Valanciunas relishes traditional matchup

The Raptors have tried to work rotations and playing lineups to minimize the time centre Jonas Valanciunas has to spend chasing jumpshooting big men out to the threepoint line.

It wasn’t something they had to worry about much Wednesday night.

Despite an NBA-wide move to have big men extend their shooting range, Charlotte’s Dwight Howard remains firmly anchored in the paint and Valanciunas didn’t have to look hard to find him.

Of the shots the six-foot-11, 265pound Howard had taken this year before Wednesday’s game, 92 per cent (8.3 shots per game) came within 10 feet of the basket. He is not one to go too far out of his comfort zone. And he’s a dying breed. “As far as guys like Howard, I would say (Utah’s Rudy) Gobert doesn’t venture out there and do those things,” Casey said of taking long jump shots or putting the ball on the floor.

“(Cleveland’s) Tristan Thompson doesn’t venture out there, there’s some guys I’m probably forgetting about. They’re still here, that’s why a guy like Jonas is still valuable for those matchups.”

Valanciunas, meanwhile, relishes the matchups with traditional big men but doesn’t sweat the times when he’s not getting the minutes many would expect.

“I’m not looking like, ‘Oh, I’m not getting minutes so I should show some kind of attitude.’ No,” he said. “I’m ready every night, I’m working hard in practice, when coach needs me I’m right there ready to fight, go in the paint and do my thing.”

GREAT SLATE: The Raptors are in the midst of an odd stretch of the schedule.

They had three days off before playing Charlotte at the Air Canada Centre, they return to the usual rhythm with a home game Friday against Indiana, then have another three days off before hosting Phoenix on Tuesday. That’s followed by a two-day break before a visit to Memphis. It’s unusual, and quite welcome. “You have to use them to your advantage because they don’t come around too often.” guard DeMar DeRozan said of the day offs.