Raptors’ offence needs a revival | Toronto Sun
“With a bunch of new guys, we’re still learning, but the enthusiasm is there, the effort is there. But we’re still not where we need to be,” he said. Defence has been the coach’s main concern throughout camp, and that’s where he has focussed the team’s efforts. He says that area of Toronto’s game is finally coming around, and now the offence needs to play catchup. “Defensively, I think we are further ahead than we are offensively, not totally there yet but further along. A lot of it is the new personnel we have. We’ve added to our defensive grit and toughness. You have a guy like DeMarre Carroll, a young guy like Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo, Anthony Bennett, you add that to the mix you have a lot of grit … and grit does win in big-time competition.” Casey says it’s just a matter of time — or timing — before the Raptors’ offence starts to fire on all cylinders.
The Annual NBA League Pass Rankings, Part 1 | Grantland
This feels low. Skinny Kyle Lowry tore through preseason like some combination of Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas; he has literally found another gear and he’s zipping by help defenders who cut him off just last season. Lowry at full throttle is a treat. He dives for loose balls, gambles for steals, and changes directions so fast, it’s almost like he’s bouncing instead of running. He’s small enough at 5-foot-11 that you lose sight of him among the giants, and then, bam, he pops back onto the screen in a different spot.
Fantasy NBA: Using Advanced Stats To Your Advantage | Hoops Habit
Lowry’s contribution is to be expected, since he and backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan are supposed to drive the team again this season; what is surprising is that DeRozan is only at 6.7 so far (newcomer DeMarre Carroll is at 10.2). We would surely anticipate a correction forthcoming since DeRozan is a prolific scorer, but for now it seems that Lowry is in regular season form and DeRozan isn’t quite there yet, so based on that inference Lowry should be the one in your DFS lineups at this juncture while DeRozan comes up to speed.
Know Your Raptors episode 3: DeMar DeRozan | Sportsnet.ca
It’s a lot of pressure, for any player. Of course, fact remains that DeRozan is set for a massive payday at seasons end, regardless of how any of that plays out. The seven-year starter is expected to opt out of his contract and enter free agency this summer. As much as his heart is in Toronto, there’ll be plenty of bidders for his services. After all, it’s easy to lose sight of this when you watch him play night after night and begin dwelling on the areas for improvement and forget why teams around the NBA will be coughing up max money to put their jersey on him, but DeRozan is good. Like, really good. You can count the number of 26-and-under players in the league who have a real shot at averaging 25 points per game on one hand. DeRozan is one of those players. His game is a matchup nightmare (arguably no other backcourt player in the league equips a mid-range post-up game like his), he is truly elite when it comes to getting to the foul line, and he had shown improvement every season.
Eastern Conference: Six Preseason Studs | Basketball Insiders
Most people around the league know how talented Lowry is, so his great play during the preseason should not be a surprise to anyone. But the numbers have been terrific, averaging 24.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals through four games. In one game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lowry scored 40 points (shooting 13-18 from the field and hitting 6-9 threes) in just 28 minutes on the court. This 40-point outing from Lowry broke the Raptors’ preseason scoring record, breaking the mark previously held by former Toronto great Vince Carter. Lowry’s ability to do so much on the court is what makes him so lethal. You basically have to pick your poison when guarding Lowry. You can’t give him space, since he’ll knock down the jumper (as evidenced by his 57.7 percent shooting from the field and 57.1 percent shooting from long range in preseason). But you also can’t defend the shot, as he’ll use his deceiving quickness to go right around you for an easy finish.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle in Preseason A Precursor | Hoops Habit
It isn’t often that you see star players have big games as Lowry has had in preseason. Usually, the stars of teams will get their 20-25 minutes working out the kinks before heading to the bench and preserving their bodies until the start of the regular season. Lowry isn’t waiting for the regular season. He wants everyone to recognize that his performances this preseason is just a snippet of what he will bring throughout the course of this NBA calendar year. The Eastern Conference as a whole is a lot stronger in comparison to recent years. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks will continue to be the top competitors, but other teams have made moves to boost their chances of dethroning them.
Power Forward by Committee: A brief summary of the Raptors 4-spot situation | Raptors HQ
This is not to overlook Patterson’s potential as a starting power forward. On paper, the benefits of starting Patterson (particularly with big man Jonas Valanciunas) are obvious. He’s a career 37 percent three point shooter (having touched over 40 percent a couple times in his career, including two seasons ago) and that ability to space the floor makes him valuable at the 4-spot. While Patterson does not have Scola’s post-move savvy and polish, he’s ten years younger, quick-footed and comfortable working from the 3-point line inward. Unfortunately, the first and second most used lineups last year that paired him with Valanciunas produced net ratings of -3.4 and -22.9. Now, not all of that was Patterson’s fault, but it doesn’t help his starter case. And when considered through the prism of Patterson’s preseason, marred by invisible or inattentive play, the pressure of being the starting power forward appears to have overwhelmed him somehow. “It’s just getting used to everything,” Patterson acknowledged after last night’s game.
