The Raptors must get their new coach hired, then get to work on revamping the team’s offensive capability. There are only 2 candidates with the chops to do that well.
The Toronto Raptors are engaged in interviews for their new head coach. While the usual cone of silence sits over the manoeuvres down at the foot of Bay Street (for non-Torontonians, that’s the Air Canada Centre and MLSE headquarters all rolled up), we’re reasonably confident that some interviews have already taken place.
One of the morning-line favourites, as they say at the racetrack, was Mike Budenholzer, but he took the Milwaukee opening. We don’t know of any serious candidates other than Jerry Stackhouse, Nick Nurse and Rex Kalamian. [20-second timeout: The Star mentioned Stan Van Gundy. No, thanks – let’s get some fresh blood. I’m still beating the drum for Becky Hammon, but I’m not optimistic.]
I hope the Raptors don’t drag their feet on making a decision, because the need to revamp the roster is glaring. Perhaps in a parallel universe the personnel guys get the players and the coach takes it from there; on our planet the head coach of an NBA team has a significant voice in roster makeup.
Piling up the points
What truly matters is how our new coach wants to play. Dwane Casey was a successful coach when defense trumped offense, but those days are gone with the wind. If there’s a theoretical limit on how many 3-balls can be attempted in a season, it hasn’t been found yet. The Western Conference finals feature the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. The Rox lead the NBA in 3-pointers tried (3,470…the only team to crack 3,000, a number which I’ll wager right now will be broken by five teams in 2018-19), while the Dubs hit the highest percentage (39.1). Either of them will be favoured over the Eastern winner. Interesting, the Celtics, who aren’t thought of as a deep-shooting squad, finished second in percentage made at 37.7.
More from Raptors Rapture
- Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
- Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
- 3 players Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with at trade deadline
- NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
- Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram
Rex Kalamian is the lead assistant for Toronto’s defense, which will probably leave him on the outside looking in. Nick Nurse gets most of the credit for the remarkable change in the Raptors’ offensive schemes. Happily for him, he won’t wear the bad vibes which surround the team’s ignominious defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Casey was likely done the night LeBron hit that insane shot in Cleveland in Game 3 – in single coverage.
Make up your mind, Masai
Nurse has a close familiarity with the Raptors personnel, but the dark horse, Jerry Stackhouse, isn’t far behind. Whether Stack gets the big job depends on how badly Masai wants him to stick around. Jerry won’t be Toronto’s Coach-In-Waiting for long. Orlando wants a new bench boss, and GM Jeff Weltman knows Stackhouse from Weltman’s Toronto days.
Stackhouse ran a conservative offense as the Raptors 905 coach, which is what you should do in the minor leagues. Those guys are there because they can’t hit long balls, so you better know how to cash in on the high pick and roll. Jerry doesn’t need to be sold on the power of the 3-ball. In 2000-01, he averaged 29.8 points while hitting 2.1 long balls per game.
For my money, it’s either Nurse or Stackhouse. However wins needs to get his oars in the water quickly. We need shooting, and we won’t get enough of it from our incumbents.