DeMar DeRozan, the mid-range goalkeeper | NBA

At a time when 3-point shooting is sovereign in the NBA, mid-distance shooting persists thanks to some of its most loyal goalkeepers. From Devin Booker to Kevin Durant, via Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony or Brandon Ingram, many talented forwards who shine thanks to the “mid-range”. But this season, no one is more lethal in this area than DeMar DeRozan, especially late in the game.

The league’s best scorer in the fourth quarter with 8 points on average, DeRozan is also the player who takes the most shots at halfway in the last 12 minutes, with 72 shots attempted so far. The most impressive is the frequency with which his shots hit the mark: 36/72, or 50% success.

Like Kobe Bryant in the 2000s, or Michael Jordan in the previous decade, DeRozan very often rhymes with two runs when he receives the ball at the low post or near the racket head.

 » He’s so strong halfway Nikola Vucevic said after the Bulls’ victory over the Lakers on Sunday, during which the winger had planted 19 of his 38 points in the last quarter.  » When he gets the ball in his spot, there’s no one who can really stop him « 

Brought to defend against him during certain sequences of this incredible last quarter-time, Carmelo Anthony, also known for his elite mastery of mid-distance shooting, could only congratulate the Bull on his work.

 » A lot of people want to discredit this aspect of the game, but I think it’s a forgotten art. And DeMar is one of those guys who’s a master at it. «  soberly analyzed « Melo ». “At the end of a match, when the pace slows down, you have to put something in place and the outside shots don’t come in, you have to be able to control that aspect. He masters all his spots on the pitch, which is why he is so effective this season, especially during the fourth quarter. « 

Dominate against the tide

For the former player of Toronto and San Antonio, there is no question of following the standards of the current game. On the contrary, he is even proud to continue to dominate, year after year, with his style of play close to the circle which clashes in an NBA resolutely turned outwards.

 » I’ve always thought that if you master a certain type of shooting on the field, and you become domineering with that shot, then the defenses have to adapt to you. Shaq wasn’t taking shots at mid-range but he was dominant in his zone. You have Steph Curry, not everyone can be Steph Curry. As not everyone can be a domineering player. But me, I grew up idolizing old-school gamers « 

A native of Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, the Chicago player grew up in front of the exploits of Kobe Bryant, his favorite player. And the influence of the « Black Mamba » is quite evident in DeRozan’s game. As this decisive shot registered on Sunday on the nose of LeBron James, to seal the victory of the Bulls. The hesitation before putting down his support simultaneously to trigger his shot … We find the body language of the former legend of the Lakers.

A forgotten art … but which saves

The above shot is not an isolated example. Second in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have a record of 9 wins and 6 losses in the « clutch », that is to say the matches defined by a gap of 5 points or less in the last 5 minutes. And while some of the credit rightly goes to Zach LaVine as well, DeRozan’s positive influence in the hottest times is unmistakable.

Indeed, when he is on the ground during the fourth quarter, the Bulls have a +/- of 18.4. In the « clutch », this total rises to 19.1 (!), With a DeRozan which points to 55.6% success on shots.

When the “money-time” comes, the veteran is the stabilizing force of the Bulls and he makes his silky “mid-range” speak. To the delight of his coach, Billy Donovan.

 » He’s a guy who comes out of the woods usually late in the game {…} Obviously he’s always been a top player during his career in this field, but with us in particular he’s an elite player in these games. situations ”