Toronto Raptors 2015-16 Player Preview: Luis Scola is more than a mentor | Raptors HQ
Deeper evaluation of Scola and Patterson shows that aside from total minutes and games played, these two PF options for the Raptors are eerily similar. Patterson’s true shooting percentage sits at 53.8%, while Scola’s is 53.5%; however, the Argentinian has sustained that over 298 more games. Although Scola doesn’t shoot the three, he’s connected on 44.5 percent of shots ranging from 16 feet to the three-point line over the past eight seasons, which gives him the ability to stretch the offensive end of the floor. The major upside for Scola comes with his defensive capabilities. While both Patterson and Scola hover around the same number of offensive win shares (19.3 for Scola and 11.5 for P-Patt) the variance in defensive win shares is significant. Scola hit 2.7 last year (22.3 career), compared to 1.7 (6.5 career) credited to Patterson. And let’s be honest, with the current Toronto roster, it’s not additional offence that the Raptors are looking for.
Professional Luis Scola Easily Wins Over Raptors Dwane Casey | Pro Bball Report
Scola has a knack for making the game easy for his teammates. Paired with Bismack Biyombo in the first few preseason games, the two big men have been a rebounding force and Biyombo has appreciated playing with the veteran. “Luis has been playing the game forever,” Biyombo said. “He has the experience. He has a better knowledge of the game than I do and a lot of do in this room, so I give him a lot of respect for that. He is a good teammate trying to help guys on the floor and I think that is what makes a difference.
NBA GMs harsh on Raptors, high on Wiggins in annual poll | Sportsnet.ca
Decision-makers around the league voted the Raptors as the sixth best team in the East, according to the poll released by NBA.com on Tuesday. Only 2.4% of GMs said the Raptors would finish as a top-four team in their conference, and the team did not receive any top-four votes in a major category. However, new small forward DeMarre Carroll did receive a bit of praise. He received at least one vote in a few categories, including the most underrated player acquisition, the most surprising addition, and as one of the top perimeter defenders.
Toronto Raptors preview: Setting the bar higher and higher | USA Today
How far do they have to go? Shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.2% on three-pointers is decent, but both rank outside the top 10 in the NBA. Carroll shot 48.7% on field goals and 39.5% beyond the three-point arc. Thus, his presence will help. But with Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, Toronto has players who can score.
NBA Division Previews: Atlantic Division | Maddux Sports
The Raptors clearly have great pieces in Kyle Lowry, DeMar Derozan, Terrence Ross, Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll. None of those guys are exactly who you want to isolate in late game situations. Lowry can create, and DeRozan is capable of getting to the line, but how can that stack up with a team shooting a true closer down the heart of the Raps? Which of those guys can you trust with the game on the line? Due to the lack of star power and underwhelming depth, it is difficult to peg the Raptors as much more than first round fodder for a stronger club. 45 wins would certainly make the playoffs, but if the Wizards could thoroughly dispose of the Raptors, at least three to five more clubs could easily do the same.
Why The Raptors Are Bound To Regress | Get More Sports
There is no doubt the Raptors view Jonas Valanciunas as a core piece and while he is still only 23 years old, there is reason to be concerned about the fact that he is still behind schedule in terms of reaching his potential. Valanciunas has the size and skill to be a quality starting center in the NBA but he has struggled with consistency and his defense might never be as good as the team would like it to be. He’s been riding the pine in a lot of fourth quarters. They need him to entire the prime time. If not, he’s just another starter who is underachieving.
Cory Joseph supporting Paralympic hopeful Anthony Lue in Whitby Saturday, Oct. 24 | Durham Region
Anthony Lue, who is eyeing a trip to Rio for the 2016 Paralympics, will be joined by Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph and 2015 Pan Am Games medallists Nikkita Holder and Braxton Stone-Papadopoulos at the Abilities Centre for an evening fundraiser.
A fresh start for Canada’s Bennett, Joseph | FIBA.com
If the two players were linchpins for Canada, there are no guarantees when it comes to Toronto in terms of playing time. The Raptors had a good seasons in 2014-15 but lost in the opening round of the playoffs. They have plenty of weapons and the minutes will have to be earned. Bennett just wants to do his best. His selection as the first overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Cavaliers put him under a microscope. “I don’t need to prove anything,” Bennett said, ” [I] just go out there and play.” The native of Brampton, Ontario, says this is where he wanted to be, in Toronto.
Listen to Masai Ujiri on improving the Raptors defense | Omny personal radio
Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri joined Jared Greenberg and Rick Mahorn at the Toronto Raptors training camp. Ujiri spoke on improving the defense this off-season via free agency and took blame for last year’s conclusion.
MLSE boss Tim Leiweke eyes role with David Beckham’s investment group | The Globe and Mail
News that Beckham appears to be courting Leiweke is the latest chapter in the drawn-out search for MLSE’s next leader. Leiweke, a high-profile American sports executive, first announced last August that he would leave his Toronto job by June 30 to pursue unspecified entrepreneurial opportunities. On May 20, he said he would in fact be staying on longer, only to be contradicted by MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum the next day, who affirmed June 30 as an end date. Tanenbaum said at the time that MLSE’s board of directors was “close” to hiring a new CEO. Sources said one preferred candidate was former Corus Entertainment Inc. chief executive John Cassaday. He was was reportedly offered the job, but declined it after failing to agree to financial terms, according to a source with knowledge of the search. On May 29, the picture was made murkier once more as Tanenbaum formally extended Leiweke’s tenure on an interim basis while the company extended its search for a successor. Leiweke said then that he expected to stay for “months,” not years.
Tim Leiweke officially leaves MLSE for David Beckham | Raptors Cage
John Cassaday, former CEO of broadcasting giant Chorus Entertainment, will resume Leiweke’s role. How well rehearsed he is in sports management remains to be seen, however he is definitely a seasoned executive that will hopefully be able to carry forward what Leiweke started to embed into MLSE – a winning culture.
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