As they find themselves in different circumstances than ever before, the Toronto Raptors are going to take a different tack to the end of the NBA regular season.
The Raptors, in large part because of the success of their backups but also because of the team’s past failings, don’t plan to cut the workload of their best players. They may actually stretch out guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan over the final 24 games of the season. The noted workhorses are at or close to career lows in minutes per game.
“I’m sure it’s coming, whether it’s on purpose or not,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said of increasing the minutes of his all-stars.