Patterson injury opens door for other Raptors
Siakim, Poeltl, Nogueira, Powell among those who many see increased minutes
LOS ANGELES — Patrick Patterson was a spectator for practice here on Saturday morning.
Patterson was walking fine, but there’s a big difference between walking and doing what he needs to do on the court.
Head coach Dwane Casey said he was feeling better about Patterson’s injury — officially a knee strain but nothing more than that — than he was Thursday night when the Raptors left Phoenix.
Patterson felt a sharp pain early in the second quarter in that game and did not return.
“He’s sore, we’re not sure, he’s going to be day-to-day, it’ll be how he feels, the pain he can go through, not sure how serious it is,” Casey said giving almost nothing away. “Don’t think it’s real serious, but it’s something that’s been bothering him. We’ll err on the side of caution and making sure he’s ready to go.”
How long that will be — whether it’s two games or 10 games or maybe just one — remains to be seen.
Casey, while hopeful he’s back as soon as possible, has to prepare the team for life without him.
“He’s a tough kid, he’s important to our team, but it’s also an unfortunate opportunity for someone else and that’s what I truly believe in, more minutes for Pascal (Siakam), more minutes for (DeMarre Carroll) at the four, more people at the four position and that’s what we worked on (Saturday).”
Casey has plenty of options to fill in those minutes, none as effective as Patterson.
“Matchups are important, physicality,” Casey said in determining what option suits what night. “The matchups are going to be important as far as whether it’s Carroll, Pascal at the four, we may have to look at Jakob (Poeltl) at the four, maybe Lucas (Nogueira) at the four. Different people are going to have to man that position”
Against the Lakers on Sunday, that will mean matching up with 6-9, 250 pound Julius Randle and with Larry Nance Jr. out likely some big minutes from Thomas Robinson.
Siakam, who has seen his minutes cut back lately as Casey had taken to starting Patterson in the second half, says it’s all part of being a rookie.
“I think I have done a decent job and just keep trying to learn,” Siakam said of handling the dwindling minutes of late. “That’s the main thing. All the rookies don’t have the opportunities I have had to learn while playing at the same time. Whatever minutes I get, man, I am blessed to be here.”
There’s little question his minutes will get a boost from this latest injury but Siakam isn’t expected to be the only young Raptor who will get a boost in playing time.
Norm Powell, who Casey has actively been searching for more run for, could see a boost in playing time when the team goes small and moves DeMarre Carroll to the power forward position.