EIn the time of the 3-pointer, DeMar DeRozan doesn’t usually throw too many. Only 2.5 of his 18.8 shots are from beyond the arc. When triple-doubles go like hotcakes, he’s had just one in more than 900 career games. Nor is he lavish in making spectacular dunks. It doesn’t appear too much in the highlights. And maybe because of all that the Bulls guard is not valued too much.
DeRozan has been averaging more than 20 points per game for nine seasons. He’s currently at 26.3, his second-best record, and only trailing Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry on the season’s best scorers list. It is one of the keys to the so far remarkable campaign of the Bulls, second in the East, giving the Nets their encouragement, who have already won both games played. “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” he said after the last victory.
The 32-year-old, 1.98-meter guard has had no luck during his career. He spent the first nine years in Toronto, playing at a good level, but in a market without much marketing. He left the Raptors in the summer of 2018 and the following season they won the ring. In the transfer that brought Kawhi Leonard to the Canadian franchise, he returned to the Spurs, dominating the NBA in the previous decade, but already with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker turned into memories.
DeRozan, despite everything, was a member of the third best quintet in the NBA in 2017 and the second in 2018. He has been in four All Stars, although he has not stepped on it for four years. This season justice should be done to him and to recognize the talent of a player forced to go against the tide in his career and, by his use of the long distance shot, also in his game.
James Harden has 41.4% shooting from the field, his worst percentage since his rookie season in the NBA. His average points are 20.9 per game, the worst in the last 12 seasons. Data that shows that nothing is fine. Against the Bulls he had 14 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists and his forefoot was out of tune again: 5/21 shooting. “Blame it on me. I had many opportunities at the rim that I did not convert and that could have settled this game,” he acknowledged after the Nets’ loss to the Bulls. ‘The Beard’ recently acknowledged that he has a hard time finding the balance between being a playmaker or a scorer with Kyrie Irving without playing. Your team hopes you make up your mind and get back to your best version.
Nikola Jokic took Madison with 32 points and 11 rebounds. The great game of the pvot compensated the numerous losses of the Nuggets. The Knicks could do nothing against the Serbian and they knew of his danger. “It’s so unique because you can run your attack through it. When a guy passes the ball the way he does, it makes everyone so much better,” warns coach Tom Thibodeau. Denver’s men were never behind on the scoreboard and went on to win by 30 in the third loss followed by New York’s. “We have to look in the mirror and decide what we want the season to be like,” said Julius Randle, who finished with 24 points.