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
Also: “Hoops” returns for it’s 16th year tonight with a jammed show featuring interviews with DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Cory joseph, Demarre Carroll and Terrence Ross. The show airs at midnight on Sn590 The Fan. Podcast available on iTunes.
I think it already has.
Unlike some people, I still have a ton of respect for Vince Carter, the person and the player. He put the Raptors and Canada on the map and put the league on notice too. He helped cultivate generations of Canadian basketball fans and players. To me, there’s no question that his jersey should be retired by the Raptors one day.
But the minute DeMar DeRozan re-signed in Toronto this past summer— on the heels of an All Star season and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals—on the verge of winning another gold medal at a world competition he took the mantel.
A kid from Compton has adopted Canada. He didn’t even entertain any other offers. It was Toronto, long term, from the second there was a decision to make.
His ridiculous numbers to start this season only add to his lustre. But, coming off a franchise-best 56-win season while playing alongside a fellow All Star, Kyle Lowry (the greatest 1-2 punch the Raptors have ever had) he was already in the top spot.
DeRozan’s name is scattered throughout numerous pages of the Raptors franchise-record books and his stranglehold on history with the organization will only grow. He will sit atop all of the records that matter most.
Carter. Chris Bosh. Lowry. But it now all starts with DeRozan. And when he’s done, nobody will ever wear #10 again for the Raptors.
The offense may be the least of my concerns Bob.
DeRozan likely can’t keep up this torrid pace. But together, he and Lowry can—and should—be able to carry at least 40 if not 50 per cent (or more) of the offense on any given night. Throw in Jonas Valanciunas, Patrick Patterson, DeMarre Carroll and Terrence Ross and your offence should keep you in most games. It did last year and thus far it’s been fine through four games in 2016-17 (bolstered, of course, by DeRozan’s explosive play).
The greater concern— and I use that term loosely given that the season is eight days old— is the defence. Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl have done well thus far, as good as could be expected for two rookies. But can they match and approve upon this early season success as time goes on and opposing teams start figuring them out and start going at them that much more?
And will Toronto’s perimeter D improve? They were among the worst in that category last season and the trend has sort of continued over the first handful of games this year as well.
In the end I think Toronto may win fewer games than last year but still be in position to be as good or better, playoff-wise, than they were in 2015-16.
I’m not concerned about it at all.
I think there are a few things at play, not the least of which is DeRozan’s all-world start to the season; you’ve got to keep DeRozan on the floor as often as possible.
Second, the Raptors have had some issues scoring on the perimeter, meaning Terrence Ross has to play. While some may disagree, Ross is arguably your best 3-point shooter and as such he can help stretch and space the floor.
Finally, DeMarre Carroll is (mostly) healthy and his defence and intangibles are an asset for Dwane Casey.
So he needs to play, too.
Where does that leave Powell?
I think you can find roughly 8-10 minutes for him right now. Then, perhaps, as we get beyond the first 10 games of the season (let’s remember the year started just over a week ago) you can steal a minute or two from both Ross and Carroll and maybe even a couple from DeRozan if his workload is decreased in an attempt to avoid over-usage. Suddenly now you’re seeing Powell in the 12-15+ minute range. And on nights when fouls pile up for others, funks occur, or any injury happens, Norm springs into action.
Again, I’m not overly concerned. Let’s let the season breathe a bit.
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