Toronto Raptors recent home stand has certainly been sweet | National Post
“It’s very difficult to do, to play at home this many games in a row,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters on Thursday. “Psychologically, it’s tough to go through the grind, the monotony of every other day or whatever the schedule was. I think our guys mentally fought through that. That’s something that’s a credit to them. That’s what we’ve been preaching to them, fight through things mentally, be focused, don’t let outside distractions get you out of what you want to do. I’ve been relatively pleased.” Due to the nature of the league, the Raptors’ schedule is set to turn dramatically. Following the Milwaukee game, the Raptors play the Cavaliers, Suns, Hawks and Mavericks, four teams that range from playoff threats to championship contenders. They will then go on a three-game western road trip, albeit against three of the Western Conference’s weaker teams, depending on your opinion of the upstart Sacramento Kings. The schedule does not get truly gruesome until Christmastime, when the Raptors will go on a six-game road trip that includes games in Chicago, Portland and Golden State. The Raptors are yet to play a Western Conference road game, and a record approaching .500 in those 15 contests would be a massive accomplishment.
Raptors’ Hayes always prepared to help | Toronto Sun
“Even though the playing time hasn’t been there, I’m just as involved as DeMar (DeRozan) in the (team scouting meetings.) I’m just as involved as Kyle (Lowry) in the pre-game planning. They ask me for my opinion, I give it, if I see something, I’ll make a recommendation.” Hayes knows what he is talking about. Giving up half a foot every game, for nine years, is something very few NBA players have ever been able to carve out a long career doing. But Hayes has a sky-high basketball IQ and is a master of positioning. Superstar Memphis centre Marc Gasol, a 7-foot-1 bruiser, raved about Hayes’ defence after the Raptors stunned Memphis with a lock-down performance in the fourth quarter. “There are certain games that matchup to my skill-set, there’s some that may not. Regardless, I’ve still got to be ready,” Hayes said, admitting that he had a feeling he’d see some time against Gasol or Zach Randolph. “I was ready, but I’ve been ready the whole season (and) I’ll be read
Lewenberg: Hayes embraces role as Raptors’ quiet difference maker | TSN
A match-up with the Grizzlies’ intimidating frontcourt is one Hayes generally has circled. In today’s changing NBA, forcing most interior players to adapt their game and step out to the three-point line, there aren’t many teams that feature a physical, throw-back style big man who makes hay in the post. Memphis has two of them in Gasol and Randolph. In his 10th NBA season, Hayes says he doesn’t have to watch much tape or do much research to prepare for an opponent like this. “It’s all up here,” he said pointing to his head. “They don’t do nothing different than they did the last four, five years. I learn from experience. I knew there was a high possibility that I would go in last night, so I was ready, but I’ve been ready the whole season and I’ll be ready tomorrow.” “He knows who he is and what match-ups that he’s needed [in],” Casey said. “There’s certain match-ups that he’s good [in] and he knows that before we know it because he’s been in the league so long. That’s why you have veterans. That’s why veterans are so important in this league, in those positions. He has a good idea of what he’s supposed to do.”
How The Raptors Are Winning The Fourth Quarter Every Night | Pro Bball Report
“We have a deep team,” Greivis Vasquez explained. “We have guys that can do it on any given night. It’s a team effort. We are doing a good job at being focused and just waiting for an opportunity and we are taking advantage of that as a unit, as a team. T Ross came through tonight. He was struggling at first and then in the last quarter basically he took over. Lou (Williams), he scored for us too. Chuck (Hayes) came out – he hasn’t played in like 5 games – and did his job. So, it’s totally a team effort.” The Raptors have been led in fourth quarter scoring by Jonas Valanciunas, Ross (3x), Kyle Lowry (2x), DeMar DeRozan (2x), Lou Williams (1.5x) and Patrick Patterson (1.5x). It quite literally feels like a different player has been stepping up in crunch time each and every night. The voices from the Raptors locker room last season still ring true. There are no egos on this team. The players are here to win games and are ready when Casey calls their number, but perhaps more importantly, they are willing to sit, watch and cheer when someone else’s number is called. They are playing for something bigger than themselves and it shows.
#NorthernNostalgia Week four: Toronto Raptors commercials | Raptors Cage
Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors: Friday NBA game preview | Toronto Star
The Bucks needed triple overtime to beat the Nets in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, but at 7-5 Milwaukee has to be considered one of the early-season surprises around the league. . . . Prized rookie Parker averages 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 46 per cent from the field. . . . Antetokounmpo and Parker form one of two sets of teenagers to start for NBA teams this season. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are the others. . . . Milwaukee’s Wednesday win in Brooklyn came a day after a victory over New York. In 21 back-to-backs last season, the Bucks failed to win both games even once. . . . Toronto will once again be without backup forward James Johnson, sidelined with a severely sprained right ankle although he was out of a walking boot on Thursday.
NBA Preview – Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors – Nov 21, 2014 | CBSSports.com
The Bucks (7-5) have won three in a row after not winning consecutive games last season. They can earn their eighth victory 29 games earlier than in 2013-14 after not reaching that mark until Jan. 22. Milwaukee had dropped five straight overtime games going back to last season prior to Wednesday’s 122-118 triple-overtime win at Brooklyn. Brandon Knight made a tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the second overtime and free throws with 5.6 left in the third overtime. Knight was 5 of 20 from the field and missed what would have been the winning layup with two seconds left in the first extra period. “My teammates trusted me to make the next shot to force a third overtime, so that’s really what it’s all about,” Knight said. “And we stuck through it as a team.” Rookie Jabari Parker scored a season-high 23 on 8-of-13 shooting and is shooting 55.1 percent over his last seven games after hitting 36.1 percent in his first five. At 3-4, Milwaukee is already two road wins shy of its total from last season. The Bucks haven’t won three in a row away from home since their first three road contests in 2012-13.
Toronto Raptors: 5 Reasons They Are Elite | Hoops Habit
Having depth is something that teams must have down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs, and it has made the difference for quite a few championship winners over the years. Toronto has built their team very well around having a deep roster, and there aren’t too many teams better than them in that category. The scoring off of the bench could use some better play, but they have the potential to make that improvement. It’s going to be very intriguing to see whether or not the Raptors’ bench can begin playing up to their potential. They have the ability to take control of games against opposing second units, but they have’t been doing that as much as they could be. Expect to see their bench continue to improve this season as the year moves along.
