3 things we learned from DeMar DeRozan's debut for the Chicago Bulls

DeMar DeRozan made his much hyped debut for the Chicago Bulls against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021-22 NBA pre-season and was good as advertised. The Bulls made significant changes in the offseason, bringing in Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan to supplement Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. LaVine's contract extension was a top priority for the organization and they had to show that they were willing to build a playoff ready team around their superstar to convince him to resign with the franchise.

DeRozan suited the mold of the ideal veteran star that they needed to guide them through tough playoff games. He can catch fire and hit clutch shots in a hurry when his team needs him the most after staying passive for most of the game. He can also be a good facilitator and a high energy level player on the defensive end of the court, despite not being known for his defensive prowess.

DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls got off to a blistering start against the Cavaliers as they dominated from the start to finish the game 131-95 in a blowout victory. DeMar and his teammates were nearly unstoppable and showed good movement as they rammed through a hapless Cavs defense. This performance will lay a good foundation for him and the Bulls to build on as they head into the 2021-22 season.

There are certain things that DeRozan did during the game against the Cavs that caught the eye. Here are three things that we learned from his debut.

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#3 The Lonzo connection

Lonzo Ball's edition provides the Bulls with an elite playmake to compliment Lavine's and DeRozan's scoring

Lonzo Ball has always been a high-IQ point guard with exceptional court vision that can find an open man with the back of his eyes. Having a guard of Lonzo's caliber opens up the court for scorers such as Zach LaVine and DeRozan.

DeRozan found an immediate connection with his new PG as Ball set him up for easy buckets by passing into his sweet spot. DeRozan later heaped praise on Lonzo in his post-game interview, saying that he makes things easy.

The connection between Ball and DeRozan will be key to unlocking tougher defenses than Cleveland. Luckily for the Bulls, they have an elite facilitator and a premium scorer who will find a way to make it work.

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#2 Defense

DeMar DeRozan is usually not known for his defensive porwess

DeMar DeRozan is not a player known for his capabilities on the defensive side of the ball. He has averaged one steal and 0.3 blocks per game in his career, which isn't that bad or that great.

Judging by his first game with the Bulls, he seems to have stepped up on the other end of the court, hounding players and using his experience wisely to know exactly when to help or stay. DeRozan's two blocks were a result of his high-energy plays on defense.

His block on Jarret Allen was an ideal example of DeRozan using his experience as he rotated in the nick of time to deny an easy bucket.

If DeRozan manages to keep up this intense approach, it would be very difficult to penetrate the Bulls' defense with elite perimeter defenders such as Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso along with the uber athletic LaVine and DeRozan acting as a frontline with a collosus like Vucevic behind to protect the rim.

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#1 Unselfish playmaking

DeRozan passing around the Warriors player to Lamarcus Aldridge

DeMar DeRozan began his career as more of a scorer than a playmaker but as he grew older he became more of a proficient facilitator before becoming elite during his time with the San Antonio Spurs.

During his three-season with San Antonio, he averaged 6.2 assists, showing that he can playmake at an elite level in the right system. The Spurs system is highly predicated on unselfishly sharing the ball, leading to a greater number of assists and easy buckets.

Billy Donovan's system also involves a high-tempo offense that requires unselfish movement of the ball as seen in the first game against the Cavs. DeRozan will find it a perfect fit as he is used to making that extra pass to find an open teammate.