DeMar DeRozan loves ‘the challenge’ of clutch time
There is no hotter player for the Chicago Bulls at any point of this regular season slate so far than the five-time All-Star forward and MVP contender DeMar DeRozan. This 32-year-old Compton, CA, native DeRozan is really putting on a show during his first season in a Bulls uniform.
One aspect of DeRozan’s game that has really helped the Bulls this season is his insanely reliable play in clutch time. There is no other player that second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls have to rely on as much as they can DeRozan in clutch time.
DeRozan keeps proving time and time again that he can handle the duties in clutch time, and come through much more often than not.
According to the NBA advanced stats in clutch time, DeRozan has the best player impact estimate rating of any in the NBA this season. DeRozan also has the second-most total points (120) in the NBA in clutch time this season, only behind the Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid (126).
There is also that two-game stretch in back-to-backs on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day this season where DeRozan managed to hit back-to-back game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointers for the first time in NBA history.
DeMar DeRozan seems to love the “challenge” he gets from clutchtime moments
Let’s not forget about that run he had.
Moreover, DeRozan recently spoke on how he feels about these clutch moments he’s coming up with for the Bulls so far this season in a piece with Slam Online this week. He broadly mentioned in tihs piece with Slam that he “loves the moments” where he gets to shine in clutch time.
DeRozan also said that he “loves the challenge” of getting the trust of Donovan and the Bulls to take control of games in clutch time. Shining when it matters most seems to be the name of the game for DeRozan so far this season.
It was as recently as the Bulls’ Feb. 24 win over the Atlanta Hawks and head coach Nate McMillan that DeRozan gave his team yet another game-winning basket. He came up with a two-point field gola he made in the final minute of the fourth quarter against the Hawks where he got the chance for an and-one.
All in all, the Bulls would not be where they are now without the efforts of DeRozan so far this season. The fact that the Bulls sit atop the Eastern Conference standings through the first 60 games of the regular season with a record of 39-21 is largely thanks to the efforts of a potential All-NBA First-Team selection DeRozan.
Next. 2 studs, 1 dud from Bulls win over the Hawks. dark
After their win over the Hawks on Feb. 24, DeRozan and the Bulls are sitting on a six-game winning streak. The Bulls will be looking to move their winning streak to seven games when they face the Memphis Grizzlies and star point guard Ja Morant at home at the United Center on Feb. 26.