DeMar DeRozan is pacing the San Antonio Spurs this season
DeMar DeRozan is having the most complete season of his career and as such is pacing the San Antonio Spurs in the early part.
The San Antonio Spurs have had a mixed bag to start the season. They won their first two games against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors. They then lost the next three, one against the New Orleans Pelicans and two against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The last two games against the Lakes were without LaMarcus Aldridge and while the rest of the team tried, they were not able to pick up the slack of the big man. However, with the exception of the Pelicans game, DeMar DeRozan has been exceptional.
Over the first five games of the new season, DeRozan has averaged 21.8 points, 8.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. To say that he has played his heart out for the Spurs would be an understatement,
DeMar DeRozan has added more to his game and it is benefitting the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs have benefitted from the addition of a 3-point shot to DeRozan’s game. He has been taking 2.6 attempts from deep a game, making 1.4 of them. DeMar DeRozan has a solid 3-point shot and it is hitting them at a 54.0 percent rate.
DeRozan is having one of his most efficient seasons yet. He is shooting the ball at 49.3 percent but he is taking only 14.3 shots per game which is the third-lowest average since his third season in the league.
On top of his efficiency with his shot, DeRozan is making his way to the line 7.4 times a game. He is converting those easy looks at an 86.5 percent clip, which is the best number of his career to date. This is allowing the younger brigade to get their shots which is the direction the franchise is going in.
DeRozan is helping out in the department as well, setting up his teammates at the rate of 8.0 assists per game. This is almost 2.0 more assists per game more than any other season in his career.
Even when his shot is not falling, DeRozan is having an impact on the game. In the game against the Pelicans, DeRozan shot the ball horribly, going 3-of-12 and missing all four of his shots from deep. He only scored eight points on the night.
He wound up collecting ten assists which was the highest number of the season which helped the Spurs lose by only three points. DeRozan also picked up five fouls for the night which meant he had less playing time, playing only 31 minutes rather than the 36.0 he is averaging not counting this game.
DeRozan’s time at the top of the scoring charts in the NBA is coming to an end but he is showing that he is a very cerebral player. His game is turning more towards setting the table for his teammates. His 8.0 assists per game currently rank fifth in the NBA.
On top of improved playmaking, DeRozan’s 6.2 rebounds per game is the highest average of his career. To put it simply, he is doing everything that his team needs him to do to help them win. While five games is a small sample size, DeRozan is the type of player who will carry these numbers to the end of the season.
