Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Player Power Rankings: Stars Getting Hot at Perfect Time

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) greets Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prior to their game at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) greets Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prior to their game at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 22
Next
Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

19. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

Last Rank: No. 17

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 26

Slash Line: .443/.323/.844

Season Averages: 36.3 MPG, 23.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 3PM

DeMar DeRozan has come a long way from being the athletic shooting guard who would settle for too many midrange jump shots. He still settles for midrange jump shots, but he’s become far more aggressive in the way he attacks the basket.

According to NBA.com, DeRozan is averaging a league-best 8.9 points via drives per game.

DeRozan still has his frustrating tendencies, but he’s begun to embrace the 3-ball. He’s shooting a career-best 32.3 percent from beyond the arc, and has made the second-most 3-point field goals of his career.

That’s helped him increase his field goal percentage by a full 3.0 percent since 2014-15, as well.

The foundation of DeRozan’s drastic improvement is the way he’s increased his aggressiveness as a slasher. Not only is he leading the league in points via drives, but he’s No. 3 in the NBA in free throws attempted per game at 8.8.

That number works very well in DeRozan’s favor as a career 82.3 percent shooter from the charity stripe who checks in at 84.4 percent in 2015-16.

Next: Versatility