Valanciunas, Ibaka find their space
Raptors’ big men learning how to stay out of each other’s way on the floor
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka are quite large men — seven feet, 265 pounds and sixfoot-10, 235, respectively — and an NBA court is a relatively small area. Those undisputable facts need to be taken into consideration when the Raptors talk about “spacing” issues with their two big men.
If they are even a step too close to each other, the space they need to both freely operates vanishes because the men who are defending them tend to be about the same size, and there isn’t a lot of room left for them to operate effectively.
“I mean basically spacing is like two steps and you bring your guy and you are no longer open,” Valanciunas said Tuesday, before the Raptors played the Hornets here. “It takes a lot of plays away.
“But we are working on it, we are finding the proper spacing and being more comfortable in our own offence, me and him.” It’s taken a little while, though. “It looks like it’s so easy to find spacing but it’s not,” Valanciunas said. “Especially when he likes to play inside-outside and I like to play inside. When two players like to play inside, sometimes you are tripping on each other.
“The good thing is we are slowly finding the rhythm and we feel much more comfortable than even at the start at the year.”
The ability of each to step away from the basket and still be effective offensively has allowed them to develop the feel they need for each other’s game. Valanciunas has increased his shooting range out to the threepoint line, Ibaka has been comfortable taking long range shots since he got to Toronto, and now it works as well as it ever has.
All because they can give each other
“When two players like to play inside, sometimes you are tripping on each other.” JONAS VALANCIUNAS ON CO-EXISTING WITH SERGE IBAKA
the room they need without bringing their own defenders into a crowded spot near the rim.
“I didn’t want to get that technical but they’re feeling each other from a spacing standpoint,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “Before, even last year, they were up on top of each other, standing next to each other, calling for the ball, but now they have a better feel for it.
“If J.V. is ducking up (to the freethrow line or in the low post), Serge is spacing out (beyond the three-point line); if Serge is (spacing out), then J.V. is getting to the dunker (a spot beside the rim on the baseline). It’s a chemistry that you’ve got to have with your two big guys.”
Valanciunas still feels more com- fortable near the basket, even if he has extended his shooting range. He’s taken more three-point field goals this year (10, making four before the game here) than in his first five seasons combined (four, while making only one) and that has helped him get away from Ibaka on offence.
But the 25-year-old knows he’s still very much a nearer-to-the-basket threat.
“If you can shoot, that’s a big advantage,” he said. “Serge is a great shooter. I’m getting there. I still think my threat is in the low post and on the inside but if I can add one or two jump shots, one three-point shot, it’s that much better.
“Post-up is not just (to) score. You can pass out of a post-up, you can make a play, you can find an open corner three-point shot. Those postups — I got the ball and I have to score? It’s not about that. It’s about using your opportunity and making a play, or if you have a guy one on one, then, yeah, go and score.”