With shooting at premium, why don’t Raptors have a coach?

Today’s NBA winners are built around shooters, and that’s a specialized skill that requires constant practice and sound technique. Shouldn’t the Raptors hire a shooting coach?

Loyal readers know I’m big on the technical aspects of basketball. I like to see Toronto Raptors players run, jump, pass and shoot in an athletic, efficient manner. Conversely, I’m worried when I see players with poor form or bodies which scream “injuries are in the forecast”.

A few extremes

You probably don’t remember Patrick O’Bryant, who had a cup of coffee, as the saying goes, a few years ago in Toronto. He was a former lottery pick of Golden State, though whoever approved the pick should have been fired. O’Bryant had dreadful running form. I suppose he was able to have an impact in college ball, but he had no chance of maintaining the pace needed to keep an NBA job. After bouncing around, he ended up playing professionally in Taiwan.

Overweight players also don’t last. Robert (Tractor) Traylor carried 290 lbs. on his 6’9″ frame. After flopping in the NBA (he was traded to Milwaukee from Dallas; the Mavericks received Pat Garrity and…Dirk Nowitzki – Worst NBA Trade Ever?), Traylor played in Europe. He died at 34 in Puerto Rico.

My attention was drawn to a lengthy post in The Ringer about NBA shooting coaches. Many teams have added them, though I can’t determine if the Raptors are one. When I visit the Raptors’ website, it lists 3 Assistant Coaches who have been gone a while (Tom Sterner, Bill Bayno, Jesse Murmys), so I can’t say definitively what the situation is.

Back to the Ringer post

I was particularly struck by the demonstrable improvement in Kawhi Leonard’s jump shot, since he was drafted outside the lottery, then traded the same night to San Antonio. I mention those details because Leonard was not considered an MVP in waiting. He had built his college reputation on defense, at which he continues to excel, and occasional scoring. Leonard is now one of the league’s  most devastating shooters from beyond the arc, largely since his shot was rebuilt by San Antonio’s resident guru.

The spotlight also turns to super-stubborn players like Rajon Rondo, who refuses to even recognize his form is bad, let alone do anything about it. Character matters.

There’s no one on the Raptors who displays truly poor shooting form. Andrea Bargnani was the worst, because he shot off his wrong foot. He was, like Rondo, considered all but uncoachable.

Terrence Ross probably has the purest technique. He releases the ball from the highest point in his jump, giving him the maximum time to set his eyes on the target, and doesn’t slingshot (i.e., take the ball too far behind his head). DeMar DeRozan’s form is respectable, and I’m at a loss as to why he’s struggled so much from deep.

I don’t believe for a second that coach Dwane Casey is a dinosaur, so I can’t imagine him turning down the chance to add a shooting coach. Perhaps they haven’t found the right guy? Regardless, shooting is too important to the modern game. I hope the Raptors name somebody, soon.