While nobody expects a player to be perfect, every player should expect to be crticized. After all, with so much time and effort we as fans invest into a team, we’ve earned the right to do so. And when you throw in the amount of money players make off of that very same investment, anyone and everyone is fair game.
But there is a fine line I feel all of us should attempt to walk. As I stated in the opening paragraph of my offseason piece which featured DeMar DeRozan’s future: rushing to judgement on a player who still has room to grow is a risky way of thinking.
It’s essentially the same for every fan base, but if we’re tracking how many times a player can be celebrated one night only to be thrown to the wolves the next time out, I’m willing to go all-in that the city of Toronto ranks among the most volatile.
As far as the Raptors’ roster is concerned, it’s fair to say that no player has been immune from negativity. Kyle Lowry has felt the wrath at one point or another, and even newcomers DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph, who seemingly could do no wrong, have experienced a taste of what it’s like when you start to struggle.
Though if I was to narrow it down to the ones who’ve received the majority of mixed emotions, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross can surely challenge for top spot. But they’d have to contend with DeRozan, who’s perhaps the most polarizing player in Raptors’ history.
For those who continue to look the other way and refuse to acknolwedge the direction DeRozan is headed, the rest of this article might not be up your alley. But if you stay with me, maybe it can nudge your sense of hesitation.
I know last night’s loss to the Bulls is fresh in the minds of many. Which would also mean DeMar’s questionable decision not to pass after drawing the defense at a crucial moment late in the game is not far behind. But the purpose here is not to let a single moment take away from a bigger sample size. A recent run that indicates DD might finally be ready to take the next step on a permanent basis. And maybe, just maybe, be on his way to earning his looming max-contract.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t keep our guard up. Though we are well trained in that department thanks to T-Ross’ teasing inconsistencies. Personally, in the heat of frustration, I’ve stated on numerous occasions that the big picture might be more beneficial if the Raps’ eventually moved on from DeRozan if the right trade scenario presented itself. Particularly if it meant an upgrade in the frontcourt came in return. At the same time, I’ve also held the belief, like many of you I’m sure, that DeRozan’s untapped potential might have us regretting such a thought in the long run.
And if he’s not silencing his critics at this point, I’m not too sure what he can do for an encore. Let’s take a look at what’s taking place.
The knocks on DeRozan have forever been connected to court awareness. Whether it be poor shot selection at inopportune times, failing to get others involved, or the lack of attention given to aspects of his game aside from scoring or getting to the free-throw line. Not to mention the lack of production (or skill-set) from behind the arc, and a lackadaisical presence on defense.
Well, change is in the air. For the most part.
First off, his streak of notching 20 points or more in 12 of his last 13 games needs to be recognized. And the same goes for hanging with the league’s elite, finishing up 5th in points per game over the month of December. But it’s how he’s gone about it that needs to be commended, as his decision-making has turned a corner.
Overall, DeRozan is no longer forcing the issue. No longer are his detractors able to harp on his ill-advised long-twos or out of control mid-range jumpers (myself included). They creep into the picture every so often out of shot-clock necessity and when selfish DeMar decides to make an appearance, but his discipline to instead reset the offense or look for a teammate with a better opportunity has shown remarkable improvement. Once again, depsite Sunday’s 4th-quarter possession(s).
One could argue that his December run, which when compared to November, included bumps in Field Goal Percentage (.427 to .471), rebounds (4.0 to 4.9), assists (4.0 to 4.3), and points (20.9 to 25.0) can mostly be attributed to the Raps being undermanned which then led to inflated production. I’d counter with the fact that not only did DeMar have to carry the weight of Lowry’s shooting slump, but he also wasn’t benefiting from Joseph’s usual services. One that normally allows DeRozan to spend less time on the peremiter. Throw in the fact that he had to deal with the added focus opposing defenses were placing on him, and DD has recently been this club’s savior.
His True Shooting Perecentage (.548) is at its highest mark in six years. His overall Field Goal Precentage (.443) is the highest its been over the course of his last three, all the while averaging more attempts than last season. And they both coincide with a career-high PER (21.2) and Free-Throw Percentage (.849).
Now, I will stop myself from getting too excited over his sudden improvement from dowtown (9 for 19 over his last six games), and considering that’s basically an unheard of part of his arsenal (27 percent for his career), we should seriously temper our expectations.
Yet with adjustments being made across the board, it does call for a bit of optimism. Especially when he’s making them within the framework of the offense. As I stay true to my opening statement, I’m not ruling out the fact that DeRozan can eventually become a legitimate 3-point threat and implement that aspect into his game with consistency. It is his missing link to becoming part of the elite.
Defense is still a problem. But it also connects with why we as a collective are so hard on him. We know he’s a capable of being a two-way player, as we’ve seen it before. For now, however, going through the motions is what we’ve grown to expect.
Will that hold this team back from progressing in the playoffs? Not necessarily, but only time will tell. We’ll take the offensive tradeoff at this point. A thought that’s reinforced by the Raps being fully healthy for the first time in quite a while.
* That thought might come with an asterisk, though. It seems like Carroll has a few things to say on the subject.
But with this version of DeRozan arguably being the best we’ve seen over his career, it really couldn’t have happened at a better time. Max dollars or not, the NBA marketplace guarantees he will net a massive payday whether or not Masai and the higher-ups want to him keep him around for the long haul. But there’s now a reference point to what this organization truly has in DeMar.
This is where the usual suspects come back into play. If T-Ross and JV can continue trending in the right direction, it can go a long way in securing secondary scoring. With the notion of James Johnson and Luis Scola coming off the books (however unfortunate) combined with the possible dumping of Patrick Patterson’s contract very much in play, it could allow the Raps to use all remaining resources to acquire a Power Forward presence to take this squad to the next level. But of course, that’s assuming this new and improved edition of DeMar is here to stay.
With so much of the season still to come, it promises to be an eventful ride.
The early spotlight was on Carroll and Valanciunas, followed by K-Low and CoJo stealing the show. But it’s now shining directly on DeRozan and reminding everyone of the value he can provide.
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