With the August long weekend on deck, two things are certain. Many of us are contemplating whether to use a last minute excuse to book Friday off. I say go for it, most of us deserve an extended vacation. On the downside, the Civic Holiday also serves as a reminder that the dog days of the NBA offseason are in full swing. Here’s to all of us getting a chance to kick our feet up.
Each of these days off can work in our favour, though. Never being able to forget the way the season ended is one thing, but the slow process to something resembling forgiveness can be achieved.
The Draft, Free Agency, and Summer League have all provided a welcome boost to morale. Especially the play of Stormin’ Norman Powell, who so far has the makings of a potential steal at 46th overall. Yes, even with only Summer League action under his belt.
His jump-shot may be erratic, but a rookie with such a defensive mindset is a rare breed, and the separation created on offense he showcased in Vegas point to a bright future with this organization. The kid might even already provide the most hustle on this roster, that is unless K-Low wants back in the ring. Hey, stranger things have happened.
Now, the offseason noise has settled down, and with NBA TV back to running their Hardwood Classics and old-school dunk contests on the regular, addressing the upcoming season will only start to ring louder as we go. Where questions begin to translate into expectations.
Whether they’re justified or simply existing as hope is up for debate. So let’s start the conversation. Feel free to chime in, even if your favourite play is running the pick-and-Troll.
Leading off the Game Of Raps:
Question: Will the DeMarre Carroll signing provide the needed domino effect?
Expectations:
It’s difficult to say when we’ll be able to have a firm grip on what this reboot truly has to offer, at least as far as this season goes. It’s also hard not to let last season’s road trip reference point seep into the discussion. The back-half of the now infamous six-gamer, smack dab in the middle of winter, one that saw the Raps’ fortunes change for the worse. Let’s rehash the experience, as being a glutton for punishment is in our sports blood.
We all remember game 32 in Portland, where Toronto owned a shiny 25-6 record coming in. And to their credit, backed up the notion that they belonged in the NBA’s upper echelon with an all-out, overtime effort. Three days later, the armour began to crack, with Golden State providing the first reality check. Only to be followed up by a Phoenix dismantling. Not to mention the next 31 games after the fact, where 25-6 transformed into a 15-16 disappointment, and a team on the brink of losing its way.
I can’t pretend to sit on a throne here and act like I didn’t get caught up in the false hope, as I will admit that visions of an Eastern Conference Finals’ appearance got the best me before and after that battle with the Blazers.
What contributed to the Raptors’ downward slide? Well, how much time do you have? Injuries, strength of schedule, and the inability to incorporate the frontcourt into the grand scheme (though a scheme without a blueprint wasn’t so grand in the first place). Let’s see, what else can I harp on, oh yeah, the sloppy pick-and-rolls, random moments of actual crisp and unselfish ball movement that weren’t capitalized on, and to hop on the Tulowitzki train for a baseball reference regarding the defence: “Don’t give me this olé bullshit!”.
All of these factors help place blame. But what makes those faults tick? All signs point to a damaged culture and personalities butting heads. Well, in comes DeMarre Carroll, the acquisition who can only help facilitate a change.
With Carroll never surpassing 17 minutes per game throughout his tours in Memphis, Houston, Denver, and Utah, only to catapult close to the 33-mark with the Hawks, some would suggest that the results from Atlanta’s disciplined system won’t be seen in a vastly different environment. A valid consideration, and there will undoubtedly be an adjustment period. But where there’s a will, there’s a chance to flip the script.
How does Carroll stack up with those liabilities? As for fighting through injuries, look no further than playing through a buckling knee sprain in the postseason. How about his 6.1 boards Per 36 Minutes and 8.7 Per 100 Possessions while predominantly roaming the 3 and capable of moving to the 4 when needed. Which can only aid the Raps’ rebounding relief effort. The 100 possessions category also comes with 2.2 steals, and he can net them in a variety of ways. Then comes his steady and even increased 3-pointers made, as well as his 3-point percentage from the regular season to the playoffs (1.7 to 1.8 and .395 to .403). The perfect role player? I’d have to concur.
Carroll also directly effects JJ and PP, two players this fan base wanted to see receive a more sizeable role, and we seemingly have gotten our wish. Whether it’s by default over the size of DC’s contract making it difficult to find an upgrade at Power Forward is now a moot point. A rotation between the two with a little Louis Scola mixed in and DeMarre taking over when the matchup calls for it has the potential to hold the fort down at the 4.
Essentially, if you morphed Johnson and Patterson into one player, Carroll would assume the identity. His two-way presence might even rub off on Lowry and bring back his physical brand of basketball. But more on K-Low and his partner in crime in a bit.
