DeRozan took exception to Pascal Siakam attempting a 3-point shot with 3 seconds left and the Raptors leading by 12 points when Siakam could’ve dribbled out the clock. DeRozan angrily chastised the Raptors bench and coach Darko Rajakovic, who told coach Billy Donovan that Siakam attempted the shot because point differential matters for In-Season Tournament ramifications.
The Raptors actually had been eliminated from In-Season Tournament advancement before the game, but apparently, word didn’t get to Rajakovic and Siakam.
“I don’t care about no In-Season Tournament points, none of that. Just respect for the game,” DeRozan said. “If the roles was flip-flopped and I had the ball, hold it. It is what it is.”
I haven’t seen anybody calling him much of anything. He’s one of my favorite players on and off the court. His style isn’t optimal for results but it’s beautiful, largely fundamental basketball mixed with well honed, well mastered motions.
DeMar has a hard head for the game being beautiful by an old definition. My preferences jive with his because I think beauty in sport is sidelined in pro leagues. For this, he will always have detractors. People I disagree with.
But they are not miserable. They’re not whiny bitches. They just have different tastes than me. To look down on people for talking their talk in this slop of a sub is weak. Get off your high horse and eat some collagen to thicken your skin.
It’s like you’ve never seen DeMar DeRozan but you’ve got opinions about him. Weird.