IT’S TIME TO SAVE SEASON
Up-and-down Bulls need to heed DeRozan’s words to salvage year
This has been a slow burn for DeMar DeRozan.
The veteran has been sending out warning shots for weeks, letting his teammates know that door-die time was coming for them and it was real.
It arrives Wednesday, when DeRozan and the Bulls host a limping Hawks team in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game. That’s when DeRozan will find out who was paying attention.
“I mean it just gives us an opportunity to salvage so much we went through and not let the season go in vain,” DeRozan said. “Everything we went through [this season], now we got [an] opportunity, you know, make something of the season, like giving ourselves a chance.
“We got the opportunity to put our money on the table.”
And in DeRozan’s case, go all in. Even though all signs point to DeRozan signing an extension with the Bulls, he is 34, and he will be a free agent. A first-round exit in the play-in? Is that gut-punch enough for the front office to pivot from that expected plan? Unlikely, but maybe.
So will this be DeRozan’s last game in a Bulls jersey? Not a chance, and the Bulls can thank the Hawks for that. Here’s a breakdown of the matchups:
Starting guards
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray vs. Coby White and Alex Caruso:
At the start of this season, this would have been a no-brainer with all fingers pointing in the direction of Atlanta’s Young and Murray. But that isn’t the case anymore. Murray has lived up to his end of the bargain, putting together a very solid season stat line of 22.5 points, 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, but he hasn’t exactly had a smooth working relationship with Young. Murray has actually played his best when Young has been out.
The Bulls could counter with Ayo Dosunmu (right quad) and White, moving Caruso to a wing, but Dosunmu’s availability is in question. Still, White has emerged as one of the more improved players in the league, while Caruso is capable of handcuffing any guard … not named Jalen Brunson.
EDGE: Bulls
Starting wings
Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter vs. DeRozan and Javonte Green:
The Knicks took advantage of Green’s inconsistency from three Sunday, allowing him to fire away and go 1-for-6 from long range, so there’s a possible blueprint. If the game is close, forget about it. The Bulls have a DeRozan, and the Hawks don’t.
Still, Bogdanovic always seems to be a Bulls killer, and Hunter can be streaky good.
EDGE: Even
Starting center
Clint Capela vs. Nikola Vucevic: Styles make the fight, and these two couldn’t be more different. Capela is a rim-runner who relies on blocked shots and his defense turning into offense, while Vucevic is more stretch and cerebral. When in doubt in this series, go with the scorer.
EDGE: Bulls
Bench
If the Bulls have Dosunmu and Andre Drummond (left ankle) available, this isn’t a contest. Drummond has owned the Hawks this season, playing some of his best basketball when the Bulls faced Atlanta, including a December game in which he scored 24 points and grabbed 25 rebounds.
Hawks guard Vit Krejci did a number on the Bulls a few weeks ago, lighting them up for 18 points. But he was on a two-way contract and can’t haunt them again.
EDGE: Bulls
Coaching
Quin Snyder vs. Billy Donovan: This is about who has the pulse of his team right now, and there’s not much to debate. Snyder’s team has underachieved, stumbling into the play-in having lost six straight. Donovan was dealt a bad hand by his front office and has overcome key injuries to make the Bulls a tough out.
EDGE: Bulls
Prediction: Bulls win 118-115