The new-look Chicago Bulls have hit the ground running so far in the 2021-22 NBA season. The Bulls are yet to taste defeat and have had the best start in franchise history since 1996. When the Bulls acquired players like DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, a few eyebrows were raised.
But so far those decisions have turned out to be simply fantastic. While Zach LaVine is still in amazing form, as usual, it was DeRozan who stole the show in the Bulls’ game against the Toronto Raptors.
DeRozan was part of the Raptors for the longest part of his career and he was later traded by the team. Well, although a few years have gone by since that trade, it must be a great feeling for the 32-year-old.
Moreover, there is something else for DeRozan to feel good about it. After the NBA’s decision to change rules to prevent players from flopping, many superstars have seen a dip in their free throws. But DeMar seems to be one of the few who have remained unaffected even after the implementation of the new rule.
“I don’t know. I don’t flop… My mentality is always trying to be aggressive. I don’t know, free throws are down across the league. But I can’t worry about that. I still try to go out there and be aggressive, figure out ways to get to the free throw line.”
(starts at 3:30)
Although DeRozan gave a pretty vague answer at first, he was later asked by another reporter about the same thing. This time around he revealed:
“You know what’s crazy, when I was in San Antonio, Pop pulled me to the side one year and he told me I need to start flopping or try to flop. Because I wasn’t getting calls that I should get cause I absorb so much of the contact. I don’t know, I just… I should play football.”
(starts at 4:25)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTXkOaOR4Pc
Each player in the NBA has a different skillset and DeRozan’s just doesn’t have flopping in it.
This is great news for Bulls fans as DeMar is unaffected and can continue to display his phenomenal form as he did in the Raptors game.
