Patrick Patterson’s versatility and his skill make him invaluable to the Toronto Raptors, and Dwane Casey isn’t adverse to loading up Patterson’s playing time.
But it’s getting to the point where the coach is going to start looking for ways to ease that load.
Patterson is logging more minutes per game than he ever has — 28.8 per game before Friday night, more than three minutes higher than any yearly average in his seven-season career — and he’s usually asked to play 12, 14 or even 16 straight minutes as a backup to rookie Pascal Siakam.
That’s too much, Casey said, despite the obvious benefits to the team.