The Raptors have remained in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff conversations, even with an unstable roster. DeMar DeRozan deserves a shout-out.
The Toronto Raptors have kept their heads well above water recently, despite sorely missing point guard Kyle Lowry who’s gone for weeks with right wrist problems. I would not have been the least surprised had the team dropped a bunch of games after the announcement of Lowry’s operation to remove bone particles. Instead the Raptors have a 7-4 record since the All-Star game, Kyle’s last appearance. A critical reason for their surprising resilience has been the consistent strong play of DeMar DeRozan.
The most remarkable feature about DeRozan’s season to date has been his spike in scoring. He averages 27.2 points per game, which is 3.7 more than his career best of last season.
I was curious to uncover what’s different about his game from this season to last or any one prior. I quickly saw what isn’t helping him – his 3-point shooting. While shooting from deep has always been his major weakness, he’s taken a large step backwards. DeMar’s percentage of makes has dropped from a poor 33.8 in 2015-16 to an unsightly 26 this season. His attempts have hardly varied in number.
DeMar is shooting more 2-point field goals, and making them – his reason for improved scoring is no more complex than that. He averaged 17.7 shots Per Game [PG] last season, and 20.9 so far this.

Defense – passable, at least
Our shooting guard is frequently derided for what appears to be his indifferent skills at the defensive end. I note with interest his non-appearance in a lengthy analysis of bad defenders, listed by position. I’ve watched DeMar for years, and I suspect he’s come to the conclusion that he’s got only so much energy, which he’s going to focus on offense. I doubt DeMar has arrived at that thought consciously; it’s what his play suggests.
That said, DeRozan has shown improvement in two critical defensive statistics, one being D-rebounds. He’s averaging 4.4 PG, the highest of his career and .7 more than last season. And he’s collecting 1.2 steals PG, another indication that he’s not sleepwalking on D. He rarely blocks shots, which is one of the factors leading to my opinion about his priorities.
While DeRozan still forces a shot on occasion, and can be accused of too many isolation plays, he’s adjusted well to the enforced absence of his friend Kyle. He’s coping admirably with double-teams, so too when his cover doesn’t “buy” his ball fake. In those situations, he’s usually able to pass the ball out of difficulty.
We’re the happy witnesses to a brilliant season from one of the finest Raptors ever. Let’s hope it continues, and culminates with a reunion with Lowry and a successful playoff run.
[20-second timeout: A final word on Kyle’s injury – I have it on good authority that his operation couldn’t be delayed. In some cases of this type a course of local sedation can work, allowing him to play. However, the detached particles in his wrist were not stable, so immediate remedial action was necessary.]