Raptors Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

The Raptors have been cursed by a lack of athleticism on the wings for years but seem to have addressed that concern this year with the arrival of rookie DeMar DeRozan(notes) and backup Sonny Weems(notes).

And that, in turn, has added an offensive weapon: the lob.

Point guard Jose Calderon(notes), who has been chided for being too careful with the ball at times, is starting to look for—and find—one of his athletic young swingmen on backdoor cuts along the baseline for lobs that turn into momentum-changing dunks.

It’s a far cry from trying to throw the same pass to the likes of Jason Kapono(notes) and Anthony Parker(notes) a year ago, two serviceable wings but hardly the kind of high-fliers that DeRozan and Weems are.

“These are two guys that can go get the ball up there, and it’s easier,” said Calderon. “I talk to them and say, ‘Look, look here when I go that way, your defender is going to be looking at the ball so just go there, go backdoor.’”

With a game coming up Wednesday in Charlotte, where Stephen Jackson(notes) and Gerald Wallace(notes) are at least the athletic equal of the two Raptors, it will be interesting to see if Toronto can pull the play off.

It often depends on the attention span of the defender.

“It teaches whatever team we’re playing to play solid defense,” said Weems. “Now they have to be more aware of me or DeMar because dunks like that get the crowd into it, and once the crowd’s into it, the team gets into it and it just creates havoc for the other team.”

Raptors 123, Pacers 112:   Toronto scored a season-high 74 points in the first half and cruised to an easy win. Seven players ended up in double figures for Toronto as Jose Calderon led the way with 21 points. The Raptors shot 56 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Toronto tied a season high with 28 assists in its 123-112 win over Indiana. It was the kind of ball-moving effectiveness that has made the Raptors one of the most potent offensive teams in the NBA.

• The Raptors pride themselves on the depth of their roster, and the bench provided 50 of the team’s 123 points Tuesday. That’s the highest single-game production from the backups this season.

Quote To Note:   “As much as we do that stuff, sharing the ball and making the extra pass, I think we’re going to be a great team.”—F Hedo Turkoglu(notes) after Toronto defeated Indiana.

ROSTER REPORT

Rotation:   Starters—Point guard Jose Calderon, Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, Small forward Hedo Turkoglu, Power forward Chris Bosh(notes), Center Andrea Bargnani(notes). Bench—Guard Jarrett Jack(notes), Forward Sonny Weems, Forward-Center Amir Johnson(notes), Forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu(notes), Forward-guard Antoine Wright(notes), Guard Marco Belinelli(notes), Center Rasho Nesterovic(notes).

Player Notes:  

• F Chris Bosh is bigger and stronger, and he’s using that extra bulk and muscle to work far more often in the post than he has in his career. It’s paying off, too, as he leads the NBA in free throws attempted (175) and free throws made (133) after going 6-for-10 from the line in Toronto’s win over Indiana.

• G Jarrett Jack, overcoming a sluggish start this season, has committed only one turnover in 113 minutes spanning the last four games. And he had a perfect night (7-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range) in Toronto’s win over Indiana.

• C Rasho Nesterovic, a veteran signed as a free agent in the summer to provide leadership and depth, gave the Raptors an unexpected boost in their win over Indiana. In 16 minutes, he had 12 points and seven rebounds, all season highs.

Medical Watch:  

• F Reggie Evans(notes) (sprained left foot) missed the last two weeks of the preseason and remains on the shelf. A return date is unknown.