What DeMar DeRozan’s Imminent Return Will Mean for the Toronto Raptors

Sources say DeMar DeRozan is set to finally return to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 8 when they take on the Charlotte Hornets at home. DeRozan returning will make the team’s homecoming even sweeter, after having played six-straight games on the road against some of the NBA’s toughest oppositions. Plus, Jan. 8 marks the return of Drake Zone, where fans will receive exclusive OVO merchandise. So basically, things are looking good for the Raptors, as they attempt to climb back into the top spot in the Eastern Conference, which they gave up to the Atlanta Hawks last night.

Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan slated to return next Thursday vs Hornets after missing last 17 games with a left thigh injury,source told Yahoo
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 3, 2015

From @SpearsNBAYahoo: #Raptors G DeMar DeRozan is expected to return to action next week against the #Hornets --> http://t.co/BMw90HPsUa
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 3, 2015

DeRozan has missed 17 games with a groin injury, which he suffered on Nov. 28 during a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The team has fared surprisingly well without their All-Star shooting guard. Kyle Lowry, Lou Williams, James Johnson and Landry Fields have all put in solid work to mask DeRozan’s absence on the defensive and offensive ends of the court. Before his injury, DeRozan was averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 39% from the floor. Based on those statistics, it wasn’t the greatest start to the season for DeRozan, who scored 22.7 points per game on 43% shooting last season, but it’s still no simple task to replace around 20 points every night.

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Coach Dwane Casey has proved a fit strategist, experimenting with a few different players in DeRozan’s starting spot. The best fit has turned out to be Landry Fields, who has played solid lock-down defence. Fields is a selfless player who hardly ever looks to shoot, so he is always looking to facilitate for his teammates. With Fields on the court, Lowry became the team’s offensive centrepiece, with almost all of their offence moving through him. He has become a lethal scorer, shooting well from behind the arc, anywhere in two-point range and particularly around the paint. Plus, Lowry has upped his intensity on the defensive end, fully characterizing the bulldog identity he has been known for over the past few years.

Moving Fields to the starting lineup also allowed Casey to keep his excellent bench unit together. The Raptors boast one of the best benches in the NBA and their services have certainly been required for Casey’s team to win sans DeRozan. When Fields went down with a scary looking concussion on Dec. 19, Johnson stepped up as the next replacement starter. Johnson offers strong defence, like Fields, in addition to shooting touch and impressive finishing at the rim. Now, Fields is back, and will likely get the start in the team’s last DeRozan-less game against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow.