TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have played 14 times over the last 24 days, including three back-to-backs and seven games on the road. No one’s complaining — it’s the NBA, everyone has a tough schedule. But that March grind hasn’t left much time for the Raptors to get into the gym and work.
That’s why Monday’s session at BioSteel Centre was so rigorous. Extensive walkthroughs, individual work with coaches, an extra long film session with particular attention paid to defence — the Raptors did it all as head coach Dwane Casey and his staff took advantage of a rare opportunity to train thoroughly with their group.
The Raptors coaching staff has mapped out its practice schedule for the final two weeks of the season, and Casey is optimistic about the strides his team can make with some extra time in the gym.
“I think that’s why we’re a little out of rhythm right now, is the lack of practice,” Casey said. “But this week will give us two excellent days of practice. Tomorrow we have an excellent shootaround. We’re getting back into the gym these next couple weeks. It’s going to help us.”
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The Raptors have dropped three of five, which qualifies as a deep funk in a season in which the team has lost only 20 times. There have been various issues in each loss, but an overarching theme has been Toronto’s slipping defence, which has allowed 112 points or more in five of its last six games.
The Raptors sit fifth in the NBA in terms of defensive efficiency (allowing 106.1 points per 100 possessions) but they’ve been much better, and will need to be better again once the playoffs begin. That’s why Casey drilled his team on defence in that lengthy film session, trying to reinforce the habits the Raptors were excelling at earlier this season.
“As a lot of coaches say, the big eye in the sky don’t lie,” said veteran forward CJ Miles. “Being able to see yourself makes a big difference. It’s one thing for you to walk out on the floor in a timeout and they’re like ‘you’ve got to be in this spot.’ But when you see it on film, and see it glaring right back at you that if you were two steps over you would’ve stopped a possession from happening one way, it makes a big difference.
“It’s not that we don’t know how to do it. It’s just about keeping it on guys mental. Keeping it fresh on guys’ minds so the habits don’t break.”
Miles hopes he’s through the weeds
Speaking of Miles, the 31-year-old says he’s ready to put the many hurdles he’s faced this season behind him, and be on the floor consistently from now through to whenever the Raptors playoff run reaches a conclusion.
“That’s what I keep in my mind — just be ready when you need to be ready,” Miles said. “I’m a worker. I’ve been a worker. I’ve always figured it out. And I’m going to figure it out again.”
Miles has been kept off the floor intermittently throughout the season thanks to an absurd string of physical maladies. He missed a game in early November due to illness, another in December with left shoulder soreness, three more later that month after a wisdom tooth issue required oral surgery, three in early February with right knee soreness, and two last week as he suffered through a bout of gastroenteritis.
“I don’t leave my house no more,” Miles said with a sly grin. “I just come to the gym and back. I put on bubble wrap on my way back to the car. And then I call Scotty, our trainer, and tell him I made it home safely. He set up cameras in my house so he can watch me from his house.
“It’s crazy. It’s been weird, man. The only way is up, though.”
Miles was brought in last summer to add consistent three-point shooting to a team that wanted to shoot a lot more three-pointers. And Miles has done that when he’s been on the floor, averaging 2.5 threes per game on 6.5 attempts, both career highs.
He’s shooting 37.8 per cent from beyond the arc, third on the team behind Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet among Raptors who shoot from range consistently. That ability will be counted on even more in the playoffs, particularly if the Raptors need a clutch three-pointer late in a game.
“I’m still standing, I’m still here,” Miles said. “I’ve figured it out during the season in stretches. Now it’s about trying to keep those stretches going.”
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Ibaka working through slump
One of the last Raptors to leave the floor Monday was Serge Ibaka, who ran through a lengthy three-point shooting session well after practice formally concluded.
The 28-year-old has been struggling with his shot this month, shooting 38.7 per cent from the field through his last 14 games, and 30.5 per cent from beyond the arc. Here’s his shot chart for March:
It’s a small sample, but those figures are well below his career averages (51.2 per cent from the field, 36.3 per cent from three) and not representative of what the Raptors forward is capable of.
To his credit, Ibaka’s been searching high and low for answers, pulling Miles aside after Sunday’s loss to the LA Clippers to ask about his routine and how many shots he takes after games when he’s going through slumps. Miles told Ibaka the answer lies within.
“Serge just needs to keep him confidence right now. He’s missed some shots — it happens. That’s the only difference,” Miles said. “He’s doing all the other stuff he does. He’s just missed some shots. You go through it.
“I told him, ‘man, you’ve just got to stick with what you do. What you do is what’s been working. So, just continue to work. You’re never as far away as you think. Never get too high, never get too low.’”
For his part, Casey’s confident Ibaka’s shot will come around. The Raptors coach is primarily concerned with getting more from Ibaka defensively (Casey would likely say that of all his players) and on the glass.
Ibaka’s rebounding has fluctuated over the season, depending largely on match-ups and energy level. He pulled down eight boards Sunday, which was a marked improvement over his prior four games when he was averaging just five per night. But the Raptors would love to see him grabbing 10 or more.
“Shooting, it’s like hitting a baseball. You’re going to have some games where you just can’t make a bucket. But it’s about taking the shots the game is giving you,” Casey said. “The threat of his three is huge. But the most important thing for Serge is rebounding and his defence — that’s what he’s elite at.”