This town lost a fan favourite in Amir, but you can pencil in Carroll as the next in line. All of a sudden DC being the team’s highest paid player doesn’t sound so weird. Well, it still kind of does. But it’s how Toronto has to operate if they want to employ anything more than a 4-seed squad with a first-round exit strategy.
Question: Will JV and T-Ross finally cement their “core status” or continue to roam the fringe?
Expectations:
Just when we think a corner is turned, we end up stressing over Valanciunas’ inability to mesh with the league’s new “small ball” direction. As for T-Ross, contributions from downtown are a nice distraction, but we’re left dwelling on his dwindling defensive prowess and extreme lack of assertiveness in the offensive set.
On the surface, both are considered to be part of this team’s core moving forward. Yet when you look at the new makeup and what may come as soon as next year, their potential has to be somewhat realized in short order for that to continue. Especially considering both have impending contract situations.
Ross’ preferential treatment needed to stop, compared to JV at least, as chance after chance has been given. I realize his ankle problems have been making the rounds, but the right move has been made moving him to the bench. The expectation is now for Ross to become Lou Williams’ replacement. How’d that role work out for not-so sweet Lou? Streaky scorers tend to have long careers, but also one that includes many stops along the way. I’m fine with Ross becoming the new stop-gap.
Regressing almost across the board in his Per 36’s doesn’t bode well either. A dip in points, steals, rebounds, free-throw attempts, free-throw %, and 3-pt %. All the while joining the decline party was his overall PER and true shooting percentage.
Optimism could be in order with the Raps’ new defensive mandate, however. It could spark something for the former above average wing defender, though optimism is known for clouding one’s judgement.
Back to JV, who despite his flaws remains a vital cog. He’s feeding the press what they want to hear. Working on a jump-shot, while attempting to improve his quickness, footwork, and predictability. Ok, i threw in that last one. True story, though.
There does come a point where if something is not woking, the current solution may be the problem. If JV can’t defend past the interior, or maintain the pace the Raps want to play at, it makes sense to send him to the bench in important situations. However, how are we ever going to see him evolve if he’s not given the opportunity to fail and learn from it. It’s an uphill climb, I get it, but as much as Toronto wants to emulate Golden State, the personnel doesn’t match the requirements.
Throw in the fact that the annual catch-22 rears its ugly head while attempting to mask one deficiency that only leaves another (on the glass) wide open to be picked apart by your opponent. You do all you can to keep up with a trending league, but at the same time, at least attempt to balance it out if what you employ calls for it.
Here’s two that could help the situation, if they can get out of their own way that is.
Question: Are we about to witness K-Low and DeRozan transform into true leaders?
Expectations:
Remember that time when this duo was closing in on comparisons to the Splash Brothers? Looks like “analysts” were a little to presumptuous on that one. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say this backcourt started to read their own press clippings. The only way all of these scenarios reach their pinnacle is when DeRozan and Lowry totally buy in to what Masai and company are trying to achieve.
Faith should still reside that they’ll reach at least the conversation of the elite once again, but more importantly, the next step in leadership. Motivating factors exist for each to boot. I wrote about Lowry recently in regards to the influx of new faces at his position, as being pushed could be exactly what he needs to turn back the clock. I tend to rip on Lowry more often than not, that’s just tough love, but I won’t stop reiterating his reckless running of the offense until his tendencies move more towards the team. A good starting point would be to stop begging for calls. The other team already scored in transition and you’re still talking shop with the ref?
K-Low: you had this city on lock, and it’s there to take back if you so choose. If you’re not careful, your trade watch part-two could become a thing.
DeRozan might truly hold the keys to this revival, though. His main incentive being monetary based. If fantasy sports has taught us anything, it’s a safe bet to go all in on player with a massive payday ahead of him. Those spurts throughout last year where DeMar took his game to the next level, even adding the title of precise ball distributor to his resume, may very well offer us some extended enjoyment this season. But as always, he’ll have to kick the habit of his ill advised mid-range game.
The trickle down effect on this franchise’s future is also at stake. Carroll’s structured attitude can only stretch so far, and the last thing Bruno and Bebe need is to continue to soak in the status-quo environment. Along with Wright and Powell, who both should see regular minutes as the season moves along.
If Toronto does find a way to answer these questions, meet the pressing expectations, and manages to silence their past, not only would the annual problem of drawing major Free Agents have a chance to be overcome, but DeRozan could start thinking that max-dollars isn’t an absolute necessity.
But then again, cash really does rule everything.
One last thing before I go:
Question: Is this view awaiting your weekend arrival?
Expectations:
Crack an Old Style Pilsner for me when you get there.
