East-leading Bulls opening eyes, next up: suprising Memphis
The “MVP! MVP!” chants are ringing out in Chicago once again, this time for Bulls star DeMar DeRozan as fans have something to cheer about in the Windy City.
The resurgent Bulls (2714) are one of the surprising stories in the NBA, opening eyes sitting atop the Eastern Conference with DeRozan and Zach LaVine leading the way. They will be looking to end a threegame losing streak Monday when they visit Memphis (30-15) as part of the league’s MLK Day lineup.
The soaring Grizzlies are also raising more than a few eyebrows around the league. Memphis is currently third in the Western Conference and have won 11 of its last 12 games behind their own MVP candidate, Ja Morant.
Chicago is still in first despite being blown out by the Brooklyn Nets blew in a matchup between the top teams in the East. After being dominated by the Nets, the Bulls were pounded at home by a season-high 42 points against Golden State before a tight loss at Boston on Saturday.
“It’s been a great group to work with,” coach Billy Donovan said. “We just have to keep getting better. I know I’ve talked about that, I know it’s a broad term, but the reality is we have to keep getting better. There are areas we have to keep getting better at.”
While the Bulls are establishing themselves as a serious threat for the first time since Derrick Rose elicited MVP chants from his hometown fans, not many could have predicted they would be sitting atop the East.
“I’m not gonna lie and sit here and be like at the beginning of the year we’d be No. 1 in the East,” guard Coby White said. “But I knew we’d be good from training camp. We’ve got a team full of winning players and hungry players that want to win. It’s definitely been dope. It’s definitely been super fun.”
And welcomed by Chicago sports fans.
The NFL’s Bears stumbled through a 6-11 season, then fired general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy. The NHL’s Blackhawks are struggling on the ice and still reeling in the wake of allegations that a former video coordinator sexually assaulted an ex-player during the 2010 Stanley Cup run.
Baseball’s Cubs are retooling. The White Sox were unable to advance in the playoffs.
But the Bulls are trying to change the narrative a franchise that has endured four straight losing seasons. They are in line for their first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 team bowed out in the first round after going 41-41. The last time they finished above .500 was the 2015-16 season when Chicago finished 42-40.
The league is taking notice.
“When they’re successful, I think it helps the league,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Same thing with the Celtics and Knicks and Lakers. Hopefully, we’re getting to that point, too, with the Warriors. But no question, when flagship franchises are good, it’s better for the league.”
The Bulls had recently won nine in a row, their longest run since they took the final nine to finish the 2010-11 regular season.
Chicago posted the best record in the NBA that season and advanced to the conference finals, with Rose becoming the league’s youngest MVP while propelling a deep and scrappy team that had a strong bond.