DeRozan suggests there's beauty in Bulls' ugly slide
There's been nothing beautiful or enjoyable about the Bulls lately. They've dropped eight of their last 10 games and were trounced by a short-handed Phoenix squad Friday.
After losing to the Suns, DeMar DeRozan asked everyone to look a little deeper at a team experiencing success for the first time in five years.
Asked what the players can learn, DeRozan replied, "How hard this (stuff) is. You've got to find the beauty in it at the same time. You really get to see what you're made of, and understand what you need to get better at if you really want to be something."
Phoenix used to be in the same spot. After a long playoff drought, the Suns added veteran Chris Paul last year and ended up in the NBA Finals. Now they're running away with the NBA's best record.
"The only way you can learn is through times like this," DeRozan added. "You shake that team's hand that's over there. They just came off a Finals, they've been together. We're a team that's trying to strive to be like them. We've got to understand when we play these good teams why they're so good on both ends of the floor.
"We've just got to think two steps ahead. Not come down and wait to see what they do. It's not checkers any more, it's chess at this point."
When the Bulls run up against the NBA's best teams - and often get run out of the gym - it becomes obvious the majority of players are going through this for the first time. Learning how to diminish mistakes and make winning plays consistently often means as much as the talent level.
Plenty has changed for DeRozan as well. Before the all-star break, he made NBA history with eight straight games of scoring 35 points while shooting above 50%.
That streak ended with the first game back from the break. In the 10 games since then, DeRozan has averaged 24.9 points while shooting 41.1%. Opposing teams are game-planning around getting the ball out of DeRozan's hands.
There's probably also some natural cooling off that happens. There's a reason no one in NBA history had posted those results for more than six games in a row before DeRozan unleashed his masterpiece.
"That's the next evolution of us really an extremely good team, not being surprised when teams blitz me or double-team me or try to get the balls out of me and Zach (LaVine's) hands," DeRozan said. "We've got to keep evolving and understanding how we can beat teams and use that against them.
"The best way to learn is to get knocked in the mouth like we're doing. Now it's as matter of us just responding. I think once it clicks, we'll be fine."
The Bulls return home to face Toronto on Monday, but then it's another five-game road trip as the United Center hosts the NCAA Midwest regional. There is still time, though, to build some positive momentum before the season ends.
"I'm a guy, I love to lead, but I also love the challenge at the same time," DeRozan said. "So when things get rough, I don't necessarily shy away from it.
"That's the beauty of struggling is finding a way to get out of that struggle and seeing what you're made out of."
Bulls recall Williams:
Patrick Williams was recalled from the Windy City Bulls on Saturday, which likely means the second-year forward will not be playing in Windy City's home game on Sunday afternoon.
Williams did practice twice with Windy City while the Bulls were on the road. He will likely practice with the varsity Bulls on Sunday and if all goes well, make his return from left wrist surgery in Monday's game against Toronto.
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