IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO WORK EARLY ON HIM.

they give you a good tag, you’re going to leave your teammates open. I think basketball is unselfish, has to be a team (game) and when you set a good screen, you’re going to leave somebody open or yourself, so that’s the reason I try to focus on screening all the time.”

It worked for Bismack Biyombo, who in addition to his stellar defensive work, parlayed his fine picksetting technique into a huge payday. Biyombo ranked second in the NBA in assists created from screens in the playoffs.

“He’s a smart player, he has a pretty high IQ,” Cory Joseph told Postmedia about Nogueira’s solid pre-season work.

The Raptors sat engrossed watching the Blue Jays’ season end earlier Wednesday, then cracked jokes during the final U.S. presidential debate of this election cycle. One Raptor asked if they were watching Saturday Night Live … The always blunt and entertaining Van Gundy on what the Pistons need to improve on for the real games? “We need to work on playing the game better.”

After watching the team struggle against Toronto minus starting point guard Reggie Jackson, Van Gundy might be on to something and he said so afterward: “I was really disappointed. I did not think that we competed hard enough tonight.

“They pounded us on the glass. I did not think we were very aggressive defensively. I do not think we did a great job contesting shots. I just do not think we battled very hard.”