Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Seerat Sohi of SB Nation, The Athletic and more (@DamianTrilard) catch up on the Rockets, Raptors and the playoff picture.
They discuss her piece on Houston’s dominant season, Toronto’s internal improvement and what playoff series they most want to see.
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The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have signed forward Nigel Hayes to a second 10-day contract.
Hayes, 6-foot-8, 254 pounds, has appeared in two games for Toronto, scoring six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 3PT) in six minutes of action. Prior to joining the Raptors, Hayes split the season between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.
Hayes signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers on Jan. 19, recording three points and two assists in 11 minutes in two games. He averaged 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 35.6 minutes in 38 games with the Knicks. Hayes shot .450 (227-for-505) from the field, .441 (94-for-213) from three-point range and .744 (64-for-86) at the free throw line. He scored 20-or-more points 10 times, including a season-high 37 points Nov. 7 at Delaware.
Bobby Webster and the Toronto Raptors three highest ranked coaches were called into the office of Masai Ujiri on December 19th before summoning in DeMar DeRozan.
"I didn't know what the hell was going on," DeRozan recalls. "I thought, 'S---, I know I can't be traded.' It was like I was being called into the principal's office.'"
The Raptors had reinvented their offense but they needed something more from DeRozan.
Ujiri told DeRozan they wanted him to become Toronto's Kobe Bryant as a lifetime player who defines a franchise, but they needed him to shoot more three-pointers.
If DeRozan began to shoot more three-pointers, he would take less contact, create more space and possessions would flow more naturally.
"When everyone has that kind of confidence in you -- that you can carry a franchise -- it gives you that extra confidence," DeRozan said. "For them to say I could be in [Kobe's] position -- it was an honor accepting that fully."
DeRozan has since averaged more almost four three-point attempts per game.
"Is [the new offense] gonna translate into the playoffs?" Casey asks. "We're gonna find out."
The league is respectful, yet skeptical. "We take that disrespect," DeRozan says, "and carry it into games."
DeMar DeRozan and Damian Lillard have been named the NBA Players of the Week.
DeRozan averaged a team-high 24.8 points along with 4.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds as the Raptors won an NBA-best four games last week. He also shot .453 (34-for-75) from the field and .833 (25-for-30) at the free throw line.
Lillard was the leading scorer in the NBA for the week, averaging 34.7 points (46.9% FG, 56.3% 3-PT, 83.9% FT) to go with 3.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He also led the league in three-pointers made (18) and was second in free throws made (26).
Anthony Davis was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Feb. 26-Mar. 4, while DeMar DeRozan won the award for the Eastern Conference.
Davis led the Pelicans to a 3-0 week behind averages of 34.0 points (ranked first in the NBA) while shooting .507 from the floor, and .872 from the free throw line, 15.3 rebounds (ranked third in the NBA and second in the Western Conference) and 2.7 blocks (ranked third in the NBA). Additionally, Davis was the only player to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the NBA over the course of the week.
DeRozan averaged a team-high 20.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds during four games last week. He shot .482 (27-for-56) from the field and .794 (27-for-34) at the free throw line. DeRozan led or was tied for the team lead in scoring during all four of Toronto’s victories.
The Toronto Raptors have agreed to sign Nigel Hayes to a 10-day contract.
Hayes appeared in two games this season with the Lakers.
Hayes went undrafted in 2017 out of Wisconsin.
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