring playing defense till the final buzzer. Never understood it myself. Something about respect? Hogwash.
The Bulls gave up too early in the season.
Demar to grizzlies?
Looks like the Grizzlies are done. I don’t think they make a move like that to get a player like DeMar Derozan. They’ll probably play this out and get a good draft pick if they still have their own to use.
I guess I thought playing the full 48 minutes was respecting the game (and fans). Stop him if you don’t want him to score.
OKC is in a prime position to turn Josh Giddey’s issues into a positive. Giddey wasn’t playing all that well, and struggles with his jumper. Goodness knows OKC is absolutely loaded with draft capital, and young players. LaVine or DeRozan with SGA, Chet and Jalen might not be too bad.
Lavine is a negative that is why no contender really wants him or only offer peanuts.
If Giddey is truly in trouble no team is really going to offer anything for him. It will be like Rockets trading Porter Jr they did it for injured Oladipo and had to attach a pick, OKC got nothing back.
OKC future picks are not even going to be that good as they are protected like hell. Miami, Hou, and Nets are all top 5 or top 10 protected. The Clippers this year is unprotected so that will be off limits. The Nuggets one in the future is protected and the Jazz on this year is protected.
LaVine is not a #1 franchise player. He is still an outstanding player who can score on all levels. SGA is one of the best in the NBA. He is the OKC franchise. LaVine is a better fit than Giddey, who can’t shoot. Jalen, Chet and SGA all rebound and dime, so it makes Giddey’s best talent not necessary on their team. OKC has a lot of young players, and a lot of picks. The Bulls need both! They had zero picks in the 2023 draft. Dalen Terry, a miss, was their only pick in 2022. Their rebuild needs what OKC has.
LaVine adds the shooting that OKC lacks.
Giddey doesn’t have to be in the trade unless you need his contract. He doesn’t have value right now.
There was a time when Denver drafted Emmanuel Mudiay with the #4 overall pick. They put up billboards all over town with the new face of the franchise. I think Jokic may have been a 2nd round pick for Denver that year. When you rebuild you stack up young players, and picks, because you don’t know which ones are gonna hit. Houston picked Jabari Smith ahead of Sengun. Sengun looks like he is going to be that guy. Take as many bites at the apple as you can while you rebuild.
I think DeMar is still sour over his inability to lead the Raptors to the finals after spending nine years in Toronto and then watching them immediately win a championship after replacing him.
Bulls are not good at the game of basketball
Was his daughter screeching from the stands every time he attempted a free throw? That would be annoying.
I’m just here for the inevitable post from Knickerbocker Al talking about how much he wants DeRozan on the Knicks. This is after previously wanting Dinwiddie and Westbrook in recent years. All while telling everyone else that they ‘don’t know ball’.
I will stand in:
DeMar DeRozan >>>>Knicks, for assorted scraps and maybe some used jockstraps! Make it happen now!
He’s disappointed that Pascal was disrespecting the game. Really,how about your brat daughter screeching during free throws, now THAT is disrespecting the game.
Letting the clock run out. Means you show respect for your opponent. And respect for the game. The outcome has been decided.
All of YOU have just outed yourselves. Never played or understand respect for the game. It’s not about stats. You play to WIN.
DeM DeR >>>>> to Knicks
NYers real Ball fans get it player. We will show you the respect you have earned.