National Basketball Association

SI ranks Raptors DeRozan #46 - anger results

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan made his unhappiness with SI’s ranking of him quite clear. But did the magazine’s writers get it right?

Sports Illustrated’s listing of the NBA’s Top 100 players places the Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan at #46. The magazine’s rankers have decided to name four Raptors (DeMarre Carroll, Jonas Valanciunas, DeRozan, Kyle Lowry) as among the league’s best players, and DeRozan is our second-best. Kyle is #14.

May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the first quarter in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s consider how DeRozan makes out at the pay window compared to his peers (according to SI, not necessarily to me).

One thing we can say for sure – DeMar isn’t being underpaid.

He is miffed about his ranking, although I’d be happier if he took SI’s criticism under advisement. He gets trashed particularly hard for his shabby defensive play. There’s merit in the thought that some of his problems last season were due to the prolonged absence of DeMarre Carroll and the non-existence of a power forward worthy of the name.

Help-Defense needed

Carroll should be able to lock down his man, leaving DeMar to cover whoever is the opponents’ lesser scoring wingman. Whether Jared Sullinger can pair successfully with Jonas Valanciunas in papering over DeMar’s mistakes remains to be seen.

DeMar is not fated to be a quality defender. Even if he were to spike his scoring this season, he’ll never be in MVP consideration the way Kawhi Leonard, for example, is. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Leonard, and before them Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, were demon on-the-ball defenders. What the Raptors need from DeMar is a better effort at staying in front of his man, and the vision to know when he needs help.

Let’s hope DeMar stays angry all season. If he wants to show he’s better than # 46, he’ll need to recommit to defense, and make some more 3-balls. Then he can look forward to a big jump in the rankings; one he will earn by his play, not his complaining.