Welcome to the DeMar DeRozan Show
By Demar Grant
DeMar DeRozan is making this USA Olympic run his personal highlight reel.
Team USA is a showcase of sorts, it’s an all-star team that gets to travel to a new country every four years. The only difference between the two is that there are serious meanings to the Olympic games. Win, because you we’re expected to. Or lose, facing national disappointment and international scrutiny.
In all-star fashion the players are having fun while playing; behind the back passes, alley-oops, deep threes and bench celebrations. More than enough fun to have coach K tell the players to stop celebrating so much.
But, there’s no such thing as too much fun. In fact that’s the team working by design, it’s constructed such that the player’s best skill is utilized to its zenith. That’s how Carmelo Anthony torched Nigeria for a record 37 points with a record-breaking 10 three-pointers in 2012 and that’s how DeMar DeRozan is making the USA Olympic run his personal highlight reel in 2016.
This year’s USA National Basketball team is filled with new faces. Diverging from the mainstays of Chris Paul, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, the team now has DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Kyle Lowry. The typical question of Team USA’s ability to win gold hasn’t been asked this year and rightfully so, the field is weaker than ever. But, every moment after this beauty:
Has fans asking ‘are you serious?’ But the lingering question is ‘what’s this guy going to do next?’ That dunk, had it gone through the hoop, would have been one of the greatest dunks of all time.
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The NBA is selling their audience on the idea that the three point shot is the biggest draw to basketball, seemingly nothing can top a Steph Curry step back three. But the most exciting play in basketball will always be the dunk.
The most memorable play from Olympic basketball will always be le dunk de la mort when the legendary Vince Carter literally jumped over Fredrick Weiss.
DeRozan has always been a prolific dunker but is tucked away in Toronto hidden from his home country’s eyes. DDR is assuming what everyone thought would be Blake Griffin‘s role on Team USA, dunker of everything in sight. Devastating alley oops and high-flying transition dunks have been the norm for Raptors’ fans for several years now, but people opposite the border are just getting a taste.
With all the three point shooting and passing around DeRozan the lanes to the hoop have transformed into open runways looking for someone to take off. The USA National team also loves to play fast, which is where DeRozan has excelled his entire career with knifing euro steps and cataclysmic jams.
DeRozan isn’t getting a lot of minutes for this team because the talent ahead of him is substantial, but that’s great for the fans. When he does get some burn he will be looking to impress and the opportunities will be abundant. The fans love the rim rocking and his teammates do too, nothing looks better than a guard flying through the air assaulting the rim. Just ask
Kevin Durant.
Even Norris Cole thinks DeRozan is one of the most electrifying players on the team. After signing a massive $137 million dollar contract and pushing the Toronto Raptors to heights the franchise has never seen before, DeRozan is primed for the international stage. It’s the perfect chance to make a statement for himself, while also drawing buzz for his team. So why not put on a show?
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Team USA hasn’t even played a official Olympic game yet, everything seen so far has been exhibitions. This is just the preview, the trailer for things to come. Just wait until episode one comes out on Saturday.