Raptors expecting more from guards
DeRozan, Lowry likely to get more floor time, not less, as post-season approaches
As they find themselves in different circumstances than ever before, the Toronto Raptors are going to take a different tack to the end of the NBA regular season.
The Raptors, in large part because of the success of their backups but also because of the team’s past failings, don’t plan to cut the workload of their best players. They may actually stretch out guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan over the final 24 games of the season. The noted workhorses are at or close to career lows in minutes per game.
“I’m sure it’s coming, whether it’s on purpose or not,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said of increasing the minutes of his all-stars. “That’s been talked about.”
Lowry is averaging about 32.2 minutes per game this season, DeRozan 34.1. Both are going to have to be able to handle 38 to 40 minutes per game when the post-season rolls around. Casey is not likely to completely abandon the 10-man rotation that’s been so successful so far this season but a greater difference between starter and backup minutes is almost a post-season given.
“I like the rhythm we have now,” Casey said. “There is some thought to see whether guys can play bigger minutes. We’ll see.”
It is unlikely any of the team’s top players will be given the odd game off simply to rest. The elongated NBA regular season was created in order to give players more time off to avoid having them sit out games.
“I think we are on a different path than we have been,” Casey said. “Guys are not playing big minutes in a natural way, so to speak, if that makes sense. It’s not by design, it’s because the second unit is playing at a high level. We want to continue that.
“So it’s a different feel from that standpoint, not feeling like you have to start thinking about giving this guy that game off or cut his minutes back. It has already been happening.”
Besides, Casey said, Toronto history suggests resting players doesn’t work all that well.
“We’ve got to really examine that because that hasn’t really helped us a lot,” Casey said. “I don’t know if it takes our rhythm away or what it does, but I think it’s kind of discombobulated us a little bit in the past.”
Lowry wants to play a lot. A year ago, he was about to have surgery on his wrist, an operation that would sideline him for 21 games, keeping him from any significant time going into the playoffs.
“I played like three games with the guys, two games, so it was one of those things where it was weird,” Lowry said. “Now it’s different, we’re all ready to go, we’re on the same page. We’ve been together now the majority of the season, now we have to finish it out and stay on the same page.
“I think it’s important, just having everybody relatively healthy, knock on wood. Make sure everyone’s pretty much ready to go, have the same things going and continue to get better at the small things and look at the big picture.
“Having everyone together is huge.”