RealGM

Years Played: 2009-present

Career Per-Game Stats: 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks

Career Advanced Metrics: 17.3 PER, 53.3 TS%, 0.105 WS/48, minus-414.5 TPA

Career Accolades: Three-time All-Star, All-NBA

That's not a typo.

DeMar DeRozan really has a negative TPA score in his career, thanks in large part to his consistently woeful play on the preventing end. In his defense, that's at least trending in a positive direction, as he's now posted plus scores in three of his last four seasons: 40.4 in 2013-14, 81.4 in 2015-16 and 46.5 in 2016-17.

But still, the fact he's earning All-Star berths—and even an All-NBA nod this past go-round—is utterly ridiculous.

DeRozan is a good secondary or tertiary player. He can put up points in bunches and score against even the tightest defensive coverage because his strength allows him to fight through contact when he shoots from his favored mid-range zones. But his points often fall into the LaMarcus Aldridge category: fairly empty, thanks to the inability to connect from downtown and tally a high number of points per possession.

During the 2016-17 campaign, 55 qualified players produced at least 15 points per game. Among that group, DeRozan's points per field-goal attempt ranked 31st—a bad finish for a one-way player who takes plenty of shots during his average appearance.

And it gets worse, because his commandeering style of play takes his teammates out of the half-court action. He can become so intent on finding a mid-range look that he dribbles down the shot clock and forces the Toronto Raptors into running nothing more than an ill-advised isolation attempt.

This is just another part of the reason Toronto has been worse with him on the floor for each of the last five seasons. In fact, 2016-17 was the first time since 2013-14 that the Raptors even scored more points per 100 possessions when he played, and it wasn't enough of a margin to offset the defensive drop.

DeRozan is a valuable player. He deserves to earn fringe All-Star love.

He should not, however, be the leader of a team. Nor should he be earning much All-NBA consideration, even at the league's weakest position.

NeoDragonKnight wrote:Well, just reinforces that this is Lowry's team, and DeMar is the secondary player as the article says he is, it is why we are successful now and not before when we were using DeMar as the first option. I have a love hate for DeMar, he can clearly score, he loves the City and has a drive to become the best Raptor, but a lot of his success comes from Lowry and the rest of the team, not the other way around.

RoleModel wrote:Do not give them the traffic they are looking for.

RoleModel wrote:Do not give them the traffic they are looking for.

zippy wrote:If I took bleacher report seriously EVER I might be like wtf, but thankfully I don't, they've just cemented the fact that they're a Raptor/Canada hating POS blog.

Derozan is the goat. F'oh

PopAGat wrote:I don't understand the hate.

Have they seen Paul George's offensive stats? Talk about a volume chucker who creates for his teammates LESS than DD does which is the central point of their argument.