Category: Bulls News

DeMar DeRozan discusses how much Bulls miss injured players

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan recently discussed how much they miss their injured players.

The Chicago Bulls have pulled their way back into the Play-In Tournament, which is impressive, considering they started the year 5-14. Perhaps more impressive, however, is the fact that they’ve performed so well with so many of their core players sidelined with various injuries.

Zach LaVine hasn’t played in a game since November 28, Nikola Vucevic has missed a string of games, and Torrey Craig has missed some time as well. With them absent, DeMar DeRozan and Coby White have had to carry a heavy load, which is no easy feat. Luckily for Chicago, they’ve been doing a great job and have kept the Bulls in the win column.

After the Bulls’ 116-110 loss to the New York Knicks, DeRozan spoke about how much they miss the players who have been out. (H/t Sam Smith of NBA.com)

“Not to make an excuse, but we miss a lot of critical guys at a critical time,” DeRozan said. “We’ve all been doing our part, hold down the fort as best as we can. But it’s come to the point where we’re missing other guys that can contribute, more bodies that we can throw out there. We need the rest of the troops, that type of feeling. We’ve been competing our butts off, but those stints like tonight. That’s when you wish you had a guy out there like Vooch [Vucevic], TC [Craig], Zach [LaVine] to kind of shift the game a little bit for us.”

The Bulls have been playing well, but they could use some reinforcements sooner rather than later.

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Bulls’ Coby White enjoys challenge of increased defensive pressure

Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White recently spoke about the increased defensive pressure he’s been facing.

Things have turned around drastically after the Chicago Bulls’ 5-14 start. They’ve made a massive pushback into the Play-In Tournament race and are now 15-21 on the season. With Zach LaVine out, DeMar DeRozan has had to take on a larger role, but it’s been the surprise emergence of Coby White that’s led the way for Chicago.

Since LaVine went down with an injury on November 28, White has averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field and 40.1% from behind the three-point line. But perhaps more impressive is the fact that he’s put up such great numbers while defenses have focused in on him more.

White recently spoke about how he enjoys the challenge of the increased pressure from opposing defenses. (H/t Stephen Belsic of Bulls News)

“I mean, who wouldn’t want this challenge? For me, this is what you dreamed of,” White said via Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “Being a focal [target], teams have to do a game plan against you, being a focal point of the scouting report. So, for me, I get excited just for the challenge. I get excited for it.”

White talked about the pressure after the Bulls’ 116-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. In that one, he finished the night with 26 points, four rebounds, and eight assists on 9-of-19 shooting from the floor and 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.

At just 23 years old, White has a chance to blossom into a star for Chicago, but with LaVine returning from injury sooner rather than later, the Bulls will have to pick a direction.

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Billy Donovan credits Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle in Bulls loss to Knicks

After the Chicago Bulls’ 116-100 loss to the New York Knicks, Billy Donovan credited Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the Play-In Tournament race, the Chicago Bulls have sneakily been one of the better teams in basketball over. the past few weeks. Led by Coby White and DeMar DeRozan, they’ve made a small push. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the job done on Wednesday night against the New York Knicks.

The Bulls ended up losing by a score of 116-100 to the new-look Knicks, who just added OG Anunoby in a trade with the Toronto Raptors. However, it was Julius Randle who ended up leading the charge for New York, outdueling DeRozan and White, who led the Bulls in scoring.

After the game, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan credited Randle and Jalen Brunson for leading the way for New York.

“We had opportunities to make some plays and we didn’t make enough, and Randle and Brunson really played well down the stretch,” Donovan said via ESPN. “We just couldn’t convert enough of our opportunities.”

Randle ended the night with a game-high 31 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists while shooting 13-of-23 from the floor and 3-of-7 from distance.

Meanwhile, Brunson put up 31 points, three rebounds, and 13 assists while shooting 13-of-22 from the field and 4-of-9 from distance.

DeRozan led the Bulls in scoring with 28 points, while White put up 26 of his own.

In addition, Andre Drummond and Isaiah Hartenstein battled it out on the glass, finishing the game with 16 and 21 rebounds, respectively.

Chicago will head into their Friday night contest against the Charlotte Hornets looking to bounce back with a win.

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Billy Donovan says Bulls’ Zach LaVine could return Friday vs. Hornets

According to Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, Zach LaVine could return to action against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

According to Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who spoke to the media before their game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Zach LaVine could return to action on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. LaVine hasn’t appeared in a game for the Bulls since November 28 against the Boston Celtics.

In LaVine’s absence, the Bulls picked up the pace. They’ve propelled themselves into the Play-In Tournament race after starting the season toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, before he went down, LaVine was one of the hottest names on the trade market, and Chicago was reportedly focused on finding a deal for him.

