DeRozan focused on teammates, not trade reinforcements originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Bulls have cited team chemistry as a foundational aspect to their success all season.
And in advance of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, DeMar DeRozan underscored that yet again by emphatically stating his faith in what currently injured teammates can provide when they return.
"We're missing Lonzo Ball, one of the point guards in the league, Alex Caruso, one of the best defenders in this league, Patrick Williams, one of the young stars in this league," DeRozan said slowly following the Bulls' matinee loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at the United Center.
"We haven't had those guys. And we have them, and they'll be back. We don't need to worry or stress about having nobody else. Those three right there, I guarantee every team in this NBA wish they had those three guys. We're going to get those back and we'll be fine."
Before the game, Bulls coach Billy Donovan also talked about the likelihood of the team getting whole before the end of the regular season. Ball underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last month, but joined his teammates on the bench Sunday. Caruso underwent surgery to repair a fractured right wrist. And Williams has been sidelined since early in the season after tearing wrist ligaments and needing surgery.
This is on top of short-term injuries to Zach LaVine and Coby White, who both sat for a second straight game. Donovan wouldn't speculate on LaVine's availability for Monday's difficult conclusion to this set of back-to-back games against the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns. But LaVine hates missing games and letting down his teammates, and also is mindful that DeRozan logged a wearying 41 minutes. So LaVine will be pushing to play.
Just like the injured players are working to return.
"They definitely got the itch to get back," DeRozan said of Ball, Caruso and Williams. "Having 'Zo on the bench (Sunday), seeing him, was great. Just seeing those guys around working towards getting back healthy gives us that extra juice that we need."
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Ball underwent surgery on Jan. 28 which started the clock on his projected return of six to eight weeks. Caruso underwent surgery on Jan. 24, at which time the Bulls released a six- to eight-week timeline for his re-evaluation. His return could take longer. Williams, who, like Caruso, suffered his injury on a flagrant foul, has the window for his four- to six-month projected return from the date of his surgery open later this month, although it's more likely it would extend into March.
"We know we're going to get everybody back in due time," DeRozan said. "Until then, we're just trying to figure out our mistakes on the go and sticking together. We're holding it down as long as we can until we get everybody back."
The Bulls sit just a half-game out of the Eastern Conference lead despite their widespread injuries. Though DeRozan's monster game of 45 points, nine rebounds and seven assists wasn't enough, the Bulls played the 76ers competitively despite using Malcolm Hill and Matt Thomas as their first substitutes.
The internal confidence is high, especially if the Bulls get to full strength. And DeRozan even laughed about forgetting to mention Derrick Jones Jr. as he rose from his postgame news conference.
"He can help too," DeRozan said.
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