NEWSLETTER
I can only imagine how awesome it is to say you’re the best at something. Like, I’m not even sure I come close to the tippy-top in any category. Maybe the number of meatball sandwiches eaten by your mid-2os? Perhaps the highest average body adjustments on the couch before getting completely comfortable? Oh, what about forgetting to stretch before working out and thus pulling something? I’m pretty darn elite at that one.
• DeMar DeRozan has maintained his status as arguably the best midrange maestro in the league this season. ESPN’s Kirk Goldsberry mapped it all out, and DeRozan finished as the leading bucket-getter in two zones that sit about 15 feet out from the basket.
Leading Scorers By Zone. What Jumps Out? pic.twitter.com/gGt5ZSq4zm
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 12, 2022
• If we dive a bit deeper into the NBA Stats database, we see that DeRozan has shot by far the most midrange attempts of any player this season. The All-Star starter has chucked up 741 FGAs, whereas the 2nd-place Devin Booker has taken just 467. DeRozan has knocked down 348 of those shots, which sits ahead of Kevin Durant by 122 made field goals. His 47.0 percent mark in the mid-range will finish second in the regular season behind only Durant (among players who attempted at least 300 mid-range FGAs). But when we consider how much higher the volume turned out to be for DeRozan, there is no question the Bulls’ leading scorer deserves the midrange crown this season.
• While we’re at it, I also want to give DeRozan a tip of the hat for his foul drawing. While his efficiency slowly dipped as a tiring season dragged on, he still maintained an elite ability to get to the free-throw line. The mere threat of his midrange shot combined with his crafty footwork helped him finish the year with the 3rd-most total free-throws shot (593) behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo (766) and Joel Embiid (803). His 7.8 FTAs per game mark his most since the 2016-17 season.
• DeRozan shot at least 8 free throws in four of his final seven regular-season games, and he passed the 12-attempt threshold three times. Without a doubt, this has to be one of the skillsets we see heavily featured in the upcoming first-round series against Milwaukee. Both Zach LaVine and DeRozan have to prioritize playing downhill and forcing easy buckets. Not only can this be pivotal to controlling the pace of play, but finding a way to get players like Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis in foul trouble could be huge for obvious reasons. To be sure, the Bucks are tied for allowing the 5th-fewest FTAs per game, so accomplishing this will be far from easy. But the Bulls do at least have two of the NBA’s best at getting to the charity stripe. More on LaVine’s recent contributions here.
• Ayo Dosunmu should be on his way to an All-Rookie Team. While the 22-year-old hit a slight wall in terms of his overall offensive efficiency, he has still played tremendously well for a first-year player thrust into a starting role on a playoff team. His final two games, specifically, put him back on a positive track, as he shot a combined 16/28 from the field for 42 points. Dosunmu also dished 9 assists and snatched 4 steals. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz placed Dosunmu 9th on his final Rookie Power Rankings, which has left him sandwiched between the Kings’ Davion Mitchell (8) and Nuggets’ Bones Hyland (10). Out of the 10 players listed, Dosunmu was the lowest selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.
• While we’re on the topic of young talent, I’ll direct your attention to some words on the Bulls’ 2020 No. 4 overall pick …
Patrick Williams Just Demonstrated How He Can Help the Bulls in the Playoffshttps://t.co/dN8T0JMpn9 pic.twitter.com/40WEIK7ueU
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 11, 2022
• I strictly discuss where Williams can contribute in the scoring department in the post above, but I should reiterate that his skills on the defensive end and in the rebounding department are arguably most important. The Bulls will be aggressively outsized in this matchup, and Williams’ ability to provide a more physical presence to the frontcourt could be why we see Donovan keep him in the starting lineup. Also, after a relatively lackluster return on the glass, Williams has averaged 6.2 rebounds per game over the last six games. He’s had some especially promising moments on the offensive boards, where we saw him grab 10 OREBs over the course of a four-game stretch from March 29th to April 5th.
• Super ew.
Unless the Pelicans make it through the Play-In, the Bulls will hold the lowest Net Rating and Point Differential of any playoff team.
Net Rating: -0.5 (20th)
Point Differential: -0.4 (20th)Hope those numbers are underlined on the FO's whiteboard this summer.
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) April 11, 2022
• The Play-In Tournament games will tip-off tonight on TNT. The Cavaliers will have to face the Nets without All-Star center Jarrett Allen before the Clippers take on the Timberwolves. The loser of these two games will go on to face the winner of their conference’s 9v10 matchup later this week.
Cavaliers All-Star center Jarrett Allen is out for Play-In Tournament game vs. Nets on Tuesday night. Allen has been rehabbing a fractured left finger that he suffered March 6.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 11, 2022
• Let’s start the season off with two-straight series wins!
Series Preview: Cubs at Pirates, April 12 – April 13, 2022 – https://t.co/yAWWXFlsLx pic.twitter.com/Xxpx41F0mi
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 12, 2022
• Ugh.
The season's final leg was supposed to be Kevin Lankinen's time to shine. Lankinen simply hasn't taken advantage of his opportunity.
Story:https://t.co/o5lyor5cBe
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) April 11, 2022
