Midseason Grades For The Toronto Raptors

DeMar DeRozan

Grade: A-
Stats: 28.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game. 47.4 FG%, 24.1 3P%

It’s time for public perception of DeMar DeRozan to catch up to reality. In the pursuit of capturing the game better through analytics, it seems high volume efficient scoring is becoming undervalued. While DeRozan’s style is a throwback, he has been achieving results this season.

He’s fifth in the league in scoring, while having a higher true shooting percentage than other celebrated stars like Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin.

DeRozan’s scoring alleviates pressure off of the rest of the Raptors roster. Outside of he and Lowry, there aren’t many players capable of shouldering a large offensive role. By keeping his teammates in manageable roles, he makes them better and helps them maintain solid efficiency.

While his style of getting to the line and taking contested jumpers isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball, when he gets hot it feels like watching a Kobe Bryant throwback game on NBA TV.

He’s rebounding better than ever before and his improved decision-making and vision have helped him take the next step as a scorer and himself as an All-Star in this league.

Now for the critique … DeRozan ranks 396th out of 438 players in the league in defensive real plus minus. He often completely loses his man off ball and can play matador defense on the perimeter. It’s frustrating because he’s played at least average defense before in his career.

With the game on the line, he can dig down and get you a defensive stop. But on average he’s a liability. It’s a common issue with guards that shoulder a huge load defensively. Unfortunately for DeRozan he just doesn’t have a safety net with a strong defensive center.