“I don’t know if our personnel is going to allow us to be a defensive juggernaut, a stopping team,” Casey said last week. “But we can be better defensively as far as our schemes are concerned, and our rotations and pick-and-roll defence. I think we’ll be better than that with time.” That gets to the strangest thing about this all: DeRozan’s individual defence has been criticized throughout his career. It is bizarre that his absence would single-handedly destroy the Raptors’ defensive integrity. It is likely that DeRozan’s absence has impacted the team’s ability to stop their opposition. They have problems that go well beyond him, too.
In their last two games on the West Coast they gave up 126 and 125 points, respectively. In the 18 games they’ve played without DeRozan Toronto has allowed 108.6 points per 100 possessions, which is the third-worst in the NBA over that period, better only than the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. That the Raptors miss DeRozan defensively is counterintuitive because the perception is that part of his game has been a step behind his offence throughout his career. When he was hurt he was Toronto’s leading scorer. He made the all-star game last season on that basis. But as the Raptors’ points allowed totals have increased without DeRozan – they have averaged an NBA-worst 111.1 points per 100 possessions over the 18 games — Toronto forced a re-examination of what having DeRozan on the floor has meant to the way the Raptors play. Even he had to smile at the idea that his absence was having a bigger impact on the way the Raptors have defended.
“I haven’t had any setbacks, I haven’t had any soreness. Everything feels good, I’m not in any pain. I just don’t want to hop back out there. I think this is my third or fourth practice and I just really want to get a solid seven practices in and really get my rhythm and timing back so I won’t have to learn on the go once I come back because there’s a lot of new plays they’ve put in that I still have to get down pat.” If you do the math of ‘getting in seven full practices’ (in Toronto where the Raptors play six straight),’ that would put DeRozan’s return date at next Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers or Friday against the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks, but DeRozan wouldn’t be specific, only saying he would be back “sometime next week.” DeRozan, who was injured on Nov. 28 against the Dallas mavericks, said it has been difficult to sit out so long.
Raptors push back DeRozan’s pending return | TSN
He has watched the team’s varying results, mostly from behind the scenes – he’s said that sitting on the bench makes him anxious. The Raptors are 11-7 without DeRozan but 10 of those wins have come against inferior competition – they’re 1-6 when facing winning teams over that span. “I think it’s bigger than me,” he said. “Besides the last couple games the team lost, they’ve been playing well. They have their rhythm and like I said, I don’t just want to hop back out there.” “There’s a lot of new plays they put in that I still got to get down pat – plays for [Terrence Ross], plays for Kyle [Lowry] and everything. So I want to make sure I get all that down pat before I come back so there won’t be [any] learning on the [fly].” During that time, Lowry has put the team on his shoulders, running many of the plays that are generally called for DeRozan, as the primary option on offence.
DeMar DeRozan not ready to return to Raptors yet | Toronto Star
However, if there is such a thing as a silver lining, DeRozan insists that while he was sidelined, he has begun to see the game from a whole new perspective that will make him a better player. “I think I’ve grown mentally when it comes to basketball,” DeRozan insisted. “Just watching the game and really understanding the game from this level — other ways that I can figure out how to be better out there. I see a lot of times, late-game situations, if the game’s going too fast, got to get to the free-throw line, slow down the momentum, try to switch the momentum our way. Just little things like that. Being in the right spot defensively. “I’ve learned from (the coaches). I’ve learned how they game-plan. Situations they look for. Late game situations against certain teams, matchups. I really pay attention to that. I try and think like a coach and a player at the same time. Just me making observations on my own, watching the game.”
Raptors guard DeRozan says injury fully healed but needs more practice time | The Globe and Mail
DeRozan said it’s been funny to watch Lowry running plays that would normally be his. “He’s playing my position, so next game, every play he runs is my play. . . Just tell him, stop running my plays,” DeRozan said. “It kind of (makes) me happy though. . . but I tell them ‘One thing y’all can’t do is get to the free throw line.“’ The Raptors are averaging about seven fewer free throw attempts per game without DeRozan. His value in getting to the free throw line is one of those lessons that he said has really sunk in, watching his team from the sidelines. “Especially in late-game situations with the game going too fast, I understand you’ve got to get to the free throw line, slow down the momentum, try to switch the momentum to our end,” DeRozan said.
Q&A: Greivis Vásquez | NOW Magazine
It’s freezing, but you’re telling me New York, DC, Philly aren’t? I went to school in Maryland, and it’s just as bad as it is here.
