Toronto Raptors: 5 goals for DeMar DeRozan in 2017-18
By Randy Porga
4. Show up on defense
DeMar DeRozan can be very costly on the defensive side of the ball and needs to ditch the lackluster defense on his NBA resume. While he is lengthy and athletic, he typically reserves seemingly all of his energy for when the ball gets in his hands. Not everybody can stand out quite as well as Serge Ibaka can on defense, but the backcourt must improve.
It can understandably seem like a lot to ask for when Kyle Lowry and DeRozan are the backbone of the offense, but somebody has to show up and play some defense.
Over DeRozan’s career, he has never once had a positive Defensive Box Plus-Minus, and his personal best defensive rating was 107 during the 2013-14 regular season.
The offense is certainly not being doubted with the potential of a playoff run again this year, but their defense is where all doubts linger. It is completely absent in their backcourt and will continue to be until one of the Toronto Raptors’ leaders steps up to the occasion.