That said, during his media availability, Donovan also noted that the conversations he’s had with LaVine have been positive.

‘‘Obviously, I talk to him in the building pretty regularly, and I think whatever he can do to help the team has kind of been his mentality; it’s always been,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘I think he sees how we’re playing, what we’re doing, and the thing he would want to do is to come in and contribute and make it better. From my talks with him and the way he is in terms of what he’s seeing, what he’s viewing, that’s all I’ve gotten back from him. To me, it’s been really positive, all of our conversations. To me, he wants to help the group as much as he can.’’

LaVine’s return to the lineup could give the Bulls some extra offensive support, especially if he buys into the way they’ve been playing lately. And, at the very least, it could help him rebuild his trade value.

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DeMar DeRozan breaks down Bulls’ need to step up in small-ball lineups

After the Chicago Bulls recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, DeMar DeRozan spoke about the need to step up with guys out.

The Chicago Bulls are in a tough spot. In addition to Zach LaVine missing the entire month of December, Nikola Vucevic has been out since December 23. Without Vucevic in the lineup, the Bulls have been rolling with Andre Drummond. And while the big man has been dominant on the glass, Drummond can’t do it all by himself.

Outside of Drummond, the Bulls don’t have much help at the center position. They called up two-way big man Adama Sanogo from the Windy City Bulls, but he’s not getting any playing time. Instead, it’s going to be on the Bulls as a team to crash the glass.

After the Bulls’ recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, DeMar DeRozan spoke about the importance of working as a team to make up for their injury absences.

“We scramble, we try to help each other, we move around as much as we can, understanding that we’re down in size, we’re down a man,” DeRozan said via Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “We’re just trying to work with one another, trying to make it as difficult as possible for the opposing team.”

In addition, head coach Billy Donovan noted that Chicago has enough out there. They just need to be more active.

“There’s enough out there,” Donovoan said. “When Patrick went out in the first half [Tuesday], that certainly made us a lot smaller, but we didn’t get pounded on the backboard. There was just opportunities that we could’ve been a little bit more physical, provided a little bit more help, been a little bit better contesting, and I think that would have made a difference for us winning tonight.”

Joel Embiid snagged 15 rebounds on Tuesday night, but the Bulls managed to win the rebounding battle. It just wasn’t enough to help them get the win.

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Billy Donovan discusses Bulls mini-series vs. Joel Embiid, 76ers

Head coach Billy Donovan spoke about Joel Embiid after the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Chicago Bulls just wrapped up a two-game mini-series against the Philadelphia 76ers in which they went 1-1. Chicago took home a win in the first game, but in the second, they weren’t able to keep up with the 76ers. That was, in large part, due to the dominance of MVP big man Joel Embiid.

Embiid did not play in the first game between the two sides, and the Bulls were able to pick up a victory. However, on Tuesday night, they fell to the dominance of Embiid, who completely took over the game. They were two very different games, and the Bulls weren’t able to keep up in the second.

After the contest, head coach Billy Donovan spoke about the difference of playing the 76ers with and without Embiid.

“I think it’s two different teams,” Donovan said via ESPN. “You’ve not going to play him 1-on-1. You’ve going to play him with five people at all times.”

Embiid finished the game on Tuesday with a triple-double. He put up 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists while shooting 10-of-20 from the field and 2-of-5 from behind the three-point line.

Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey added 21 points of his own, and Tobias Harris chipped in with 20 points and eight rebounds.

For the Bulls, it was DeMar DeRozan who led the way with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Chicago lost the game by 13 points, falling 110-97 to the 76ers.

That said, despite the loss, the Bulls are 10-6 in their last 16 games, and this stretch has helped them push their way back up the standings in the East.

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Bulls coach Billy Donovan provides new injury update on Zach LaVine

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently provided a new injury update on Zach LaVine.

The Chicago Bulls have been an interesting story to follow this year, as a slow start to the season was quickly superseded by a new-look lineup that’s brought them back into the Play-In Tournament race. With Coby White and DeMar DeRozan leading the charge, they’ve been able to surge their way up the standings.

All the while, Zach LaVine has been on the bench recovering from a foot injury. Chicago has found far more success this season without LaVine in the lineup than with him in it. However, according to recent reports, the Bulls star has been working his way back.

The Bulls just recently assigned him to their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, for practice. It’s the next step in his return-to-play process.

Head coach Billy Donovan said that LaVine’s practice with the Windy City Bulls has been “very positive,” according to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

LaVine hasn’t appeared in a game for the Bulls since November 28, and ever since then, the Bulls have exceeded expectations.

