© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bulls rise one spot in the latest Power Rankings of The Athletic
The Chicago Bulls are defying many doubters with their late-season surge, helping them stay in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Winners of three of their last five games, with those victories all coming on the road against formidable Western Conference squads, it’s hard to argue that the Bulls aren’t playing terrific basketball.
Despite a rocky start to the season and several key injuries, the Bulls have managed to turn things around in recent weeks. Led by veteran wingman DeMar DeRozan and rising star Coby White, the Bulls have shown tremendous resilience and determination this season. Their latest surge has not gone unnoticed, as The Athletic’s latest Power Rankings have moved them up one spot to number 18 overall.
DeRozan putting the Bulls on his shoulders
Zach Harper of The Athletic credited Deebo with putting the Bulls on his back. With Zach LaVine done for the season, the bulk of the offensive load has fallen on DeRozan’s shoulders. And he has delivered, averaging 29.8 points—12 points in the fourth—in Chicago’s 3-1 run last week.
“DeRozan is still pretty much unstoppable when the game is tight. Look at his unbelievable efficiency. He’s second in clutch points this season, only behind Curry. Nobody else is close to them. Everybody knows he’s getting the ball with Zach LaVine out, and he still cooks everybody,” Harper wrote.
But more than just his impressive stats, DeRozan has been this team's stabilizer and guiding force. His veteran presence and experience have helped White raise his game to new levels.
Bulls need Nikola Vucevic to regain his touch
While DeRozan and White have been leading the charge, one key player who has been struggling lately is Nikola Vucevic. While the versatile big man is still averaging a double-double of 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, his vaunted three-point shooting has seemingly abandoned him. This season, the 6-foot-10 center is making only 28 percent of his long-distance shots, which is the lowest of his career.
“DeRozan has turned it over a lot, but you live with it. They haven’t had too many struggling options, so Vucevic takes the hit here. His low percentage is mostly due to 3-point shots, which you should trust him to make,” Harper said.
