DeRozan needs more time to improve conditioning.
DeMar DeRozan provided an update to reporters on Wednesday with regard to his recovery from a torn adductor. DeRozan’s leg is healed, but he will need more time to regain conditioning after missing more than a month.
DeMar DeRozan won’t play tomorrow after all. He and staff want him to get a few more practices user belt. Targeting next week.
— Eric Koreen (@ekoreen) January 7, 2015
DeRozan’s groin injury is fully healed & he’s been cleared but both he & the docs feel he needs to get conditioning back before he returns
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 7, 2015
It was originally reported by Yahoo Sports that DeRozan would return on Jan. 8 against the Charlotte Hornets. Should DeRozan indeed target a return next week, he would also miss a Saturday Jan. 10 contest against the Boston Celtics. The week thereafter, the Raptors face the Detroit Pistons (winners of 6 straight since waiving Josh Smith), Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans.
Easing DeRozan back into the rotation is a wise move. A shorthanded squad should be able to defeat the Hornets and Celtics (combined record of 23-47).
