DeMar DeRozan was leading the Raptors in minutes and points per game before being injured Friday. (Photo credit: Philadelphia 76ers / Foter / CC BY-ND)
The Raptors suffered a big blow Friday when DeMar DeRozan tore a tendon in his groin against the Mavericks.
But how much of a blow will it be to bettors who have rode Toronto to a 10-6 record against the spread so far this NBA betting season?
DeRozan was leading the team in both points (19.4) and minutes played (33.6) while hauling down 4.2 rebounds per game. He’ll be out “indefinitely”, beginning with Sunday’s visit to the Lakers.
Bettors didn’t seem too concerned about DeRozan’s injury when it was announced. The Raptors opened as 5.5-point favourites for Sunday’s visit to L.A., and they were quickly bet up to 6.5-point faves.
Maybe that’s because teams have a tendency to elevate their play when missing one of their stars. Toronto’s got a pretty deep bench, and those players will be eager to show their abilities in a bigger role.
“We gotta play, it’s next man up,” Kyle Lowry told reporters after Friday’s game. “It’s a team. It’s not about one guy, it’s about every individual. So if anybody goes down, the next guy has gotta step up.”
But DeRozan’s absence could have a negative effect on Toronto’s rotation, Steven Loung wrote for Sportsnet Saturday.
However, without DeRozan, (coach Dwain) Casey’s delicate rotation would suddenly be compromised.
So then, if you had to choose, (Greivis) Vasquez would likely be the best fitted to take an interim starting spot.
(Lou) Williams is playing too well, is too comfortable and is too valuable in his role as sixth man just to move him into the starting lineup. (James) Johnson’s defensive versatility could work well, but that level of energy is still best suited in a reserve role. Patrick Patterson is another possibility, but Casey prefers playing him at power forward.
Thus this leaves us with Vasquez, a player who has started in the past, has proven to be able to play very well with Lowry also on the court and is beginning to regain the form he showed last season shooting the ball after some early struggles with his stroke.
Another interesting storyline to follow is the progression of Terrence Ross. The third-year man out of Washington has been as inconsistent as ever, but could see a minutes spike – something that could possibly spark him.
We can see the Raptors surviving the absence of DeRozan pretty well for the next 12 games or so. Toronto’s schedule over that span also includes games at the Kings, Jazz, Knicks and Pistons, and home games atainst the Nuggets, Pacers, Magic and Nets.
Not exactly murderer’s row, though there are a couple games against the Cavaliers in there as well.
If DeRozan is out of the lineup longer than that, however, there could be trouble brewing for the Raptors. They go on a six-game road trip over the Christmas holidays, visiting the Bulls, Clippers, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Suns.
DeRozan’s absence shouldn’t stop you from betting on the Raptors for the next little while — you might even get better odds on the NBA betting lines — but don’t forget about it a month from now.