DeMarre Carroll situation a major concern for Raptors; At full strength, Cavaliers are scary good

CLEVELAND — Game stories can be tricky when there is a tight, file at the buzzer. Through three quarters I had a nice piece going about how the Raptors should be credited for fighting hard under tough circumstances (one of the worst back-to-backs you could ask for, along with the disappointment of losing DeMarre Carroll again) and acquitting themselves well.
Oops. A rewrite was in order after the team capitulated from the end of the third through a brutal fourth and ended up getting blown out. Even earlier on, in looking to commend the team for its fight and firing on all cylinders offence, I had overlooked the complete defensive lie-down.
Dwane Casey didn’t. He’s been madder post-game, but was clearly ticked off. After winning a couple of games thanks to excellent defending (the two victories came despite shooting below 40% from the field), the script has flipped, with the defence disappearing and the offence – primarily led by DeMar DeRozan and a resurgent Kyle Lowry – is running over opponents.
UH OH
The Carroll situation is not a good one for the Raptors. He’s the highest paid player and when right, the team’s best two-way guy at the squad’s weakest position (at least there are a pair of proven power forwards, even if that position needs an upgrade before the Raptors can contend).
But he’s far from right and hasn’t been for some time. When he was signed, Carroll was still recovering from the injuries he suffered last season and in the playoffs and he picked up more bumps and bruises early this season (including after a hard fall against Indiana in the opener).
His cryptic words: “ If you knew, you know what I mean? Only if you knew. It’s one of those things,” hints at more going on then just a sore knee (and he played down the plantar fasciitis, so that doesn’t seem to be a big deal, so it would be something else).
Carroll’s never going to be 100%. Like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and a few others, he goes all out, all the time. While the similar Tristan Thompson has been remarkably durable, most who fit the type miss a bunch of games every year.
The Raptors told Carroll he’d be at further risk of getting worse by playing, so, reading the tea leaves (because everyone is keeping this pretty quiet), he’ll be given a long rest.
As Carroll said, he’ll be needed a lot more late in the year and in the playoffs than he is at the moment, even if James Johnson isn’t a suitable replacement, because he pairs good plays with bad ones too often and tries to do too much, but will get the bulk of the minutes. Bruno Caboclo isn’t ready, Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan are much better at shooting guard, Norman Powell is more of a combo guard and lacks size, like DeRozan and Ross, to play the position. Perhaps Anthony Bennett gets a chance?
Again, it’s nowehere close to ideal for Carroll, or the Raptors.
Carroll will now meet with doctors and they will figure out a plan for how to get him back and keep him in the lineup once he returns.
SCARY STUFF
At full strength, Cleveland is scary-good. Not sure if the team can knock off San Antonio or Golden State, but it would be a heck of a series. While defensively, the team is very good, against elite, aggressive attackers, there are some holes. It is on offence where the Cavs can be unstoppable. David Blatt said Kyrie Irving isn’t all the way back, despite his 25 points and overall dominance, but his ability to break down defenders, which is nearly peerless (Stephen Curry is the closest competition), rain jumpers and set up teammates would be huge on any team. Having the great LeBron James also able to do whatever he wants and having shooters like Kevin Love and J.R. Smith spotting up means you have to pick your poison, and you’re probably going to die. How do you stop those guys when they are rolling?
AROUND THE RIM
Consider this a plea, on behalf of the media – and the vastly greater number of fans – for MLSE to turn down the damn volume at the ACC. Cleveland knows what it is doing and the experience is so much better at the Q. They don’t crank it up to ridiculous levels and the world still turns and fans have a great time. The fans that talk to me all hate the volume level at the ACC. All of them. As in not one person feels the volume level is enjoyable/appropriate/enhancing their experience.
Please get the memo, MLSE.