Sacramento heads into the Golden State game with a new chance to redeem itself from its collapses. DeMar DeRozan dropped an honest take on the woes.
DeMar DeRozan took the final shot to will the Sacramento Kings over the Dallas Mavericks. The shot clanked off -- and completed a brand new fourth quarter collapse.
This one on Tuesday night watched Sacramento blow a 12-point lead and fall 100-98. But in front of a nationally televised audience, the fans who tuned in watched how messy the Kings became in the end. Plus saw their constant fourth quarter struggles for the first time this season.
Getting outscored in the final period has become a blemish for the Kings this season. Opposing teams, including Dallas, have outscored Sacramento in the final period.
DeRozan became blunt after the game about the fourth quarter woes via Sean Cunningham of KCRA NBC Sacramento.
"Just got to be better with our execution," DeRozan began. "[Be] understandable when you can take advantage of spacing, timing on spacing, understanding how teams are playing us and how they're doubling and who they're doubling. I think just being more organized with us, more so anything."
He then dropped one more truth statement about what he's seeing in the final minutes of each game.
"We don't give ourselves shots off consistently. That's the issue," DeRozan said. "We just need to be more organized and not rely on a one-legged 40-footer."
He knows, too, that Sacramento got presented with multiple opportunities to put the game away against a fellow sub .500 team.
"We gave ourselves a chance the last couple of possessions," DeRozan said.
He still led the team with 21 points and buried a trio of baskets from behind the arc. DeRozan also needed to share the court with younger talent this season -- notably rookie Maxime Raynaud. But he's liking the development of the likes of Raynaud and company.
"The best experience you can have is being in the moment," DeRozan said. "It's the best way to learn. All those guys are getting opportunities to go out and play -- and it's going to pay off for them."
Sacramento, still, must find ways to erase their fourth quarter flaws as they've been outscored in the final period during the losing streak. Plus is one of the worst at fourth quarter scoring.
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