Volume shooting not quite Wright
More three-pointers from versatile guard could go a long way
The message has been consistent since Delon Wright earned a spot as a regular in the Raptors rotation.
It’s come from coaches and teammates and has never changed: If you’ve got a shot, shoot it. Never mind driving. Don’t look to pass. Save the nifty Euro-step foray to the basket for some other time. If you’re open and the ball finds you, load up and fire away.
It’s the same today as it was in his second season with the team, it’s as loud today as it was last year, and it’s going to stay that way until Wright becomes more consistently selfish. And a more dangerous threat. It’s slowly coming along. “I felt like in the playoffs (last spring) when I made some of those late threes, they kind of helped my confidence,” Wright said after the Raptors decimated Melbourne United 120-82 at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night. “And then a couple other games I hit multiple threes. That helped a lot. Just have to continue to shoot them.”
Wright, who remains one of the more intriguing prospects on the roster thanks to his length, defensive ability and basketball savvy, made three of four three-point attempts in a 15-point game against the overmatched Australians. He was still a disruptive factor on defence and a facilitator on offence, but he took threes in rhythm and in the flow of the game. He stepped into an open look early that got his confidence going, and he finished off a nifty Norm Powell drive-andkick in the third quarter that was one of the most impressive moments of the night.
“My favourite part was, he was pulling the trigger on a threeball,” coach Nick Nurse said. “He needs to do that. It’s a concentrated effort for him when he comes off with his feet square, or if it’s in transition or it’s off a screen-and-roll to pull the trigger. He was good.”
Wright’s contribution could be vital to whatever success the Raptors have. The re-signing of point guard Fred VanVleet notwithstanding, Wright’s ability to play multiple positions virtually assures him of being a regular in the rotation.
He’s got the ball-handling skills to be a point guard, which allows Kyle Lowry to play off the ball and catch his breath. Wright can cover bigger guards, which lets him get on the floor with VanVleet, and there are sure to be nights when all of Wright, Lowry and VanVleet are on at the same time.
Nurse’s ability to mix and match backcourt combinations is one of the continuing processes in the pre-season.
“It’s always good because during a game we’re going to be able to rely on different lineups that he’s throwing out there,” Wright said. “They’re also trying to see what’s working, what’s not working, so in the heat of the moment we’re going to be able to throw out a lineup that works. It’s a good thing that we can switch up the lineups.
“Some nights I might be closing the games; some nights it might be other guys. So I feel like we have to be comfortable with playing with certain groups of guys and just building that team chemistry.”
That chemistry will be helped if Wright heeds the demands and fires away.
“I don’t know, for some reason in a game my mindset just turns to drive,” he said. “So that just happens sometimes. (I have) to take that three when it’s open.”