Magic number
Raptors hit 50 regular-season wins for first time,
There have been miserable years, ones that felt like they would never end, and even the successful ones ultimately concluded in some measure of disappointment.
This one may, too, since no one can truly figure out the future, but for now the Toronto Raptors can bask in a historic franchise accomplishment.
A 105-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night pushed this version of the Raptors to the 50-win plateau, the first time they’ve achieved that in 21 seasons of franchise existence.
Fifty wins in a season doesn’t get you anything except a level of self-satisfaction and the continued growing respect of rivals throughout the league. And given Toronto had never been at this level — the only one of 30 NBA teams to have never posted a 50-win season — there is an internal appreciation for the accomplishment that runs deep.
“It means everything to me,” DeMar DeRozan said. “This is where I’ve been my whole career. I’ve been through the tough times. Now to be, what do you call it?
“The winningest Raptor of all-time, and now to break the franchise record three years in a row, it definitely means a lot to me.
“You can never take that away, you can never take that away.
DeMarre Carroll hopes to salvage a couple games in this lost regular season with the Toronto Raptors so he can make some kind of contribution when the playoffs start in mid-April.
Out since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Jan. 6, Carroll said Wednesday night he only needs a “couple of games” before he can have a significant role.
“I play like a dog,” he said. “When you play like a dog you can’t go out there being passive — I don’t want to be like a poodle, I want to be like a bulldog. They don’t want to put my knee at risk, they just want me to go out there and give me the best outlet to play my kind of basketball.”
Carroll’s rehabilitation from the surgery was going along well until he experienced some swelling after a couple of four-on-four sessions about three weeks ago.
That sent him on what he called a widespread tour to visit various doctors all across North America, who convinced him nothing too much had gone awry.
“When you have swelling, my initial thought was — with what I’ve been through my whole life — that means something is wrong and I just wanted to get it checked out,” he said.
“I didn’t want to put my knee at any risk.”
Carroll, who has played in only 23 games since signing a four-year, $60 million (U.S.) contract as a free agent last July, said he can’t be sure the same swelling issue won’t come up again as he “ramps up” his workout regimen in the next week.
“I learned a lot visiting all these doctors, but I’m not an expert,” he said. “I think we have a great training staff and I think they’ll handle it if it happens . . . but I hope it doesn’t happen.”
The reason the Raptors bestowed such an expensive contract on Carroll last summer was for the coming weeks.
When healthy and in top shape, the 29-year-old is one of the best wing defenders in the league, which addresses a glaring post-season need for the Raptors.
“I can impact the game defensively for this team and don’t have to take a shot,” he said. “You have other guys, guys who we depend on to score like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. I’ve just got to go out there and play defence.
“After playing in the Eastern Conference final with Atlanta I understand what it takes and what role I need to play.
“All I need is a couple games.”