Adjustments Billy Donovan must make for the Chicago Bulls: Get DeMar DeRozan back to his bread and butter
One interesting trend that is similar to one of the team’s struggles in losses as a whole this season is the difference in three-point shooting percentage for star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan in wins compared to losses. In 12 wins for the Bulls this season, DeRozan has shot 40 percent from beyond the arc.
On the other hand, DeRozan has shot just 21 percent from beyond the arc in seven Bulls losses so far this season.
This sort of trend shows just how important it was for DeRozan to develop his game in a way that really conforms well to the modern NBA. His footwork is amazing inside the arc and he is very adept at efficient two-point scoring and making plays in settled halfcourt offenses.
But the Bulls are going to face some problems if DeRozan is going to take a large volume of three-point attempts this season. This is a key point to highlight in the seven Bulls losses so far this season. DeRozan is taking around three attempts from downtown per game in losses for the Bulls this season. Last season with the San Antonio Spurs, he shot just over one attempt from beyond the arc per game in losses.
While it is true that DeRozan is shooting the ball a bit more efficiently from beyond the arc this season, it’s not good enough. He’s still shooting around 32.5 percent from three-point range this season. In the loss to the Rockets on Nov. 24, DeRozan shot 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. Those are some empty possessions where the Bulls could’ve capitalized with crucial points if DeRozan turned to his bread and butter of working inside the arc.
If DeRozan is shooting well from beyond the arc to start a game, let him do his thing. But that should be more of a last resort scenario as the Bulls have other more efficient three-point shooters in this starting unit (i.e. Lonzo and LaVine).