Chicago Bulls: Ranking DeMar DeRozan’s top 5 playoff moments

1. Game 2 vs Brooklyn Nets (2014)

In 2014, no one was checking for DeMar DeRozan or the Raptors. Both were fun to watch but there were zero expectations from league circles. The Brooklyn Nets, on the other hand, were led by big-name stars, though at the end of their careers.

The Nets had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Shaun Livingston, and Deron Williams leading the way. Toronto had DeRozan, Lowry, Amir Johnson, and Patrick Patterson.

Not the ideal group to take on legendary vets, at least on paper.

On the court, the Nets underachieved most of the season, finishing sixth. The Raptors finished third in the NBA, surprising the basketball world. Even with their strong regular season, they still weren’t viewed as favorites in the playoffs. Brooklyn kind of made that clear, taking Game 1 on the road.

The Raptors, however, didn’t lay down. In the next game, they came out trying to push the pace– led by the dynamic scoring from DeRozan.

Coming off his first All-Star season, DeRozan struggled in his postseason debut against the Nets. He shot 23% from the field and scored 14 points in Toronto’s 94-87 Game 1 loss. Game 2 was a different story. DeRozan eclipsed that total in the fourth quarter alone, scoring 17 of Toronto’s 36 fourth-quarter points.

Toronto went on to lose the series, but this game was the first time in his playoff career that DeRozan responded to adversity and played like an All-Star.

As the Bulls and Bucks prepare to tip off their first-round matchup Sunday, DeRozan’s ability to get buckets will be a deciding factor in Chicago’s chances.