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Pre-game news & notes: Carroll talks recovery, Ross returns, Lowry playing, Scola rests

DeMarre Carroll still wants to get into regular season games.

The Toronto Raptors play host to the red-hot Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 on TSN. You can check out the full preview here – we’ve got too much to go through to rehash the breakdown stuff.

Raptors get SLAM cover
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan join Drake on the cover of SLAM 198, with a caption that…well, SLAM and company better hope the Raptors can make a decent playoff run. You can read more and see more photos here.

DeMarre Carroll speaks
DeMarre Carroll spoke with the media before Wednesday’s game, noting that swelling in the knee three weeks ago was the reason things slowed down and he sought further opinion. I wasn’t there, so here are some beat reporter tweets.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported Wednesday that Carroll’s new goal may be to get into the last three games of the season, which could render his playoff role a smaller one. Carroll confirmed Wednesday that “that’s the goal.”

Here’s Grange for additional context:

Before the Raptors left for a three-game road trip beginning in Boston on March 23 Carroll had begun participating in light scrimmages but as has been the case previously when the intensity level of his basketball workouts increased, his knee would show some swelling — raising concerns — although Carroll hasn’t been in pain.

In recent days Carroll has sought second opinions and had further consultation with the doctor who performed the surgery. If he’s assured that his knee is sound he will begin the process of ramping up his training intensity again. How the joint responds will dictate whether Carroll can return to the lineup and in what capacity. If problems persist or reappear, the likelihood of him returning to competition this season would be in doubt.

Simply looking at the Raptors’ remaining schedule and potential practice days, the most likely scenario would see Carroll targeting a return to play in the Raptors’ final three games of the season, beginning Sunday April 10 in New York against the Knicks, although it could be sooner.

This sounds similar, albeit a little more optimistic, than what Ryan Wolstat reported for the Toronto Sun on Tuesday (that, and analysis, here). My thoughts on that matter can be found within that link. Carroll also confirmed the note from within that piece that he first hurt his knee in Game One back from plantar fasciitis, played on it, worsened it against the Clippers, and then played on it some more.

Terrence Ross returns
Hey, at least there’s a bit of good news! T.J. Ross will return Wednesday after missing the last three games due to soreness in the same left thumb that cost him two weeks of action earlier in the year. There are plenty from whom Ross is yet to earn trust back, but he’s been solid since roughly Dec. 7, and he’ll be an important two-way factor if Carroll’s minutes are limited. The threat of Ross shooting from the corners or on the wing in transition really helps the drive-heavy offense breathe, and he’s a quality defender when engaged, capable of switching one-through-three.

“When engaged” is the operative term, but you’d certainly hope the playoffs are reason enough for Ross to lock in play after play. The Raptors will really need him to.

Kyle Lowry is giving it a go
Lowry had his right elbow drained following Monday’s loss. It’s an issue that’s bothered him since Jan. 14, one he’s played through with one of the heaviest workloads in basketball, and it’s been worse of late – he sat last Wednesday to rest it and is in a pretty terrible four-game slump. Lowry and head coach Dwane Casey (kind of laughably) suggested that rest won’t make the issue worse (nevermind that it could slow recovery or prolong the swelling/fluid buildup), and so this shouldn’t be surprising, but it is, and it’s annoying.

Lowry is going to try to play, per Casey, via Sean Woodley. Or rather, he’s going to give it a go, so I guess the team can still change course at tip-off.

But…yeah. I’ve covered all of this already. Y’all know how I feel about not playing it safe here. Sigh.

Luis Scola is sitting
The Hawks aren’t the best matchup for the veteran Scola, even though he played well against them last time out. But he’s a bit sore (knee) and will sit for rest Wednesday, per Eric Smith. Nothing to argue with there.

I’d guess Jason Thompson draws the start like he did last time Scola sat, keeping Patrick Patterson in his familiar and effective bench role.

UPDATE: Thompson starts.

Raptors updates
It’s all above. And Bruno Caboclo remains in the D-League. So here we go:

PG: Lowry, Cory Joseph, Delon Wright
SG: Norman Powell, (Ross)
SF: DeMar DeRozan, James Johnson
PF: Thompson, Patterson
C: Jonas Valanciunas, Bismack Biyombo, Lucas Nogueira

As a reminder, Biyombo is donating $1,000 for every rebound he grabs in this one, so root for that. You can also donate to the cause here.

And yes, Powell’s drawing Kyle Korver again. As mentioned in the preview, he did a terrific job on him last time out.

Hawks updates
Thabo Sefolosha (ankle) is expected to be available. Tiago Splitter (hip) remains out. Lamar Patterson and Walter Taveras are in the D-League. So the rotation looks something like this:

PG: Jeff Teague, Dennis Schroder, Kirk Hinrich
SG: Kyle Korver, Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Kent Bazemore, Sefolosha
PF: Paul Millsap, Mike Scott, Mike Muscala
C: Al Horford, Kris Humphries

The line
The line continues to shift between Raptors -2 and Hawks -1, and it will be interesting to see where it settles now that the Lowry’s news is out. I’m seeing the Raptors getting or giving a point still. I know Lowry’s probably fine, or fine-ish, but until I see it, I’m not comfortable picking against the Hawks with how well they’ve played lately.

Hawks 101, Raptors 95

Yao Ming
This is not Raptors-related, but RR alum William Lou wrote a great piece on Yao Ming that you should read.

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