The Toronto Raptors benefited from a favorable early season schedule and a completely healthy starting unit to post a 13-2 record through their first 15 games, which tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for the best start in the NBA over that span. However, the tide turned in a hurry as starting shooting guard DeMar DeRozan suffered a torn tendon in his groin last Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks. The injury has sidelined the All-Star guard indefinitely.
After losing to Dallas on Friday, Toronto dropped a second consecutive loss for the first time this year in a 129-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Raptors will have a tough time maintaining a high level of consistency without DeRozan but there are three key adjustments that can help them hang around until they welcome back their All-Star guard.
Greivis Vasquez, Lou Williams Must Step Up
No players need to step up more with DeRozan sidelined than Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams, who have shown their ability to contribute at a high level coming off the bench this season. DeRozan struggled against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, as he was held to 0-for-8 from the field, opening the door for Vasquez and Williams to respond.
That tandem stepped up with 30 points combined, and while Vasquez has gotten the nod to start in DeRozan’s place early on, Williams is just as important. Vasquez has averaged 9.3 points and 2.9 assists per game, but those numbers will undoubtedly go up with more playing time. Williams has averaged 14.6 points and he’ll be leaned on to hit shots from beyond the arc. The Raptors depth has been excellent all year and now it’s time for Vasquez and Williams to take on bigger roles and fill the hole created by DeRozan’s absence.
Raptors Must Look Inside
While Vasquez and Williams will literally fill the void left by DeRozan, Toronto will need to adjust and rely more on its young center Jonas Valanciunas to play a bigger role offensively. Valanciunas has averaged 11.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season but he has shown flashes of being ready to contribute more.
With DeRozan sidelined, now is the best time to put him in a premier role. Valanciunas made the difference in a win over the Phoenix Suns with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and that is the type of performance he needs to provide on a more consistent basis. The Raps would be wise to start feeding him the rock inside. That will attract defensive attention and allow Williams, Vasquez and the perimeter players to have an easier time of things.
Lowry Must Take The Lead
With DeRozan sidelined and both Vasquez and Williams trying to make up for what he brought to the team, the other major adjustment that Toronto needs to make is to rely even more on the best player still in its line up in Kyle Lowry. Lowry has averaged 19.2 points and 6.6 assists per game this season and he will need to be the player this team turns to in clutch situations. Lowry was snubbed as a potential All-Star last season and neither the team nor the fans in Toronto were happy about it. It would be hard to keep him off the team this year if he can step up with DeRozan sidelined and raise his level of play even higher.
When both are healthy, Lowry and DeRozan tend to interchange in terms of leadership. Some nights DeRozan takes the lead and Lowry plays off of him, and then there are other nights where Lowry is hitting the clutch shots. Without DeRozan in the lineup, Lowry needs to lead the Raptors when the going gets tough.
If the Raptors can get greater contributions from Vasquez, Williams and Valanciunas, and Lowry continues to play at an All-Star level, this team won’t fall off very much with DeRozan out.
