Lowry’s words help Raptors sting Hornets
TORONTO 129, CHARLOTTE 111
CHARLOTTE, N. C. • The Toronto Raptors had just ended the quarter on the wrong side of an 11- 0 run and the bench mob was headed back out to make amends.
But first Kyle Lowry huddled the second unit and spoke what had to be some motivating words.
Because the same unit that coughed up an early Raptors lead got it back soon after and the host Hornets never got another sniff of the lead in the Raptors’ 10th win in their past 11 games.
Lowry’s contributions weren’t limited to the verbal kind. He also had 11 points and eight assists in the 129111 win.
The standout, particularly in that first half was Serge Ibaka who looked not just rejuvenated after a game to rest an achy left knee but like a guy who was playing on a brand new knee.
Ibaka had four dunks in the game, all of them of the emphatic kind and looked like 20- year- old rookie for the majority of the night.
His 24 points were a season high and just seven off his career high.
Rookie OG Anunoby went Ibaka one better establishing a career high with 20 points on the strength of a 6- for-7 night from behind the arc.
But this wasn’t about any individual effort leading the Raptors on this night.
There were big marks all the way up and down the roster including a Raptors’ high 28 points from DeMar DeRozan that went mostly overlooked.
The 16 three- pointers in the game tied the season high while the 34 assists set a new season mark surpassing the old mark by two.
It was the type of game that makes you question whether you have given this team enough credit to date.
C. J. Miles was unavailable to the Raptors as he was getting some work done on his teeth. Earlier in the season this may have been a bigger concern but the young Raptors have progressed to the point that Casey isn’t at all hesitant to go with an allyoung second unit.
“It just depends on the game,” Casey said. “There are some games that we need that and some games we don’t. If guys are making shots and clearly scoring off our defence it’s less needed.”
THE KIND OF PLAYS A COACH LOVES
Charges, diving on the floor for loose balls and run down blocked shots, in no particular order, are three plays t hat Casey enjoys above all others in a basketball game because they energize a team.
“Those are hustle plays, those winning plays are huge,” Casey said.
And he’s getting them from all areas of the roster but standing out lately are the likes of Ibaka who is making an art form of chasing down blocks. Drawing the charge is Kyle Lowry’s own version of a Picasso.
Ibaka is tied for 13th in the NBA in blocks at 1.40 per game with Marc Gasol but the chasedown block, the kind that gets a bench up on its feet is becoming his specialty.
Lowry leads the league in charges drawn, averaging 0.68 a game, well ahead of second overall Ersan Ilyasova of Philadelphia.
Casey believes plays like these are contagious with teammates.
“To see your best player take charges, dive on the floor for loose balls, why can’t everybody else do it?” Casey said. “That’s something we’ve been on our guys about because we’ve had a few ole’s, you’re there but then you open up. ‘ Oh, my bad.’ You can’t have those. If Kyle Lowry, who is one of our best players, can step in and take a charge and give up his body, we’ve got 12 other guys that can do that also.”
Casey was asked if he ever gets worried about his starting point guard putting his body on the line like that.
“No, he’s a tough guy,” Casey said. “He’s got so many pads on, he doesn’t feel it. He’s tough, he knows how to do it, there’s an art to do- i ng that and not getting hurt. Whether it’s not catching yourself on your wrists and hurting your wrists, not snapping your head back. He’s got it down to a science where he knows how to absorb the blow and not get hurt. Hell, I’m more worried about the guy with the ball than I am with Kyle.”