Holly MacKenzie

Tonight we find out who will be advancing to the second round with a deciding Game 7 at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors were unable to close out the series Friday night in Indiana and will have another shot to win their first seven-game series in franchise history. The last time these tho teams played in Toronto resulted in a thrilling fourth quarter comeback by the Raptors after trailing as many as 17 points. The Square will once again be open to fans two hours prior to tip-off.

Tip-off - 8pmDoors open - 6:30pmBroadcast info: SN | TSN1050 Radio | NBA on TNTFord Fanzone open: 6pmPregame Show: 6:30pm on NBATV Canada

Seven months ago, the Toronto Raptors wrapped their first day of training camp. Every day since then the team has worked and prepared for the postseason. Returning to Toronto after a disappointing Game 6 loss to Indiana with Game 7 set for 8 P.M. ET, the Raptors feel that earning the opportunity to play a series-deciding game on your home floor is what the regular season was about.

"It’s win or go home and that’s the difference [of a Game 7],” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. “This is the finale of this series and we’re going into this one with confidence on our home court. That’s why you compete and fight for 82 games. Bottom line: we’ve earned the right to have home court. We have it for a reason.”

For the past year Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have worked for this: an opportunity to advance to the second round after first-round exits in each of the last two seasons. While there are lessons to be learned from those postseason experiences, this is a different team. 

“It’s a lot different,” DeRozan said. “Two years ago we were playing against the most veteran team you could assemble. [That team] versus a bunch of guys who never even tasted the playoffs. And you know, we grew a lot from then. And this time around the feelings are different. We’re in a different position. But it’s a new challenge for us. It’s been a long six games of this series, now it’s an opportunity in Game 7 to put everything together that we probably were struggling with. Just put it all together. You know, the last six games don’t matter. Tomorrow night matters.”

Casey spoke with his players about the importance of coming out and focusing on Sunday. Not on what happened in Game 1 or Game 3 or Game 6 or anything in between. Each contest being so different than the last makes it easier to hit the reset button and let everything else go out the window.

“One: let’s go in with a clear head,” Casey said. “Second, I said [this] in the meeting [with the team]: Push the reset button. Flush what’s happened in this series. You’ve got to go out and do what you did for 82 games [during the regular season]. You played at a high level, you played to your personality. Don’t worry about what’s happened in this series. Just come out and stick with the process and our identity: playing hard, defence first and sharing the ball on offence. Stick with it. Third: stay together. Don’t fragment, don’t listen to the noise. Play for the guy sitting next to you and stick with him. He’s the most important guy.” 

Every player in Toronto’s locker room understands what’s at stake on Sunday night. Win or start the offseason. Win or spend the summer thinking about what ifs. Lowry said he was glad there’s only one day between Games 6 and 7, and that the rest of his day will be about clearing his mind and then preparing at night. With an 8 P.M. start, guys can stick to their usual game-day schedules and just shift things ahead 30 minutes. DeRozan, the longest tenured Raptors player, said that he will spend tomorrow’s drive to the arena thinking about the game and going over what needs to be done.

Despite the pressure that comes along with Game 7, DeRozan isn’t taking the opportunity for granted.

“[Tomorrow I will be] just really living in the moment,” he said. “Because not a lot of people get this opportunity to be able to play in a Game 7, to experience what it’s like to be in such a great moment. So many people going to be watching the game, so many people are going to be outside, the crowd is going to be amazing. That type of atmosphere, you can’t duplicate.”

Lowry said Saturday’s practice session was positive and that players were attentive and engaged going over film and looking at things they can clean up. In an up and down series, he’s glad the final meeting between the two teams will be played on the Air Canada Centre court.

“We played 82 games to have this advantage,” Lowry said. “Homecourt, our fans, we already know what our fans are going to be like tomorrow and we’re going to need it. We’re going to need them disruptive, we’re going to need them loud, we’re going need them passionate, we’re going to need everything from them no matter what happens in the game. We’re going to need them to support us at all costs.”

For Casey, the biggest thing is ensuring his team plays with purpose from opening tip until final buzzer. 

“Bring to the table what you have brought to the table for 82 plus games during the season,” he said. “Don’t overthink it. Do what you do. If you are a rebounder, rebound. If you are a scorer, shoot it. Don’t overthink it. Most of all bring your hard hat and work boots and play hard. That is one thing you can control, how hard you play and how hard your motor is going for 48 minutes - not 24, not 36, but for 48.”

