Frustrated Raptors face huge test in Thunder
Oklahoma City not exactly the place for struggling team to recapture lost confidence
OKLAHOMA CITY— At this time last season, the Raptors were on a roll, building momentum as they headed toward their first playoff berth since 2008.
This time around, they’re heading in the other direction. After starting the season on a roll, they’re now struggling to find an identity. With the post-season just 20 games away, that’s a big problem, warns guard Greivis Vasquez.
“We need to get better. Somehow, some way, because we’re running out of time,” said Vasquez, speaking to reporters in Charlotte before the Raptors took off for Oklahoma City and Sunday’s clash against the redhot Russell Westbrook and the Thunder.
While the players could do a better job of following the Xs and Os drawn up by Dwane Casey and the rest of the coaching staff, Vasquez believes the problem with the Raptors lately is something far more basic.
“We’ve just got to re-find our fire, our love for the game, our passion for the game. We’ve got to play with some sort of sense of urgency, and that’s all of us,” said Vasquez.
That’s especially the case on defence, said Vasquez, where the Raptors have struggled for much of the season. That defensive effort begins with better communication on the court.
“We’ve got to talk. Our communication right now is nowhere to be found. … It’s not about technique. It’s about getting pissed off and going out there and getting in each other’s face,” said Vasquez. “We’re not trying to have a love relationship here. It’s OK if we dislike each other a little bit. With that being said, it’s not the case. But we’re being too nice out there.”
During the heady days of November and December when they were leading the Eastern Conference, they were able to overcome that shaky defence with some lights-out shooting. Now that not all the shots are falling, the defensive woes are more noticeable.
Last season, the Raptors were seventh in the league in points allowed. This time around, they’re 21st, something which drives the defensiveminded Casey to distraction.
“We’ve got to talk. Our communication right now is nowhere to be found. We’re not trying to have a love relationship here. It’s OK if we dislike each other a little bit.” RAPTORS’ GREIVIS VASQUEZ
It’s also frustrating for the players as they try to turn things around, said Patrick Patterson.
“Speaking for myself, I’m extremely frustrated. Just because I know the type of team we have. I know the calibre of players that we have. I know the leadership, the coaching staff. We shouldn’t be playing like this. Our effort shouldn’t be like what it is right now,” said Patterson.
Every single player on the team needs to chip in on the communica- tion front at both ends of the floor, said DeMar DeRozan.
“It’s a big factor for all of us. From the guards to the bigs, we’ve just got to understand that we’re helping out the next guy, not just yourself … We’ve just got to talk and communicate better,” said DeRozan.
That kind of co-ordination and communication is especially crucial against as dangerous an opponent as Westbrook, DeRozan added.
“It’s got to be a team effort. All five. Transition, understanding, showing him a wall. We’ve got to make everybody else beat us, not him. Not let him get his normal 40 points he’s been getting lately. We’ve got to be tough on him and force other players to make plays,” DeRozan said.