|  Wys³any: 2019-04-02 03:21:18 Temat postu: DeMar DeRozan has stood in front of the media
TORONTO - Following the final game in each of his first four NBA seasons, DeMar DeRozan has stood in front of the media contingent at the Raptors annual post-mortem gathering, vowing to work tirelessly on his game during the summer and return a more well-rounded player come the fall. One of his most glaring weaknesses as a young guard in the league was his playmaking ability. As a 19-year-old rookie in 2009-10, DeRozan averaged less than one assist per game. Among NBA guards that logged at least 20 minutes per outing that season, DeRozan assisted on the lowest percentage of his teammates field goals (just under 5 per cent, tied with Orlandos Mickael Pietrus, per NBA.com/stats). Hes come a long way since then, making good on his yearly end-of-season promise. DeRozans four assists in Sundays win over the Magic raised his season total to 205, a new career-high, besting last years mark with 26 games left to play. "I want to make my teammates better," said the Raptors guard, who continues to evolve as a distributer, averaging a career-best 3.8 dimes this season. "It just comes with experience and understanding. Its something that I really enjoy doing, getting my teammates involved, looking for them." The 24-year-olds assist numbers have increased in each of his five seasons and his assist percentage this year (18.6) is more than three-times higher than it was in his rookie campaign (4.9). DeRozan had recorded five or more assists in just five of his first 222 games as an NBA player, his first three years in the league. Since then hes accomplished that feat 28 times in 136 contests, including 15 during his 2013-14 breakout season. "Thats huge," Dwane Casey said of his leading scorers improved court vision. "Now hes drawing so much attention from the other teams as far as double teaming, guys helping, theyre sinking in and hes making teams pay for it." "Hes one of the best wings right now in the league as far as passing the ball out [of the double team] and hes doing a great job of it," Casey continued. "So thats a big step in his growth process. Its good to see and the more attention he gets the more hes going to have to rely on that part of his game." A first-time all-star this season, DeRozan has had to adjust to the defensive attention hes getting now that he finds himself on the top of the oppositions scouting report. Theres nowhere left to hide, not after the trade of top dog Rudy Gay, but DeRozan has embraced the responsibility. "The game definitely does slow down," he noted. "You understand every defence. Theres not too many defences I havent seen yet and just watching film and understanding how teams play key players, especially key scorers, once you understand that a lot of things come a lot easier." As a team, the Raptors are just 14-17 when DeRozan scores 20 or more points, however theyre 18-8 when he tallies at least four assists. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Left back Layvin Kurzawa put Monaco ahead in the 36th minute with a low shot after being set up by midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, sweeping the ball in after running onto Kondogbias cross from the left. China Jerseys Free Shipping . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day. http://www.nflcheapwholesalejerseys.com/. Tristan Jackson returned a missed field goal 129 yards early in the fourth quarter as the Roughriders beat the B.C. Authentc Cheap Jerseys . - The New England Patriots needed help on defence so they added three experienced players at midseason. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasnt Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hunter Pence most definitely found the right place.A day after saying he hadnt been sure until this year that the Royals played in Missouri rather than Kansas, Pence jolted Kauffman Stadium with a two-run, first-inning homer that quieted the crowd and sparked the San Francisco Giants to a 7-1 win in Tuesday nights World Series opener.It was really loud in my head, Pence said. Sometimes, my mind, when Im playing the game or our team is doing something good, its like an emptiness. I dont know whats going on around me.Pence had been 0 for 11 against James Shields before the homer. The right fielder who wears his socks extraordinarily high doubled and scored for a 4-0 lead in the fourth and also walked twice as the Giants won their seventh straight Series game dating to 2010.Youve got to work down, almost bouncing pitches at times, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. But his strike zone is so big, its difficult.Pence started a meme on Aug. 1 when he tweeted a photo of himself in a New York coffee shop with the message, These pretzels are making me thirsty, a reference to a 1991 episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld.Fans started showing up at ballparks referencing Pences quirks with nonsensical signs.One of my favourites in Kansas City was, Hunter Pence Thinks Hes in Kansas, Pence explained on the eve of the opener. Once I read the sign, I said, I guess Im not in Kansas, so I have to be in Missouri. So I didnt know.The 31-year-old right fielder, acquired by the Giants from Philadelphia at the 2012 trade deadline, entertained at Mondays media day, looking a bit like a mid-1980s Bruce Springsteen with a bandanna around his hair. Hes been known to wear a LINCECOM KNOWS sign in honour of teammate Tim Lincecum, who dresses a couple off spots away in San Franciscos home clubhouse.ddddddddddddA three-time All-Star, Pence is among the key emotional components in a clubhouse that could become the first NL team to win three championships in a five-year span since the 1942-46 St. Louis Cardinals. His leaping catch — tongue wagging, too — against the right-field wall of Jayson Werths sixth-inning drive helped the Giants in their clinching Game 4 win over Washington in the NL Division Series.He gathers his teammates in the clubhouse after wins for profanity-filled speeches or to offer congratulations for certain accomplishments, team and individual. Sometimes, manager Bruce Bochy doesnt need to say a word in team meetings, acknowledging Pence had the subject covered quite well.His energy, his enthusiasm, his passion for the game — hes tireless, Bochy said. Not a lot of guys can get themselves up every day the way he does. Hes a tireless worker, and Ive said this: Hes my lowest maintenance player Ive ever had. I just put his name in the lineup and leave him alone.Pence calls playing in San Francisco at always sold-out AT&T Park a magical atmosphere.Its just a group that I felt like I fit in, he said. There are a lot of accepting people of different personalities.Bumgarner said Pence holds most of the team meetings, not Bochy. He praised him profusely, saying its been an honour and a blessing to have him as a teammate.Sitting next to him, Pence leaned over to give a bromance hug and patted the pitcher on the head.I paid him to say that, he said before quickly adding: No, Im just kidding.That intense focus and always-on personality is part of Pence.Its kind of a blessing and a curse, he said. At home, I get people really angry with me, but on the field it works out good. ' ' ' |
DeMar DeRozan has stood in front of the media
