‘It’s all about winning’ for Raptors

He didn’t come right out and say it, so we’ll say it for him.

For Raptors President Masai Ujiri the time is now.

Yes, there are still elements of the team he has put together that are developing, elements that will need some time, but those are the pieces at the end of the bench.

The pieces that start and the first few off the bench, the group expected to carry the majority of the playoff load that includes Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas, Cory Joseph, Patrick Patterson and P.J. Tucker are all playoff experienced and battle ready for a long playoff run.

It is that readiness, that experience level that has Ujiri talking far less about development and much more about winning these days.

“It’s all about winning,” Ujiri said in his annual state of the team address heading into the playoffs in advance of Saturday’s Game 1 with the Milwaukee Bucks. “Nobody’s in here to do anything different ... Nobody feels sorry for us anymore. This is not a first time goal, this is not... this is you’re playing to be a top team in the NBA and to win. I know sometimes nobody gives us a chance. They hear that, they see that. But we’re out to play, and to prove that.”

Outside of a potentially alarming cold bug that is going through the team right now, there is little to suggest that his team isn’t peaking at just the right time.

The one question seems to be Kyle Lowry’s rhythm after being out for 21 games following wrist surgery but he’s got four games under his belt since his return and is doing a pretty effective eye roll every time anyone asks about his readiness for the playoffs as if that is even a question worth wasting his time on.

But, even Lowry’s recent absence seems to have taken the level of confidence within this team to a higher level.

“Playing well without Kyle and with Kyle (back) now, I think we finished the season strong. I think a lot of players emerged in that period. On paper it all looks good,” Ujiri said.

The proof though will come Saturday against a Bucks team that comes in as underdogs but with some swagger and confidence knowing they boast a rare talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a hard-working surrounding cast that can wear an opponent down.

Ujiri though correctly points out the Raptors of years past and the group that will represent the city this time around are distinctly different.

“I think our team is a little bit better,” Ujiri said. “We are a little more well-rounded I think. We have always talked about having a power forward and I think Serge Ibaka brings that perspective. We have always talked about having those hybrid defenders. DeMarre (Carroll) brings that, PJ (Tucker) brings that, Patrick Patterson brings that. Kyle Lowry is an all-star. DeMar is an all-star and then our young guys have slowly grown as players.

“We understand we are a growing team but I’m not going to come here and continue to say we are a growing team. We want to win. Basketball and playoff basketball is all about winning and that is what we want to do.”

The additions of Ibaka and Tucker to the fold have already paid dividends but the feeling is the real gains will be made in the playoffs where defensive talents like those two players can have huge impacts on games.

“I think the toughness that we’ve added with Serge and P.J,” head coach Dwane Casey said responding to a question about where his defence, and by extension his team, has improved the most. “Those two guys bring us a level of toughness that you can’t put a number on. The physicality that they bring, they talk defence, they take pride in their defence, they just bring a defensive mindset that you can’t really define. They talk about it in the huddles, they talked about it yesterday after practice, they talk about it on the court and that’s something that you’ve got to have. Last year, (Bismack) Biyombo did that but not at the level of Serge and P.J. Calling guys out when they do make a mistake, they do that, too.”

And perhaps that extra defensive intensity is at the root of this added confidence, not just from Ujiri and Casey but all the way through the roster.