Consistency – over the course of a game, a season, a career – is one of the toughest obstacles faced by competitive athletes and teams. Over the course of an event or a meet, individuals may experience highs and lows; one poor race can dash one’s dreams of glory. In order to be consistent, different combination of players must maintain the same level of intensity and quality; diverse people must perform as one. Since it is so challenging to achieve, consistency is often associated with greatness.
Dwane Casey keeps a 1,300 pound rock in the Toronto Raptors locker room, which is plastered with the motto “pound the rock.” The coach means to convey that the task of turning around a moribund franchise is so immense that it cannot be accomplished with a single effort but only consistent effort by all team members over the course of several years. The team has made progress but the rock is remains intact. Eventually, the rock will crack but it will not be easy.
Several Raptors players are young and trying to discover their roles in the Association. They struggle to perform consistently from game to game, even quarter to quarter. Consequently, the team’s effort fluctuates and the results vary widely. It is a fact of life in sport that outcomes are not totally controllable; a team can play hard and still lose. Nevertheless, processes are always controllable; teams can determine how they will train, practice and play, irrespective of the opponent.
Jamaal Magloire and Anthony Carter were signed in order to train the young players how to work out. Not every player understands the meaning of “dedicated practice” and what it looks like. Idle practice will not develop mastery, only a focused effort. Some Raptors are spending time on the shooting court but they may not always be taking game shots. They may be in the weight room but they may not be simulating game situations. They may be trying their best once they catch the ball but they may not have done as much before the ball arrived.
DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis and James Johnson need constants within their games that they can rely on, for example go to moves that provide a steady source of points or effort in transition that makes the rest of the game easier. DeRozan has posted some good halves – and has taken liberty in celebrating those strong performances – but he has not generated the points in the paint which are crucial to Toronto’s success. Davis has received the ball near the basketball but he seems to execute the most awkward footwork possible. Mastery of basic post moves will help him reach the scoring levels expected of him. Currently, nobody fears Johnson on the offensive end but if he endeavours to move without the ball he may take advantage of a defender who lowers their guard.
The team tends to win one and lose two (or three) not only because of the wearisome travel schedule but because their toughness waxes and wanes. Some games the Raptors will grab a dozen 50/50 rebounds, other times Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson will float around the paint without boxing anyone out. A well-executed fourth quarter against Minnesota is followed by a number of games with scarce points in the paint and embarrassing ball control. The consequence – whether the shot falls – is not entirely controllable but the choice – what type of shot to attempt – is within the team’s power. Great teams consistently pressure the opponent by taking high percentage shots.
Casey has criticized the team for falling victim to “N.B.A. Cool”, an attitude of self-satisfaction after meeting some success but before finishing the task. It may seem difficult to ignore a massive rock in the locker room but it takes discipline to see it every day and comprehend why it is there. Other teams to have used the “Pound the Rock” slogan have been the San Antonio Spurs of the past decade and the 2002-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran teams nearing their goals of winning a championship. They had come a long way so the rock seemed smaller in their minds; nevertheless, they had to consistently pound it until they succeeded.
Some of the easiest areas of basketball to be consistent are moving without the ball and making the defender work all game. The Raptors set up a two-man game with Jose Calderon and Bargnani and three stationary players on the weak side. Now that Bargnani is injured nobody knows that to do; even the “Triangle Offense” required ceaseless movement within the fifteen foot triangles. The ball needs to move until a high-percentage shot is created, either in the paint or an opponent look on the perimeter. When the ball stops at the beginning of the possession, time is wasted and the team usually settles as the short clock expires.
Closing the paint can be accomplished although it necessitates communication and rotation. The Raptors are unpredictable in this area, following a 30% defensive field goal percentage game with a 55% contest. Toronto could better pressure the ball, although they are limited in this regard given their current personnel. Consistent basket protection and ball pressure should lead to more one-and-done possessions and transition scores. At this stage of their careers, all of the Raptors need to physically box out when the shot goes up and while there has been improvement, there are miscues on some possessions. After playing defense for twenty-four seconds, giving up an offensive rebound or committing a loose ball foul is incredibly demoralizing.
It is a challenging realization for inexperienced teams to understand that although they may have some skills and abilities, they are not consistent enough to succeed at the next level. It is demanding to develop consistent toughness, which combines effort with tenacity, and players cannot do so on their own. Fortunately for Toronto, there seems to be a positive team culture at the moment and Casey and his staff are more than eager to provide the support the players need.
As more and more Raptors buy in, more players will lead by example and demonstrate that toughness. Tough teams are the ones who make the opponent play every possession at peak intensity. They compete for every loose ball as if that possession will decide the game. When the team needs a rebound after a miss, they fight until they get it. Relaxing for a play, a shift, a quarter or a game is a sign that the team is not consistently tough, an opportunity for the opponent to gain an advantage that puts the remaining hard fought effort at risk.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by intense pressure over long periods of time. Elite basketball teams are formed by pressure – on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court and during practices and training sessions – over time. The Raptors have demonstrated moderate improvements in process so far. They must become more consistent into order to see progress in their outcomes as time passes.