Raptors: One-day demotion to D-League for game action was Sullinger’s idea
Jared Sullinger knew what had to be done, how he had to go about getting fully back in tune with NBA basketball.
He knew that even endless four-onfour games after Toronto Raptors practice weren’t nearly enough and there he was on Saturday night, a proud member of the starting five for the Raptors 905 D-League outfit as they took on the Delaware 87s at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre.
“I need game time,” said Sullinger, who first broached the idea of a minor league stint with the parent club late last week.
Sullinger, now in his fifth NBA season, didn’t have to agree to the assignment because it was his idea. He spoke to Raptors team officials about it, chatting with 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse and informed the NBA players’ association that he was fine with the one-game assignment.
“We’re not really practising so I need to find a way to get my timing down,” Sullinger said before the D-League game.
“I wanted to play. There’s only so much you can do on four-on-four. You kind of have to have a game setting for you to be ready to play.”
It made for a busy Saturday — Sullinger practised with the Raptors shortly after noon and was a DLeague starter just after 7:30 p.m. — but it should stand him in good stead.
Sullinger played 28 minutes, finishing with 18 points on 6-for-18 shooting and 15 rebounds as Toronto’s D-League team beat Delaware 9790. He will be back in a Raptors uniform for Sunday’s home game against the Orlando Magic.
“This is something he wanted. He wanted to get some rhythm,” 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse said.
“He wants to be good. He wants to be able to go back and be able to contribute and be who he is. That’s hard to do after being out such a long time, jumping back at it at such high level, with the game speed, the talent.”
Sullinger had surgery to insert a screw near the baby toe on his right foot in October and was idle until Jan. 19, missing the first 42 games of the Raptors’ season.
He’s been used sparingly in the five games he’s played with Toronto, averaging just 14 minutes, four points and 2.6 rebounds a game.
“I watched that first game he had (eight points and three rebounds in 14 minutes against Philadelphia on Jan. 18) and everybody was like, ‘Watch out,’ ” Stackhouse said.
“That was more adrenalin . . . I think he’s going to be fine.”
Raptors coach Dwane Casey is leery about experimenting with front-court rotations during regular season NBA games and could not find a matchup for Sullinger on Friday against Milwaukee and left on the bench for the entire game.
“I know it will help him with his conditioning. It is a total positive,” Casey said.