The Bulls have completely turned things around this season, going from a non-playoff team last season to first in the Eastern Conference this season.
A lot of that has to do with the addition of DeMar DeRozan, who has changed the culture in Chicago, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports writes.
DeRozan is coming off back-to-back performances which saw him hit the game-winning shots.
“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.”
More Bulls Notes
- DeRozan began talking to Zach LaVine over the offseason about potentially teaming up, as LaVine seems to be enjoying his partnership with the four-time All-Star thus far. “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.”
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Coby White has really come along recently with the opportunities provided to him, as he’s averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals over his last four games. He’s also averaging nearly 52 percent shooting from three during that stretch.
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Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso may return for Monday night’s game after being placed into the health and safety protocols, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. The Bulls are getting closer to having their full team available after being hit hard by COVID.
