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The Chicago Bulls are inching closer toward successfully securing a playoff seat at the fifth spot of the Eastern Conference with a 45-33 record. Despite being in a good situation, it was still evident how the team's level of play has regressed, especially as they've been struggling in their last few games.
From being a top seed in the East, they've already dropped a few spots in the standings due to injuries to their key players and their inconsistencies on the floor. The Bulls would definitely aim to close out their 2021-22 campaign on a strong note as they face the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves for their final four games of the season.
However, they do need a particular player to consistently produce for the Bulls to be able to nab wins and head to the playoffs with strong momentum. Let's take a look at the player whom the Bulls must rely on the most at the tail-end of the regular season.
DeMar DeRozan has entered himself in MVP conversations this season after averaging career-best numbers of 28.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 73 games played. Just when most people thought that he is already a shell of his former self, the 32-year-old continues to ball out for the Bulls and prove that he remains to be one of the best players in the league today.
Despite being a newcomer in Chicago, DeRozan has fit in perfectly with Billy Donovan's system. Perhaps the deadliest weapon in his arsenal is his offensive prowess where he often utilizes his mid-range shooting to put up points. Aside from that, DeRozan also saw a significant improvement in his three-point shot after his percentage has gone up from 25.7 to 35.5% in just a span of a year.
This season, his knack for scoring came in handy for the Bulls who have been in search of another offensive-minded player to pair with Zach LaVine. In fact, he recently put up a 50-point outing just to carve out a 135-130 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the following game, DeRozan was only limited to 26 points against a good defensive team in the Miami Heat. His production wasn't enough as the Bulls suffered a lopsided 127-109 defeat against the top team in the East today. Given those two performances, it can be deduced how important DeRozan's scoring is to the level of success that the Bulls attain on a regular basis.
Without a doubt, Chicago also needs their other players to step up but they also need the five-time All-Star to continue to carry most of their scoring load in order for them to have a good shot at winning their next few games. Not to mention that DeRozan is also a solid closer in tightly-contested matches which further highlights how important his individual offense is to the Bulls.
Currently, the veteran guard isn't really struggling per se, but he should gain more consistency in making his shots, given that he will be relied upon by his team more as they head towards the playoffs. The same can be said on the defensive end, more so as Lonzo Ball continues to be sidelined due to a knee injury that has kept him out since mid-January.
Yes, the Bulls' level of play has regressed in previous months but their season and title bid are far from over. Hopefully, Billy Donovan and his men will get to sustain their old form and play as well as they did when they held the top spot in the East at some point in the season.
It will definitely be a challenge but if they manage to do so with DeRozan at the forefront of their offensive attack then they will surely be hard to stop for the remainder of the regular season and in the upcoming playoffs.
