New Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse expects far more from DeMar DeRozan on the defensive end of the floor next season.
How do we know this? He literally said as much.
From the Toronto Sun:
“I wouldn’t make the comments if I thought he was shying away from it,” Nick Nurse said. “We sat down, he’s on the edge of his seat saying, ‘What do you got for me.’ I was like, “Well’ … and I start in and he finishes my sentence: ‘I know, I’m better than that, I want to work at it.’”
From there, Nurse gave DeRozan a plan and added: “I don’t expect you to be Bruce Bowen (by) Game 1, but by the time the playoff hits, we’ve got to have you because there’s no place we can hide you,” Nurse said.
“And he’s totally down, he’s got the ability physically, he knows what he’s doing. We’ve got to make a plan and a long-term plan and stick with it a little bit.”
The four-time All-Star averages about 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game for his career, but hasn't ever really been known as a stopper on defense.
While DeMar DeRozan has averaged over 20 points the past five seasons, it will be interesting to see if he's willing to give up more energy on defense it if costs him a bit on the other end of the floor.
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