We need to talk about DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors fans. We really do. We’ve got to stop kidding ourselves and we’ve got to stop looking at the 20 points per game that he’s averaging and using it to justify his faults.
DeRozan is most successful and a major positive for his ball club when he drives to the basket... From within 0-3 feet of the hoop he’s shooting 70.6 this season. Great. The problem lies in the fact that he takes the fourth-most of his shots from that area
From 0-3 feet he takes 20.2 percent of his attempts; from 16+ feet he takes 21.8 percent; from 10-16 feet he takes 23.4 percent; and from 3-10 feet he takes 25.0 percent...
He shoots 27.3 percent from 16+ feet, 37.3 percent from 10-16 feet, and 41.3 percent from 3-10 feet. Yikes.
If you watch any good small ball team (or really any good basketball team period), they constantly keep the ball moving. The offense has to be fluid, in motion. Everyone needs to touch the ball on every possession if possible until the right look opens up. DeRozan brings all of that to a screeching halt. It’s not like the Raptors can’t get into a method of doing it, and they often are able to, generally through three quarters. DeRozan has even partaken in it before, so we know he can do it. But most of the time this simply isn’t the case, and instead what we get is No. 10 holding the ball for several seconds as he sizes up his man, then proceeds to drive into him and ends up taking a tough shot like a fallaway jumper. DeRozan plays like a poor man’s James Harden. Or maybe a rich man’s Kobe Bryant...
Where this has become a massive problem for Toronto is in the fourth quarter. For some odd reason, even if the Raps are playing well and they are moving the ball like they need to be, DeRozan seems to feel the need to play hero-ball and try to take over the final 12 minutes himself.
It’s strange and teeth-grindingly, borderline unbearable to watch. It’s now become a constant. The sun will rise, Donald Trump will stay stupid stuff, and DeMar DeRozan will suddenly switch into hero-ball mode in fourth quarters like a mind-controlled zombie.
DeRozan has taken a total of 69 shots in fourth quarters this season. He’s taken the most of those shots (64) when a defender is within a distance of zero feet from him. That’s right, zero feet – meaning he’s pulling up in dude’s mugs constantly. What’s he shooting like with opponent’s that close? 39.0 percent.
