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Toronto Raptors: Patrick Patterson The Key To Small Ball

By Joshua Howe

Apr 10, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) celebrates on the court during the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) celebrates on the court during the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Raptors will be playing a lot of small ball this season, and with their starting power forward being a player who loves to float out to the perimeter, things could get interesting very quickly. Patrick Patterson is exactly what most teams in the league are craving right now: a stretch 4.

Patterson isn’t Kevin Love or anything, but what he provides the team with is important. He can drain threes and is very mobile. He runs the floor well and can switch onto smaller players who try to get past their opponents with speed. He’s a decent defender too, who holds his ground against bigger guys, as well, that try to pound him inside.

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The Raptors’ roster is full of guys that like to drive and less with those that like to shoot, although adding DeMarre Carroll was a fantastic addition concerning Toronto’s need for another shooter. The team’s two best players, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, prefer to barrel into the lane rather than pull up from deep.

Patterson’s range helps keep the paint clear and open up lanes for guys like Lowry and DeRozan, who will take advantage of the space all day. And since the Raptors use an isolation-heavy offense (or at least they have the last couple seasons), this is an immense help to keep things moving on the offensive end.

It also creates space for rising young center Jonas Valanciunas to work in the paint. His numbers with the likes of Patterson were far better than with any other big last season. Playing with a traditional power forward packs the paint in a bad way, and JV has struggled getting used to sharing the interior.

The flexibility Patterson offers is so great that Dwane Casey often chose to use him in late-game situations last season. Toronto’s closing lineups were often small-ball lineups, and Patterson was used as a jackknife sort of option.

While Patman may not be a starting caliber power forward, he’s not terrible by any means. He’s been a great back up during his time with the Raptors, and he may even prove me wrong and fit into the system better as a starter. It is certain, however, that without him on the roster at all it would be far more difficult to get away with playing large amounts of small ball.

The other big men on the roster: Lucas Nogueira, Bismack Biyombo and Luis Scola just don’t bring what Patterson can. Bebe is still learning and very young, and will likely be used sparingly. Biyombo may get some minutes next to Valanciunas, but if that doesn’t work he’ll be kept strictly as the backup center.

And Scola simply can’t defend a lick of offense, though he’s sort of like an Amir Johnson-esque player who would play a similar role to the former fan favourite.

Indeed, Patterson stands alone. His minutes should get bumped up from last season (26.6), and his chance to shine is truly on the line. The man is a key cog in a system that relies on cogs. Let’s hope he can improve on an already strong tenure with the Raptors.

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