Throughout this series, DeRozan has talked about the beauty of the game and playoff basketball. Shortly before he exited the BioSteel Centre media room on Saturday afternoon, he was asked about finding beauty in a series that has been filled with so many twists and turns. 

"The opportunity to still be playing,” he said. “As long as we still can put that jersey on and go in that arena and play, there’s nothing more appealing than that."

game-7-preview-raptors-vs-pacers

Game 7 Preview: Raptors vs. Pacers

The Raptors are in Indiana tonight looking to close out the series following a dramatic comeback victory in Game 5 at Air Canada Centre. It remains to be seen who Dwane Casey will begin the game with after inserting Patrick Patterson into the starting lineup Tuesday. The teams split Games 3 and 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and should the Raps look to advance to Round 2, a repeat of Game 3’s performance would give them a good chance.

Tip-off - 7:30pmBroadcast info: TSN | TSN1050 Radio | NBATVFord Fanzone open: 5:30pmPregame Show: 6pm on NBATV Canada

With Game 6 on the horizon, the message is a unified one in Toronto’s locker room.

“Treat it as if there’s no Game 7,” Patrick Patterson said. “A win or go home type scenario. In our mind that’s how we’re going to carry on. If we lose, we go home. Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to perform well, badly enough to do whatever it takes to get the win.”

Coming off a thrilling comeback victory in Game 5 at Air Canada Centre, the Raptors want to start out strong on Friday. They know that the Pacers will be especially fired up to start the game on their home floor. 

“A closeout game is always the toughest,” Kyle Lowry said. “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a rowdy atmosphere and those guys are going to come out there ready to do whatever they’ve got to do to win the game. We’ve got to match the intensity and the force.”

Although Toronto pulled off the Game 5 win to take a 3-2 series lead, falling behind by 17 points in the first quarter and then battling back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth isn’t on the game plan for Friday night.

In addition to the late rally, the team also weathered a brilliant 39-point performance from Paul George and they know he’s going to do everything he can to force a Game 7. The Raptors understand the opportunity they have to close out the series, and that coming out the way they did on Tuesday night would be playing with fire. 

“We have to go in there and fight for our lives,” Lowry said. “We know the effort that they’re going to give and we understand that we have to go in there and do the exact same thing. Fight for our lives. No matter what the series [record] is, anything can happen on any given night so we’ve got to go in there and just fight.”

And if things don’t go completely according to plan early?

“Focus on us,” Patterson stressed. “If you miss shots, don't carry out the assignment, don’t run back in transition, miss a shot, or the crowd is screaming, or you don't feel like things are going your way. Worry about your energy, your effort and things that you can control on that court. Just keep playing hard and keep battling through.”

Toronto’s comeback on Tuesday happened with an unlikely lineup on the floor. Much was made of a group that hadn’t played together in the regular season excelling under pressure in the postseason, but players head into Game 6 prepared to play with whatever lineup the coaching staff decides to go with.

“It doesn’t matter who is on the floor or what lineup it is,” Lowry said. “It’s who is playing well and who is being productive at that time of the game in this situation.”

In Game 5, Lowry had a handful of hustle plays that provided extra possessions for his team. Whether it’s drawing charges, battling for rebounds, or stealing offensive tip outs, he’s ready to leave it all on the floor. 

“My job is always the same,” Lowry said. “It’s to lead my team. To help the team win no matter what it takes. I’ve got four other guys on the floor with me and 10 other guys cheering me on [on the bench]. It’s not just [me] personally. Yeah, I’ve got to lead the team and keep us positive, but everybody on the floor has a job to do.”

Head coach Dwane Casey said this series has shown him the resiliency of his team. When one guy isn’t having success, another player has stepped up in his place. The team has found a way to get three victories. The challenge is to grind out one more. 

“We trust our players,” Casey said. “I trust what they’re going to do. I trust their work habits. I trust their intensity and toughness. We’ve done it all year. From a coaching standpoint that’s what you’ve got to do. Trust and believe. I believe in our guys. From that standpoint that’s what you have to do going into Game 6: Trust that they’ll take your word and heed and treat it like a Game 7.”

When the ball goes up on Friday night, everything that has previously happened is forgotten. The score 0-0, there is only a singular focus.

