Valanciunas remains work in progress
Raptors’ big man needs to improve defensively, coach Casey advises
Kyle Lowry has the award for early arriver to practice locked down.
It’s been that way since he came to Toronto, preferring to be first one in the gym and getting his work done before many of his teammates even arrive.
Of course, quite often, he’s also first one out.
Last one to leave is a running battle on this team, but through the early part of training camp, the edge goes to Jonas Valanciunas.
When it’s pointed out that this has been noticed, Valanciunas quickly points out he’s also the last one to arrive.
“No, I’m joking,” he says, laughing it off. “I’m just trying to work out. Jack (Sikma) is here. Just trying to use the opportunity to get better. We have guys rebounding, guys helping out, so why not?”
The truth of the matter is Valanciunas has never been averse to hard work. It’s what has made him the player he is today as he prepares for his fourth year in the NBA.
The question is what is the next step for the likable Lithuanian who played his best basketball in the playoffs last year until getting hurt in the Miami series.
It will come as a surprise to no one who knows anything about Dwane Casey, that the Raptors’ coach wish list begins with defence and pretty much ends there.
“For me defensively, I have said this before, he has to continue to improve with his pick and roll defence and rim protection. All the things you want your big man to do. JV can score. I don’t know if our offence is constituted for him to get as many touches. We will probably have to do that more to get more points in the post. But mainly for him to take the next step for us is on the defensive end.”
The cries for more offensive touches from the fan base for Valanciunas got rather loud last season, but don’t count the man himself as one of those looking for more touches.
“I’m expecting to win,” Valanciunas said when asked specifically if he’s expecting more touches this year. “It doesn’t matter who makes a shot, who makes a play. Wins matter.
“I’m in a good position,” he said. “I’m comfortable on this team. I like the guys around me and I’m excited to win.”
So don’t expect to hear Valanciunas joining in when the fan base screams for more plays to be run for him.
But there is at least an indication, both from Casey after he began with the defensive improvements and a strong one from DeMar DeRozan that more touches are in fact in Valanciunas’ future.
“He is deserving of it,” DeRozan said. “There is nothing that needs to be talked about. He earned it and it’s definitely going to come. I think he is more comfortable being in that position as well. It’s just us making a concerted effort inside, outside, in so we can have a rhythm as a team.”
DeRozan said if it comes down to losing touches so Valanciunas can have a bigger role he’s fine with that.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “We carry a big load. Now it’s time, like I said, JV earned that right to where he can take the load off us and we can lean on him. Kind of find that balance within so we can be a better team.”
Casey is always going to have the bulk of his offence going through DeRozan and Lowry as long as they are here, of course. But he sees those two giving up some touches to Valanciunas as they get even more comfortable in the offence.
“I think with DeMar’s approach the way the game has slowed down for him … I think he has a better understanding of where his shots are coming from,” Casey began. “I think naturally they
will look for Jonas more and understand their shots are still going to come. Jonas’ challenge is to make sure he gets deep post position. So many times he allows the defence to force him out of his sweet spot. I think he has to continue to learn to use his body to establish his position and keep it.”
For his part, Valanciunas just wants to keep his head down, keep working and get better. And his said this year that has been made easier with the arrival of more energy in the form of rookie big men Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam.
“I just go hard against them in practice,” he said when asked how he helps his young teammates.
“That is how we learn. I’m still a young guy. They are my age so I’m still learning, too. I’m learning from them and they are learning from me.”
Eventually, those two may be taking touches away from Valanciunas but not likely before Valanciunas sees an uptick in his own opportunities. That could happen as soon as this season.