Raptors 99, Kings 92 – Box | Quick React
It’s never easy to separate signal and noise in the preseason, especially in a preseason opener that stood out far more as a marketing tool than 48 minutes to help the Toronto Raptors get ready for the upcoming season. The starters didn’t top 25 minutes, the rotation went 12 players deep, and sets on both end of the floor were rather inconsistent and seemed focused on getting a few reps of everything in rather than execute a specific gameplan.
All of that is more than fine. It’s what the preseason is for. It’s why the preseason is unbearably long (there are seven more of these). There’s plenty of time to work on anything you could want to work on. It doesn’t mean that we can’t watch the games critically, though, and try to establish an understanding of how things may go when the lights go on and the games matter.
On Sunday night – and really, thank Shamgod that basketball is back, even if the preseason is excruciatingly drawn out – the Raptors were finally in action, and the fruits of a relatively quiet offseason were on display.
The big takeaway on Sunday was that this team runs deep. We knew this, but even with Patrick Patterson sidelined, the team comfortably rolled out 12 players, 10 of whom got at least 17 minutes of run. The 10-man crew – the starting five, and then a second unit staggered featuring Greivis Vasquez, Lou Williams, James Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, and Greg Stiemsma – was an effective mix of talent and grit, and of offense and defense. Figure Patterson back into the mix when his sore hand is better, and the Raptors look like a team that’s going to be really tough to play against in the middle of an 82-game grind.
Some of the preseason discussion so far has been about the specifics of the rotation, and who will get minutes where. Fair to wonder, of course. For fans who don’t have to make the decisions that Casey does, there’s comfort in knowing the team has a dearth of bad options. I count 11 players I’d be okay with seeing in a regular season game (the 12 from last night, less Jordan Hamilton and Chuck Hayes, plus Patterson). That’s appreciable, and the Raptors are fairly well-insulated in the event of short-term injuries at any position but center.
What’s more, the early returns indicate the secondary players are strong fits. Williams, in particular, found comfort in his role as a second-unit ballhandler and shot maker, especially as the game wore on. This is a guy who has averaged 14.9 points off the bench before and was known as Mr. 4th Quarter, and he’s somewhat of an afterthought when the full squad going up. Sunday, it appeared he’ll get his minutes at the two, and that the team is comfortable with DeMar DeRozan sliding to the three in those cases. He won’t find his way to 28 minutes when the starters are playing a full load, but the preseason is important for Williams, more than anyone else, to carve out a role.
Speaking of carving out a role, Stiemsma is getting the 15th-man job. He played 17 hard-nosed minutes, did the things that make Stiemsma Stiemsma and seem to endear one to Casey. He and Tyler Hansbrough – now known as Psycho Three or #Psycho3 – formed a bruising duo. They won’t see a lot of run together when Patterson’s back, but they represent a nice fourth-line style look, and bring more size in the role than Hayes does.
James Johnson also seemed a good fit, though he remains as frustrating as his last go ’round, it seems. He was incredibly active on both ends of the floor, and I appreciate the hell out of his motor, but it doesn’t appear he’s gotten all the role recognition stuff worked out. He made a couple of abjectly terrible passes, including the worst alley-oop throw I’ve ever seen, but he also helped create transition opportunities with his length and hands – the lineup with Terrence Ross at the two, Hamilton at the three, and Johnson at the four was handsier than Zarar at the last Raptors Republic meet-up – and kept plays alive with tips and rebounds on offense.
The reserves also got to “learn to win,” something that I put in dick-finger quotes but actually believe matters. Vasquez and Williams were refreshed on creating late-game offensive looks, Johnson began to learn how he’d fit at the end of the game, and the bigs played their roles fine. We’ll never see all five try to close a game out together, but if they appear one or two at a time late in games, the familiarity with how the Raptors operate late in a game should be helpful.
“There’s a big difference between your 5 best and your best 5.” Jack Armstrong preaching on the Kings.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) October 6, 2014
When the season gets underway, we may find ourselves frustrated at times with the five-man units Casey employs in tight games. There are, depending on the opponent, up to nine players at Casey’s disposal late, which means a guy or two you like will be on the bench. Keep that Jack Armstrong quote in mind, and have some patience early in the season as Casey determines his “best five” against his “five best.”
I realize this is kind of a weird post-game. There’s been little talk about the flow of the game, but does anyone really care? The preseason is about process over results in the wins and losses sense, but the micro-level results on Sunday were very encouraging.
Quick Notes
- Jonas Valanciunas wasn’t looked to much on offense, but his outing was encouraging. His two baskets were both refined versions of what he’s shown before: one saw him unable to establish a deep post on DeMarcus Cousins and instead flip an impressive hook shot in, and the other saw him pull up from about eight feet as he was rolling to the rim, which is a new wrinkle for him. He sealed the baseline off well on drives and showed familiarity with the “verticality” rule that’s been getting preached to him.
- DeMar DeRozan was DeMar DeRozan. Amir Johnson was Amir Johnson. Kyle Lowry was a more passive version of Kyle Lowry. Just getting the feet wet for these guys.
- Terrence Ross was impressive offensively, though the team struggled some with him on the floor overall. He was coming off pin-down screens quickly and cleanly, creating far more separation than we’re used to. Nik Stauskas was the guy chasing him around, though, so there may not be a takeaway here. That, and a knee contusion that may sideline him for a few days.
- The Raptors play the Kings again on Tuesday in Sacramento. Maybe things will get heated? Maybe Bruno?
- I’ll leave the discussion about the Vancouver atmosphere for Tim W., who was live on location and should have a report Monday or Tuesday.
- It’s really nice to have basketball back.
