New Arrivals
TW: The Raptors added a few key pieces this season, including Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker. Which of the new faces do you think will help the most as the Raptors look to make their first-ever NBA Finals?
BB: Both of them will be on the floor in crunch time. Coach Dwane Casey has never made any secret of his love for defenders (more on that later in the Valanciunas response), and Ibaka and Tucker are his kind of players.
The power forward spot has been a disaster since Chris Bosh left. Ibaka’s arrival has plugged that hole in emphatic fashion at both ends of the floor.
Tucker has poached some of the minutes of DeMarre Carroll, the incumbent small forward. Carroll was touted as the Raptors’ 3-man of the future when he arrived as a free agent two summers ago, but has been a flop. I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if Carroll isn’t starting by the end of the Bucks’ series.
In short, both Ibaka and Tucker have been terrific.