Raps are rocking, but DeRozan wants more
The Toronto Raptors are pleased with their 11- 5 start to the season and play so far, but that doesn’t mean DeMar DeRozan or anybody else believes the club is anywhere close to being where it can potentially get.
“It’s been a grind for us just figuring ( it) out, trying to put everything t ogether, get our rhythm,” DeRozan said after practice on Tuesday.
The shooting guard was referring to replacing some key pieces from previous squads with the youngsters and C. J. Miles, as well as significantly changing the way the offence operates, while making defensive tweaks that fit the new personnel.
“It hasn’t been the prettiest ... trying to get things going. But we’re figuring it out. … We’re nowhere close to satisfied or happy or feeling like we’re there yet. We’ve got a long way to go,” the 28- year- old said.
With more time to iron out the kinks, where will the Raptors get?
“I mean, it looks great. We lost some big games that (were) close, that could have went our way easily — one shot, you know? It’s hard to live in the past, but you give us a few of ( those) games and we’re right there with every great team in the league,” DeRozan said.
“It’s crazy for us to be sitting in second place right now feeling like we’ve got a long way. We do, and we’re working at it, and we’re not gonna stop till we feel like we’re there.”
EXPECTING MORE
There’s no complimentary way to say it: New York Knicks all- star candidate Kristaps Porzingis was flat- out terrible at the Air Canada Centre last week during Toronto’s easy win.
A day before the rematch, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said he was expecting a closer contest in Gotham.
“They’re a totally different team at Madison Square Garden. I don’t know why,” Casey said.
“They play with much more confidence. ( Porzingis) plays with much more confidence there. Their whole team does. They beat the Clippers the other night. They had Cleveland down double digits the entire game. They beat Charlotte.”
The stats bear it out — and illustrate just how cushy New York’s early schedule has been. The team has averaged 109.5 points per game in 11 contests at home, going 8- 3, compared to 94 points a night and a 1-4 record on the road. New York’s shooting and defence have been markedly better in the Empire State.
With those numbers in mind, and figuring the big man will adjust to being shut down in Toronto, Casey said more is in store for Porzingis.
“We’ve got some different things we want to do. Our mindset has to be prepared for a little bit of everything as far as how we cover him,” he said.
OG, NORM OR?
OG Anunoby has done a strong job as the starting small forward in the injury absence of Norman Powell, but it isn’t clear who will get the role long-term.
Powell is considered questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Knicks, but is unlikely to play and could miss one or two more before returning.
That’s when a decision will need to be made.
“Right now, OG is our starter. Norm is still out. We’ ll see how Norm feels ( before the game) … Those things will take care of themselves,” Casey said.
“OG really helps our defence. Not that Norm doesn’t … Even Pascal ( Siakam) now, we use him at the three some, defensively. So you know, we’ll read those situations. That may be a fluid situation as we go forward.”
Expect Miles to remain the designated gunner off of the bench at that position regardless of whether it is Anunoby or Powell starting.
NO BIG DEAL
There was a time when winning player of the week created a huge sense of pride in DeRozan. Now that he’s one of the NBA’s elite scorers, a perennial all- star and a six-time East player of the week recipient ( after Monday’s announcement, following a week when he averaged 26.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and six assists), it’s not as big a deal.
When reporters started Tuesday’s post- practice scrum by offering congratulations, DeRozan’s honest response was, “On what? … Oh, I forgot all about it. I had to see it on Instagram. It was a big deal a couple years ago, for sure, but now, naw, as long as you got (wins), that’s all I care about, honestly.”