It’s a team effort for Raptors | Toronto Sun
The Raptors bench, or white squad as they prefer to be called (they wear white in practice going up against the black-shirted starters) has been particularly effective in keeping the Raptors in some games and at times turning the tide in others all season, not just since DeRozan went down. The group — primarily consisting but not limited to Lou Williams, Greivis Vasquez, James Johnson, Patrick Patterson and Tyler Hansbrough — has a certain swagger all of its own. Yes, they are well aware they don’t start and quite frankly don’t care. To a man, they all believe they have the bonafides to start and would do so on a team not as stacked as the Raptors. And as much as familiarity and continuity of lineup and coaching staff have played a part in the Raptors all-time best start to a season at 20-6, that willingness to take a lesser role is at the heart of what makes the Raptors such a great team.
Valanciunas is the focal point of the Raptors rebounding because Casey sees his potential and the young center only convinces his coach further when he out-rebounds the Pacers Roy Hibbert head-to-head 14-2 like he did a few games ago. However, Casey knows every situation is different and the Raptors go after the boards as a team even if Valanciunas is the guy he expects to lead them in this department. “It has to be (a team effort),” Johnson said. “Even when you do have a one-on-one box out the guards still have to come in and sandwich a guy, maybe a bigger and stronger guy, to help the rebounder because guys are taking long shots and balls are coming off the rim long and you don’t know where the ball might go. It is just one of those things you just have to prepare and be ready and know your job when the ball goes up. “We need (Valanciunas) to (rebound). I don’t want to jinx him, we need him to keep it up – the more rebounds, the more it helps us as a team. It moves us up in the rankings of defensive rebounding and we’ll be alright.”
Views From Section 305: Enjoying the Experience of Drake Night II | Raptors HQ
No nickname has stuck with JV since he’s come into the league, “Big Science” might just be the one to do it.
Pistons vs. Raptors – 12/19/14 NBA Pick, Odds, and Prediction | Sports Chat Place
The Raptors have owned the Pistons against the number the last couple of seasons and that shouldn’t change with the way both teams have been playing. The Pistons are brutal and I doubt they can hang with the best team in the East. Look for Toronto to win by double digits.
Raptors-Pistons: Friday game preview | Toronto Star
Detroit’s 2-2 in its last four and that’s not a bad thing. Before that, the Pistons had lost 12 in a row and that’s a very bad thing . . . One thing the Pistons do well is block shots. Andre Drummond (45) and Josh Smith (44) are the most prolific shot-blocking teammates in the NBA heading into Thursday’s action . . . Not hard to see where Detroit struggles. The Pistons are either second-last or third-last in the NBA in points per game, field goal percentage and free throw percentage . . . Andre Drummond shoots 48.6 per cent from the field; Andre Drummond shoots 44.8 per cent from the free throw line.
I can haz yo linkz??! rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
