I'll preface this thread by saying that, any answer to this question could easily be changed based on how he performs in training camp and pre-season. The Raptors have said they'll give him the first shot to show that he deserve minutes. And if he really separates himself from his competition during that time, I don't see how anyone can believe he shouldn't get them. But this question is presupposing that DeMar is relatively on par with his competition for the 2-spot (Marco Bellinelli, Antoine Wright). He brings more athleticism and penetrating ability, but the others have their own advantages over him (Bellinelli's a better all-around scorer and ball-handler, Wright's a better perimeter defender and 3 pt. shooter). He has much more potential than either, but they have more pro experience. Considering those facts, should he be our starting SG on opening night?
the raps have enough offense in the starting lineup but lack athleticism. they need a dude who can grab boards and be disruptive on the defensive end with speed and derozan might be the only two on the team who might qualify. i really like belinelli coming off the bench with jack and counterbalancing a second unit built on defense and toughness (evans, wright, rasho, johnson) with their offensive dynamism.
I personally think he shouldn't. The most compelling argument for why he should start is that it gives him experience and forces him to adjust to the NBA quicker. If you strictly evaluate his talents/skills, he doesn't bring anything that absolutely has to be in the starting lineup. If you want his defense, Antoine Wright is a better option. If you like his mid-range game, Bellinelli's a better option. If you like his athleticism and penetrating ability, do you think he'll really get the touches in our starting lineup to showcase that? I highly doubt it. Alongside all those scorers and ballhandlers, DeRozan will be expected to do the little things and be a quiet role player. We don't know if he can do that better than Wright/Bellinelli (I don't think he currently can). But in the larger scheme of things, I think he actually develops better coming off the bench. When we don't shove him to a very strict, defined role, he can work on all facets of his game. People assume that a bench player necessarily will get fewer minutes, but there's no reason he can't still average 16-20 minutes off the bench. A starting lineup determines who plays for the first 5-10 minutes of a game, but after that it becomes very fluid. He'll get the chance to play with our best players, because NBA coaches usually sub in 1-2 players at a time and rarely take out every starter at the same time. Really, he'll get all the opportunities that starting would provide, but within atmosphere that's more conducive to developing. Finally, there's what I like to call the "Joey Graham mistake." When we drafted Graham, he was touted as a perimeter stopper and an athletic sparkplug. Smitch decided to plug him right into the starting lineup from Day 1, and it proceeded to F over his confidence when he was owned by the league's best swingmen. Putting DeRozan into the starting lineup automatically gives him the role of "perimeter defender," and he'll be asked to guard some of the league's best (our early schedule is brutal). He might perform admirably, but I highly doubt he'll be able to hold his own. And that could ruin his confidence for the rest of the year.
in defense of smitch- he had no other viable option. as for derozan and joey g- derozan isnt as slow footed as graham and he seems like a harder worker as well. plus, derozan has a much better team around him than what graham had. and remember what happened to tmac when he didnt get time? he withered away. starting derozan is the best to get the kid locked into the game and understanding of where his game must go when he has to guard the likes of lebron.
I definitely think he's a harder worker, but he still needs to learn how much more effort it takes to play D in the NBA (as evidenced by his summer league performance). I'd like him to learn that gradually, first against talent that he can and should be superior to and eventually against the cream of the NBA crop. Sticking him in against Lebron won't really give him an idea of what he needs to improve upon (is "everything" a category?), but it might be devestating to his confidence. Plus, it's not like he won't be playing starting-calibre players while coming off the bench. It just means he won't be looked to as the only player who can stop them in the begininning of the game. For what it's worth, I believe he will be a starter before the season ends. I think it's between DeRozan and Bargnani for which Raptor will show the most individual growth this season, and he'll only have to develop so much to be a clearly a better option than Bellinelli/Wright. But throwing him to the wolves isn't the best development strategy, IMO. He should force the organization to give him more minutes with his play, at every step (be it in training camp or during the season).
lebron started on a really bad team. if derozan doesnt have confidence in himself to compete against the best, he never will. and its not like he's no stranger to playing against stars- he played against kobe last summer and apparently he knows lebron as well. the best want to compete against the best. our best talent in canada are increasingly moving to the states (e.g tristin thompson) because they cant find any competition down here.
The difference is that Cleveland fully expected to be a shit team, and they figured they might as well see what James was capable of. We're expecting to make the playoffs and we need our starting SG to play a specific role. Playing DeRozan off the bench would give him the kind of playing time that Lebron had during his rookie year.
