Game-changers: Raptor moves adding up
A closer look at some of Masai Ujiri’s most important moves:
WHO’S IN?
DEMARRE CARROLL His knee still isn’t fully healed from January surgery, but he’s an elite wing defender with a nice offensive game (once he’s back in sync with the offence again).
Key averages: 11 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals in 29 playoff games. CORY JOSEPH A graduate of Gregg Popovich’s Spurs school of playoff success, Joseph has been sensational in his first two playoff games as a Raptor. That follows a strong debut year in Toronto backing up Kyle Lowry.
Key averages: 17 points, three assists per game and 78 per cent from the field in the last two games. BISMACK BIYOMBO Biyombo has had a breakout year in whatever role the team has needed him in. He’s a spark off the bench and was an excellent fill-in for an injured Jonas Valanciunas for 22 games.
Key averages: Six points, 1.5 blocks and six rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench in the playoffs. LUIS SCOLA At 35, Scola added an effective threepoint shot this year and helped a still relatively young team keep its wits after a Game 1 loss.
Key averages: Four rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. JASON THOMPSON A nice post-trade-deadline addition by Ujiri on March 1 after the 29-yearold was waived by Golden State.
Key number: The two minutes he played in Game 2 marked the eightyear vet’s playoff debut.
WHO’S OUT?
GREIVIS VASQUEZ The Venezuelan point guard spent two years in Toronto and was shipped to Milwaukee in a draft-day deal last year that gave the Raptors Norman Powell.
Key averages: 9.5 points, 3.7 assists, 0.6 steals per game last year. LOU WILLIAMS He won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award last year, but his defensive shortcomings led to the Raptors allowing Williams to walk in free agency, signing with the Lakers.
Key averages: 15.5 points, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals last year. ANTHONY BENNETT Ujiri rolled the dice with the local centre and former No. 1 pick, who joined his third NBA team in as many years. He waived Bennett on Feb. 29 after an unspectacular 19 games in a Raptors uniform and signed Thompson the next day.
Key averages: 1.5 points, 1.2 rebounds as a Raptor. Chris O’Leary