Raptors getting ready for stretch run
The past couple of days have been a crash course in everything Toronto Raptors for newcomer Serge Ibaka.
On the eve of his Raptors debut, however, the athletic power forward had yet to take the floor with two of his key teammates – DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.
While the Raptors returned to Toronto after their eight-day all-star break, DeRozan was delayed by a funeral, while Lowry had travel issues, and neither made it back to Toronto for practice Wednesday and Thursday.
“Both guys had unfortunate situations,” coach Dwane Casey said. “It was disappointing we couldn’t have our whole group together but stuff happens. They communicated with us and let us know. We still had a great practice, enthusiastic, getting stuff done. I liked the feel of our practice today.”
Raptors president Masai Ujiri acquired Ibaka last week in the trade that sent Terrence Ross to Orlando, and Ibaka was in town for barely a day before the team dispersed for the break. Casey sent Ibaka away well-armed, though, presenting him with a laptop complete with video of all the Raptors’ plays to study during the break.
He’ll make his debut today when the Raptors (33-24) host Eastern Conference rival Boston (37-20).
Casey was pleased with his team’s two practices with Ibaka, calling them “spirited.”
“A lot of defensive work, terminology offensively. He is a refreshing addition to our team,” Casey said of the sevenyear NBA veteran. “He’s a bright man, he picks up things very quickly on both ends of the floor. He’s been through the wars, seven years, he’s been to the NBA finals. He knows the game.
“It’s not like we’re putting a young guy in there and just hoping he picks it up. Is he going to make mistakes? Yes. But as long as they’re hard mistakes, I can handle that.”
Casey credited power forward Patrick Patterson with taking Ibaka under his proverbial wing.
“With Serge, it’s all about plays pretty much, and play calls,” Patterson said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, he’s very smart, IQ, he’s played with the best in the league, he’s been in crunch-time situations so he knows the game of basketball through and through.”
Patterson, who’s missed the last six games with a nagging knee injury, said he’s confident he’ll play tonight.
The Raptors acquired forward P.J. Tucker from Phoenix at the deadline for forward Jared Sullinger and a pair of second-round draft picks (2017 and ‘18).
Tucker was the most competitive of the Suns, known for his fiery attitude, tough defence and rebounding. He averaged seven points and six rebounds while appearing in 57 games this season.
The six-foot-six Tucker was with Toronto for 17 games as a rookie in 2006-07 before playing in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Germany.