Casey wants ball in Lowry’s hands
Point guard has been letting Joseph run the offence when both are on the floor
Dwane Casey loves to finish games by trotting out the two-point-guard backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph because it gives the Toronto Raptors more versatility — a couple of ball-handlers, solid decision-makers and good free-throw shooters for those crucial end-of-game possessions.
But despite how interchangeable they are, the Raptors head coach made it clear on Saturday night that a subtle change in tactics is necessary and coming.
Often this year, it has been Joseph initiating a lot of the offence, allowing Lowry to act as a spot-up shooter. It is a good division of responsibility because Lowry is a more reliable shooter at this point in the season.
But down the stretch of an eventual overtime triumph against the Miami Heat, it was Lowry running the show the vast majority of the time, and that is how it’s going to be.
“I think we got into a rhythm where Cory was handling it every time and Kyle was just going to space (the court as a spot-up shooting threat),” Casey said.
“We want Kyle to . . . maybe kick it, and DeMar’s a little bit freer that way . . . We want Kyle to handle (the ball) in crunch time.”
That’s not to say Joseph isn’t capable, because he has proven to be throughout his breakout season of ever-increasing responsibility and freedom. It’s also a huge boost earlier in games, because it lessens the already heavy load on Lowry, allowing him the luxury of easier offensive possessions when he is not taking a pounding running around screens or attacking the basket.
But Lowry’s knack for making big plays and big shots off his true point guard role makes Toronto that much more dangerous. Defenders have to stick closely to him, second opponents often cheat off their man to try to hold him in check; it’s not that Joseph can’t do it, it’s just that Lowry right now is better at it.
“Cory is growing into that role,” Casey said. “He’s doing an excellent job, and we’re not saying he’s not. But we don’t want to go away from Kyle in the crunch. He’s our guy with the ball. We want him to handle and make decisions, and not Cory every time.”
The necessary evolution of Joseph’s game has to be for him to become a better three-point shooter. He is only firing at a 28 per cent success rate this season, and 30 per cent for his career. If that gets better, it only increases his importance alongside Lowry and DeMar DeRozan because teams won’t be able to leave him.
And that’s when Casey’s preferred finishing backcourt will be at its most lethal.