DeRozan’s absence will be a huge blow for the Raptors…
READ MORE:
Raptors emerging as contenders: Toronto becoming a legitimate threat in the East.
Raptors face test of credentials: Chicago Bulls will be a test of how far they have come.
NBA Season Preview 2014/15 Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan has been ruled out indefinitely by the franchise after he suffered a torn tendon in his left groin on Friday night.
The All-Star is expected to miss a significant amount of games with the injury which he picked up during Friday night’s 106-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
DeRozan remained on the court for several minutes after going down with the problem before he was eventually helped to the dressing room as he was originally diagnosed with a strain.
However, a scan revealed the extent of the injury and it will be a big loss for coach Dwane Casey with his star guard averaging a team-high 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and a team-best 33.6 minutes in 16 games so far this season.
The Raptors are off to their best start in franchise history at 13-3, and so it remains to be seen how they are able to cope with his absence and if they are capable of remaining competitive and leading the Eastern Conference.
DeRozan has missed just 11 games over the past five seasons due to injury, and so his durability makes this injury even more of a shock. However, teammate Amir Johnson believes that the Raptors will be OK while he recovers.
“One thing about our team, we have guys that can step up and they are definitely going to have to because that’s a big scoring load in DeMar,” Johnson told reporters.
“We have guys that can come in and step up for us.”
Toronto currently lead the East by two and a half games and they will hope to string some wins together until more is known on DeRozan’s injury and he is given a timetable for a return.
COMMENTS