“What’s the most important thing is now,” Casey said. “The sense of urgency of now.”

game-6-preview-raptors-pacers

Game 6 Preview: Raptors @ Pacers

Kyrie Irving hit two free throws to put the Cleveland Cavaliers up seven with 1:30 remaining. DeMar DeRozan missed a jumper on Toronto’s next possession and the Cavs converted that miss into a LeBron layup to go ahead by nine. The Cavaliers would go on to a 120-112 victory against the Raptors.

Jonas Valanciunas had one of his best games against the Cavaliers, playing 31 minutes and scoring 26 points on 12-for-17 field goals to go with 11 rebounds an assist and two blocked shots. Valanciunas finished the game against Cleveland on the court rather than on the bench, playing the final 4:55 minutes of the game.

“He played huge," head coach Dwane Casey said of Valanciunas post-game. "This was one game that he came in, and I thought he dominated. … They were blitzing Lou and DeMar, and Greivis did a great job of finding him on the roll. Subsequently, the way they were rotating, he had a small guy on him at the rim. He did a great job of catching and finishing. That’s huge for him. That’s another step in his development.” 

Lou Williams was incredible against the Cavaliers. Williams finished the game with 26 points in 30 minutes off the bench to go with six assists and two rebounds. He shot a blistering 7-for-8 from the floor, 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and 8-for-8 from the free throw line and set a Raptors franchise record for points in a quarter with his 21-point fourth quarter. Williams also single-handedly outscored the Cavaliers bench 26-18.

“We can use it just carrying on, understanding the schedule that we have," said Williams of leading the way for the Raptors in the final frame. "It’s tough one at this point in the schedule, 60 games in. It’s going to take a lot of fight when fatigue starts to jump on you and the games are coming really fast. You have to have guys willing to step up on the court and fight to the end.” 

Greivis Vasquez had another strong effort starting in place of Kyle Lowry. Vasquez only scored six points against the Cavaliers, but dished out a team-high 13 assists to just one turnover in nearly 40 minutes of playing time.

Kyle Lowry was inactive for his third straight game on Wednesday night as the team continues to rest him so his body can heal from various ailments.

“I was disappointed we went down 19, but I was proud of the way our team fought and scrapped. The more we can build on that and have more minutes played the way we played in desperation mode in the second half, we are going to be okay.” - Raptors head coach Dwane Casey on his team refusing to fold in the third quarter

34 - Trips to the line for the Cavaliers, compared to just 17 for the Raptors. Cleveland made 25 of their 34 attempts, while the Raptors converted on 16 of 17 free throws. Toronto had just nine free throws attempted through three quarters.

15 - Fourth-quarter points for LeBron James who finished the game with 29 points, 14 assists and six rebounds.

18 - Points scored in the second quarter for the Raptors. Cleveland scored 29 in the quarter to build on a three-point lead after the opening quarter to take a 57-43 advantage at the half.

9 - Number of turnovers for each team, with the Cavs scoring 14 points off giveaways vs. 11 for the Raptors

15 - 3-pointers allowed by the Raptors in defeat, an opponent season high. 

“We fought and got back in the game, especially being down 19. We just couldn’t get critical stops. LeBron [James] picks and chooses his spots and they knocked down shots.” -  DeMar DeRozan on a close fourth quarter

"We expected a hard game. We made it easy for a while but they came back in great fashion, and then we showed poise and maturity when we had to because that game easily could have gotten away from us, but we didn’t allow it to, so good result for us." - Cavs head coach David Blatt on his team's win

“Huge, the fans were great.  It should be a reminder.  The way guys got back in the game against one of the top teams in the league and competed, that’s what you’re playing for, the fans.  It’s about playing with that type of emotion and desperation.  They deserve that type of play, but for longer periods of time. ” - Casey on the energy inside Air Canada Centre

The Raptors will kick off a three-game road trip with a Friday night contest against the Charlotte Hornets at 7 PM ET (Sportsnet ONE, TSN 1050). 

game-rap-raptors-112-cavaliers-120

Game Rap: Raptors 112 Cavaliers 120

The Raptors have had their current six-game road trip circled on the schedule for some time. The tough west coast swing includes contests against a number of the league's elite teams and should be a solid test. Although Toronto fell to Chicago 129-120 to kick off the trip, Kyle Lowry remains confident in his squad. 

