The Toronto Raptors will be without DeMarre Carroll for a third consecutive game when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reports.
Carroll has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot for two weeks, rendering him day-to-day until the issue ceases. It was largely expected he’d miss Wednesday’s game, as the Sixers are a prime candidate to get players rest against. That’s not to say winning Wednesday without Carroll and Terrence Ross – out at least two weeks with a ligament injury in his left thumb – will be easy, as the Raptors are rendered perilously thin on the wing as a result.
The paucity of wing depth already reared its head in a loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
James Johnson drew the start once again and did an admirable job in his minutes guarding Carmelo Anthony. He stands to start once again Wednesday, but his jump from sparsely used deep reserve to heavy-minutes starter underscores the team’s lack of options at small forward. Johnson played 13 minutes in total over the team’s first six games before being tasked with 26 on Sunday and 29 on Tuesday. He’s now averaging 13.6 minutes on the season, scoring 2.8 points with 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He’s also shooting 50 percent from the floor, including a big 1-of-2 mark from outside, though his value is derived primarily from his ability on the other end of the floor when dialled in.
After Johnson, things get dicey really quickly for Toronto. Anthony Bennett played 17 largely discouraging minutes Tuesday after playing seven on Sunday and 11 over the team’s first six games. He’s working hard on the defensive end but he’s ill-suited for the three and his jump shot has been woeful so far. Norman Powell only played two minutes Tuesday – the team may consider him too slight against bigger threes like Anthony – and is the one bench player who could conceivably see more time Wednesday.
The Sixers are without Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington, and Noel’s absence may see the team go smaller with Jerami Grant at the four for stretches. That would play into Toronto’s style if Carroll were healthy, but they’re more or less committed to at least one of Bennett, Johnson, Luis Scola, or Patrick Patterson always being on the floor with a center. The Raptors have the option to go with two point guards to go a bit smaller, and Cory Joseph has been one of the team’s best players through eight games.
In terms of a return date for Carroll, he’s questionable until he’s not. Plantar fasciitis only gets better with adequate rest and stretching, and while it may be killing Carroll to be stuck on the bench, it’s in the best interest of player and team to take the long view with an injury that has the potential to linger. Missing Wednesday’s game gives Carroll a full week off before Friday’s tilt with the New Orleans Pelicans.
For those unfamiliar, plantar fasciitis is a remarkably uncomfortable foot condition that makes it feel as if you’re constantly running with stones – or glass – in your shoe. It occurs when the band of tissue running from the heel to the toes becomes inflamed from overuse. The only real remedy is rest and stretching, and in worse cases players have been sidelined for up to six weeks with the ailment.
In six games, Carroll is averaging 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 34.2 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from long-range. The defense has come as advertised but Carroll was wearing the injury against the Orlando Magic on Friday, lacking lift in his jump shot and struggling to make the sharp cuts he normally makes off the ball. He estimated he was playing at about 70 percent, and there’s little sense pushing him to return until the team is comfortable he’ll be at 100 percent long-term.
Despite Carroll’s absence, the Raptors remain 10-point favorites on the road in a back-to-back situation on Wednesday.
