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Raptors’ DeMarre Carroll surprises no one with injury update

By Brian Boake

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) battles for the ball with Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) and forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) battles for the ball with Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) and forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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DeMarre Carroll comes clean with the absurd number of injuries he was fighting through during the Raptors’ playoff run. Why did he play so many minutes, Coach?

The Toronto Raptors prize free-agent signing of last summer was small forward DeMarre Carroll. The one-time castoff turned valued 3- &-D swingman did not enjoy a healthy season. Now we receive confirmation of what most of us suspected; Carroll was coping with a variety of injuries throughout the Raptors’ playoff run.

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Click on the link to read about all his issues; he must have been in considerable pain every game. His dismal shooting was undoubtedly worsened by his wrist and elbow aggravations.

What I can’t fathom is why coach Dwane Casey kept starting the guy. To quote the always pithy Jack Armstrong “If you’re hurt, you play – if you’re injured, you don’t”. Based on what I’m reading, Carroll was certainly hurt, and borderline injured. He has to be relegated to spot duty.

Would limiting Carroll’s minutes place the Raptors in a bind? Of course, but having a Carroll at three-quarter (at best) effectiveness wasn’t much of a solution either.

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and Canadian music recording star Drake watch the action during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and Canadian music recording star Drake watch the action during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Following my own rules (e.g., if you want to trade a guy, fine, but don’t bring up the topic without having a replacement in mind), we should consider who could have been “Next man up”, to borrow Casey’s pragmatic wording.

Surely a committee would have had a better chance to limit LeBron James (you can’t shut him down, you can only keep the damage to a minimum). Why not start Norman Powell? Yes, he’s undersized, and he’s a rookie, but he’s a player who’s exceeded expectations since the moment he was drafted #47. Norman, the epitome of a pest, would have gotten into LeBron’s abdomen and swatted at the ball. LBJ  backs Norman down, at which time Norman calls for help. I’d rather LeBron take jumpers over Norman than feed his mates for open 3-balls.

Could Terrence Ross have had any better luck against King James? I don’t know; we never had much of a chance to find out. But TRoss might have made up for any defensive lapses with some accurate shooting from beyond the arc. One would hope he’d do better than Carroll’s woeful 5 for 26 in the series.

Those ideas don’t appeal? OK, go big. Jason Thompson was rotting on the bench. He’s got decent footwork for a man of his size, and would at least provide a different look; something for the King and his Court to adjust to.

Next: Raptors are battling refs & Cavs

I’ve complained about this annoying aspect of Dwane Casey’s coaching before – too often he sticks with a highly predictable solution long past the point where its ineffectiveness has become manifest. “DeMarre Carroll is injured, coach – deal with it.” But he didn’t.

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