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As confirmation of his sustained run of brilliance on the court, DeMar DeRozan has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week (from Dec. 12 to 18th). The Raptors went 3-1 during that stretch, and DeRozan was a big reason why.
Toronto guard @DeMar_DeRozan named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging an NBA-best 31.5 points in four games.
— RaptorsMR (@RaptorsMR) December 19, 2016
Astoundingly, this is the second time DeRozan has been named Player of the Week this season. He’s now won the honour three times in his career. Along with those 31.5 points per game, DeRozan shot an insane 60.5 percent from the field (46-of-76), and chipped in 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He good.
I should also add: Toronto was involved in two clear blowouts (and a third against Philly that got tight in the last few minutes). The only negative on the week for the Raptors was that dang loss to Atlanta, in which DeRozan had 34 points and waged a one-man war against the Hawks.
For much of DeRozan’s season-opening scoring barrage, the constant refrain has been “there’s no way it’s sustainable.” And over 82 games that very well could be true. But at a certain point, as DeRozan continues to score at will from most everywhere on the court, while shooting efficiently, and getting to the line at a steady rate, we have to start to wonder the opposite: maybe it really is sustainable for DeRozan to play this way.
Fantastic news for the Raptors (and their fans).