DeMar DeRozan Loves the Midrange Game
The Toronto Raptors have started the season strong. Thanks in large part to the play of shooting guard DeMar DeRozan. People love to talk about how the midrange game is a lot art in the NBA. It does have some truth to it. Statistics show that midrange jump shots are the lowest they’ve been for the league in years. Coaches focus the play calling on easy lay ups and open three pointers for their offense. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs actually force players to take midrange jump shots. Very few players consistently work on this part of their game.
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DeRozan has made a career from it. This season DeRozan has killed teams in the midrange area. He’s averaging 36.3 points per game. Dropping 40 points twice, once against the Pistons and another against the Wizards, DeRozan is doing it without making long-range shots. He’s shooting a terrible 16% from three. DeRozan is simply showing that the midrange game is still alive. At 6’7 he also knows how to use his ability to bully smaller guards in the post. Defense isn’t even the issue. DeRozan is draining 58.5% of his pull-up jump shots.
The Toronto Raptors as a whole are doing decent in the Eastern Conference. After the Cleveland Cavaliers, 2nd place in the Eastern Conference is wide open. DeMar DeRozan has started this season strong and is even forcing himself into MVP conversations. The biggest knock on DeRozan has been his playoff performance. For that, we’ll just have to wait and see.
