Reassessing DeRozan as our starting SG now/future

[Death Knight]

Is DeRozan really a viable option at SG now and for the future for the Raptors?

We have mostly been judging DeRozan on his offense, but I'd like people to take into consideration the defensive side of the court as well. DeRozan is a very poor defender. At least with someone like Bargnani, you can say he is at least a good man to man defender. DeRozan, however, isn't really good at any aspects of defense. Bad rotations and help defense, inability to fight through screens or chase guys around, poor perimeter defense, and overall man to man coverage in terms of his ability to hold his own position...........those are just what we see on the court. Now lets look at stats, and specifically steals. He is at 0.7 spg, which puts him just outside of the top 30 (31) in terms of SGs. I understand that stats like steals and blocks aren't always the best guage as to whether a player is a good defender or not, but it could suggest that a player doesn't anticipate and recognize passing lanes to cut passes off, isn't quite active or energetic on the defensive end, and provides very little pressure on and off the ball.

With his poor defense, DeRozan's only chance to stick is to become a legit offensive threat. Well, even this side of the ball is kinda iffy for him. Some of the things that are holding DeRozan back on offense:

- Inadequate ball handling skills.
- Lack of a first step with no break down ability.
- No 3pt shot in his arsenal as we speak.
- Inconsistent midrange/jump shot whether it's contested or uncontested.
- Whether he gets to the free throw line or not, 72.4% makes him a very shaky ft shooter for a player at his position (SG).
- Obviously no postgame, back to the basket or face up. (Though it is not expected for a guard, there are some in the NBA that has one, which is advantageous)
- At only 1.7 assists/game, you can hardly so he has any passing skills or ability to create for others.

The more I watch DeRozan, the more I struggle to see potential in him. Almost every player in the NBA can dunk a basketball, so what other areas of his game do you see potential in? He absolutely contributes nothing else other than a little bit of inconsistent scoring. No rebounds, assists, steals, blocks. At least 1 dimensional players like Jason Terry, Kevin Martin, Ray Allen can absolutely stroke the ball with their shooting. DeRozan isn't a stroker and quite frankly isn't very dynamic of a wing player to have the ball in his hands.

So for many years, we have complained about bad perimeter defense and the lack of dynamic wing players, is DeRozan still a good investment at SG with his poor defense and lack of creativity on offense?

I'd say no. To me, he is a back up player, and we should still be looking for better options at the 1, 2 and 3 spots. I like what we have at the 4 with Amir and Davis. If you like Bargnani at the 5, I'm okay with that, but not entirely thrilled, as I prefer traditional bigs.

[KL78192020]

For those who hate on Derozan look at where Bargs was in his second year.

10.2points 3.7 rebounds shooting 38%. Demar's a kid and is still developing, Bargs was a scrub second year. Maybe we should've written him of after his second year. You guys have no patience.

Give the kid a chance.

[kl06ty]

Till we get a SG that can prove that he outperforms DD on both sides of the court, then no

Might as well let him develop and if it doesn't pan out, he can be a great 6th man or a trade chip

[NirvanaFC]

I agree with everything the OP has said. I'd also like to add his "work-ethic" is probably overrated too. How can a guy spend every night at the gym and yet hardly improve after a year?

[Dr Positivity]

He is mediocore, but until we find someone better it'll have to do

I think Bayless could end up a better SG option long term than Demar. Bayless could = Barbosa on a good team

[Death Knight]

I agree with everything the OP has said. I'd also like to add his "work-ethic" is probably overrated too. How can a guy spend every night at the gym and yet hardly improve after a year?

IMO, it has to do with what he works on and how he works out. You can work out 15 hours a day, but if you're not working out properly or doing the right things, you won't see results. It's like someone doing sit ups for months and months hoping to get nice abs, but don't see any results. Perhaps he's not doing proper sit ups?

[mowcrowbar]

I didn't watch the game today, but wasn't DeMar a major factor in the 3rd? He ended up with like 23 did he not? Besides, everyone knew demar was a project, he still has a ways to go, but he is showing more glimpses of what he can be. Don't you remember all the scouts saying demar will need atleast 2 years to develop the NBA game? As for his defense, he has been atrocious at times. He needs to learn to not over rely on the help defense. Actually, the whole team needs to learn how to defend his own man better, instead of overly relying on the help every damn time.

[Throwback24]

Till we get a SG that can prove that he outperforms DD on both sides of the court, then no

Might as well let him develop and if it doesn't pan out, he can be a great 6th man or a trade chip

It wouldn't be too hard to find a guard who could stick with his man better than DeRozan.

[redred9]

I like what I see from him. His defence and jumpshot will improve with age, and he has all the athletic tools. His weakness is his handles, but other shooting wing men like Jason Richardson, Mikael Pietrus and Richard Jefferson are similarly challenged and are all very good players. Defensively, what you look for is whether he is hustling, or does he not show enough interest? I think the kid hustles, so it's only natural that he improves at it as his body fills out.

Plus Demar plays unselfishly and gets to the rim pretty easily, so no reason to write him off at all. You guys realise he is the same age as Ed Davis right? You think Ed Davis is finished developing?

How about Evan Turner? He's a year older than Demar! You wanna rebuild? You take the lumps. I think he'll be fine.

[bigdirty]

For those who hate on Derozan look at where Bargs was in his second year.

10.2points 3.7 rebounds shooting 38%. Demar's a kid and is still developing, Bargs was a scrub second year. Maybe we should've written him of after his second year. You guys have no patience.

Give the kid a chance.