"I think we're very good,” Lowry said following the loss in Chicago. “I think we've very talented. I think we've got a chance to be very special."

That positive mindset -- and a renewed attention to defence -- will be critical as the team heads west. The Raptors will face three top-10 offences (the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors) over the next 11 days, and they will do it without All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan.

Lowry, Toronto's floor leader, has been brilliant in DeRozan’s absence, averaging 21.8 points and nine assists per game since his backcourt mate went down with a torn adductor tendon in his groin. Lowry poured in 34 points against the Bulls, with 18 coming in the fourth quarter. That wasn’t enough to get Toronto a victory, as Derrick Rose also came alive in the final frame. Rose scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth and connected on all six of his field goal attempts. The 2011 MVP wasn't the only Bulls player to heat up down the stretch against a Raptors team playing their second game in as many nights. Leading 83-80 after three quarters in Chicago, Toronto allowed the Bulls to rack up 49 fourth-quarter points. That number marked a franchise-record for most points allowed in a quarter.

“We were due for a stinker,” head coach Dwane Casey said. “We had one tonight, offensively in stretches, and definitely defensively.”

The loss snapped the Raptors' six-game winning streak, but Toronto (22-7) still finds itself atop the Eastern Conference standings as it enters a four-day holiday break. The Raptors will get Christmas Eve and Christmas off before picking up on Dec. 27 against the Clippers.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” Lowry said. “I think we look forward to [the road trip]. We started off on the wrong foot tonight for our road trip, but we’ve got a chance to come home and regroup, get a couple days off, come back, go to L.A, and play a tough Clippers team.”

After the Clippers comes a date with the Nuggets and the altitude in Denver, then the Blazers, the red-hot Warriors and finally, the Phoenix Suns before the team returns to the Air Canada Centre on January 8th. While they have survived their first real challenge of working around DeRozan being out — the team has posted a 9-4 record since his injury —  the longest road trip of the season will be another test for the team that wants to hang on to its first-place standing in the East.

The Raptors are thankful that they will have a few days off to shake free from the sting of their second loss to the Bulls this season before the challenges continue.

“Just gotta prepare for it,” Amir Johnson said. “We’ve got a couple days off. [We need to] get our rest, come in with a different mindset and get ready for this road trip. That’s it.”

The group of guys in the locker room already know where improvements need to come for them to achieve their goals. Offence hasn’t been the problem with this group. Watching a Bulls team known more for its defence than its offence in recent years walk off the court with 129 points on the board was a harsh reality check for the Raptors.

“No matter [how] good bad or ugly teams [we play are], we’ve got to play defence,” Lowry said. “No matter what.”

raptors-confident-facing-challenging-road-trip

Raptors Confident Facing Challenging Road Trip

The Toronto Raptors have found a surprise starting replacement in DeMar DeRozan’s absence. After some shuffling, head coach Dwane Casey has appeared to settle on Landry Fields filling DeRozan’s shooting guard spot.

His teammates couldn’t be happier for him. 

Fields has had a challenging two seasons in Toronto. Since coming to the team in 2012, he’s had to endure multiple surgeries on a nerve in his shooting arm and then learn how to change his game to facilitate a jumpshot that won’t ever be quite the same. Despite the struggles, Fields shows up to the arena each day to work and be a supportive teammate, even when his name isn’t being called.

“You talk about consistency, Landry is a consistent man,” Casey said. “Every day, whether he’s playing or not playing, he comes in and gives a consistent approach in practice. He’s done it the whole time he’s been here.”

Since reshaping his game, Fields has had to learn an entirely different role than the one he thought he would be playing when he signed with the Raptors. Teammate James Johnson knows what it's like to have to adjust expectations and accept change.

“It’s easy with a team like this,” Johnson said. “It’s harder to do that when your team is losing and you feel like you should be playing. That makes it hard. When you feel helpless. On a winning team, you’ve got to respect the momentum, respect your teammates and love the success.”

Fields and Johnson often sit beside each another during games and they spend their time on the bench discussing what needs to be done to get a victory.

“We always talk about what we can do and to have confidence to do it when we get to do it,” Johnson said. “I’m just happy his name got called.”

It was called because of the confidence the coaching staff has in Fields’ ability to recognize what the team needs from him as he holds down DeRozan’s spot. While his own game has changed, Fields still sees the bigger picture clearly. His journey from being outside the rotation to a fill-in starter for an All-Star speaks to his character.

