Valanciunas expected back Thursday
Seven-foot centre could play against Atlanta, giving Raps a major boost for final stretch
The Toronto Raptors are poised to add a much-needed veteran right after Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, at no cost to the current roster.
Jonas Valanciunas, who has been out for more than a quarter of the regular season, is expected to play on the three- game road trip that begins Tuesday in Philadelphia and sources with intimate knowledge of the situation say Thursday’s game in Atlanta is the likely date. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Getting the seven-foot, 26-year-old Valanciunas back will be a tremendous boost to the Raptors for the final stretch run to the playoffs.
He is the team’s best screen-setter on offence and its best rim protector on defence, and his presence gives coach Nick Nurse a feeling of comfort.
“Obviously, when we face these big guys (opposing centres in the traditional form), there are matchup issues, it’s really important,” Nurse said. “I also just think that it gives us such a different feel. All of a sudden we’re big and strong, and then we’re a little bit more fluid and spacey and there’s more space. I like that feel.”
Valanciunas has been out since dislocating his left thumb in a Dec. 12 game
“We’ve got to share the ball, we’ve got to play together, we’ve got to get some structure when we play on offence.” JONAS VALANCIUNAS RAPTORS CENTRE
at Golden State. He had surgery on the thumb. While Greg Monroe has filled in admirably at times, he is not close to Valanciunas in overall skill and does not have the same kind of impact on a game.
Valanciunas is a veteran familiar with his teammates, his coaches and the system, and it has been increasingly apparent with each week of his absence just how valuable to the team he is.
“My main thing is setting the good screens and getting guys open and that’s what I’m going to try to do,” Valanciunas said Monday. “We’ve got to share the ball, we’ve got to play together, we’ve got to get some structure when we play on offence.
“That’s my job, getting guys open. Not saying Serge (Ibaka) or Greg aren’t doing a good job but, specifically, my job is to free the shooters. Set a good ball screen, set a good pick-and-roll, that’s my thing.”
Valanciunas’s presence has been most missed on offence. The Raptors don’t run nearly as many high pick-and-roll plays — a staple of any successful NBA offence — without him on the court. That kind of action can free up point guards like Kyle Lowry for more uncontested jump shots. Valanciunas is also a highly effective roller going down the lane or stopping to take mid-range jump shots. It’s just a more functional and diverse offence when he’s at the centre of it.
“It puts pressure on the defence,” Nurse said. “The screener’s hopefully freeing up the ball a little bit and then the defence has to adjust to that, the roller’s hopefully putting some pressure on the paint and the defence has to adjust to that, and that should open up your reads from there.
“That’s really the essence of a lot of what we do. I think a year ago we were the No. 1 in frequency of screen-and-roll in the league, so it is a really important part of what we do.”
The Raptors officially upgraded Valanciunas to “doubtful” from “out” for Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia — they gave the same report on Lowry and his bad back — but there’s little chance Valanciunas returns to battle Sixers centre Joel Embiid for his first game back.
Thursday was the target date kicked around in private conversations with sources on Sunday; it hasn’t really changed.
“Pain is not a problem, but being 100 per cent sure it’s not going to happen again,” Valanciunas said. “Finding the right taping job, finding the right spot where I can play with the tape and feel the ball. Some taping jobs are restricting me from having a good grip on the ball.
“It’s how I feel comfortable. I need to get a couple practices in me, I can’t just go out there and play. It’s going to be soon.”
Can’t be soon enough for the Raptors.