Chicago Bulls: Is Lonzo Ball or DeMar DeRozan under more pressure?

Is Lonzo Ball or DeMar DeRozan under more pressure for the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22?

As the 2021-22 NBA season quickly draws near, the Chicago Bulls are one team that will be worth keeping an eye on in the Eastern Conference. After making two big splashes during the offseason, there will be a certain level of expectation when this team begins the season.

That leads me to question, which of the two big splash acquisitions will actually be under more pressure to perform at a high level: Lonzo Ball or DeMar DeRozan.

The Bulls targeted these two payers in an attempt to surround Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic with more talent as they continue to try to breakthrough in the Eastern Conference. And, at least on paper, it seems as if they now have the talent to do so.

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However, they’re going to need both Ball and DeRozan to step up in a big way this season.

Where the Chicago Bulls struggled last season

The Bulls were a bottom third team in points per game, offensive rating, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Interestingly enough, they were a top 10 team in almost every assist category. They struggled mightily when it came to taking care of the basketball. The Bulls averaged the fourth-most turnovers per game.

And this is where both Ball and DeRozan will come into play. DeRozan, certainly, when it comes to giving the Bulls an added offensive punch. Chicago didn’t have a consistent player that averaged more than 15 points per game (other than LaVine) until they acquired Nikola Vucevic. Now, the Bulls, with DeRozan, will have three players on the roster that can go off on any night on the offensive end.

That’s something this team sorely missed for the better part of last season. That’s why LaVine was under so much pressure night-in and night-out on the offensive end. That will not – or shouldn’t – be the case anymore.

When it comes to taking care of the basketball, the hope is that Ball will certainly help in that department. Coby White and LaVine handled most of the point guard duties for the Bulls last season. Both of them didn’t have great assist-to-turnover ratios – Ball with a 1.4 and White with a 2.1.

Ball (2.6) and DeRozan (3.5) both have great assist-to-turnover ratios – and ranked in the top 15 in the league amongst starting guards that played in at least 50 games last season.

But, at least to me, this question comes down to which player has the potential to raise Chicago’s ceiling the most this season? And I believe the answer to this question is Ball.

While there’s an argument to be made for DeRozan, we have already seen the impact that DeRozan can have on a team. And, quite frankly, it at times leaves much to be desired. DeRozan is absolutely going to help the Bulls when it comes to shot-creation and filling in the offensive void when LaVine is on the bench or is having an off night.

But Ball’s unknown potential and ceiling is something that the Bulls have to be most excited about heading into this season. There’s a good chance that we haven’t seen the best version of Ball yet, and that is what the Bulls bet on when they gave him this large contract.

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If the Bulls are going to make any noise in the East this season, they’re going to need both Ball and DeRozan to play vital roles. Though, Ball seems like a player that will be of more importance to Chicago this season.

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