“He’s a great person,” Kyle Lowry said. “We love him. Having a teammate like him, he hasn’t played a lot, then he gets thrown into the starting lineup a week ago and he’s been playing great.”

For Fields, the biggest key has been controlling what he can control. Getting used to how his shot feels. Trusting that he will do the right thing and make the right play when he’s on the floor. Things that come as much from doing as they do from believing.

“[He’s consistent,] especially on the defensive end,” Casey said. “He does so many positive things offensively; cutting without the ball, drawing and kicking, passing the basketball, he fills in that roll. He gives us the length, but most of all, the know-how to play the position. 

“He’s got the experience, even though he’s a young guy. People mistake Landry for being an older player. He’s a young guy. He has a world of knowledge and experience and he’s a sharp guy. It’s really experience, maturity, basketball IQ.”

Fields’ teammates respect the patience he’s had throughout the process.

“For a guy who’s gone through as many things that he’s gone through, for him to come out here and contribute the way he’s contributed, him being on the floor, is unbelievable,” Lowry said. “We love what he’s doing.”

Fields has felt the love, too. In a recent victory against the Orlando Magic, Fields finished with two highlight-worthy plays. He dished a behind-the-back assist on one possession and made his first three-pointer of the season on another.

“When I hit the shot and I look over and everybody on the bench is standing up, it shows the camaraderie and chemistry we have with this team,” Fields said. “It’s great.”

landry-fields-continues-to-surprise-in-starting-role

Landry Fields Continues To Surprise In Starting Role

The Toronto Raptors couldn’t have scripted last season’s Cinderella playoff run. Celebrating its 20th season, the franchise is ready to kick off a 2014-2015 campaign with increased expectations and excitement.

Fresh off a preseason that included sold-out games in Vancouver and Montreal, players realize the extent of the buzz created during last year’s postseason run and are humbled to play for a fanbase that stretches across the country.

As the only NBA team in Canada, Toronto’s roster recognizes that We The North  is more than just a social media hashtag or playoff slogan. It’s an identity that links together the franchise and its fans.

“It’s special,” point guard Greivis Vasquez said. “Especially for me, because I’m from another country. I know what it’s like. Being here, the only NBA team in Canada, that’s a special market. We have the best fans. It’s a party when you come here and play and watch us play. It’s a job for us, but it’s very entertaining for the fans and they enjoy or games. It’s a great show.”

we-the-north-lives-on-for-2014-15-season

We The North Lives On For 2014-15 Season

Nearly four months have passed since the Toronto Raptors lost Game 7 to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Listening to the team hold court at its annual media day, that loss felt at once like it was yesterday and forever ago.

While the memory of the final seconds of the loss remain fresh in the minds of Raptors players, an offseason of reflecting coupled with a free agency that brought back the team’s core has everyone ready to go. Tipping off training camp on Tuesday in Toronto before heading to Vancouver for a week of learning, the team anticipates picking up where it left off in May.

“Guys put in a tremendous amount of work this summer,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. “Everybody is anxious to get started. It seems like the season just continued to go with the summer league and individual workouts. This is the part that we're all excited about because this is when you get the most work in the NBA as far as fundamentals, get your philosophy put in.”

Beginning the season without disappointment from the previous year hanging over his head for the first time, DeMar DeRozan was enthusiastic when addressing the assembled media. DeRozan spent much of his summer with Team USA preparing for the World Cup where he earned a gold medal with the program. Going from All-Star guard for the Raptors to reserve Team USA gave DeRozan added perspective and helped him take another step forward in becoming a leader.

With Casey and Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri agreeing that this will be a huge season for third-year players Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross, DeRozan will be there to ensure the two follow through with their actions.

“My job now, I think I have that right now, is to make sure they bring it every single night,” DeRozan said. “And push them. You can’t get tired, you can’t get fatigued, you can’t make excuses, you can’t do none of this no more. You’re not young no more, you’re in the league, y’all played at a high level, so there’s no more excuses. It’s just for me to bring that potential I know that they have out of them.” 

Ross spent time in the offseason training with DeRozan. The gesture to include Ross was another sign of DeRozan's maturity and leadership.

