Welcome to the Weekend 3-on-2, a monthly (maybe) feature that looks at three positive and two negatives with the Raptors and the NBA at large.
Like: Learning from the Warriors
What a novel idea, to borrow something from the champions.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean that the Raptors should try to emulate the Warriors. It’s a nice thought, but the Warriors are an oddity. They’re built around the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time, flanked by a cadre of excellent two-way wings, a play-making, trash-talking, multi-functional big in Draymond Green and boast an elite rim-protector in Andrew Bogut. The Raptors don’t have the pieces in place to play like the Warriors.
But there are some takeaways that they can borrow.
For one, having a dynamic frontcourt capable of making plays is tremendously valuable. Opponents often trap Stephen Curry in pick-and-rolls, leaving Green open to make plays. But while he usually plays with an advantage, Green is also clever enough to be able to attack a weakened defense. He understands how to use his movement and shooting ability to create plays for himself and others. He’s a big reason why the Warriors are so successful. The same can be said of Bogut, who is a tremendous facilitator out of the high post. He’s tall enough to see over anyone and has the vision to spot cutters flashing down the lane, or to hit shooters coming off pin-downs.
The Raptors don’t have any playmakers in the frontcourt. Jonas Valanciunas has little passing vision to speak of. Patrick Patterson occasionally flashes some moves when attacking closeouts, but it’s still a work in progress. The closest thing the Raptors have to playmaking in the frontcourt is Amir Johnson running two-man games with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.
Getting some playmaking in the frontcourt will help even out the guard-centric offense. Like the Raptors, the Warriors’ backcourt shoulders much of the offense, but much of the action comes off set plays off cuts, screens and pin-down action whereas the Raptors’ guards are asked to create and finish the play. Getting someone like Paul Millsap (pls Masai) or even David Lee (for the record, not a big fan of this idea) would help in this regard.
The second takeaway from the Warriors is depth. They remained healthy throughout the season and the playoffs while their foes around them succumbed to injuries. Some of that is luck, but it also speaks to the Warriors’ tremendous depth. Curry led the way in minutes per game at 32.7, whereas DeRozan and Lowry both easily topped that figure. Most notably, both DeRozan and Lowry were forced to play heavy minutes shortly following injury.
The Warriors had the luxury of resting their players, both during games and through grueling stretches of cramped schedules. Bogut’s absence would mean minutes for Marreese Speights, David Lee or Festus Ezeli. Sitting down Klay meant some time for Andre Iguodala to step up. There was a drop-off, but not much of one. The Warriors’ bench ran 13-deep throughout the season, where Steve Kerr even managed to coax useful minutes out of no-names like Justin Holiday. The Raptors, meanwhile, consistently carried five dead spots between Landry Fields, Greg Stiemsma, Bruno Caboclo, Bebe Nogeuira and Chuck Hayes.
The point isn’t to copy the champions, but there are lessons to be learned.
Dislike: That we know nothing about Bruno Caboclo
The mere mention of Bruno brings joy to my heart. For just a second, it makes me a little less cynical about sports. Because he was purposed as the Raptors’ human victory cigar, every sentiment I have attached to Bruno is positive. Raptors are up 13 with 4 minutes to go … BRING OUT BRUNO! With no expectations other than to simply exist (and to be comically long), Bruno became a cult hero and arguably the team’s most popular player.
But we don’t know anything about him.
I did some cursory googling to round up the scant facts about Bruno Caboclo.
- He’s a 19-year-old Brazilian swingman who stands at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan.
- He bulked up from 207 to 221 pounds throughout the season, mostly through a pasta-heavy diet.
- He spent most of the year working with assistant Jama Mahlalela.
- He played a grand total of 23 minutes in four D-League games. This was his shot chart.
We know effectively nothing about Bruno. We can’t fill out a scouting report with any certainty. For all intents and purposes, he spent the season as the Raptors’ unofficial mascot. I understand that he was a calculated gamble on a raw talent — two years from two years — but I’m getting curious about the return.
