RAPTORS PUT ON THE DEFENSIVE
Send in the cavalry? Team considers its options with trade deadline looming
The Toronto Raptors would welcome some assistance by the NBA’s trade deadline, but also believe the defensive issues that have plagued the club can be worked out in-house, if necessary.
The looming, Feb. 23 trade deadline was the topic de jour on Thursday at Raptors practice. Toronto ranks only 18th in the league (per NBA.com) in points allowed per 100 possessions and a dismal 25th in defensive rebound percentage. Opponents get by various Raptors too easily and too often and when the team makes a stop, it doesn’t finish the stand with a defensive rebound. Hence the talk of securing defensive help before the deadline.
“Any team would take help if it makes them better,” Raptors’ guard DeMar DeRozan said on Thursday at BioSteel Centre. “Help is always welcome for sure, but if not, we’ve still got to lock in and be mentally locked in for 48 minutes when we go out there and play.”
Coming off of his best game of the season, against Minnesota, forward DeMarre Carroll said the cavalry doesn’t need to rush in.
“I think we’ve got the guys who can do it. It’s just about doing it for a long period of time or doing it consistently,” Carroll said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to take ownership, look in the mirror and say if we’re going to do it or not. Hopefully we can do that.”
That would be coach Dwane Casey’s desire as well. While a coach will never turn down a talent upgrade, he also can only work with what he has on hand.
“You talk to Masai (Ujiri, the club president and chief decisionmaker) about that,” Casey said.
“I’m just worried more about the Xs and Os. I like our team, I like our guys. I have no control over personnel matters. Masai and I have talked about our needs before. I’m not even thinking about the trade deadline. I encourage our guys not to worry about that and do the job with what we have. I’ve got enough on my plate trying to put our guys in a position to be successful.”
That has been a tough go for Casey and Co. lately. The Raptors ended 2016 at 22-10, but have gone just 10-12 since Jan. 1, including losses in nine of the past 13 games.
A packed schedule has cut into crucial practice time.
“As the games keep coming, you don’t have time in practice to get your repetition,” Casey said. “All the things we’ve been having trouble with (defensively), those are habits. You need practice to rekindle those habits. That’s kind of where we are.”
The Raptors don’t play again until taking on Detroit Sunday, so will practise hard on Saturday after getting Friday off to recuperate.
Charles Oakley might be persona non grata at Madison Square Garden, but the Raptors say he will always be welcome at the ACC.
“Oak can come around here, he’s definitely a legend,” threetime all-star DeMar DeRozan said on Thursday. “We look at him like a legend, the things that he did the time he was here, so, yeah, he’s always got a home here.”
Oakley was forcibly removed by eight security guards and then arrested in Manhattan during the Knicks game on Wednesday. Oakley and the Knicks are estranged, reportedly because of his outspoken criticism of what is widely accepted as the NBA’s biggest gong show of a franchise.
Owner James Dolan is reviled by the team’s fan base and Oakley remains one of the most popular New York athletes ever.
He was traded to the Raptors after 10 seasons in Gotham and his skills, toughness and gift of gab quickly endeared him to Canadian hoops supporters as well.
“He kind of set the tone. I think he was a big part of the turnaround, here in Toronto, getting veteran experience for Vince and those guys here,” said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey.
The Cleveland native has been around for various alumni events in Toronto.
“All the interactions I’ve always had with Oak have been positive. Sat with him before a game last year, he was talking about our team, some of the things he saw with our team. It was a positive experience,” Casey said. “I think he’s old school, a tough guy. He helped our team get started. Nothing but great love for Oak.”