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DeRozan admits to being 'timid' since returning from injury

Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

DeMar DeRozan hasn't been himself since returning from a groin tear that cost him 21 games. But he's getting there. 

DeRozan scored 25 points, chipped in six rebounds and four assists in the Toronto Raptors' four-point win over the Brandon Jennings-less Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Most importantly, he got to the line, something that had largely eluded him in his previous six games post-injury. 

The Raptors' shooting guard attempted 10 free throws in the victory, his most since returning from the longest absence of his career. DeRozan has typically made a living at the line - most evident during his 2013-14 All-Star season - but has recently shied away from attacking the basket. 

"I almost forgot how I used to get to the free-throw line. But it felt good," DeRozan said after the win, according to Eric Koreen of the National Post. "I just wanted to go out there and be aggressive. I came in (to the practice gym Saturday) night and got some work in, working on my rhythm, working on a lot of in-game shots I always take."

Getting to the line has been a big part of DeRozan's game. He steadily increased the frequency of his trips to the charity stripe over his first few years in the league, while converting free throws at a high clip. And then he took a big jump last season. 

Season FTM FTA FT%
2009-10 1.9 2.5 76.3
2010-11 4.0 4.9 81.3
2011-12 4.3 5.3 81.0
2012-13 4.3 5.2 83.1
2013-14 6.6 8.0 82.4
2014-15 5.3 6.7 79.9

DeRozan's eight free-throw attempts per game ranked seventh in the NBA and second among guards behind James Harden. Before he suffered the groin tear, he was right at that pace, averaging 7.8 attempts per game while hitting at 82.3 percent. But upon DeRozan's return, that aspect of his game has mostly been abandoned. 

While he took nine attempts his third game back, he followed it up by taking one attempt, two attempts, and then zero attempts - for the first time since the 2012-13 season - in the following three contests before parading to the line against the Pistons. 

DeRozan expects to build off the Detroit effort and get back into attack mode, which is a large part of what makes him successful. 

"(Saturday), I really felt the most comfortable I've been since I've been back," he said. "Just getting used to being out there playing, running. I think (Sunday) was the first night every time I got into transition I pushed it. I was kind of timid in doing it a lot of games before. Every single day I'm feeling more comfortable."

That's welcome news for the Raptors, who have stumbled to a 5-7 record in January after going 24-8 through December. 

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