While there is no way to know whether the Raptors’ off-season moves — essentially swapping out offence for defence around the core of the team — will pay off, a dominant Lowry would certainly make the Raptors relevant. He was excellent in the preseason debut, scoring 26 points in 22-minutes in the Raptors’ 93-73 win. “He’s been playing like that all camp,” Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll said. “Kyle, he’s an aggressive guard. He’s been … shooting the ball (well) all camp. You can just tell he has a confidence level about himself. That’s good. He’s our point guard. He’s the head of the snake. We need him to have that type of comfort.”
Raptors ease to win over Clippers in pre-season opener | Toronto Sun
“It definitely doesn’t happen in one game,” DeMar DeRozan said of relocating that defensive culture. “But I think we did pretty good putting in a new defence that all of us weren’t accustomed to running the past couple of years,” he added. “We put it in and we went up against one of the best pick-and-roll teams in the league. I think we did pretty OK, honestly. That we could physically look at something and see what we could get better at. We got seven more games and a lot more practices where we can still get better at it.” Casey wasn’t exaggerating when he talked about the lack of attention the offence has received through training camp. All you had to do was watch the first quarter of last night’s game when the starters were in for the bulk of the time to see the uncertainty there as the team introduces both a new starting small forward and power forward to the mix.
Raptors open pre-season with win over Clippers | Toronto Star
“I love JV a ton but when you have five turnovers as a centre that’s way too many,” Casey said. “We’ve got to make sure we get those cut down and that’s on me because we haven’t worked on a lot of offence . . . but we have to take care of the basketball.” As is often the case, the Raptors played what could turn out to be a regular rotation for most of the night before going to the deep-bench players in the late stages. They were without Anthony Bennett, however, as he sat out with a shoulder injury picked up during training camp. There is no timetable for the Canadian former first-overall draft pick to play in a game. James Johnson (Achilles), Lucas Nogueira (hamstring) and Axel Toupane (ankle) also sat out.
Game Rap: Raptors 93, Clippers 73 | Toronto Raptors
Underrated Raptors Player Of The Game Terrence Ross showed off his skills on the defensive end of the floor, playing active defence and getting into the passing lanes for four steals to go along with a block, two assists, a rebound and six points. It was a big return for Ross who underwent ankle surgery over the offseason and spent the end of summer rehabbing.
Five thoughts on Raps’ preseason opener | TSN
KYLE LOWRY: He was the best player on the floor tonight between the two teams. Outstanding. Ran the club beautifully, set up the offence and teammates well and was stellar attacking the basket and drawing fouls. The Raptors need him to play at high level each game and when he does – they can play with really good teams. He plays the way he did tonight and he’ll be playing in Toronto in February in the All Star game.
KEY PLAY: Backup centre Bismack Biyombo is known for his defence and didn’t wait long to show off his rim protecting skills, dramatically swatting a Josh Smith shot into the first row late in the first quarter.
Raptors Down Clippers 93-73 In Preseason Opener | Raptors HQ
Lowry led all scorers with 26 points in 22 minutes, finishing 7-for-10 from the field and getting to the line 12 times (making 11 of those attempts). DeRozan, Valanciunas and Luis Scola also hit double digits in scoring. Since the offseason, we’ve been talking about Lowry’s weight loss and now everyone’s had a chance to see the new Lowry, the rest of the basketball world is buzzing about it too.
Patterson Vs Scola: Who Starts For The Raptors? | Pro Bball Report
“Part of me (feels it’s my job to lose) just because Amir was the starter and I was the backup four. Without Amir here I feel like I should go into that role, but everything is earned, nothing is given. Just going out and proving myself and in my mindset I feel like I am going to prove and hopefully earn (it).”
Raptors coach Casey hopes F Bennett rediscovers love for the game | TSN
“He got a lot of criticism, first draft pick. . . Shouldn’t worry about it, it’s not his fault that he was drafted where he was drafted,” River said. “And the draft is for one day, whether you’re high or low, I always tell my players that really it’s a number someone gave you that day, where would you be tomorrow if they drafted again, and then again the next day if they drafted again.” Criticism is tough for young players who are accustomed to starring for university teams. “Some handle it well, some don’t. I think he’ll find his way. He’s home, he’s probably in a more comfortable surrounding,” Rivers said. “Some guys read (what’s written about them). I did as a player, I wish I hadn’t honestly. I think even the positive stuff is not good to read honestly. “The team can help him. . . the best way they can help him is by playing well, and they’re in no rush for him to be great yet.”
Raptors hope Anthony Bennett can rebound | The Chronicle Herald
“He’s a talented young man, he’s doing some things that surprised all of us offensively and defensively, but most of all . . . enjoy the game, get the stigma of being the No. 1 pick off his shoulders, and just enjoy the game,” Casey said. “That’s the most important thing. No expectations right now, just get better, work hard, work his butt every day in practice, and get better and enjoy basketball, enjoy coming to the gym every day.” The Raptors signed the six-foot-eight 245-pounder a week before camp opened. Bennett was coming off a solid summer spent with Canada’s national team, playing first at home for the Pan American Games and then in Mexico City at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament.
Stackhouse happy to add NBA flavour to Raptors staff | Sportsnet.ca
While Stackhouse freely admits he’d never imagined himself moving to Canada for his first NBA coaching job, so far Toronto is looking like a good fit. “I think the stars just lined up,” he says. As a two-time all-star with experience spanning eight different teams over 18 seasons in the NBA—he was drafted third overall by the 76ers in 1995—Stackhouse brings a unique perspective to the team’s coaching staff, a combination of smarts and instincts and, especially, toughness. “I’ve been out there,” he says, noting that Ujiri was looking to add a former player to the coaching staff. “We can come up with an idea that sounds great on paper, but I know what I feel and what I see when I’m out there on the court.” Stackhouse is quick to point out that each of the team’s assistant coaches has his own unique offerings, and he’s learning from all of them. That humility seems to be a component of his notion that “you’ve gotta treat people right,” which is how he describes the source of his respect for head coach Dwane Casey. Back when Stackhouse was with the Mavericks, Casey was an assistant coach in Dallas, and he made an extra effort with the longtime shooting guard. “I was hurt, and he would get in the gym with me and shoot around,” says Stackhouse. “We just kind of built a relationship there.”
Photo Credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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