http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...-clutch-effort
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan popped up from the floor in front of the Dallas Mavericks bench determined that he wouldn't blow another opportunity after misfiring on what could have been the winner at the end of regulation.
"I got a great look," DeRozan said. "I was mad at myself that I missed. But I told myself, if I got that opportunity again, I wasn't going to miss a big shot later in the game. I didn't."
DeRozan connected on 3-of-3 in overtime on Monday, hitting San Antonio's last three field goals and snagging three rebounds to punctuate a 34-point performance in leading the Spurs past the Mavericks 113-108. The night marked DeRozan's third outing this season in which he scored 30 points or more, and it further solidified him as the closer the club lacked last season, with former Spur Kawhi Leonard sidelined all but nine games due to a quadriceps injury.
It's a role DeRozan relishes.
"I just come in and do my job," he said. "My job has always been the closer."
Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge and recently retired Manu Ginobili alternated last season in that role, but the addition of DeRozan provides San Antonio a lethal lead option for closing out contests while providing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich more options down the stretch.
"He's a really good player, and he loves those moments," Popovich said of DeRozan. "He's not afraid of failure. You know, Michael [Jordan] didn't make every shot at the end of a game, but there are very few people who want to be in that position all the time, and he's one of those people that loves it. Rudy was really that guy for us last year. He and L.A. [Aldridge]. But now we can choose between a few guys. We haven't had that."
DeRozan ranks second in the NBA in scoring in clutch time (21 points), hitting 8-of-18 from the floor in five games, with five assists, six rebounds and no turnovers.
After lying on his back with an arm covering his face in disappointment after missing an 11-foot fadeaway from the corner to end regulation, DeRozan eventually rose back to his feet with the help of Gay. Seconds earlier, Patty Mills had told DeRozan to go out and win the game, "and I missed the shot," he said. "I told him that I wasn't going to miss the next one."
Or the next two, for that matter. DeRozan pulled down three rebounds to start his overtime tear, then hit from 19 feet out to put the Spurs ahead 107-102. His next two buckets came on a driving layup and a 20-foot step-back jumper.
DeRozan said that when he played in Toronto, former Raptors coach Dwane Casey "used to give me a cue card before every season, and it had 'closer' on it."
DeRozan lived up to that against the Mavericks.
"He really steps it up in the fourth," Spurs point guard Bryn Forbes said. "That's something I've noticed so far. So defenses have to change the way they're guarding so other guys can get wide-open shots." .......
That’s what we needed last year. Unfortunately as good LMA was last year, he couldn’t seem to close and relinquished the lead. Spurs still very much need to stop, but now they have someone who can close. And with close games so far, should just help prepare them to squeeze in wins. GSG
I hope derozan can maintain it thoroughout the season
Yeah he’s been a pleasant surprise all around.
Good publicity! Yay!
DDR is looking more and more like the best the Spurs could have done to emerge from the debacle.
The knock on Demar has never been that he couldn't score in the regular season..
The entire Raptors team pooped the bed against LeBron in the playoffs. Didn't help by having an idiot coach who overplayed the bench in the playoffs. Imagine you're the star player on the team sitting on the bench watching your bench players play against the starters. Idiot Dwane Casey
What you mean is that you will criticize DDR but you will not praise him. That is brain-dead stupid. You are not telling us about DDR, you are telling us about yourself.
dramatic reply
Couldn't be more wrong. Been saying DeMar is a beast all season.. He's embraced his role and doing everything asked of him, even defense has been a little better.. However I'm not gonna get the anointing oil until the season plays out..
We got 2 The Closers now.
Seems like DDR is replacing Nephew's role and LMA is regressing due to fact that he is not the main guy anymore.
Repeat of 2016-2017?
I actually don't think so. DDR is so much more of a playmaker, he will easily be able to set up LMA to easy buckets once defenses will focus more on locking him down and then LMA will take over.
LMA isn't regressing. His outside shot just isn't falling right now
it will be great if LMA midrange starts falling..
And he has been able to score just fine in the playoffs when he wasn't playing the Cavs. People act like he was trash in every playoff series just because he struggled against LeBron.
You got it. Go back to 2016-2017. He completely destroyed the Bucks in that series and hit clutch shots and an exclamation dunk to put beat them in game 6 in Milwaukee. Unfortunately the entire raptors team fell apart against Cleveland. DeRozan is to blame as well, but the coach was absolutely brutal. He had an obsession with playing the entire bench against the starters. Most overrated coach in Toronto history.
defenses right now are focussing more on LA than DeRozan. That will change as the season goes and scouting reports change.
LA’s stroke will return, he just didn’t all of a sudden forget how to shoot. He needs to play a little more inside and tougher but he’ll come around. They are still trying to figure each other out and it doesn’t help that they have no healthy PG on the roster.
They're both attracting a lot of attention. DeRozan was known to be triple teamed back in Toronto, especially when he was going off on teams. Also would help if LMA can get his shot back. I'm assuming he will eventually get it back.
They compliment each other’s game so I expect their games getting even better, likewise Forbe’s. We actually need a Dedmon type (athletic big) in case we go big. Pau is a few steps behind. Poeltl needs to get better
Lone Star Demar!
I believe he can. It's whether or not we can beat the best teams and put the right pieces around him. Currently our pieces around him are iffy but capable (LMA, Gay, Forbes). Need White to step in and make a good contribution.
Anyway, the point I am making is that he genuinely seems like a solid professional who works on his body, game, diet throughout the year and he is entering his prime. Seems to be the best Derozan we have seen and he is not satisfied yet.
Kawhi is a loser, DeMar is a winner.
This
He is definit getting muh touches
It's hard to close when you've been the only person playing all game.
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