Tonight, DeMar DeRozan will miss his third consecutive game after leaving in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks last Friday.
Raptor fans immediately started to think the worst. The season had been going almost perfectly for Toronto, and we as Toronto sports fans just aren’t used to that. The second shoe always needs to drop.
A week later and fans are still waiting for an update as to how long DeRozan will miss with a torn groin muscle. Although we still don’t have a timeline in place for DeMar’s return, the picture may be starting to come into focus a little bit more.
DeRozan, as part of the Giant’s of Africa event taking place this evening at the Air Canada Centre, had some media availability to fill fans in a little bit further about what is going on, and how he is filling his injury time.
DeMar: “It’s definitely tough, just for me personally. I’m used to being out there but they kind of make it easier, as long as they win”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 5, 2014
DeMar: “Amir texted me one night. He was walking down the hotel hallway screaming my name & he was used to me popping my head out the door” — Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 5, 2014
Mckechnie rules out surgery for Derozan. Doesn’t put a timetable on his return
— Eric Koreen (@ekoreen) December 5, 2014
Still no timetable for DeRozan. Team says they’re taking an aggressive week-to-week approach to his recovery. Surgery not being considered — Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 5, 2014
On DeRozan injury: will be evaluated week to week; he says he is getting better every day, but no timeline.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) December 5, 2014
DeMar says he had a “great conversation” with Kobe the other night about staying positive after an injury — James Herbert (@outsidethenba) December 5, 2014
DeRozan on his daily routine with his injury: “Couch”
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) December 5, 2014
A day in the life of injured DeMar DeRozan: “On the coach. If theres no basketball game on I’m playing Madden. That’s been every single day” — Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 5, 2014
Derozan says this helps him in some ways, mentally, to sit back and soak in the game from all angles – even as a coach. #rtz #raptors
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) December 5, 2014
“I’m a part of the coaching staff now.” -DeMar — James Herbert (@outsidethenba) December 5, 2014
Steady improvement, but still no timeline. The initial speculation was that DeRozan was aiming to return within four weeks of his injury, which would seem to match with the team’s current week-by-week outlook. If this holds true, DeMar could return around December 26 (four week mark), two play the second game of a six game road trip that features Clippers, Nuggets, Blazers, Warriors, and Suns.
For now, we just have to wait. Week-to-week…couch to coach.
