Raptors still have work to do to tighten up defence | Sportsnet
“We still have a lot of work to do on the defensive end,” said Toronto’s head coach. “I was disappointed. Whether we win, lose or draw is not important in these types of games. But what is very important is our defensive [effort]. I thought we didn’t do it; we didn’t come out in the third quarter — with our starters — with that defensive intensity and that zeal that you have to have if you’re building for something.”
DeRozan looks great as Raptors win pre-season opener | Toronto Sun
“It probably didn’t look like it, but I was out there second-guessing a lot of things, I could have made it a little bit easier. It’s something I’ll get more comfortable with as I continue playing.” DeRozan looked unguardable for most of the night in one-on-one situations in the pre-season opener for both the Raptors and the Sacramento Kings. All that work with his left hand in the off-season, sitting at the dining-room table with his daughter as she learned her alphabet and dad learned how to write it out left-handed is already paying off. In 21 minutes he scored game-high 21 points, much of it effortless as the Raps put the first pre-season game in the win column with a 99-94 victory over the Kings.
DeRozan, Raptors down Kings in NBA pre-season opener | Toronto Star
“We’re going to watch his minutes. He’s not going to play his normal amount of minutes,” Casey said of DeRozan. “We definitely want to see Lou (Williams) play bigger minutes, also our younger guys (like) Jordan Hamilton, make sure we get a good look at those guys. “As it gets toward the end of exhibition, we can ramp up DeMar’s minutes.” That will be hugely important to the team’s fortunes. Kyle Lowry may be the emotional leader of the team, its combative presence. Amir Johnson may be the guy who makes more people around him better by his presence. DeRozan is, has been and likely always will be the most complete offensive force on the roster.
Toronto Raptors open pre-season with a win over Sacramento Kings in Vancouver | National Post
The oversimplified scouting report held up: Stauskas cannot be left alone on the perimeter, going 4-for-8 from the field, dusting Raptors guard Lou Williams before hitting his first shot, a corner three-pointer, near the end of the first quarter. He finished with 12 points. On the other end, Stauskas frequently got caught up in a web of Raptors screens. Terrence Ross burned him for eight quick points in the second quarter, including a dunk that was a result of a poor pass from Stauskas. Ross left the game late in the fourth quarter, appearing to be favouring his right knee or ankle.
Raptors GM is sold on Kyle Lowry | Toronto Sun
He does have a presence,’ Ujiri said of Lowry. “ He plays hard. He has the edge. That’s the honest truth — he does have an edge. You can call him what you want. He does this or he does that. He has the edge. And he wants to win. He’s very competitive every single game. The Raptors chart every nuance of the game within the game counting win shares. Whether it’s a battle for a loose ball or a rebound or a steal of the basketball, there is a winner for every battle and they are charted. The Raptors did that while working out prospective draft picks this summer and are doing it again in training camp. “All of the competitions and stuff that they do, whether it’s shooting or 3-on-3, whatever it is they do, (Kyle’s) team is always on top. … There’s something about winning. He’s very competitive.”
NBA Saturday: Who Has The NBA’s Best Starting Backcourt? | Basketball Insiders
Like Lowry, DeRozan had a career year last season, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. After the Raptors traded away Rudy Gay, DeRozan became the go-to-scorer for the Raptors, and ultimately finished tenth in the league in points scored per game. But beyond scoring, DeRozan showed significant improvement as a playmaker, jumping his per game assists averages from 2.5 to four last season. However, moving forward DeRozan will need to improve his three-point shooting. DeRozan’s three-point percentage has risen virtually every season, but he still shot just 30.5 percent from range last season. If and when DeRozan starts hitting from distance at or around 35 percent, he will have a valid claim to being the best shooting guard in the NBA
With his arms chugging and his head down, Valanciunas’s running gait was not a particularly efficient one. So, the Raptors sent him to Eugene, Ore., to work with the University of Oregon’s head strength and conditioning coach, Jim Radcliffe. Valanciunas is trying to get his knees higher in order to create a more fluid motion. Success, in theory, would lead to Valanciunas both improving his speed and conserving some energy. “It is difficult,” Valanciunas said. “I still catch myself [using] old habits. I’m working on that.” “A lot of times you can expend so much energy by using too much of your arms and kind of flailing all over the place,” coach Dwane Casey added. “That was one of the main things: run lighter, more efficiently, arms tighter to the body.
Kings At Raptors In Vancouver Postgame Show | Pro Bball Report
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