It just speaks to the lack of a D-League team, I guess. But then, I wonder: why draft Bruno if we’re just going to waste his rookie season toiling away in late-night 3-on-3s with Terrence Ross, Chuck Hayes, Greg Stiemsma, James Johnson and Landry Fields? If we didn’t have the infrastructure in place, was rolling the dice the smartest thing to do? Maybe that means Bruno was too good to pass up; even the year off was worth it.
But as of right now, we have no idea what he is capable of. And at some point, we’re going to want more than a mascot out of the 20th pick. I mean, it’s fun to watch him learn English through 50 Cent songs (it worked for me), but the Raptors’ fanbase is like a loanshark: we’re quick to dole out hope, but we’ll also hang them with the rope that they’re given.
“I think [the D-League] is going to enhance Bruno’s development next year,” Ujiri said at his year-end presser, where he announced plans to bring a D-League team to Canada. “The summer is big from him.”
Not only that, but the D-League and the summer will help the Raptors and its fanbase peel back a bit of the mystery that shrouds Bruno.
Like: Aaron Gray putting his health first
Former Raptor Aaron Gray is stepping away from the game he loves. The 30-year-old center suffered a blood clot in his heart last summer which forced him to sit out the season.
On Friday, Gray told the Detroit Free Press that he will retire and become an assistant under Stan Van Gundy. June 19 marked the one-year anniversary of his wedding with his wife and has decided to put his health and his family before fame and fortune.
It’s a brave move and Gray should be lauded. It’s horrible that his health failed him, but that’s only more reason for him to cherish it. Fortunately, Gray’s heart recovered fully but the risk was simply too great.
“It’s just the strain and stress you have to put on my heart,” Gray said. “It’s a year-round job. You have to be in the best physical shape. Doing that (would) just put me at a risk that I just wasn’t comfortable with so that’s why we kind of ended the discussion.”
I’ll say it: Gray was not fantastic as a Raptor. If anything, he was lumbering, clumsy and hopelessly ambitious. He loved to thread the needle while facilitating out of the high post, even though his eyes were always too big for his stomach.
Gray did what was asked of him. He was a serviceable backup who always wore a smile through some lean seasons. He had his moments, like a spot start in 2013 when Gray dropped 22 and 10 against the Warriors. He was dependable and professional.
Best of luck, your Airness. I wish you health and happiness in your new career.
Dislike: The “Sky is Falling” crowd
It’s not. Get over yourself. Yes, the end of the season was dispiriting, but this is still a good team. DeMar DeRozan is imperfect, but he’s pretty damn good. Kyle Lowry tailed off, but he was a star when healthy. Jonas Valanciunas has plenty to work on, but he’s an excellent prospect. All the core pieces are either in their prime, or entering their primes. There’s enough cap space to add a significant piece to address their weaknesses.
Just relax. We should be pretty familiar with being hopeless and this team is far from hopeless. Seriously, this fanbase has gone through far worse offseasons. When Masai Ujiri took over, this team was in the luxury tax, in a pick deficit and Andrea freaking Bargnani was still around. And that was just two years ago.
Chill out. Have a laugh. Let’s wait to see what he does with the team, then complain if we must. All the hand-wringing is too premature.
Like: Taking the best player available
I don’t know much about the draft. I’m not big on college basketball (GTFO with this 35-second shot clock) so I can’t speak to what the Raptors should do with their pick. Like most people, I pour over DraftExpress before the draft in hopes of finding some truth in grainy highlight footage and flimsy collegiate statistics.
But I will say this much: Ujiri should draft the best player available, regardless of position, regardless of immediacy of impact. His goal should be to take the player with the highest upside (within reason).
If he thinks that the BPA is Bobby Portis, then forget about Patterson. If it’s Jerian Grant, don’t worry about a redundancy with Vasquez and Lowry. If it’s R.J. Hunter, who cares if DeRozan is entrenched as the starter. It’s the 20th pick and the Raptors should be taking home-run swings. Marginal talents are always available through trade and free agency. The chance to draft a potential star on a cheap rookie deal is too good to pass up.
In other words, don’t ask “What about DeRozan?” BPA all the way.
Happy Father’s Day to all the proud pops out there. To every dad who changed diapers, kicked a ball around with their kid and helped them with middle school math, you’re appreciated. Thanks.
