Alongside that sickening feeling of déjà vu, where flashbacks of DeRozan sliding to the floor in agony early last season came back with a vengeance, I can safely assume we all experienced a wide range of emotions the very second Jonas Valanciunas seemed to have suffered a serious injury.
Whether it was thoughts of impending (or immediate) doom that quickly elevated to the realm of tank mode, or even if you had positive visions of what the Raptors can possibly achieve with a lineup of different looks, you’re not alone, I rode that roller-coaster as well.
Coming into the L.A. trip, Valanciunas had only missed three out of the Raps’ previous 177 games, so thinking at both ends of the spectrum was to be expected, as nobody really knows how life without Valanciunas will unfold over a prolonged period of time.
I can understand the temptation of Jamal Murray, or even the pipe-dream of Ben Simmons, but as we’ve had time to collect our breath, surviving this current predicament and salvaging the path the Raps were on to begin with remains a feasible task.
Though like Toronto clockwork, a wrench in the program always wants to fight back. I used to think the Raps starting the year with 11 of their first 15 games on the road was a blessing in disguise, not to mention being comfortable with any early season struggles. With the former lending itself to team chemistry, and the latter allowing for a sense of urgency down the stretch; one of last season’s missing ingredients.
Both still reinforce optimism, but what I didn’t account for was a major injury. And in a sense, a month and a half without the services of Jonas is like an extended road trip all over again. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Just think, what happens if DeMarre Carroll’s plantar fasciitis starts acting up again?
So, now that JV’s fractured ring-finger (left hand) has been officially diagnosed as a 6-week affliction, is this club up to the challenge? Well, that depends on whether or not they’re ready to evolve.
An insult to injury side note: Anyone else wonder why Valanciunas stayed in the game after getting hurt? I understand there was less than a minute to go in the first-half, but one has to question why a substitution wasn’t made. It would’ve resulted in the opposing coach getting to choose who shot JV’s free-throws along with him being unable to re-enter the game, but considering he was in obvious pain and then ultimately ruled out for the second-half, it should have been a no-brainer. Why put him at further risk?
Actually, wait, it all makes sense now. Terrence Ross returns, and the confusion runs rampant. Sounds about right.
But enough about Terry, let’s get back to evolving.
The Three-Man Weave
The business side of coaching only lends itself to a fan’s frustration. But to be fair, for as many times as this fan base has knocked Dwane Casey (myself included), we often fail to take into account his job security, or lack thereof.
A successful win-now coach is one who gets his contract renewed, particularly when that coach was a leftover employee of an old regime. If you keep making the playoffs, an organization will keep reaping the profit. Well, unless we’re talking about this town’s hockey squad, but that’s a story for another time.
With that said, Casey didn’t exactly need to make the development of JV a top priority in years past. Nevertheless, that doesn’t negate the fact that his maturation process was held in check for far too long.
And that’s what makes JV’s trip to shelf much more infuriating. The shift was underway. A trust was beginning to be established. Not only from Casey, but from his teammates as well. Specifically Lowry and DeRozan. So much so that I might be willing to overlook the fact that he still hovered around 28 minutes per game and his annual fourth-quarter neglect was creeping back into the picture.
However, it won’t take long to take that statement back. It speaks volumes when the winningest coach in Raptors’ history still has to earn the benefit of the doubt. But Casey’s chance to prove he deserves that recognition is at his next-six-weeks doorstep.
If there was ever a time to see Casey’s chops in action, it has arrived. His rotations will not only have to get creative, but timely to say the least. While offering up plenty of storylines in the process.
Will Scola’s playing time continue to seep into the Center spot? As well as the crunch time five? Is this the time we finally see JJ and Patterson gain back the productive rep they’ve previously earned?
I’ve always thought of them as Carroll clones, only problem being you’d have to morph them into one player. Though with what each brings to the table, we could see more of them switching in and out, or even playing together to help weather the storm. Especially if Casey commits to experimenting. His track record suggests otherwise, but the moment is forcing his hand.
Many preseason wishes called for DC, PP, and JJ to be allotted time in the frontcourt at the same time. And even though rebounding issues undoubtedly dissolved that trio from any kind of sustainability, along with Carroll making the latter two somewhat expendable afterthoughts with a healthy JV on the floor, it’s now worth a look. Besides, Bismack Biyombo won’t get one-dimensional matchups every night. I’d probably hold off on his role vs. the Clippers becoming the norm.
Perhaps the most intriguing factor in all of this chaos is a chance to see Bebe Nogueira get some meaningful run. Nobody is expecting his near triple-doubles for the 905ers to translate, but what can be expected is an extremely active skill-set.
With such a void now entrenched on the glass, that’s exactly the help this team can use. Yes, he’s still raw and semi-awkward, and will be taken advantage of, but here’s a chance to gain confidence at the next level. His improved passing and touch from the outside is garnering plenty of attention, enough for Raps to at least see where he’s at when brought into the spotlight.
I haven’t forgotten about the aforementioned three-man weave, however, and all of the above ultimately falls on the shoulders of this squad’s captains.
This could go one of two ways: refreshingly smooth (for a change), or completely haywire. The hope is that K-Low and DD realize what the mission should be. Getting everyone involved and aiding this re-adjustment period is not just key, it’s a necessity. The fear resides in the fact that both will ignore what’s in front of them and begin to overcompensate feeling they need to simply take over games. We’ve seen that movie before, and each sequel keeps damaging the integrity of the original.
Just like Fan duel commercials, or studio shows sponsored by Draft Kings, DeRozan’s selfish isolations may never stop. The same goes for Lowry’s inexplicable need to facilitate them, and even Casey’s habit for allowing them to happen (or better yet, urging them on). Still, an effort to decrease the amount of attempts is sorely needed, while encouraging a different approach at the same time.
The answer? How about increasing CoJo’s responsibilities for starters. 25 minutes a night will surely go up in JV’s absence, but it should have already taken place. Joseph, Lowry, and DeRozan together has worked wonders while alleviating DeMar’s perimeter duties. Well, that might change if Ross eventually cures his multiple personality disorder. Translation: Joseph, Lowry, and DeRozan together has worked wonders while alleviating DeMar’s perimeter duties. They should be deployed far more than they already are.
Though at this point, it really is ALL HANDS ON DECK!
