Does DeMar DeRozan Possess Next Level Drive and Game?

What is DeMar DeRozan up to these days?

From watching several YouTube videos, I have seen with my own eyes that the Raptors two/three guard has been keeping busy playing in the Drew League on the summer league circuit. The Drew League is based in Compton, Los Angeles (DeRozan grew up in Compton). The League amalgamates professional basketball, college, street-ball and even some high school players into two divisions that each consist of twelve teams. This is where DeRozan has been getting in some serious summer runs; playing for the team, Go H.A.M!

 Over the last two NBA seasons we have witnessed the maturation of a player that one day - 'one day' here means next season, if there is a season (damn you NBA lockout) - will unequivocally become the best player and face of the franchise. He is developing before our eyes and all we hope for is that the development does not plateau anytime soon.


Talented players with high work ethics often find ways to add different dimensions to their game. They work on their weaknesses during the off-season and add new wrinkles to their overall game. Take for example the instance when Kobe Bryant at some point added about twenty pounds of muscle to his frame, hoping that it would take his game to another level. The very next season in 2007, he lost the weight because he wanted more quickness and energy. The point is that Kobe was willing to try the additional weight, hoping that it would give him an advantage.

Does every player have the desire to work on their game or add new dimensions to it? Most players use their summers to stay in shape. Only a handful look to become better than their previous selves. What DeRozan did in the second half of last season shows he might just have figured out how to turn the next level switch on. Whether he will achieve greatness is another topic all together. Right now, the important thing is to have development that translates to better stats and wins.

In the first 32 games of the 2010/2011 season, DeRozan averaged 13 points per game. In those early games, he had ten games in which he totaled less than ten points. The last 50 games of the season is where the revelation of DeMar began to unfold. He averaged 20 points per game and only had four games in which he scored below ten points.

On the season, he shot 47 per cent from the field while attempting 14 shots per game. The next level expectation for DeRozan is to see if he can maintain the excellent percentage from the field while being asked to assume a more prominent role on the offense. Can he average 20-25 points per game while rounding out other aspects of his game?

Hopefully scoring and the other aspects are being developed as he plays several months of summer ball. Some might argue that the competition is watered down but the fact that the league thrives on showcasing scoring and athletic abilities, might prove advantageous. It seems that all DeRozan needed last season was to believe that he has the game to shine in the league. The added confidence translated to improved play down the seasons stretch. Imagine what he can bring to the Raptors after posting good numbers in a single summer league game.

That's right! He shot 7 for 11 from three point range. The negative about that is that he launched eleven, which might make a lot of Raptor fans cringe. The positive is that he is working on his shot. Whether from beyond the arc or inside it, this is considered to be a good thing from my perspective.
Majority of the names on the box score are not household names but that should not inspire any thoughts regarding the level of play. Most of the players in the league played college ball and some play professionally in Europe and/or Asia. These are not your average pick-up games that might get intense every once in a while. These are regular-summer-league-season-games that lead up to the Drew League playoffs. This is where most of these guys sharpen up their game; some with the hopes of trying another run at making it to the NBA. Others work on improving/staying in shape for their contract work overseas.

And there are those like DeRozan and a few other NBAers who play because they are gym rats. You will find them in the gym working out or playing ball - alone or in a league. Bottom line here is that the competition in summer leagues are exactly what Raptor fans hope will help bring DeRozan's game to the next level.

That and his own desire to work on his game - in a gym hoisting up shot after shot. Earlier today, he Tweeted: "In the gym...". A little while later, he followed that tweet with "Shooting jumpers til my arm fall off...".

DeMar DeRozan: Talent - check; Drive - check; Work ethic - check!

Able to lead Raptors to the playoffs and beyond - TBD!

Andrea Bargnani is Lucky to have Jonas Valanciunas and Dwayne Casey!

With the fifth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select...................Jonas Valanciunas!?!?

Jonas Valanciunas will add a lot of much needed size to the Raptors roster.

Unless you were an NBA scout, you probably had the same reaction to this selection as I did. The general consensus amongst basketball heads was the Raptors should have selected Kemba Walker, Brandon Knight or Bismack Biyombo. I initially did not like this pick because I felt that the need of the team was either in the back court with a point guard or a defensive minded post player.
I know Valanciunas is a young and talented center, but I did not think he was good enough to be selected with the fifth pick. His contract and buy-out situation with his club, Lietuvos Rytas, was another major deterrent in considering him a worthy selection. Also, I made it clear before that selecting another European big was not in the best interest of the team and the fans.

So, with all that said, why would I think that picking Valanciunas helps the Raptors and especially Andrea Bargnani?

I came to my senses on the selection because I realized that in order for the Raptors to actually have success in the future, they need a 'true-center' in every sense of the word - one that actually wants to play in the post.

