How can Billy Donovan free up DeMar DeRozan in series vs Bucks?

The Chicago Bulls were in reach of a Game 1 upset of the Milwaukee Bucks in their first-round playoff series, but couldn’t complete the comeback down three with 30 seconds remaining.

Despite losing the game, there’s hope moving forward for Chicago. They had multiple chances to win the game despite their stars having terrible games shooting-wise.

The Bulls were able to rally from a 16-point deficit, taking the lead in the third quarter. Their stars combined for 21-of-71 from the field. Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine each shot 2-of-10 from the three point line, while DeRozan finished the game with 18 points on 25 shot attempts. The fourth quarter was particularly nasty for the three — they combined for 2-of-20 from the field.

As a team, Chicago shot 32% from the field and lost by just seven. Two or three more shots fall and we’re talking about a totally different outcome.

How can the Bulls use DeMar DeRozan to get better shooting looks?

The Bulls do not have a shot at upsetting the Bucks if their stars can’t play to their full potential. That isn’t debatable. How the stars can get going, however, is up for debate.

LaVine and Vucevic had strong moments throughout the game. LaVine was a key catalyst in the team’s comeback, while Vucevic had good stretches in the third quarter. But DeRozan’s case is a bit more complicated.

The fourth quarter king wasn’t royal at any stretch Sunday, taking contested mid-range jumper after contested mid-range jumper. The Bucks had Wesley Matthews as the primary defender on DeRozan and switched Jrue Holiday on him in the fourth quarter.

DeRozan was only able to score 25% of the time in isolation in Sunday’s contest. In the regular season, he scored 54% of the time in isolation. The Bucks stuck with their game plan of blitzing DeRozan on his drives, which featured the primary defender on the top side and the Bucks post — Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis — on the bottom.

Instead of attacking the post for reverse layups or kick-outs, DeRozan stuck with the mid-range. Nonetheless, he’s confident that his current plan of attack isn’t the problem and that he won’t miss that many “good” looks in the future.

"“Offensively, I guarantee you we won’t shoot like we shot tonight again, but defense gives you an opportunity to win,” DeRozan said following Sunday’s game. “In the 4th quarter, a couple plays got away from us, but a good learning experience…gotta keep it up defensively and go to another level.”"

The idea of going to “another level” is a good talking point, but means nothing without action. Head coach Billy Donovan noted that he was OK with the look the guys got … without addressing the contested nature of the shots.

DeRozan taking mid-range jump shots isn’t an issue, as some analytic junkies would suggest. It’s a problem when each shot is contested, however, especially with the length that the Bucks have.

Earlier in the year, the Bulls used a mock horns set that gave DeRozan a stagger screen off ball. Donovan would have him on one elbow with Vucevic on the other, similar to a typical horns set. The initial ball handler would pass it to DeRozan and then immediately set an on-ball screen. Once DeRozan used the on ball screen, the guard would pop to the perimeter. Vucevic would set the next screen and roll.

This set has a Spain pick-and-roll feel, as it forces multiple switches, while getting DeRozan to his mid-range sweet spot.

The doesn’t have to be ran from the elbow, however.

The same stagger on-ball screen can be utilized from the slot beyond the 3-point line. This forces teams to decide between switching a post onto DeRozan, leaving Vucevic with a guard defending him down low, leaving the initial screener open on the 3-point line, or giving a free layup to DeRozan.

Isolation opportunities are still available with this set, but they aren’t against premier defenders. He had to work too hard against Matthews and Holiday to get to his spots, and was shooting over too much length.

Moving forward, Donovan has to find a to free up DeRozan to get the most out of him without wearing him down. If he’s unable to do so, the Bulls offseason is right around the corner.