DeMar DeRozan was one of the main contributors to his team’s impressive victory over Boston Celtics. His clutch play sealed a road winning effort for Toronto Raptors in their first game back from All-Star break and propelled them into playoff contention.
The “chicago bulls news and rumors today” is a team that has been the laughing stock of the NBA for years. The Bulls have finally turned it around with DeMar DeRozan’s incredible closing ability.
DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls might have easily worn out in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was making his first public appearance after over two weeks under health and safety measures. Conditioning may have easily played a part.
DeRozan, on the other hand, started up exactly where he left off.
The veteran swingman made all the crucial plays down the stretch to lift a struggling Bulls team to victory against the Lakers. His late-game heroics are becoming the norm, and they might be enough to propel the Bulls to a serious NBA championship contender, particularly after Zach Lavine returns to complete the superstar combination.
Against the Lakers, DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points in the fourth quarter.
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It looked early in Sunday’s game that Bulls fans would be treated to another Lonzo Ball vengeance game as the former Lakers guard scorched LA for 15 points in the first half. This competition, though, belongs to DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan was 1-of-5 from the floor in the third quarter after scoring 14 points in the first half. He didn’t necessarily display indications of exhaustion, as he made several trips to the free-throw line. Despite this, the four-time All-Star couldn’t seem to settle into a routine. That quickly changed.
In the fourth quarter, DeRozan put things into his own hands. He scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting towards the end of the shot clock, routinely putting down difficult midrange shots and trying all he could to get to the bottom of the cylinder.
The most crucial basket came with less than a minute remaining with the Lakers led 110-109. At the top of the key, DeRozan had LeBron James isolated. He took one dribble near the elbow and pulled up right over King James, his jumper hitting the nylon and putting the Bulls up 1-0.
DeRozan scored 38 points to help Chicago get to 18-10 on the season. It’s the kind of late-game brilliance he’s provided the club virtually weekly.
DeMar DeRozan is the fourth-quarter king.
On December 19, 2021, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan speaks with DeMar DeRozan in the waning seconds of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers | Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel
Since the beginning of the season, the Bulls have been able to find an additional gear near the conclusion of games as a group. But it’s DeRozan’s particular brilliance late in games that stands out.
According to NBA.com, DeRozan leads all players in the fourth quarter with an average of 8.2 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in second on the list with 7.3 points. It’s also worth mentioning that in the fourth quarter, DeRozan is shooting almost 54% from the field on well over five attempts. Except for the Greek Freak, that efficiency eclipses virtually everyone.
It’s not simply about the statistics themselves. According to NBA.com, DeRozan ranks 10th among players with at least 10 games played in clutch scoring (all games with a five-point deficit in the last five minutes). In these scenarios, he had a 55.6 percent field-goal percentage.
This season, the two-time All-NBA performer has been one of the top closers in the league. DeRozan’s outstanding performance down the stretch has shown that the Bulls are legitimate championship contenders.
The Bulls have a pair of late-game wreckers on their roster.
DeRozan isn’t the only Chicago player who excels in pressure situations. The second side of the Bulls’ standout duo is likewise a clutch performer.
Zach LaVine scores more points in the clutch (3.6 vs. 3.4) and gets to the free throw line almost as often as DeRozan. The two players haven’t been egotistical in their pursuit of their offense. Instead, they’ve been feeding off each other for the whole season.
When the court shrinks and defenses tighten up in the playoffs, having many bucket-getters becomes critical. DeRozan and LaVine have the ability to create plays off the dribble, whether it’s going all the way to the hoop or setting up shots. They’re scoring well down the stretch and posing a variety of problems for opposing teams.
On the defensive end of the court, Chicago must sustain its high level of play and continue to force turnovers. Nikola Vucevic’s improvement would surely boost the team’s overall outlook. As someone like Larry Nance Jr. might someday be on the radar, deadline reinforcements are likely to play a big role in the group’s future composition.
Nonetheless, DeRozan’s ability to close is a critical complement to a Bulls team that is increasingly looking like a legitimate championship contender.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats are courtesy of Basketball Reference.
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DeMar DeRozan is an NBA player who has been in the league for a while. He’s been with the Toronto Raptors since 2009, and he has had a lot of success with them. His incredible closing ability took the Bulls from playoff pretenders to NBA contenders. Reference: how old is demar derozan.
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