DeMar DeRozan can make MVP leaderboard leap with big stretch for Bulls
As the season winds down, the final 18 games will be crucial for Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is this year’s MVP race.
DeMar DeRozan stamped his name on the MVP ballot with his play this season, but there are a few other guys playing out of their minds as well. The Chicago Bulls star has some stiff competition.
DeRozan is fourth and in the NBA’s MVP standings, behind Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, all of whom are playing their teams into a top playoff seed.
There are only 18 games left for the Bulls and there’s a possibility that DeRozan will sit one or two of those at the end of the season. With this year’s MVP race being as close as it is, wins against other candidates and overall records will play a large role in the finals votes.
On Friday, DeRozan and the Bulls faced off against fellow MVP candidate Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. This was one of three head-to-head matchups between DeRozan and Antetokounmpo in the final 19 games. The outcome of the rest of those games, along with the individual player impact, are going to factor against one of the candidates.
DeRozan has emerged as the league fourth quarter Houdini this season, leading the league in scoring during that frame. He’s currently averaging 28 points per game, eight of which are coming in the fourth quarter.
While that stat is amazing, he’s been criticized for his team’s failure to beat other contenders. The Bulls are currently 2-12 against teams with at least a .600 win percentage. In those games, DeRozan is averaging 17 points per game. The Bulls have lost those games by an average of 22 points.
DeRozan had similar problems as the primary option with the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were high seeds in most of their playoff appearances, but failed to compete with the other top seed when the stage got bigger.
A stigma formed about DeRozan-led teams, some fans and experts believing his teams peak in the regular season and then disappear. That stigma followed DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs and, despite his stellar play this year, is making its way to Chicago.
While the Bucks are a few nodes under .600, they are regarded as a contender and have a .638 win percentage in games that Antetokounmpo plays. Another few wins against the Bucks will not only ease some of the concern surrounding the Bulls contention reality, but also help eliminate the stigma about DeRozan as the main option on a contender.
The Bucks are also known for their elite perimeter defense. Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre’ Bembry and Jevon Carter have built their careers on being lockdown defenders. Holiday’s defense was a key factor to the Bucks title run last year. Dominating the Bucks perimeter defense will elevate DeRozan over Antetokounmpo and shorten the gap between him and Embiid.
Currently, Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are tied with Bulls in the standings while the Bucks are two games behind Chicago. If the race continues to be this close, records will come into consideration. A win against the Bucks will give Chicago a bit of breathing room over the two Eastern Conference contenders.
With Embiid getting James Harden as a running mate, DeRozan’s individual impact will be perceived as higher in these closing games until Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso return. And the Bulls’ next two matchups against the Bucks and 76ers can really propel DeRozan assuming the necessary outcomes occur.
