On a roll with role players
It takes more than the starting five to put together a winning streak, and it will take contributions from the entire rotation when the Raptors try to defend their NBA title this spring.
Team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster opted against altering the roster at last Thursday’s trade deadline — banking on the growth the current lineup has shown despite the departures of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, while maintaining payroll flexibility for the summer of 2021, when the freeagent class is expected to feature Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Raptors sit second in the Eastern Conference, 61⁄ 2 games behind Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks heading into Monday night’s home date with the Timberwolves, with the allstar break just days away. After all the injuries they’ve dealt with this season — their top 10 players have missed the equivalent of 116 games and counting — it’s tantalizing to consider what they might do at full strength.
“We haven’t been healthy all year,” Webster said after the trade deadline. “So I think where we are now we’d all take, with some improvement.”
When regulars Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Norman Powell (broken finger) are ready to return — all-star Kyle Lowry (whiplash) was back Monday night — the focus will shift for Ujiri and Webster. They’ll be looking for just the right mix down the stretch, and any holes that need filling, before the post-season begins in April.
The role players need to stay ready — and make the most of the minutes they get.
“It’s not easy — at all,” said rookie shooting guard Matt Thomas, who has a career night on Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets with 15 points in just over 22 minutes.
While the line between starter and bench player has been blurred by the spate of injuries, the Raptors’ non-starters have had one of the lightest workloads in the NBA: 15.9 minutes per game, 27th overall. The second unit has had a major impact on offence in limited court time, however: first in offensive rebounds (5.3 per game), fourth in field-goal percentage (46.7) and 12th in three-point percentage (36.2).
“Those guys can play,” guard Fred VanVleet said of the group that also includes Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Terence Davis, Chris Boucher, Oshae Brissett and Pat McCaw. “Every time they step up and play well people are surprised, right, because they’re at the end of the bench.”
As the injured regulars return, it’s up to head coach Nick Nurse and his staff to keep everyone on their toes.
“Our assistant coaches and staff do a great job keeping those guys ready, (implementing) the mindset of ‘you never know’ and ‘stay ready,’ ” Nurse said.
If those bench players haven’t learned that by now, they haven’t been paying attention. Playing regularly makes it easier to get into a rhythm. Playing well with sporadic minutes is a skill — one they’ve perfected so far this season.
“I think it’s just a testament to how hard everyone works on the team,” Thomas said. “Everyone stays ready. We have a very deep and talented team and everyone’s more than capable of coming in and making plays.”
“We haven’t been healthy all year. So I think where we are now we’d all take, with some improvement.”
BOBBY WEBSTER RAPTORS GM