Raptors news: Starter apologizes for awful game, Otto Porter Jr. in rotation, Dennis Schroder wins honor

Dennis Schroder genuinely let down the Toronto Raptors in their loss against the Miami Heat, as his 4-18 performance was not only far below what is normally expected of him, but it was so bad that some started wondering if the offense might be better with him on the bench.

While Schroder has generally been regarded as an excellent player this season for Toronto, his worst games can make for some very difficult basketball. He can demand the ball too much, take too many ill-advised shots, and stymie whatever flow the offense might be getting into.

Not only does Schroder’s selfish play produce some serious clunkers for himself individually, but it also takes the ball away from Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Perhaps having been made aware of the limitations his style of play can bring, Schroder was more than willing to admit he had a terrible game and vowed never to have that happen again.

In a SportsNet interview, the veteran Schroder said he personally apologized to the team after such a substandard game, saying that performance is “not who I am” and that he has “got to better.” This won’t fix the bad game, but it’s nice to see a veteran player take accountability after a tough night.