Monday, 13 May 2024

Horry Scale: DeMar DeRozan Strikes Again

The Horry Scale brings you an in-depth analysis of game-winning buzzer-beaters (GWBB), evaluating their difficulty, the game situation, the importance, and the celebration. We then assign an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named after the legendary clutch player.

DeMar DeRozan’s Back-to-Back Wins

New Year’s Eve witnessed the New Year’s Heave, and New Year’s Day brought us the New Year’s Trey, both executed by Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan nailed two game-winning buzzer-beaters in as many days, following his three-pointer against the Pacers with another against the Wizards.

Game Situation

In Washington D.C., the Bulls found themselves trailing in the final seconds, desperately needing a bucket to maintain their winning streak. Down by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, Chicago orchestrated a remarkable comeback, taking a one-point lead. However, Kyle Kuzma’s three-pointer with four seconds remaining put the Wizards back in control.

That’s when DeRozan took center stage. Receiving the inbound pass from Coby White, he swiftly dribbled to the near corner, pump faked Corey Kispert, and launched the shot over Bradley Beal’s defense, sealing a 120-119 victory.

Difficulty

Although not quite as jaw-dropping as his one-legged, Nowitzki-style heave from 27 feet in Indiana, DeRozan’s shot against the Wizards was still quite challenging. Beal did an admirable job defending Kispert and managed to contest the shot with a hand in DeRozan’s face. The smirk on Beal’s face captured in various pictures of the aftermath summed up the difficulty of the shot. Even Kyle Kuzma acknowledged it with his postgame quote: “(Expletive) happens. DeMar told me to hold his beer.”

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Remarkably, DeRozan, a 28.5 percent three-point shooter throughout his career, had previously made just one of twenty attempts from beyond the arc in the final minute of one-possession games. According to Basketball Reference, DeRozan’s back-to-back buzzer-beaters marked the first time a player had achieved this feat and only the second time a player had hit consecutive game-winners since Larry Bird in January 1985.

Celebration

The scene following DeRozan’s shot against the Wizards mirrored that of Friday’s game. DeRozan, with a relatively calm demeanor, was surrounded and celebrated by his ecstatic teammates. However, the true celebration took place in the visitor’s locker room, where several Bulls players drenched him in an ice-water bath.

Grade

Chicago’s dream season continues, with a seven-game winning streak, propelling them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, one game ahead of the Nets. While it’s far too early to talk about destiny with more than half of the regular season remaining, the Bulls, thanks to a shrewd offseason, are undoubtedly making things interesting. This performance earns them a well-deserved four out of five Horrys.

FAQs

Q: How many consecutive game-winning buzzer-beaters has DeMar DeRozan made?
A: DeMar DeRozan made back-to-back game-winning buzzer-beaters against the Pacers and the Wizards.

Q: How many game-winners has DeRozan made in his career?
A: Throughout his career, DeMar DeRozan has made several game-winning shots, but the back-to-back shots against the Pacers and the Wizards were truly exceptional.

Q: Is this the first time a player has hit consecutive game-winners in NBA history?
A: No, DeMar DeRozan’s achievement marks the second time a player has hit consecutive game-winners. Larry Bird accomplished this feat in January 1985.

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Summary

DeMar DeRozan showcased his clutch abilities by hitting two consecutive game-winning buzzer-beaters against the Pacers and the Wizards. The Bulls found themselves in desperate situations, trailing in the final seconds. DeRozan’s shots were challenging, with defenders tightly contesting his attempts. The celebrations that followed both shots were memorable, with DeRozan’s teammates mobbing him on the court and drenching him in the locker room. These victories have propelled the Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, making their season even more exciting. Don’t miss out on the thrilling performances by visiting Osceolagarage.com.