DeMar DeRozan to return Wednesday or Friday
The return of DeMar DeRozan can't come soon enough for a sputtering Toronto Raptors team.
Out since Nov. 28 with a torn left adductor longus tendon, DeRozan has watched his teammates play to a 12-9 record without him but just a 1-5 mark over their last six games. He'll be back to help soon, either on Wednesday or Friday, according to head coach Dwane Casey.
The team's defense, in particular, has fallen apart without DeRozan. That may be surprising considering he averages 19.4 points and was an All-Star last season based almost entirely on his offensive game, but the Raptors have capable offensive replacements and generally woeful defensive ones.
Lou Williams and Greivis Vasquez have helped keep the team's offense elite, but even extended time for versatile defender James Johnson hasn't been enough to keep the Raptors from bleeding out at the other end. DeRozan is probably no more than an average defender, but he's intelligent and makes few mistakes in Casey's aggressive, help-heavy scheme.
DeRozan's return should also lessen the offensive burden on Kyle Lowry, who has been phenomenal, but has begun to show signs of fatigue of late.
| Kyle Lowry | PPG | APG | TOPG | TS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 16 Games | 18.6 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 56.9% |
| Middle 15 Games | 22.6 | 9.1 | 2.9 | 57.2% |
| Last 6 Games | 19.8 | 7.7 | 3.8 | 48.3% |
The Raptors, who are in a three-way tie for second in the Eastern Conference at 25-12, host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Returning against the 76ers to get his feet wet before a tough showdown with the Hawks would probably be the preferred course, should DeRozan's groin agree to it.