This should be quoted again, and again, and again. Awesome pickup because it seems to be the Bargnatics constantly hating on Demar.

[overdose]

For those who hate on Derozan look at where Bargs was in his second year.

10.2points 3.7 rebounds shooting 38%. Demar's a kid and is still developing, Bargs was a scrub second year. Maybe we should've written him of after his second year. You guys have no patience.

Give the kid a chance.

This should be quoted again, and again, and again. Awesome pickup because it seems to be the Bargnatics constantly hating on Demar.

[34_fifty]

Don't like the "look at Bargnani second year" arguement because Bargnani actually had a lot of talent to begin with - also his situation was completely different/didn't come in to the league proclaiming himself to be the second coming...etc

WIth that said, Derozan, I think has a lot of promise like what we saw today against the Lakers. He needs to be more aggressive all game because he can't relax and depend on his jumper due to the fact that it sucks. The one thing that he has going for him is quickness and athletic ability but poor ball handling skills. He should use that and put himself is situations where he is cutting to the basket to get the pass for an easy lay in or draw the foul because right now, he's useless on isos.

His defense needs to improve too. You can't be that bad at staying in front of a guy especially if Bargnani is defending the paint. I don't even care about him scoring more anymore. I'd rather have him become active on the defensive end with more rebounds/steals.

Don't even bring in the second year Bargnani arguement because Andrea was actually good at shooting (although inconsistently) and didn't get the freedom that Derozan is getting to develop his skill set.

Oh yea, they are both bad at defense in their second year so that cancels out.

[kenny]

someone please explain to me how derozan cant beat his man off the dribble?? this just doesnt make sense to me.. this is the hole reason why we drafted him... he might have a week jump shot and not the greatest handles.. but everyone knows how derozan's game relies on him attacking the basket... if he cant beat his man off the dribble then how did he get to the line 11 times tonight and how did he score 19 points in the third quarter? those points mostly came from attacking the basket... sure hes not attacking like that every game but that's because defenders back off on him because they know his jump shot is unreliable.. its hard to beat your man off the dribble when he backs off you by like 3 or 4 feet.. people see that as an inability to beat his man... when its his inability to shot consistently.. people need to stfu about demar.. hes only 21 wait a few years.. stop complaining after every game especially when he just had a solid game tonight.. toronto fans need to shut up about every player after every game

[redraptors]

No No Lets Pick up Randolph from the knicks or or.. The kid is 21 yrs old, averaging double digit scoring and pretty decent in terms of shot selection and %'s. No problem with his development. Next year is where I would like to see some big strides. He has had some big games against better competition.

People want Randolph, Childress, even now Bayless is getting more love. Come on what a joke.
Will he be a star?? Dont know but most wiing players that are successfull are three year college guys or take some time out of highschool (except Lebron) McGrady, Kobe, needed some time, Carter, Jeffereson, Marion all played a few more years in College

[mowcrowbar]

Its quite ridiculous how fast you guys call out players as busts. Last season, half way through the season or so. people started calling demar a bust, seriously?

Its also quite ridiculous this year. The kid showed times he has the ability to play, and even at times be clutch. I'm not expecting him to be a 10 time allstar, mvp candidate, but he is in pace to be a solid role player, maybe even a few allstars nubs. Its only the beginning of his second **** season, give the guy some freaking time.

[KL78192020]

Don't like the "look at Bargnani second year" arguement because Bargnani actually had a lot of talent to begin with - also his situation was completely different/didn't come in to the league proclaiming himself to be the second coming...etc

WIth that said, Derozan, I think has a lot of promise like what we saw today against the Lakers. He needs to be more aggressive all game because he can't relax and depend on his jumper due to the fact that it sucks. The one thing that he has going for him is quickness and athletic ability but poor ball handling skills. He should use that and put himself is situations where he is cutting to the basket to get the pass for an easy lay in or draw the foul because right now, he's useless on isos.

His defense needs to improve too. You can't be that bad at staying in front of a guy especially if Bargnani is defending the paint. I don't even care about him scoring more anymore. I'd rather have him become active on the defensive end with more rebounds/steals.

Don't even bring in the second year Bargnani arguement because Andrea was actually good at shooting (although inconsistently) and didn't get the freedom that Derozan is getting to develop his skill set.

Oh yea, they are both bad at defense in their second year so that cancels out.

Its a completely fair comparison, both are drafted based on potential, if we were going to draft someone who was ready, we would've taken Roy. Yea real good at shooting with 38% in his second year huh? Numbers don't like. He struggled for most of his second year. And what did Demar proclaim himself to be? As far as I'm concerned he has been quite humble, and accepts that he has a lot to learn.

[Rapsfan4life]

Don't even bring in the second year Bargnani arguement because Andrea was actually good at shooting (although inconsistently) and didn't get the freedom that Derozan is getting to develop his skill set.

As of todays game Demar has gotten to the free throw line 138 times in 28 games this season which is an average of 4.9 a game(oh btw bargnani got there a total of 169 times in his second season in 78 games). If getting to the basket and going to the free throw line is not a skill and bargnani's inconsistent jumper in his second season is a skill then give me more 7 footers who shoot 38% from the field and average 3 rebounds per game.

[...c.a.p...]

Shannon Brown floor is what I'm expecting. J-Rich ceiling would be awesome.

[J-Roc]

Well apparently DDR locked down Kobe today, so that's as good a defensive SG as you could hope for.

[KL78192020]

How about we reassess Ed Davis, he hasn't done jack so far. Is he the PF of future?