Raptors with nasty stats: who and what

Are the Raptors over-represented in a list of players who have accumulated negative statistics?

The NBA season never stops, and neither do those of us who are trying to understand the past and future of our favourite team, the Toronto Raptors.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. – George Santayana, 1863-1952

The only repeats we want are the last few seasons, not the hungry years prior. Let’s examine some unpleasant statistics from 2015-16, in the hope we won’t see them again.

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I’m drilling into the useful nbaminer site, where we find Delon Wright tied for sixth place in the undesirable category of most DNP-CDs (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision). In 43 of the 70 games Wright was dressed, he didn’t see the floor.

Jan 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Delon Wright (55) goes up for a basket against Washington Wizards guard Garrett Temple (17) in the fourth quarter at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

This is almost inexcusable to me. Obviously Delon can’t be blamed; he can only enter a game when called upon by coach Dwane Casey. Yes, he’s a rookie, and since time immemorial, rookies in all pro sports are supposed to sit quietly on the bench and drink in all the experience they can.

I say Phooey on that. If he’s not going to play, then send him to the minors. He played in 15 of the Raptors 905 50 Development League games, and averaged over 35 minutes. Do you really want to argue Delon is better off on the big team’s bench than on the floor, even if he’s facing the Rio Grande Valley Vipers rather than the Brooklyn Nets?

Compounding the felony, Lucas Nogueira was DNP-CD in 38 Raptors games. If ever there was a man who needs to learn his craft in competition, it’s Bebe.

Occasionally we receive a “we need DeMarcus Cousins” comment, with a request to create a trade proposal. For the record, that’s never going to happen, and here’s why. Cousins, the huge and hugely talented (an All-Star the past two seasons) Sacramento Kings centre, managed to accumulate a leadership(?) position in three unwanted stats!

DeMarcus had the most technical fouls (16), offensive fouls (44) and – la piece de resistance – the most shots blocked (118). One of our rules here at the Rapture is we won’t create trade proposals for players we don’t actually want, and this guy fits that description, emphatically.

Bismack Biyombo tied for eleventh with 11 goaltending calls. While I concede that a goaltending call gives two points (or three, I suppose, though I can’t remember one of those – can anyone?) on a shot that may not be on its way into the basket, I doubt coach Casey will ask Biyombo or Jonas Valanciunas to dial back their shot-blocking efforts.

A “goaltend” is an effort play in which the call went the wrong way. Too bad – keep trying.

Finally, Kyle Lowry pops up in fifth place with 11 technical fouls. This category is the realm of the league’s best players. Our point guard is joined in the top ten by Cousins, John Wall, Draymond Green, Andre Drummond and Chris Paul, just to mention a few. Good company for a bad stat.

Next: Raptors win in spite of defeat

I enjoy considering a player’s positive attributes, but we’re being ostriches if we don’t look at the other side. Let’s keep that in mind as we consider roster changes this summer.

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