Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Is it time to let Terrence Ross out of the doghouse?

By Brian Boake

facebooktwitterreddit

During the Toronto Raptors distressing 5-game losing streak, a bunch of atypical stuff was happening. Kyle Lowry didn’t dress in New York or Philadelphia after a string of dismal games, and what looked like a hand injury. DeMar DeRozan forgot how to shoot. Jonas Valanciunas actually participated in the offense in the fourth quarter. Patrick Patterson started a game in place of Amir Johnson.

More from Raptors News

Through it all, one truth remained – we had no idea how Terrence Ross would play from one game to the next. He had 6 points against the Rox and Pelicans, and one bucket in Dallas. He led the team with 18 points in that pitiful loss to the Warriors, then missed the only 2 shots he took against the Knicks. In Philadelphia, TRoss hit four of seven 3-balls to help the Raps grab a win, finally. Against the Cavaliers last night, he woke up in Q4 to end with a dozen points. With inconsistency his middle name, it’s hellish difficult to make the claim that Terrence needs to be re-inserted into the starting lineup, but I’ll try anyway.

Mar 4, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is all about spacing. We like to see four or five players touch the ball in a half-court set because when that happens, the chances of someone being able to take an uncontested shot increase dramatically. What’s a better shot for the Raps – TRoss rising to take a corner-3 with no one in his face, or JV trying to cram the ball with Anthony Davis or Nerlens Noel in his grill? I’ll take my chances with the longer shot, thanks. And our team can get those open looks on a regular basis when we’re swinging the ball. Watching DeMar trying to post up his man trip after trip gets depressing. Without a legitimate long ball shooter on the floor, Raptors opponents can, and do, make the paint a tight and inhospitable spot.

TRoss’ defense remains a work in progress, but the fact LeBron James hit some crazy threes last night can’t be held against our man. King James hasn’t won 4 MVPs by accident. I thought TRoss did as well as he could without fouling.

James Johnson returns to the bench in my scenario, unless coach Dwane Casey gets really funky and drops Amir in favour of JJ, which I view as unlikely. He can always be a spot-starter against teams featuring superior small forwards, particularly long-range shooters like Trevor Ariza with Houston, or Portland’s pair (Wesley Matthews and Damien Lillard). A few blocks from beyond the arc can change a game.

I can also cop out, and note that since Terrence was relegated to the bench, the Raptors have gone 12-9, but 26-14 prior. He was also injected into the starting lineup when Rudy Gay was jettisoned, and the team went 42-22, after starting 6-12. Coach Casey told him at the time that he hadn’t earned the promotion. He hasn’t this time either, but I’d still do it.

More from Raptors Rapture

Home/Raptors News