NBA Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors Need DeMar DeRozan Now More Than Ever

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DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a free throw against the Phoenix Suns on November 24, 2014 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

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The return of DeMar DeRozan to the practice court couldn’t come at a better time for the Eastern Conference leading, but road-weary Toronto Raptors. However, how soon he returns to real action remains a mystery.

The Raptors have clearly run out of gas on the end of their five-game Western Conference road trip after suffering an overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, and then having their still-beating hearts handed to them by the Golden State Warriors on Friday. 

Reality seemed to have finally caught up with the over-achieving Raptors, who many had predicted would fall flat on their faces without DeRozan. Although there is still no timetable for his return, DeRozan’s appearance at Friday’s pregame practice session was a bright light at the end of the tunnel for road-weary Toronto, who finishes off their road swing against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. 

“Today was my first day really out there practicing, being out there with the guys doing everything,” DeRozan told the Raptors’ website. “Today felt good.”

DeRozan’s usually-brilliant replacement, Kyle Lowry, was run off his feet, run over and left completely out of his element against Stephen Curry and the Western Conference leaders, who cruised to 126-105 win. Despite Friday’s big setback, Lowry has played the part of the team’s MVP, and has even made a strong bid for inclusion in this year’s NBA All-Star game since DeRozan’s departure.

There seems to be little friction or resentment from Lowry towards DeRozan even though he knows his minutes appear set to be greatly reduced sometime in the coming weeks. The pair recently joked around as DeRozan played sideline reporter for the Raptors and talked about his pending comeback after their win over the Orlando Magic on Dec. 16.

Thankfully, it looks like the Raptors have been taking a cautious approach at pushing their All-Star back into action after he suffered a serious groin injury on Nov. 28 against the Dallas Mavericks.
 
Perhaps Toronto has learned a lesson from recurring injuries of other stars like the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant, and will err on the side of caution.

The idleness of recovery hasn’t been easy for DeRozan to deal with, noting, “I’m about to go crazy [sitting] and watching games … It’s tough not easy at all.”
 
It hasn’t been easy for Raptors fans to deal with either. A giant roar will go up from ‘We The North’ when he finally returns to the lineup.

Peter Mallett is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RedCardTheRef1 like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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