Andrea Bargnani's offensive game should soar to new heights with the addition of Valanciunas. 

Andrea Bargnani, with five seasons already under his belt, has shown time and time again that he can mix up his game, but would rather play away from the basket. With Valanciunas, the Raptors have a pair of seven footers that will create match-up nightmares for opposing bigs and defenses. Bargnani improved offensively and proved that he can score pretty much on any opposing center; he averaged 21 points and 5 rebounds per game in the 2010-2011 season. Although his low post game is
improving and his 3 point attempts (223) was the lowest in five seasons, his natural instinct offensively is to jab step, take his man off the dribble, step back and shoot. Often when he gets the ball in the low post, he would pivot and face up his man.

In comes this young Lithuanian center that stands at a legit 7 foot tall with a 7'4 wingspan. His shooting touch is improving, but for Raptor fans, it is better that he has a limited range. At present, Valanciunas is capable of knocking down shots from about 12 ft. No need to panic until he starts launching 3 pointers. According to several scouts and some YouTube footage, Valanciunas lives predominantly in the post. He shot 70% from the field in the Euroleague last year and knows to give up the ball when double-teamed.

If all goes according to plan regarding the development of Valanciunas, (one cannot forget Ed Davis who can play the four and sometimes the five if he has to) the Raptors will have a roster of bigs that are more versatile than any other team in the league. Bargnani, who is arguably the best player on the Raptor squad, (at least until DeMar DeRozan proves that the second half improvement he displayed last year was not a fluke) should really count his blessings. He now has the freedom to play his style of basketball, without having to be told to spend more time in the post. Valanciunas and Ed Davis will be responsible for the land under and around the hoop. Also, Bargnani will not be asked to guard the opposing centers.

This, though, does not excuse Bargnani from improving his defense. As a matter of fact, he really needs to get ready for the most defensively grueling season in his young career.

The hiring of Dwayne Casey as the new bench boss is arguably the best move thus far this off-season. Maybe even better than drafting Valanciunas, who some pundits believe could have been the number one pick, if not for his 'almost' iron-clad contract with his Euro club (which Colangelo managed to negotiate a buyout, which only requires Valanciunas to play one more season in Europe). Casey's defensively focused game plan is exactly what these group of young Raptors need. He redesigned the Dallas Mavericks defensive scheme by utilizing the length and athleticism of the Dallas Maverick players. Casey managed to make Dirk Nowitzki show more effort on defense, while hiding his weaknesses on that side of the court.

When Valanciunas joins the team in the 2012/2013 season, Casey will have an integral piece in establishing a similar defensive system in Toronto- a system which is predicated on accountability and plenty of swarming help from each man on the court.

With the uncertainty of how long the NBA lockout will last, Valanciunas is currently the only player on the Raptors squad that could see competitive action this season. He gets to play one more season in Europe, before coming to the Raptors to make Bargnani's basketball life a lot easier.

Raptors Pre-Draft Preview – Why Kemba Walker is not a good fit!

I have gone back and forth in my head, regarding the upcoming 2011 NBA draft. Particularly regarding the possible draft pick for the Toronto Raptors. A little over two weeks ago, I've stated before that the Raptors should stay away from European Big-Men and focus their attention on improving the point guard position; either Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker.

I am not one to put my foot down on an issue, without having the humility to change my stance or completely shift my position. In the time, since my last piece, I have watched a lot of footage and read a lot of articles covering a number of draft prospects that might be available when the Raptors pick fifth overall. For clarity's sake, I am not changing my stance that the Raptors should take Brandon Knight, but several mock-draft boards have him going to the Utah Jazz with the 3rd pick. Since my initial opinion was that the Raptors need a point guard more than they need a big; if this scenario plays out, the only topnotch point guard available after Knight is Kemba Walker. My opinion on Walker was not very high to begin with and it has dropped some more in the past few weeks. Unlike most other critiques of Walker, pointing to his 6'1 height as huge disadvantage, I point to his defensive limitations and his shot volume.

In forty-one games with UConn - including the tournament run to winning the national championship - Walker averaged eighteen shot attempts per game. He connected at a clip of .428 per cent. From beyond the arc, he launched six attempts per game and connected at a clip of .330 percent. These stats are neither great nor entirely bad - they are okay numbers for a college point guard who was the primary focus on offense for his team. I took into consideration the fact that Walker had the ball in his hand almost all the time. In addition, I also factored in that Jim Calhoun - head coach at UConn - runs a pro-style offense, which puts the ball in the best scorer's hands. My personal opinion is that Walker will go through an adjustment period as a pro. Anywhere from a full season, to a couple of years, before he learns to give up the ball to better athletes and scorers on his team at the next level. The Raptors have specific needs that require a point guard, with a pass first mentality and defensive acumen.

