Few games have encapsulated DeMar DeRozan’s ability to close out a game like Wednesday’s victory against the Indiana Pacers.
In the span of five minutes and three seconds, DeRozan did everything he could to put the Chicago Bulls in a winning position – deliberately missing a free throw, hitting a turnaround jumper to send the game into overtime, opening the extra period with eight consecutive points. forcing the Pacers defense to engage, then executing each ensuing pass to give his teammates the best chance to score. He finished the game with 46 points, including 18 scored in the fourth quarter or overtime.
After the win, DeRozan couldn’t help but joke about his own fourth-quarter prowess.
“I told JC (Jevon Carter) at the start of overtime – what I told you at the start of overtime? » DeRozan said in the locker room, craning his neck to get Carter’s attention.
The guard leaned around a reporter to respond: “He said he was going crazy.” »
Both players laughed as Carter walked away from the media scrum.
“That’s right,” DeRozan laughed. “Before I went on the field, I told him I was going to go for it.”
It’s hard to talk about it Presence of DeRozan in the fourth quarter without seeming artificial. At this point in his 15-year career, it’s almost pointless to state the obvious: DeRozan’s hands are the safest place for the ball to land when a game is on the line.
For DeRozan, whether it’s a high-stakes playoff game or a regular-season game like Wednesday, those moments still haven’t lost their magic.
“It’s like survival mode kicking in — in a fun way,” DeRozan said. “I’m not afraid to fail. I’m not afraid to try to make things happen. I want these moments more than anything. It reminds me of my childhood, being a kid, doing the little fake countdown, jumping on the bed. As a competitor, these moments are always something I try to savor.
While DeRozan has another year of outstanding clutch performances, he also earns a sophomore campaign for Clutch Player of the Year.
The award debuted last year and DeRozan was a leading contender, finishing behind Jimmy Butler and winner De’Aaron Fox. The award is named after Jerry West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to close out Los Angeles Lakers games.
Steph Curry is the player to beat in this category, captaining the Golden State Warriors in close games despite other issues the veteran team has faced in the Western Conference. But DeRozan could edge out Curry in several key categories depending on how the final 15 games of the regular season play out.
DeRozan has played 166.5 crucial minutes in 35 games this season, the second most in the league behind teammate Coby White (and just ahead of teammates Nikola Vučević and Alex Caruso). Curry has played 122.5 clutch minutes in 34 games.
DeRozan is second in clutch scoring average (4.6), behind Curry (4.9). Despite his higher volume of clutch minutes, DeRozan also lags slightly in total points (161) behind Curry (165). Neither has made a game-winning shot this season, although both have hit buzzer-beaters (or close to them, like DeRozan’s game-tying shot on Wednesday) to send games into overtime.
Is that enough to overtake Curry? The stats on the page alone may not be it, but DeRozan’s ability to close out games — rather than performing well individually in close games — will likely be the deciding factor.
The Bulls lead the league in minutes (179) while going 23-15 in games that end by these slim margins. They are 21-14 in clutch games in which DeRozan has played. In comparison, the Warriors are 18-20 in clutch games and 18-16 in the clutch with Curry on the court.
The Warriors have been significantly less effective in overtime, going 1-4 in overtime with Curry on the court while DeRozan is 6-3 in overtime with the Bulls. Both teams are clearly better with their stars, but DeRozan has racked up more wins and lost fewer games.
With 53.7% of their games completed this season, the Bulls will likely give DeRozan a handful more opportunities to prove himself. It will be up to DeRozan to defend his nickname “King of the Fourth” when those defining moments appear.
