DeMar DeRozan is not a fan of the NBA’s new “point-of-view” rules. The Toronto Raptors guard, who plays on the other end as much as he does for his team, made this point abundantly clear after getting ejected from Wednesday night’s game against Chicago for arguing with officials. Though DeRozan didn’t like how things went down, he still had time to take some shots at some players and teams making noise about officiating calls before exiting stage right•
DeMar DeRozan has been on a tear this season with the Chicago Bulls. He is averaging 31 points per game and still has time to throw some shade at players who are whining about the refs. Read more in detail here: demar derozan news.
Few offseason signings have gotten as much attention as the Chicago Bulls’ $85 million deal to sign former All-Star DeMar DeRozan is a player who plays for the Toronto Raptors. to a three-year deal. In a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago gave up locker room heavyweight Thaddeus Young and other pieces for DeRozan, who seems to be a tremendous bargain early on. DeRozan is averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the 4–0 Bulls, who are off to their greatest start since the Michael Jordan era.
Chicago hasn’t had to run the gauntlet yet. Two victory against the dismal Detroit Pistons, as well as wins over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans and the resurgent Toronto Raptors, aren’t enough to warrant a procession down Michigan Avenue. The Bulls are making it appear smooth, despite dire predictions of a horrible match between incumbent star Zach LaVine and newcomers DeRozan and Lonzo Ball.
DeMar DeRozan isn’t even shooting very well right now.
Despite tighter officiating guidelines this season, DeMar DeRozan’s free-throw attempts haven’t decreased, and his answer has been explosive. | Getty Images/Cole Burston
DeMar DeRozan, at 32, is mostly repeating his previous decade or so. He’s making mid-range shots, attacking the hoop, and getting to the free throw line.
The Chicago Bulls’ two-time All-NBA winger is now a small-ball 4 for the team. DeRozan has been the ideal yin to LaVine’s yang, despite shooting just 41.9 percent. LaVine is averaging 25.5 points per game while shooting the lights out from long range and taking as many shots as he wants.
Chicago is poised to face a significant rise in hardship. From Oct. 28 to 2021, the Bulls play seven consecutive games against playoff opponents, including a home-and-home series with the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 3 and 6. They’ll also play the New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Dallas Mavericks during that time.
In today’s NBA, DeRozan is a bit of an anachronism. He’s a traditional mid-range scorer who has only attempted more than two 3-pointers a game twice in his career. Aside from his debut season with the Raptors, he’s averaged at least 16.7 points per game throughout his career.
More importantly, DeRozan doesn’t seem to be having any trouble getting to the foul line.
DeMar DeRozan averages 7.5 free throw attempts per game with the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA is pushing down on what it refers to as “abnormal” shooting actions. The number of players leaping, leaning, and flopping into close defenders reached epidemic proportions, with James Harden and Trae Young among the biggest offenders.
Harden’s inability to get free throws this season have gotten a lot of attention. Harden has attempted 12 foul throws in four games this season after averaging 10.2 attempts per game from 2012 to 21. He’s also shooting 36.4 percent overall and 32.3 percent from 3-point range, and the officials seem to be living in his head for free.
DeMar DeRozan, on the other hand, is doing what he’s always done in his debut season with the Chicago Bulls. DeRozan averaged 7.2 free throws per game last season with the Spurs. That average is 7.5 through four games in 2021–22. A reporter inquired as to why DeRozan’s foul-line activity had not changed. According to NBC Sports Chicago, his response was both hilarious and biting:
“I’m not sure… “I’m not a flop.”
DeMar DeRozan
He said a past coach urged him to fail, but he stuck to his game.
“Do you want to know what’s crazy? “(Coach Gregg Popovich) took me to the side one year in San Antonio and told me I needed to start flopping or trying to flounder,” DeRozan recalled. “Since I wasn’t receiving the calls I was supposed to be getting because I absorb so much of the interaction.” I’m not sure, but I think I should play football.”
DeRozan sparked a firestorm with that statement, which he made without mentioning Harden or any other NBA player.
Is it possible for the Chicago Bulls to return to the playoffs in 2022?
Since 2017, the Chicago Bulls haven’t made the playoffs. They haven’t won a series since 2015, and their last appearance in the NBA Finals came in 1998, during Michael Jordan’s last season in red and black.
Chicago missed the play-in tournament by two games last season, finishing 31–41 in coach Billy Donovan’s first season.
So far, the Bulls’ calling card has been defense. They allow 97.7 points per 100 possessions, which ranks fourth in the NBA. That’s a surprising turn of events for a squad including DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vuevi, and Zach LaVine, who aren’t renowned for their oppressive defense.
Many critics questioned if the Chicago Bulls made the proper decisions last summer. Early indications suggest that Donovan and his better team may get the last laugh.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provided contract details.
RELATED: The Chicago Bulls are off to their best start in 25 years, thanks to a much-maligned $85 million acquisition.
DeMar DeRozan has the Chicago Bulls stampeding and still has time to throw some shade at players whining about the refs. Reference: how old is demar derozan.
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