Each week this season, Sportsnet insider and voice of the Raptors on SN590 The FAN, Eric Smith, will answer your questions about everything happening in Raptorland and around the Association. Send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE
The key for Jonas Valanciunas is finding consistency— and I believe that extends to both ends of the floor.
I have always felt that he could, or should, be a more integral part of the offence but with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as the primary ball handlers and scorers, Valanciunas isn’t always going to get his touches like he did when he exploded against Indiana (and the first three games against Miami) during last year’s post-season.
I asked DeRozan on Tuesday how much is on he and Lowry to get JV involved and here’s how #10 answered: “We’re the ball handlers (and) the play-callers. We’re the anchors of the offence. It’s on us to use the pressure that we get to get him easy (baskets), to get him going.”
Anyway, I think being involved in offence can help the focus and production on defence. Valanciunas is not going to destroy teams with his athleticism or jump out of the gym with highlight-reel blocks. But he’s a big body, and he positions it well, consistently putting up solid rebounding numbers. Plus, he often plays with an edge and attitude that says he’s not going to back down from anyone.
Two keys for the Lithuanian this season: 1. Staying out of foul trouble, and 2. Improving pick and roll defence.
Said head coach Dwane Casey of Valanciunas on Tuesday: “He’s improved (and) he’s more vocal now. He’s talking on defence (and) he’s knowing where he’s supposed to be defensively right now.”
Pascal Siakim and Jakob Poeltl will see the floor (especially Siakim, I believe). But as a fifth-year player who still hasn’t reached his full potential, it’s on Valanciunas to fill a large chunk of that void you speak of.
The thing that sticks out about that question is “when (the) bigs are healthy”, because right now they’re not.
Jared Sullinger is out for 2-3 months, and during his absence, rookie Pascal Siakim and Patrick Patterson are expected to fill the void at the power forward spot.
However, Casey had said earlier in the pre-season that he was, at times, going to slide Sullinger over to the centre position and use him as Valanciunas’ back-up in certain lineups.
Thus, with Sullinger out until some time in 2017, those backup centre minutes need to be gobbled-up. The door is now open for Poeltl, as well as Lucas Nogueira. And at least for one night— Tuesday’s opener against Detroit— Nogueira is banged up as well and not expected to play.
The big Brazilian has struggled to stay healthy at times during his young career so I could certainly see the Raptors needing “insurance” with the big club more often than not (until Sullinger finally returns). So I think Poeltl could stick with the Raptors and spend more time in the 416 than the 905.
When he does play, expect Poeltl to take his lumps, though. He’s a rookie big man after all. However, as his comfort level increases I believe you’ll see a steady (not flashy) young player. He’ll do the little things and his nose for the ball around the bucket will be an asset. He’s a smart player.
As discussed in the previous question, the injury bug has bitten the Raptors out of the gate, so that MAY hamper Toronto’s early-season record. But to be honest, I’m not expecting a major drop-off. I believe Casey and company have enough weapons, or options, to fill the void that Sullinger leaves.
That said, Boston is a very good and very deep team. The addition of Al Horford was a big plus for the Celtics. The front court rotation and depth is solid with their marquee free agent signing as well as the likes of Kelly Olynyk and veteran Amir Johnson. Brad Stevens’ backcourt— starring Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, and Avery Bradley— is stacked with speed and athleticism and edgy defence too.
Boston could easily be a 50+ win team but there will be a lot of competition outside of Beantown for that number two seed in the East. Yes, Toronto is certainly still in the mix (and likely the favourite for a lot of folks) but the Indiana Pacers are a very intriguing team to keep an eye on as well.
And the next “tier” in the East could be a wild ride to watch throughout the season, with a ton of parity between clubs like Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte and Washington…..and X-factors in Chicago and New York too.
I think the bulk of Sullinger’s minutes will land in the laps of Patterson and Siakim.
But Casey has already acknowledged that whoever starts against Detroit may not be the same guy that starts on Friday against Cleveland or in future games as well. It could be a match-up driven decision regarding Sullinger’s “replacement”.
So, yes, I think we could see Carroll start at the 4 from time to time. Or if he doesn’t START, I certainly believe there will be stretches during many games when DC slides over to that position; allowing Toronto to play a little “small ball”.
The Powell portion of your question is intriguing. I’m not prepared to write-off Terrence Ross. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that Powell will get a bulk of minutes again and vault ahead of T-Ross.
Ross’ leash could be short though and Powell is always ready to pounce.
Let’s end the mailbag here with a little more on Ross and Powell…
As I stated above, Ross is still an important part of what Toronto wants to do. He’s a legit 3pt threat, arguably the Raptors best long-distance shooter. So it’s probably foolish to think that he’ll be cast aside or buried on the bench. Call me naive if I’m wrong (I’ll be the first to admit it)…but…
Fact is, I think Ross has matured. Age, pure and simple, has done that to him but so has becoming a father as well. At the risk of getting all “Dr. Phil” on ya, I think as you grow up, you “grow up” in the metaphorical sense, too. I’ve seen it too often for it not to be true. There’s a difference in the likes of DeRozan or Lowry or Vince Carter or Chris Bosh as they mature and figure out their lot in life and in the league, both on and off the floor.
However, Ross playing does not mean Powell won’t. There is room for both. Casey will need guys to back up DeRozan (who is still expected to log heavy minutes) and Carroll, and Carroll may see time at PF as well (as previously discussed). So the shell game for the head coach will not be easy. He’ll have a lot of moving parts. And that should bode well for Ross AND Powell.
Who ultimately plays more or has more of a prominent role could come down to who is able to play better defensively. Ross has shown an ability to lock it down in previous years, but not so much of late. And Powell looked very strong and unintimidated as a rookie last year. Can he repeat that?
Check back next week for Eric Smith’s weekly mailbag, and remember to send your questions to E on Twitter @Eric_Smith using the hashtag #askE