The Raptors need a leader.
We all know that the Raptors are struggling.
Their season record is strong and they have built enough goodwill to cash in a few stinkers. But we know what we see. It’s right before our eyes. We can see the lack of ball movement. We can see the poor perimeter defense. We can see the ragged body language. It’s all right in front of our eyes.
No, the season isn’t falling apart. That would be silly. But banking on their past as justification for their current process would equally as silly. They started off 24-7 but are 13-14 over their past 27 games. They’ve lost four straight — one to an extremely short-handed Pelicans team and have been roundly schooled by three Western playoff teams on the heels of beating the Wizards, Spurs and Hawks. That says they’re capable of great things, but that there are tangible problems to tackle.
It’s plain for everyone to see. Fans have gripped about it for months. Writers have championed their charge. Even the players themselves see the problem (of course they do — they’re the ones out there on the court). Patrick Patterson told reporters that the Raptors have a tendency to devolve into 1-on-1 basketball, which has been their downfall in fourth quarters. Kyle Lowry, who has been below-average on both ends of the floor since their overtime loss to Portland, flat out told reporters that he’s “trash” right now. DeMar DeRozan aligned himself with Lowry, saying that he’s in the same boat. That was further corroborated by the Golden State Warriors’ scouting report on the Raptors: much of what they do devolves into 1-on-1 play. Sure enough, they proceeded to embarrass the Raptors on their home court on Friday night.
At this point, it’s not about loyalty, it’s not about hurt feelings, it’s not about pointing the finger and brandishing pitchforks. It’s about the team. The angry mob, the frustrated players, the coaching staff at wit’s end — everyone wants the same thing. Everyone wants the team to right the ship and go back to the way they were — not just winning games again, but playing their brand of basketball.
And for that to happen, someone will need to step up and be the leader. That person needs to tackle adversity, be accountable and lead the team.
That person could be Dwane Casey. He’s a soft-spoken and fiercely loyal to his players, but he’s still the head coach, after all. The players are accountable to him. He calls the shots from the sideline. He determines the minutes. He draws up the plays and sets the defensive coverage. If he chooses to, he can hold his team accountable and influence them to play the right way. That starts with what he does from the sideline.
That person could be Kyle Lowry. He’s struggled for going on two months and has looked nothing like the player that was deemed worthy of starting spot on the All-Star Game, but he’s still the point guard. He’s still the team’s leader. He still calls the plays on the court and dictates who gets the ball and where. He’s still the emotional leader who can electrify the team with a key hustle play. He’s still the bold captain who isn’t afraid to take the winning shot. If he chooses to, he can hold the team accountable and influence them to play the right way. That starts with what he does on the court.
That person could be DeMar DeRozan. He’s struggled with his shot all season, but he was an All-Star last season and no one questions his work ethic. That’s why he’s earned the responsibility as the team’s go-to scorer. He can create his own shot and get to the line. He can draw the occasional double-team to create openings for his teammates. If he chooses to, he can hold the team accountable and influence them to play the right way. That starts with what he does on the court.
Whoever that person is — be it Lowry, DeRozan or Casey — someone needs to step up and take responsibility. They need to seize the reigns and get the team back on track. This team can achieve success. They’ve shown that they’re better than they are right now. They have enough talent to whip bottom-feeders and hang with the contenders. They’ve proven they can score efficiently on offense and defend at a near top-10 rate. We all saw it. It used to be right there before our eyes.
But in order to get back to that, they need for someone to take charge. They need someone to kick start the team. They need someone to say definitively, ‘I’m locking down my man and I’ll make smart decisions on offense,’ and actually show it on the court. They need to hold their teammates accountable when they fail. They need to be willing to bench players when they fall out of line. They need to hold each other to a higher standard. Hurt feelings and bruised egos be damned; it’s all about getting the team back on track. They need to eschew excuses and deliver, regardless of cost or method.
The Raptors are stuck in a rut and they need a leader to pull them out of it. Someone needs to step up.
