Toronto Raptors starting from scratch to prepare for season, coach says | National Post
“We’re going back to scratch,” Casey said on Tuesday after the team’s first practice, a marathon outing. “You want to skip a few letters of the alphabet but what we’re doing is starting from scratch like we normally do, building from there. We’ll build a little bit quicker from [a defensive] standpoint, but we don’t want to skip any letters, even for the older guys. [They need] to get that muscle memory back of being where they’re supposed to be and that type of thing.” To spruce up training camp, however, Casey brought in a Navy SEAL to speak to the team on Monday evening. He said he was planning on bringing in other outsiders to speak to the team throughout the year. Dwane Casey brought in a Navy SEAL to speak to the team on Monday evening. He said he was planning on bringing in other outsiders to speak to the team throughout the year. “It was really empowering and very interesting,” Casey said of Monday’s guest speech.
Raptors’ DeRozan won’t rest on laurels | Toronto Sun
“I was trying to be more ambidextrous, somewhat, try to get more comfortable with my off hand, finishing with my off hand, doing a lot of little things that probably go unnoticed. I’m just trying to find new challenges, honestly, within myself to find something else to get better.” And that’s what separates DeRozan from players, both those with more natural talent, and those with less. DeRozan had many holes in his game when he entered the league, but has diligently worked to address them and the results have clearly paid off. But he’s not done, and his teammates will help him take the next step as well. “I think he can just be more aggressive,” said Kyle Lowry. “Be more of the guy. He’s our all-star, he’s our scoring threat. He’s just going to keep getting better, keep making better passes. I think overall he has to get better at every aspect of the game.
Raptors Media Day: Masai Ujiri Interview | Raptors HQ
Masai acknowledges the team still has a lot of young players and he’s always thinking about how to improve the team. He’s happy with the team now but will see where they need to add depending on how the team performs at the start of the season. Another huge theme for Masai is continuity. He believes that consistency is important for winning teams. Says that formula has proven to work in the league and he hopes it works for the Raptors. Stresses that the guys like each other and compete for one another. Also says they’re not a selfish team.
Raptors Media Day: Dwane Casey Interview | Raptors HQ
Was asked, as everyone else were, about the heightened expectations for this season. Casey says the team should embrace it, and should act like defending Atlantic Division champions and play like it every night
Raptors Media Day: Jonas Valanciunas Interview | Raptors HQ
Valanciunas was asked about the experience of making the playoffs last season, which he called positive. He was also asked about the expectations on him this season, but mentioned that at the end of the day it’s a team sport and all the guys on the court have to contribute in their own way
Raptors Media Day: DeMar DeRozan Interview | Raptors HQ
He doesn’t think the national media gives the Raptors the respect they deserve, but he thinks players around the league respects them. Points to conversations he had at the FIBA World Cup when he heard from other players about how difficult it was to have to play against Toronto
Raptors Media Day: Kyle Lowry Interview | Raptors HQ
Kyle Lowry, no. 34 #SLAMTop50 | SLAM
Lowry will have plenty of motivation this season as he can use his snubs from last year’s All-Star and All-NBA teams to push him. Although these are all individual goals, Lowry’s selfless play and leadership is what inspires his teammates. There is no drama coming from Lowry in Toronto. He is all business and his teammates follow his lead.
If not the Wizards, who has the NBA’s best backcourt? | USA Today
The Raptors came closer than any team to having two All-Star guards last season, as DeRozan broke through for his first appearance and Lowry was a clear-cut snub. But both are coming off career years, and in Lowry’s case, it came in a contract season and landed him his big new four-year deal. They could be the best. Or they could regress a little bit without hurting the deep, talented Raptors too much.
Kelly: Raptors’ DeRozan an unsung hero, but don’t blame him for that | Globe and Mail
In a town that needs constant reassurance and kind words, Toronto’s boldface names are the dads who sit there in their armchairs, night after night, silently nursing the same glass of scotch. They only talk when you get between them and the TV. In each case, with relative differences, it’s been an imperfect pairing. Maybe this is why Toronto turns so quickly on its heroes. They never get properly attached to them in the first place. Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan is here to heal those wounds. By allowing himself to talk, he’s teaching a gun-shy city to love again.
Raptors’ Lou Williams looking to rebound after difficult year | Toronto Star
“I’ve played basketball all my life and I know in the back of my mind what I’m capable of doing and just having that confidence in myself, knowing at one point that light bulb is going to click back on and I’m going to be back to my normal self, that’s what kept me going.” If there is a way to describe Williams so early in his Raptors career, it’s that he’s a true professional who understands what he’s good at and works at it. Talking to teammates and team officials and people who have known him, a consensus quickly emerges. “Lou’s a pro, he’s going to help us a lot,” said DeMar DeRozan. “He’s going to be a great teammate and he gives us something we need,” said Masai Ujiri. “He might be under the radar with some fans but in the NBA he’s not, we all know what he can do,” said Chuck Hayes.
Raptor of the Year: Preseason Power Rankings | Raptors Watch
T-Ross has immense potential, as shown by several outbursts last season, most notably his franchise-tying scoring spree against the Los Angeles Clippers, in which he dropped 51 points on their collective heads. Ross needs to get a bit stronger (says he did this offseason) and work a bit on when to snatch at the ball so that he’ll stop fouling as much on defense. Other than that, he’s a very good defender and has a beautiful stroke. Basically, he’s got the entire guard package in a raw form. As he enters his third season, most Raptors fans are expecting a breakout year from T-Ross. And if he is able to live up to those high expectations, watch out.
Coach Casey Wants Jonas Valanciunas To Learn How To Dance | Pro Bball Report
“Like I always said, it’s like dancing. Playing in the post is just like dancing. You got to have a rhythm. You got to be light on your feet or you are going to look the part if you are not careful – and if you saw JV’s wedding video, you saw where he needs to work with his feet a little bit more.”
