Sitting Valanciunas nothing personal
Raptors’ big man often sits late in games, coach Casey says it’s about need for speed
As the Raptors mounted a vain attempt at a comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night, Jonas Valanciunas was in a familiar spot: Sitting on the bench.
Time and again this season, with the game on the line in the fourth quarter and even late in the third, the team’s starting centre has been the odd-man out. Against the Bucks, Valanciunas didn’t play a single minute in the fourth quarter.
It’s nothing personal, insists head coach Dwane Casey. Instead, it’s a sign that the 22-year-old Lithuanian seven-footer’s journey from hot prospect to NBA star isn’t yet complete.
“In very basic terms, usually if we’re scrambling, double-teaming, trying to get back defensively, trying to play fast, in those situations, JV’s not in the game,” said Casey after the Raptors finished a workout at the Air Canada Centre practice court Tuesday.
In Casey’s defensive scheme, even the big men, including Valanciunas and power forward Amir Johnson, need to put pressure on opposing shooters. Against a smaller lineup, including the Bucks’ short-handed roster Monday, that means big men with speed. It’s simply not something Valanciunas has yet, said Casey. Nor, he added, do a lot of them.
“We needed to get faster in our rotation and we did that with Tyler (Hansbrough) and Pat (Patterson). No disrespect to JV. If I had (Mavericks centre and all-star) Tyson Chandler he probably wouldn’t be in the game. No disrespect, it’s just the style of play,” said Casey.
“They (the guards) need help from the bigs, being there with the body, impacting the ball and we need help. In our scheme, the guards need help in that situation, to help cover for them, and help cover when the guards turn the corner. So that’s why it’s more important to have a big in there who can move his feet, who can guard a perimeter guy.”
Asked if he’s frustrated at the lack of clutch playing time, Valanciunas gave a little shrug and insisted he isn’t.
“I’m just doing my stuff. I’m not frustrated. Some nights I play the fourth quarter, some nights I don’t. It’s a different match-up every night,” said Valanciunas, who admits he’s not quick enough to keep up with smaller players.
“A lot of teams go small on us, so coach is probably trying to match their small players. When they go small they can shoot, so it’s hard for me to go out to the 3-point line and guard the shooter, so he’s just trying to match them, I guess,” Valanciunas added.
Still, with Valanciunas at a relatively young age, there’s still time for him to develop some speed and footwork. Casey is confident it will eventually come.
“He’s definitely better this year than the way he was the first couple of years in the league at guarding perimeter guys, staying in front. Is he there yet? No. But . . . he’s going to get there. The only thing you can do is (take) time,” said Casey, who suggested Valanciunas could also benefit from some off-season one-on-one against smaller players.
It’s advice Valanciunas seems to be taking to heart.
“My goal is to get quicker. It’s something I’m supposed to work on in the off-season, in summer. I worked with some running coaches this summer. That helped, but I’m not there yet, so I still need to work more,” Valanciunas said.