During the preseason, Toronto Raptors power forward Patrick Patterson, right, didn’t jump on his chances from beyond the arc and display what has made him Toronto’s top three-point shooter early in the season.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Patrick Patterson isn't a starter for the Toronto Raptors, yet his play is critical to the team's success.
Newcomer Luis Scola won Toronto's starting job at power forward, a gig for which Patterson once seemed the leading contender.
In the preseason, Patterson hadn't jumped on his chances from beyond the arc and displayed what has made him Toronto's best three-point shooter.
Yet he has since dropped the hesitancy, and his shots are falling for the 3-0 Raptors.
The starting power-forward position opened up when Amir Johnson became a free agent in the off-season and signed with the Boston Celtics.
Patterson, the first big man in for Johnson off the bench last season, had a good shot to land it.
Yet Patterson struggled as a starter in Toronto's early preseason games.
The 6-foot-9 forward says he was being a pass-first, team-first guy and wasn't focused on taking threes – the very thing that makes defenders honour the threat and stretch the floor when they face Toronto.
Coach Dwane Casey started Scola for the final few exhibition games, as well as for the first three regular-season games.
"I was a little passive in the preseason," the 26-year-old Patterson said.
"I wasn't taking my shots; I was more worried about getting my teammates the ball and moving the ball, and I passed up many of the looks and opportunities that I would normally shoot. Talking to the coaching staff, my agent, my teammates, they were all like, 'Yo, that's not you. Just shoot the ball and don't worry about the rest of the team. It will all click.'"
Since the regular season began, Patterson has looked great as a stretch four in the second unit, particularly while scoring 16 points in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
He hit six of nine from the field that night, including four of five three-point attempts, and added three rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.
"It sounds simplistic, but he's making shots and playing with confidence, which he should have been doing in preseason," Casey said, stressing that Patterson has the green light to be a prolific three-point man.
"Not only three-point shooting, but his defence has been really solid. He'll be guarding some of the best four-men in the league on this upcoming road trip."
Patterson is 11-for-22 from the field, 8-of-15 from beyond the arc and has seven rebounds. Scola, the 35-year-old veteran of nine NBA seasons, is 7-of-18 from the field, has hit his one attempt from three-point land and been integral to Toronto's rebounding dominance with 24 boards – 16 of those on the defensive end.
Patterson has contributed 32 points in 68 minutes over Toronto's three regular-season games, while Scola has added 16 points in 61 minutes.
Patterson's role at the four is far more offensive than Scola's, which is focused more on rebounds and defence. Scola is said to be extremely vocal on the floor and provides a veteran's calm, while Patterson provides the right energy off the bench.
The departure of second-unit guys such as Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams has put added emphasis on the points needed from Patterson.
He says he has no regrets about not landing the starting job.
"Had I shot the three more in the preseason, had I missed it, had I made it – regardless – like coach said, it's all about who fits best in the starting unit and who fits best coming off the bench," Patterson said. "Right now, it's Scola in that starting unit and me coming off the bench."
The Raptors play 10 of their next 12 on the road, including games this week in Dallas, Oklahoma City, Orlando and Miami. Patterson may have a hand in containing top forwards such as Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks, Serge Ibaka of the Thunder and Chris Bosh with the Heat.
"I love Pat. He's a big part of what we're doing here," Casey said.
"He's got to keep it simple and do what he does."
Rachel Brady