Terrence Ross: Ross Rising to New Role Off the Bench
It has been impossible to not question Terrence Ross’ place in the Toronto Raptors’ rotation this season. After many complaints from fans and NBA pundits alike, head coach Dwane Casey decided to try something new with Ross. He moved the third-year player to the bench, away from the starting role he had held since Rudy Gay was traded last season. Ross’ new role on the team is starting to click, as his numbers have improved steadily through the team’s last three games.
While he hasn’t reached the level of an elite NBA bench player yet, after five games as a non-starter, Ross is showing potential. He may still be able to salvage his spot on the Raptors roster by becoming the 3-and-D weapon from the bench he couldn’t figure out how to become as a starter. Ross has all the physical tools necessary to play solid, impactful basketball, he just needs to make sure his mind is in the right place. He must accept his new role and do everything he can to be the best bench player he can be.
Jan. 25 against the Detroit Pistons, Ross scored seven points and recored three rebounds during his 22 minutes of playing time. While these aren’t stunning numbers, he showed the ability to stop shooting when it was clear his shot wasn’t going to fall. He shot 2-6, resisting recording a far more ugly stat line by jacking-up unnecessary and rushed 3-pointers.
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Jan. 27 against the Indiana Pacers, Ross scored 11 points and recorded six rebounds in 19 minutes of action. That’s a nice step up from his previous game, cobbling together good stats and playing solid defence. It is a also a nice surprise to see Ross rebounding effectively, especially considering two of his rebounds came on the offensive end. Plus, Ross shot a confident 50% from the field.
Tonight (Jan. 28), Ross continued to improve, earning 13 points and two assists in only 16 minutes. Ross shot 5-6 from the field, making each of his 16 minutes on the court count. 13 points in such a short time is an extremely impressive feat, evident of Ross’ interest in trying to prove himself in his new role.
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What do all three games have in common? The Raptors won. So, this role change isn’t just good for Ross. The Raptors needed to try something new to escape from their slump. It seems like this switch was just the trick. The limitation of his minutes is not a bad thing for Ross, or at least he shouldn’t look at it that way. It’s an opportunity to show that he can help his team win in any role.
With the Raptors confirming today that they have no interest in moving Ross, it seems that Casey will have until at least the end of the season to figure out how Ross needs to be used. He could easily find his way back into the starting lineup eventually, but for now, he should relish the chance he has been given, and continue to improve from the bench.