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Raptors lose Ibaka – Lucas Nogueira needs a chance

By Brian Boake

Mar 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A fight breaks out between Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) and Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Chicago 122-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A fight breaks out between Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) and Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Chicago 122-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Raptors’ Serge Ibaka won’t play against the Miami Heat on Thursday night. Here’s a chance for Lucas Nogueira to regain his spot in the rotation.

The Serge Ibaka/Robin Lopez scuffle (I can’t call it a fight; no punches landed) grabbed headlines all around the NBA world on Tuesday night. Both hotheads have received one-game suspensions.

The Toronto Raptors have already announced the recall of power forward Pascal Siakam from their 905 D-League affiliate. Whether our rookie makes an unlikely leap from the minors to a starting role for the big team remains unclear. What I hope to see is a larger role for the Raptors’ forgotten man, Lucas Nogueira.

I’m at a loss to understand why Jakob Poeltl has become Jonas Valanciunas’ replacement. While our rookie lottery selection has acquitted himself reasonably well, he’s not yet in the same conversation as Bebe. The Brazilian big man showed considerable progress early in the season, to a point at which I thought he might displace Jonas Valanciunas as the starting centre. Instead Bebe has amassed an embarrassing number of DNP-CDs (Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision) recently.

Ibaka’s success since his arrival in Toronto has pushed both JV and Bebe further into the background. Coach Dwane Casey has shown a marked preference for small-ball lineups late in games; in those, Serge becomes the de facto center. One can’t argue with success. The Raptors have roared back from massive Q4 deficits against Detroit and the Bulls to pull out wins just this week.

Mar 13, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) looks to make a pass in the second half of a 100-78 win over Dallas Mavericks at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) looks to make a pass in the second half of a 100-78 win over Dallas Mavericks at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

No Ibaka – now what?

However, Ibaka will be in street clothes against the Miami Heat, a team which features a rebounding monster named Hassan Whiteside. I hope coach Casey shelves Poeltl’s trial by fire for this game. Casey needs to take Bebe aside and tell him he’s the first big man off the bench tonight. “Box out Whiteside, protect the paint against Goran Dragic’s forays, and you’re out of the doghouse. But accumulate 2 touch fouls on the perimeter in 5 minutes and you’re sitting down again.”

I’m assuming Nogueira is in the coach’s bad books for a sound reason, though we haven’t been enlightened as to what it might be. Regardless, we need Bebe’s contributions, now and in the playoffs. He can score in ways other than putbacks, he crashes the boards and blocks shots. Lucas must get some burn.

Serge has been averaging over 31 minutes per game of PT as a Raptor. Somebody’s got to fill them, even for one night. Why not Bebe?

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