The NBA regular season started back up after All-Star Weekend, and with the playoffs on the horizon, every single game matters to the teams competing for playoff spots. Even though DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls were still missing key players this week, their position in the East was well protected. Another former Trojan, center Evan Mobley, displayed his quick learning ability on the court, while his team dropped to fifth place in the East.
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers (1-3)
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell to fifth in the Eastern Conference after their first four games since All-Star Weekend. Not being a top four team in the East means the Cavaliers would not have home-court advantage in the playoffs, which is essential for this inexperienced team.
Due to the absence of guards Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Rajon Rondo, the Cavaliers struggled on the offensive end, where they averaged 103.8 points and 23 assists per game last week, compared to their season average of 106.5 points and 25.1 assists.
Not only did the team stumble, but rookie Evan Mobley did as well. Mobley posted 12.5 points on 44.2% shooting in his last four games, including 37.5% shooting against the Detroit Pistons.
Even though Mobley had 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Cavs’ win over the Washington Wizards, his offensive efficiency dropped as the defenders guarded him with more physicality than Mobley is used to.
In the first quarter, Mobley tried to attack in the post over Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma but failed to score the basket. Later in the game, the Wizards double-teamed Mobley when he caught the ball on the weak side, and Mobley was too hesitant on where to move the ball, leading to a rushed shot.
As a 7-foot big, Mobley is known for his steady shooting within the three-point line, but he seems to struggle when his shots are well contested. Mobley made some changes during this game, where he started to slow down and read the defense.
The good thing is that Mobley continues to accept and learn from his mistakes.
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls (1-2)
Guard DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls had a tough week after the All-Star break. The Bulls took down the Atlanta Hawks and lost to the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat this week, and DeRozan posted 28.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.
Though both of the first two games were tight until the final buzzer, DeRozan’s performances were completely different. DeRozan scored 37 points on 71.4% shooting against the Hawks and 31 points on 34.5% shooting against the Grizzlies.
The Hawks’ game went back and forth with six ties throughout. DeRozan contributed an and-1 at the end of the fourth quarter, which helped the Bulls clinch the victory. However, Chicago was down almost the entire game against the Grizzlies, with a deficit as large as 17 at one point. Led by DeRozan, the Bulls went on a 16-2 scoring run in the fourth quarter, but Memphis guard Ja Morant continued to score and helped the Grizzlies secure the victory.
The Bulls’ next games will come against stiff competition in the Eastern Conference with most of the teams having a winning percentage above above 50%. The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are some of the teams on Chicago’s upcoming schedule. Every game will matter for the team’s playoffs standings.
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls (1-2)
Just like the Bulls, center Nikola Vucevic couldn’t find a rhythm on the court this week, especially on offense. Vucevic averaged 12.3 points, shooting 36.4% from the field and 0% from behind the arc.
In the Bulls’ game against the Grizzlies, Vucevic posted 11 points on 5-of-17 from the field, including eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first quarter. That means Vucevic went 1-of-11 for the rest of the game, despite attempting many open 3-pointers throughout the game.
Vucevic’s season average of 30.5% on three-point shooting could gradually become a big concern for the Bulls as many tough matchups are coming soon that need Vucevic to create more space for the team’s backcourt duo of guard Zach LaVine and DeRozan.
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks (1-2)
Forward Onyeka Okongwu did well off the bench this week, where he averaged 10 points on 100% shooting from the field, 3.7 rebounds, two assists and one block in 17.7 minutes over his last three games.
Though Okongwu continued to make some mistakes, like poorly timing his help defense, he was able to find the most efficient catch-and-finish positions on the other end of the floor.
Okongwu contributed five points, five rebounds and one impressive block over forward Pascal Siakam in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 26, where the Hawks were once down 12 points. By the end of the half, the Hawks were up to an eight-point lead.
The Hawks, who are tenth in the Easten Conference, will face the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks in the next week. Both of these opponents have star players who are efficient in mismatches, so center Clint Capela and Okongwu’s defense will be crucial if Atlanta is going to pull off the upsets.