The Raptors went down Pennsylvania way to take on a summer league team that’s somehow still playing into January. It was the fourth game of a mini road trip, but they took care of the anonymous group of Benjamin Franklin fans. Toronto is, for my money, the best of the morass of teams fighting for the second seed in the East, and a big reason why is the improvement of DeMar DeRozan.


Setting aside last year’s injury-riddled campaign, DeRozan has improved in every successive season of his career. He’s never been a great three-point shooter, but he’s still one of the very best shooting guards in the game because he’s such a talented driver (his turnover rate is remarkably low for someone who dribbles so much.) Free throws are the least sexy stat, but DeRozan excels at getting to the line, and only James Harden has more freebies this season.

Of course, what is appealing about DeMar’s game are the dunks. He’s been one of the best dunkers in the league since he was drafted by Toronto, and last night, he put on a show.


After nearly posterizing Jahlil Okafor, he went back to the rim on the very next play and caught this spinning alley-oop.

Nik Stauskas defense always produces cool highlights.

Photo via AP