Add in the fact that the Bulls were focused on finding a trade for LaVine before his injury, and it could make sense for them to continue exploring potential deals even after he returns.

Just because they’ve turned things around doesn’t mean they should stray from the plan of rebuilding the roster. In fact, reinserting LaVine into the lineup could hurt them more than it helps them.

Chicago will have some tough decisions to make in that regard, but they can only be made once LaVine gets healthy again. And he’s getting closer to that point by the day.

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Fans react to Chicago Bulls loss to Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Fans reacted to the Chicago Bulls’ Tuesday night loss to the Philadelhpia 76ers on social media.

The Chicago Bulls walked into their Tuesday night contest against the Philadelphia 76ers having won five of their last seven games, including one over the Sixers in their previous contest. Joel Embiid wasn’t available for the first game. Unfortunately for the Bulls, he played on Tuesday, and it didn’t go too well.

Chicago fell by a score of 110-97 to the 76ers, and Embiid led the way with a triple-double. He finished the game with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists while shooting 10-of-20 from the field and 2-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Meanwhile, Andre Drummond had 10 points and 17 boards, while DeMar DeRozan put up 16.

During and after the game, fans and media members made sure to post their reactions to the contest on Twitter, so let’s take a look.

76ers praised for avoiding Zach LaVine trade with Bulls

Despite the connection, the Philadelphia 76ers were recently praised for not going after Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine in a trade.

For the past couple of months, Zach LaVine has been one of the hottest names on the trade market. Plenty of teams have been brought up as potential suitors for LaVine, but no one has pulled the trigger yet. The Los Angeles Lakers were the team most heavily linked to him, with Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic even noting that he expects a deal to happen. However, the Philadelphia 76ers have also been mentioned.

However, according to Marc Stein and his newsletter “The Stein Line,” the 76ers have shown no interest in a trade for LaVine. And that could be for the best.

According to Paul Hudrick of Liberty Ballers, the 76ers are better off not trading for LaVine because of his contract and lack of defensive talent.

“But the Sixers with James Harden (not exactly a defensive savant) had the Boston Celtics on the ropes at home with a lead in what could’ve been a deciding Game 6,” Hudrick wrote. “The issue that night was not defense. Boston scored 96 points. The Sixers scored 86 and basically didn’t make a field goal for the final six minutes of the game.

“And if you’re choosing to be an optimist, look at the way all the Sixers have bought in with Nurse on both ends of the floor. Plus, LaVine has ties with both Embiid and Maxey. All three share a skills coach in Drew Hanlen, and both LaVine and Maxey are represented by Klutch.

“But here’s the rub: LaVine’s big contract and growing injury history make him far from a safe bet.”

Focusing on other trade targets instead of LaVine could help the 76ers maintain their offensive structure with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And instead of going after another ball-dominant player, they could snag someone more comfortable playing of the ball.

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Billy Donovan ‘concerned’ with DeMar DeRozan minute totals for Bulls

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said he’s concerned with DeMar DeRozan’s minute totals.

As the Chicago Bulls have pushed their way back into the Play-In Tournament picture this season, they’ve relied heavily on some of their top stars. Zach LaVine has been out for weeks, and guys like Nikola Vucevic and Torrey Craig have also missed significant time, leaving others to pick up the slack.

Coby White and DeMar DeRozan have played a ton of minutes this year. White leads the league in total minutes, and DeRozan is fourth. At 34 years old, DeRozan is entering the latter portion of his career, yet he’s playing the third-most minutes per game of his career thus far.

DeRozan recently spoke about minutes but when head coach Billy Donovan was asked about it, he admitted that he’s a bit concerned.

“I’m concerned about that,” Donovan said via NBC Sports Chicago. “I mean, he’s great. I talk to him all the time. But it’s kind of the situation we’ve been in with Torrey out, Vooch out and Zach out. I want to be mindful of that and always talk and communicate with him. He has played a lot of minutes and I probably need to look at that.”

In addition, DeRozan detailed some ways he’s learned to steal rest during games.

“Me just knowing when a TV timeout is coming,” DeRozan said. “Me knowing a foul is going to happen at some point. Me understanding if you need to tie your shoe, it’s a lot of little things that go into it. If you’re not in the penalty, you can take a foul. Playing so long, you kind of understand when a stoppage is going to come and take advantage of those moments. When a timeout comes, sit there until that 2 minutes, 30 seconds is up. Just take advantage of the little gaps when you can because you know you want to be out there.”

It seems as though DeRozan is content playing a ton of minutes right now, but one has to wonder how long he can keep that up.

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