TORONTO — Heading into this season one of the biggest question marks facing the Toronto Raptors was who would fill the shoes of departed defensive energizer-turned-folk hero Bismack Biyombo.
Well, it’s early, but how about Lucas ‘Bebe’ Nogueira? He certainly looked the part in the Raptors’ 118-107 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
Sure, DeMar DeRozan went off for 30-plus points again — 33 to be exact.
Yawn. We’re getting used to that from the NBA’s leading scorer.
But the key to the win may have been the energy, rebounding and shot-blocking Nogueira provided, particularly down the stretch where his strong play — six points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in 25 minutes — kept Jonas Valanciunas on the bench for the last 17 minutes of the game.
Bebe has been a curiosity since coming to the Raptors from the Atlanta Hawks in the summer of 2014 trade that also brought Lou Williams to Toronto. Often injured, always smiling and noticeable for his floppy hair before anything he did on the floor, Nogueira has always seemed like someone destined to fail to live up to his potential as a defensively versatile, athletic and soft-handed big.
But in flashes he’s shown rare gifts.
No less authority than Biyombo himself tapped the lanky Brazilian as his successor as the former got ready to strike it rich in free agency, leveraging his breakout playoff performance in Toronto into a four-year, $72-million contract with the Orlando Magic.
"During the summer [Biz] told me, ‘Lucas, your time to shine, go get it.’ I know Biz since I’m 15, playing in Spain against each other," Nogueira said. "So we have a mutual respect for each other. It’s special, when he’s gone, he told me, ‘It’s your time, go get it.’ And I took it serious."
Serious and Bebe don’t always go together.
But this time it was different. Expecting his first daughter and perhaps with the sense that these opportunities don’t come around often, Nogueira decided to change some lifestyle habits over the summer.
Like?
"I don’t know if it’s good to say," said Nogueira. "Uhhh, OK. I’m gonna be honest like I’m always honest. I stopped a little bit to going out; I quit the alcohol. I go to my eight months clean, don’t drink one glass of alcohol."
Good move.
And for good measure he’s moved into Biyombo’s downtown condominium. He’s got no plans to move any time soon.
"The reason I changed a lot of my habits is ‘cause of him," said Nogueira. "I don’t know if it’s the magic, but now I have a great moment in my life and live in his apartment. I think this is the reason I’m playing well — I sleep in the same bed as Bismack."
Well, don’t mess with a streak. And by far the most impressive thing about Nogueira’s breakout performance lately is that it has come at the culmination of his healthiest stretch of time in a Raptors uniform.
After playing more than 20 minutes in a game only twice in two seasons, he’s now done it in four straight games with exceptional results, averaging eight points, seven rebounds, 2.5 blocks and two steals while shooting 15-of-17 from the floor while playing 26 minutes a game.
Until now Nogueira’s been stuck in the purgatory reserved for young players with nagging injuries — in his case a seemingly chronic back and hamstring problem. His injuries made it difficult for Nogueira to get up to game speed and gave him the perception of being unreliable, which makes it hard to gain the coach’s trust. Without playing time the confidence dries up and a vicious cycle sets in.
Whether it’s sleeping in Biyombo’s bed or taking his advice about cleaning up his diet and not partying as much, Nogueira has never been healthier as a Raptor. He got through a full training camp for the first time, but when he tweaked his ankle in the last pre-season game it looked like fate was going to get in the way again as suddenly rookie Jakob Poeltl was designated Valanciunas’ backup. But when Valanciunas tweaked his knee, the door opened and Bebe burst through.
"I think basketball — not just basketball, but every sport — is about confidence," he said. "Sometimes it’s hard, you know, to get in the game, like last year, my first two years maybe don’t play 20 games, then get out there and try to do my best. Because the game speed is different, if you don’t have game sequences. Right now I have the chance play 27, 25 minutes every night, so helping me stay more active, more energy."
His teammates love it, and so does the crowd at the Air Canada Centre. In the last three minutes of the game, Nogueira finished an alley-oop from Kyle Lowry to give the Raptors a four-point lead and chipped in with spectacular elastic-man blocks on Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose that got huge roars, reminiscent of Biyombo’s moments in the playoffs.
But Nogueira can do things Biyombo struggled with: he catches well and can finish even difficult passes at the rim with ease. His timing on rolls is impeccable and his extraordinary wingspan means he can block shots no one thinks he can reach.
"He even gets me sometimes," said DeRozan.
The emergence of Bebe is a feel-good story that could provide the Raptors all kinds of benefits if it proves to have staying power. That’s been the issue he’s faced over his entire NBA career.
So you can’t blame head coach Dwane Casey for being a little slow to get caught up in Bebe-mania.
"His thing is staying healthy," said Casey. "… He hasn’t been able to have consistent minutes on the floor, whether it’s practice or whatever and the train goes on. It’s hard to wait [for someone] in this league.
“But this last month he’s been consistent … [but] again, it’s a marathon. It’s a marathon. He did a heckuva job tonight … we have a game Tuesday."
In the old days Bebe may have celebrated his newfound success, but Saturday night it was just dinner and straight home to the condo. Sleeping in Bismack’s bed, dreaming of a Bismack-like payday, Bebe will get his rest and hope to be ready for one more game in a season full of them.