The Raptors have been very lucky to avoid major injuries, but that kind of fortune can’t continue forever. What can be done to maintain a competitive roster when we’re dinged up?
I take no pleasure in today’s headline. However, the Toronto Raptors have been remarkably lucky over the past few seasons in avoiding injuries, and the pendulum must inevitably swing back.
Here’s a look at some of the critical injuries which impacted the fortunes of teams in 2017-18. TSN put together another one, in which 25 teams have at least one injury of note. The Raptors are a member of the Fortunate Five.
I’ve long held the position that injury avoidance requires more than luck. For instance, if I were running the New York Knicks, I’d certainly be investigating why my team has seven players listed. Is my roster in top condition? The NBA requires a fitness level which is almost unimaginable. It’s obligatory to adhere to a mix of cardiovascular enhancement (both sprint and endurance, please), flexibility and weight training.
Proper diet helps; remember the well-rounded (cough, cough) Kyle Lowry of a few seasons ago? To his credit, he ditched the foods which were leaving him with a spare tire around his belly. Despite the pounding he takes in so many games, he’s been healthy for years (save his wrist injury, from which he appears fully recovered).
Injured players can’t last
Injuries also impact draft picks. OG Anunoby’s knee injury scared off enough teams that he was available to the Raptors at the #23 slot. Brandon Roy was the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year after being the #6 selection of (ultimately) Portland. Bryan Colangelo was trashed by many Raptors fans for not picking Roy #1, but Colangelo had been warned off him because of the young man’s serious knee problems. Sadly, Roy was forced to retire a few seasons later, his knees too badly shot to carry on. Let’s hope OG’s injury doesn’t prove chronic.
You can run but you can’t hide. Eventually our guys are going to get hurt.
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Raptors fans have rightfully been pleased with the team’s depth. Whoever the new coach is will need to recognize what a powerful tool that is, and build on it. Dwane Casey kept all his players to a sensible workload, trusted his bench, and the result was a 59-win season.
The most gruelling element of a coach’s job occurs when he’s trying to stay in contention without a full complement of players. Marginal teams like the Knicks and Grizzlies fell by the wayside when their top people went down (Kristaps Porzingis [torn ACL] and Mike Conley [Achilles tendon], respectively). I question the value of giants like DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Porzingis and others to stay on the floor when their bodies are prone to serious damage.
Lots of normal-sized people brings stability
Norman Powell, I’m looking at you. Can you return to form? There are lots of minutes for you. Malachi Richardson – can you make your presence felt? The Raptors haven’t announced their summer league roster, though I assume he’ll be there. Likewise Lorenzo Brown, who received a surprising degree of PT in the playoffs. If he continues to improve, there could be room for him in the new regime.
There it is, Rapture Nation. Our team must emphasize the drafting and development of a limitless stream of quality swingmen. Not only is outside shooting Top of the Pops in the NBA, but our roster will receive some insulation from the inevitable trips to the injured list. We don’t have any unicorns, and maybe that’s not entirely a bad state of affairs.