As the Chicago Bulls and second-year head coach Billy Donovan are currently riding a season-best eight-game winning streak, this team is in a great spot right now. The Bulls are currently sporting a record of 25-10 after their four-point win over the Orlando Magic at home at the United Center on the night of Jan. 3.
That win over the Magic moved the Bulls’ winning streak up to eight games and further solidified their spot at the top of the Eastern Conference standings ahead of the likes of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. It is the star duo of shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan and shooting guard Zach LaVine powering the Bulls throughout this recent dominant stretch.
And all of the Bulls’ recent success has the media on notice. In the latest version of ESPN’s NBA power rankings this week, the Bulls slid up into the top three for the first time this season. That also slotted the Bulls as the top team in the East in this week’s ESPN NBA power rankings.
It sounds like ESPN really is blown away by how DeRozan is leading the Bulls at this point of the season. DeRozan is obviously a huge reason for the Bulls’ eight-game winning streak and the success that the team is finding as a whole so far this season.
ESPN slots DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls as the top team in the East in this week’s power rankings
Here’s more on what ESPN had to say on DeRozan and the Bulls’ placement in this week’s power rankings.
"Good luck stopping DeMar DeRozan right now. During the seven-game winning streak that has vaulted the Bulls into first place in the Eastern Conference, DeRozan is averaging 28.4 points, 6.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 48.6% (including 5-of-7 from 3). Last week, he became the first player in NBA history with buzzer-beaters on back-to-back nights, against the Pacers and the Wizards; it was a small peak into how good he has been in the clutch."
ESPN gave props to DeRozan for what he did on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, respectively. He topped the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards in back-to-back games thanks to two straight buzzer-beating game-winning three-pointers. ESPN did mention how he was the first player in NBA history to accomplish such a feat.
The two teams that the Bulls still rank behind in this week’s NBA power rankings are the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. That makes sense given how the Warriors handled the Bulls in the first of two meetings between these two teams this season. And the Suns are also hot right now.
The next best team in the East in this week’s power rankings behind the Bulls are the Bucks, who ring in at No. 5. It looks like it could be a close battle this season at the top of the Central Division between the defending NBA Champion Bucks and the Bulls.
DeRozan and the Bulls have completely turned a corner through the first 35 games of this season. They will try to extend the winning streak to nine games when the Bulls face the Wizards at home at the United Center on Jan. 7.