Another record for Raptors DeMar DeRozan

Jan 9, 2018 | Sports

By Garrett Thomson

Jan 8, 2018; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Caris LeVert (22) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

By: Jason Ramroop

With a fearless drive to the paint, DeMar DeRozan dropped a clutch floater for a three-point play with 26 seconds remaining in overtime to give Toronto the 114-113 win over Brooklyn on Monday night.

He managed to tally a game high 35 points, making the win his 91st game with over 30, matching Vince Carter’s record for the most in Raptors franchise history.

DeRozan has been playing big lately.

“I just want to continue to get better, every single game,” DeRozan said to reporters after the win against Brooklyn.

Before taking on the Nets yesterday, DeRozan was named as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

This is the third time the Toronto guard has earned the honour this season and the eighth time he’s been named player of the week in his nine-year career.

“Look at how many years he’s been in the league now,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said while speaking to reporters post-game. “You got to trust him. We do trust him.”

DeRozan has been named Player of the Week more times than any other Raptor, including Chris Bosh who earned the honour seven times.

Since the first of January, DeRozan averaged 35.7 points and 6 assists per game and 55.7 percent shooting from the field. His regular season stats are 25.3 points per game, 5 assists per game and 48.6 percent shooting from the field.

“Everybody criticized him for playing ISO basketball but again, you get the ball in the best player’s hands,” Casey said.

Jan 1, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

The highlight of DeRozan’s historic week came on New Year’s Day when he set the Raptors franchise record, scoring 52 points against Milwaukee.

“I just kept looking at the score trying to figure out how many possessions we had left, what we had to do, what we needed to do, when we needed to stop, when we needed a bucket, when we needed something,” DeRozan said to reporters after his 52-point performance. “That’s all I was caring about.”

The record was previously held by Vince Carter who scored 51 points against Phoenix in 2000, and later tied by Terrence Ross against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014.

“It’s cool to get the record and pass a guy I looked up to a kid,” DeRozan said. “It’s nothing but aggressiveness and going out there and wanting to win.”

DeRozan continues to define his legacy as one of the all-time Raptor greats.

Other franchise records held by DeRozan include total points scored, total games played, total minutes played, total field goals made and total free throws made.

DeRozan is also on pace to make his fourth All-Star appearance since 2014.

In the first returns revealed on Thursday, DeRozan accumulated over 250 thousand All-Star votes, which is the second most among Eastern Conference guards.

“The young man’s an All-Star. We have two All-Stars, he and Kyle (Lowry), and tonight DeMar DeRozan played like a superstar,” Casey said.

DeRozan and the Raptors look to continue their success, returning to the Air Canada Centre tonight to host the Miami Heat, as Toronto seeks their sixth straight win.

“All I care about is winning,” DeRozan said. “Every time I’m on the floor I do whatever I can to win.”