It is evident from last year, that the Raptors are statistically the worst defensive team in the league. A lot of their defensive woes came as a result of a lack of interior defense, team perimeter-help defense and bad shot selection that led to easy buckets for the opposing teams. Drafting Walker would not help this team at all. Matter of fact, I believe it would set them back a few steps defensively. I have never been a fan of point guards that are scorers first and passers second. Only a handful of dynamic guards in NBA history have been offensively gifted enough at the NBA level to score in bunches and effectively get their teammates involved. Allen Iverson is a perfect example here, but he was unique because his ability to score at will created a plethora of opportunities for his teammates.

Kemba Walker is no A.I! Heck, he is not even Nick Van Exel.

What would I do if I was Brian Colangelo? Since I have just stated my reason for not drafting Kemba Walker - on the premise that Brandon Knight has already been drafted? I would address another need. I would select the best defensive Big-Man left on the board. Bismark Biyombo!

Biyombo is an eighteen year old, 6'9 power forward from the Republic of Congo. He is offensively very raw, but not completely inept. He makes up for the limited offense with his defensive capabilities. I will go out on a limb right now and say Biyombo will win defensive player of the year honors at least twice in his NBA career.

2011 Draft Preview: The Toronto Raptors

Pick me! Will the Toronto Raptors pick Brandon Knight in the 2011 NBA Draft?

Brian Colangelo, GM of the Toronto Raptors has some serious decisions to make before the 2011 NBA draft on June 23. One decision, I think he should be weary of making is one that involves European players. Can the Raptors really afford to draft another player from Europe? According to a number of mock draft/basketball websites - ESPN, Hoopshype and nbadraft.net – the Raptors are being slotted to select either Jan Vesely or Jonas Valanciunas. The few websites that predict the Raptors will pick a non-European player, mostly suggested Kemba Walker or Brandon Knight. I am more inclined to agree with draft projections involving these two point guards.

Selecting Valanciunas or Vesely is not the way to address the needs of the team. From a public relations standpoint, the addition of another European player might not sit well with the loyal fan base. Fans are weary of experiments like Rafael Araujo, who is often used as the poster child of the failed Euro-experiments of the team. Although the team is obviously going through a rebuilding phase, selecting a player that might have to stay overseas for a couple of years does not really improve the team.

The Raptors have two major needs. The first is a true-big that loves to bang in the paint and can play post defense. In the 2010-2011 season, the team was ranked 21st in the league in rebounds per game. The team average of 40.32 RPG was better than that of the Boston Celtics’ 38.79 RPG. While the Raptors can stand to improve in the rebounding department, the fact that the Celtics made it to the second round of the playoffs with a lower rebounding average shows that the Raptors have other pressing needs.

I believe that the team’s second and more pressing need lies in the backcourt. Even though it is important to have a low post player, improving the backcourt is more crucial for the future success of the franchise. Starting point guard Jose Calderon’s inability to stay in front of his man has been, what I would describe as the gateway to the defensive liabilities that plague the team. I am not knocking Calderon’s ability to command the offense and distribute effectively to his teammates. His 2010/2011 averages of 10 PPG and 9 APG proves this point. I think Colangelo should revisit the options available to him if they traded Calderon for a veteran post player or maybe for another draft pick in this draft.

This brings me back to the two players I think Colangelo should look to draft, if they are still available on the board. Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker are two point guards with different skill sets, but both have the potential to have solid NBA careers. Knight is a one-and-done player that played for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he posted averages of 17 PPG, 4 APG and 4 RPG. Even though he started the season slowly, Knight managed to show the promising game that was expected of him. He is 6’3, very athletic and is probably the best defensive point guard in the draft. His strengths are his athleticism, size – an NBA ready body – quickness and jump shot. My knock on his game is that he sometimes disappears for stretches. This is a weakness that can be addressed through more experience playing the game at the next level.

Kemba Walker's scoring ability will make it hard for the Raptors to pass up if he is still on the board.

Walker had a remarkable season and led the Connecticut Huskies to a victory in the NCAA championship game. He averaged 23 PPG, 4 APG and 5 RPG. Walker is considered more of a heady point guard that makes his teammates better. I beg to differ on this notion. From the several games that I have watched, I consider him to be a guard that looks to score almost every time he has the ball and only passes when he has to. His height, 6’1, might be a considered a weakness but I don’t see it as such.

If the Raptors were lucky enough to find both of these players available on the draft board, which one do I feel they should pick?, I think the sure bet here is Brandon Knight. His size, shooting ability, defensive willingness and ability along with his strong NBA-ready physique, make him a better prospect than Walker and put him right behind Kyrie Irving as the second-ranked point guard in this draft.