Toronto Raptors Might Need More Than DeMar DeRozan’s Return to Compete for Title | Bleacher Report
Offensively, he’s a player opponents must honor, which will make life easier for Lowry. In addition, Terrence Ross’ role should shrink back down to the more limited one his game warrants, and the Raptors rotation can generally get itself back in order. Toronto was 13-3 when DeRozan got hurt and has gone 11-7 since. Let’s not overthink this; DeRozan makes them a better team.
Quick Stat Hits: The Defence – What Happened? | Raptors HQ
First, the difference between the first 14 games and the most recent 20 games is pretty stark. In the first 14 games, the defence gave up a paltry 97.8 points per 100 possessions. That would be good for second best defence in the league right now. In the 20 games since, 109.1, good for third worst in the league. So, where are those 11.7 additional points coming from? First, we have to look at who they’ve played. In the first 14 games, their opponent’s average Offensive Rating (ORTG) was 102.8. Since, it has been 104.1. So, applying that difference to a league average Defensive Rating (DRTG), that means they’ve actually performed as a 98.6 DRTG team in the first 14 games, and a 108.6 DRTG team in the last 20.
Tyler Hansbrough’s Underrated Role on the Toronto Raptors | Raptors Watch
Hansbrough is certainly not the first guy to transition from stardom in the NCAA to mediocrity in the NBA from a statistical standpoint. But given the nature of the league, there is a place in the NBA for serviceable players like Hansbrough. The Raptors sure felt that way when they exercised their team option on him and paid his full $3.33 million salary for the 2014-15 season. And while there is a place in the league for players like Hansbrough, at least Hansbrough is in fact in the league. There are plenty of 6’8” to 6’9” players who shined in their college careers only to barely make it through a couple of NBA seasons before being waived due to irrelevancy. Do names like Sean May, Tyrus Thomas or Adam Morrison ring any bells?
Charlotte Hornets (13-24) at Toronto Raptors (24-10): 3 keys to victory | Raptors Rapture
Al Jefferson, an offensive monster in the low blocks, is also out with injury, so Charlotte has patched together a funky starting lineup which has managed three straight wins. Bismack Biyombo, the world’s longest-serving project player, tries to play centre. He’s small for the spot, but there’s no one else, and he’s a willing defender and rebounder. His offensive game can’t be found with a microscope. Youthful Cody Zeller might be rounding into form as a traditional banger at power forward. Shooting guard Gerald Henderson has always struck me as a player who should be better – one of those “next season” guys. However, it’s his sixth year. How long do Hornet fans have to wait? Point guard Kemba Walker has been terrific virtually since the moment he stepped on an NBA court. With Jefferson out, he’s their best player by miles and miles. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the #2 pick in the draft in 2012, but has not lived up to expectations. I think he’ll stick as a useful rotation player, though finding minutes for a small forward with a 16.7% career rate from beyond the arc may be difficult. He’s an athlete, not a ballplayer, at least for now.
NBA Preview – Charlotte Hornets at Toronto Raptors – Jan 08, 2015 | CBSSports.com
They may have to continue that effort to extend their run at home to a half-dozen for the first time since last January. They’re also looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Hornets (13-24) in the opener of a six-game homestand. Toronto will likely focus on containing Walker after he finished with 31 points and hit an 11-foot jumper off the glass with 1.4 seconds left to lift Charlotte to a 98-94 home victory over New Orleans on Wednesday. With Al Jefferson sidelined due to a strained groin, Walker has been the team’s primary scoring option with 31.3 points per game on 23.7 field-goal attempts in his past three. He scored 29 points in the most recent meeting in Toronto on Dec. 18, 2013, sinking a jumper at the overtime buzzer for a 104-102 victory.
Hornets at Raptors: Thursday game preview | Toronto Star
Hornets F Al Jefferson is out for at least a month with a strained groin. . . . The Raptors and Hornets are playing for the first time this season. . . . The Hornets, after starting the season 3-3, lost 16 of their next 19 games, before righting the ship. They were 7-6 in the past 13 games, headed to Wednesday night’s road clash with the Pelicans and had won two straight. . . . The Hornets are last in the Southeast. . . . Heading to New Orleans, G Kemba Walker has averaged 37.1 minutes and 22.6 points the last 10 games, both leading the team. . . . The last time the teams played the Bobcats beat the Raptors 100-95 on Jan. 20, 2014 with DeMar DeRozan scoring 25 points in 38:46 minutes.
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