Nando De Colo became a Raptor on trade deadline day in a minor deal that many failed to notice. It was the kind of move that De Colo’s former team, the San Antonio Spurs, are famous for. One that has people shrugging their shoulders until that player starts to flourish, at which point everyone suddenly starts asking, “Where did he come from again? How did they get him?”
In case those were the first two thoughts that ran through your head when you heard his name, here’s a quick refresher: De Colo was acquired for little-used forward Austin Daye and has been a quiet contributor in Toronto ever since. He has shown his versatility off the bench, by coming in both to run the team and play off the ball—and in either role, he gives head coach Dwane Casey another ball handler.
Watch De Colo closely and you’ll see that despite not being an entirely finished product, he has a true understanding of the game, particularly when it comes to running a team. His skill and decision-making allow him to make difficult plays look easy at times. A prime example would be his one-handed pass off the dribble, particularly fired crosscourt to a shooter waiting for an open corner three. It’s a play that has become a staple in many offenses around the NBA, but it’s also one that regularly has coaches yelling “No!” from the sidelines. How many players do it well? Steve Nash, Steph Curry, Manu Ginobili and James Harden are names that come to mind. It’s a difficult pass to master, but De Colo is selective and accurate with it after penetrating and collapsing the defence.
Elements of Nash are visible throughout De Colo’s game—not that he’s going to win an MVP in the near future. He delivers the ball at the right time to the right place (in basketball vernacular “on time and on target”). Since coming to Toronto, De Colo has amassed 29 assists with only 12 turnovers and has been a player that facilitates ball movement whenever he hits the floor. His shooting definitely needs work—De Colo has made just 17 of his 48 attempts since coming to Toronto—but as more of an old-fashioned point guard who tends to create opportunities for teammates, his shooting stroke is something that can easily remedied with practice.
Casey has an appreciation for the subtle elements of De Colo’s game and has shown confidence in him. As a defensive-minded coach, he appreciates the point guard’s ability to pick up the tempo of the game in a controlled fashion when he is on the floor.
“His court vision is uncanny,” said Casey after the win in Detroit on Sunday afternoon. “It’s why I don’t hesitate to put him in there to change the game.”
During the playoffs, coaches often shorten the bench and trust fewer players under the intense glare of the post-season spotlight. De Colo has been part of winning teams before and, though it’s unclear what the plans are for him come playoff time, one thing is for sure: In the event of foul trouble or injury, he is a great insurance policy moving forward, be it this season or in the future.
First-round playoff previews: Pacers (1) vs. Hawks (8) | Heat (2) vs. Bobcats (7) | Raptors (3) vs. Nets (6) | Bulls (4) vs. Wizards (5) | Spurs (1) vs. Mavericks (8) | Thunder (2) vs. Grizzlies (7) | Clippers (3) vs. Warriors (6) | Rockets (4) vs. Trail Blazers (5) |