"Normally I always try to work out by myself," DeRozan said. "But, as soon as we started working out at the beginning of the summer, I wanted to be with Terrence a lot to really push him and push him to another level so he could really see how hard I worked and show him what it takes to be at that next level…I’m telling him, ‘You gotta be consistent with it.’" 

Looking ahead to how the team wants to play this season, Kyle Lowry said the team will be looking to get Valanciunas more involved on the offensive end. After a busy summer that included time with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston and a running coach in Oregon, Valanciunas met DeRozan in the World Cup semifinals, suiting up for Lithuania.

There are big expectations for Ross and Valanciunas, but the offseason additions of Louis Williams and James Johnson help lessen the load on each of Toronto’s starting five. 

“Last year we struggled a lot with bench scoring,” DeRozan said. “A guy like Lou Will definitely helps that, by far, the things that he’s able to do. And James, the versatility that he has, the quickness he has, how big he is, being able to hard the LeBrons, the Joe Johnsons, the Paul Pierces, even some 4s, honestly. That’s going to help us a lot and change the dynamic of the game to where we kind of struggled — instead of having Amir guard the Paul Pierces.”

With DeRozan and Lowry leading the way, the recipe for success seems to be self-awareness and accountability.

“I expect a lot,” Lowry said. “And, I hold my teammates accountable and they've got to hold me accountable.”

Ujiri and Casey shrugged off questions about season predictions, but both acknowledged the higher stakes and expectations this season. Lowry pointedly discussed his desire to give fans more to cheer for in a deeper playoff run this year.

“We've got a great fanbase, they hadn't won in a long time,” Lowry said. “I understand their excitement, but we have to do better. We have to get the city and the country more, because we want to make it to the next round and get further.”

raptors-aim-to-pick-up-where-they-left-off

Raptors Aim To Pick Up Where They Left Off

Toronto Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan logged nearly 14 minutes against Serbia, finishing with 10 points, a rebound, an assist and a steal. He shot 3-for-4 from the floor and made his only three-point field goal attempt.

Over nine games with USA, DeRozan scored 4.8 points in 11.8 minutes per game, shooting 54 percent from the field. While he mostly saw time after games were locked up for Team USA, learning from the league’s best players and coaches was a huge opportunity for DeRozan and he didn’t take it for granted.

“It feels great,” DeRozan told Ball in Europe’s Emmet Ryan. “To come together with all these great guys, great coaches and win the gold medal representing our country.

“Especially playing at this high level with these great players you can learn so much from. Just to take this same energy, this experience back to my team.”

Together since mid-July minus a 10-day break to spend time with their families, the members of Team USA had plenty of time to share inspiration and bounce ideas off each other.

“It can’t do nothing but help you better your game,” DeRozan said. “It’ll help you as a leader even more. I’m definitely looking forward to this season.”

After two weeks of competition in Spain, Jonas Valanciunas and the Lithuanian national team fell 95-93 to France and just missed out on a bronze medal. Despite the loss and failure to medal, the World Cup was another step for Valanciunas in a busy summer of continued development. 

Valanciunas was at his best against France, scoring 25 points to go with nine rebounds in almost 35 minutes. He shot 8-for-12 from the floor, including getting off to an 8-for-10 start, and made nine of his 10 attempts from the line. What is likely to stay with Valanciunas will be the two layups missed with less than two minutes remaining after scoring five points to put Lithuania up five with three minutes to play.

Since Toronto fell to the Brooklyn Nets in a seven-game series in May, Valanciunas has been working to get ready for his third NBA season. In between suiting up for his country in Spain and spending part of his summer home in Lithuania, Valanciunas has worked with his Raptors teammates and coaching staff in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. 

It was easy to notice a stronger frame on the 22 year-old Raptors big man as he represented Lithuania. He also showed improved footwork and looked quick on his feet in Spain. 

Averaging 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over the nine games, Valanciunas shot a ridiculous 69.6 percent from the floor, better than anyone else in the tournament. His 8.4 rebounds ranked him sixth in the event. 

Perhaps the most impressive part of watching Valanciunas was the confidence he showed playing such a huge role for his national team. With plenty of pressure on him to serve as a leader and one of the best players on the roster, Valanciunas did his best to help his country try to medal. Although it fell just short to France, he’ll return to the Raptors a better player because of it.

team-usa-wins-gold-as-world-cup-wraps-up-in-spain

Team USA Wins Gold As World Cup Wraps Up In Spain

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