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DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Iman Shumpert #21 of the New York Knicks in the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 13, 2014 in New York City. After missing 21 games to a groin injury, the veteran shooting guard is likely to suit up at home either on Wednesday or Friday.Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

DeMar DeRozan's return to the Toronto lineup is imminent, and while the team doesn't expect the all-star to cure everything that has ailed the Raptors during their current tailspin, his presence should help in several areas.

After missing 21 games to a groin injury, the veteran shooting guard is likely to suit up at home either on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, or on Friday against the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors' record is now 25-12, but they have lost five of their past six.

It may take time for DeRozan to regain his 19-points-a-night scoring touch, but coaches believe he'll help the team get to the free throw line more often, slow the game's pace so the Raptors' defence can set itself and – perhaps most important – relieve some of the offensive pressure on point guard Kyle Lowry.

"Hopefully he'll get out there and give us something – anything he brings will help us through this tough time, because we're not playing good basketball right now, offensively or defensively," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "He brings a calmness for us, postplay; he understands our defensive schemes … we have a 15-man roster, but you can't replace that type of talent."

The Raptors are finding some good among the bad these days. Despite the losses, they remain neck and neck with the Washington Wizards for second place in the East; Toronto's defence is improving once again; Jonas Valanciunas is coming off a stellar 31-point, 12-rebound night; and James Johnson has stepped up as a fill-in starter.

In the film room on Tuesday, though, the team studied obvious negatives, too: The Raptors surrendered 19 turnovers to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, were out-rebounded, put the Pistons on the free throw line way too many times and didn't get there nearly enough themselves.

In 16 games with DeRozan, the Raptors were allowing a respectable 100.9 points per 100 possessions. Since he tore his left adductor longus tendon against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 30, that number has ballooned to 110.6 points per 100 possessions. They have a 12-9 record without him.

Prior to DeRozan's injury, the Raptors were averaging 29.4 free throw attempts, and he led the team individually with 7.8 a game – a category in which he has been among the NBA leaders the past two seasons. Without DeRozan, Toronto is averaging 22.6 free throw attempts a game.

Guard Lou Williams describes DeRozan's value to the Raptors to the way video gamers feel about the highest-rated players in NBA 2K15.

"He's an all-star, so you know – on the video games, you're like a 90-plus," Williams said. "He has a little a bit of everything, so we could use him. He still leads our huddles, he's outspoken. He's sitting in there watching film right now, and he hasn't played in months. So he's stayed very involved."

For the record, DeRozan has a player rating of 85 in the video game, and so does Lowry (only four NBA stars are rated in the 90s), but Williams's amusing analogy is a valid one. DeRozan's presence is felt in many ways.

"Since DeMar has gone down, our offensive style has changed – we're more of a running team and we play a little bit faster and I think that affected our defence," Casey said. "DeMar coming back will give us a slowed-down, semi-post-up game, which will slow us down a little bit, which in turn will help our defence."

Lowry's minutes have increased slightly with his backcourt mate down, as has his burden to score more and run many of the plays that, before, were DeRozan's responsibility. He has been highly visible with the team during the injury – present at games and in huddles, vocal in film sessions, practising recently and even keeping many of his game-day habits.

"I think three games over .500 is pretty good while not having your all-star and probably our leading scorer," Lowry said. "We'll be better once he's back on the floor."

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