The Toronto Raptors are in the midst of arguably their best season as a franchise. Not only do they currently hold a three-and-a-half game lead on Boston for the No. 1 seed in the East, they’re the only team ranked in the top five in both defensive and offensive efficiency this season.
Much of this is a direct result of how head coach Dwane Casey has recalibrated the offense to push the pace (they’re 11th in the NBA in that department) and create better spacing. Some of that is a byproduct of DeMar DeRozan‘s willingness and improved proficiency from downtown. He’s attempting 3.6 three-pointers per game, which is the highest mark of his career, and converting a borderline-respectable 31.7 percent from that range.
This is in no small measure due to the way Toronto’s front office execs gave him some motivation to improve by comparing him favorably to his childhood hero earlier this season.
Via Zach Lowe of ESPN:
DeRozan, a proud native of Compton, California, grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant. The Lakers had retired Bryant’s two jersey numbers the night before. DeRozan had surely watched. Ujiri told DeRozan he could be Toronto’s Kobe — a lifetime player who defines a franchise and, maybe, brings it championship glory. But to get there — to push this live-wire Toronto team to its full potential — DeRozan had to start shooting more 3-pointers.
…
They empowered DeRozan because they knew he was prepared. “When everyone has that kind of confidence in you — that you can carry a franchise — it gives you that extra confidence,” DeRozan says. “For them to say I could be in [Kobe’s] position — it was an honor accepting that fully.”
The Raptors’ over-reliance on its two main stars — DeRozan and Kyle Lowry — has historically been its downfall, which is what sets the 2018 version of this team apart from previous incarnations. Both are averaging fewer points per game and logging lower usage rates as the rest of their peripheral players are more involved and more productive.
With the Cavs still trying to create chemistry and find consistency with their revamped roster and the Celtics battling a slew of injuries, the path to the Finals has never been clearer for the Raptors. But there’s a lot of basketball left to play, and they’ll have to prove they can keep their momentum going when it matters most. It’ll certainly help if the guy they view as the franchise’s Kobe Bryant can keep up his hot play.
(Via ESPN)
