Toronto Raptors’ Bismack Biyombo, centre, scores on Charlotte Hornets’ Frank Kaminsky and Tyler Hansbrough during the first half on Jan. 1.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Now with their starting five all healthy once again, Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey faces interesting decisions about how to handle his team's minutes, especially at the centre position.
Jonas Valanciunas has three games back under his belt following a hand injury, contributing 10 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's 104-94 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Yet while he was out, Bismack Biyombo stepped in and established himself as a defensive force at the position, making December one of the finest months of his young pro career.
The 23-year-old native of the Congo was acquired in the off-season after he played his first four NBA seasons in Charlotte. He's an animated big man who wears his passion on his sleeve on the floor, nabs aggressive rebounds, throws down big dunks, hollers, swats exciting blocks and gets the crowd fired up. Friday night, he even got feisty versus former Raptor Tyler Hansbrough.
While Valanciunas missed 17 games, Biyombo was often being called upon to play more than 30 minutes a night. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound backup is enjoying career-high averages this season in both rebounds (9.1) and points (5.7). In his last five games, he has averaged 8.2 points and 12.8 boards.
Biyombo logged 424 minutes in December and grabbed 56.6 per cent of Toronto's total rebounds during that month. He hadn't played that many minutes in a single month since December of 2012 while with Charlotte.
Even with Valanciunas back, Biyombo is still being heavily used – 12 points and 12 rebounds over 27 minutes against Washington on Wednesday, and six points, 11 boards, and four blocked shots in 23 minutes Friday night. Casey credited the defensive intensity from Biyombo and Patrick Patterson as a major game-changer Friday night.
"I think that just comes from opportunity. He understands he is an elite defender, and the league is now understanding that too," Casey said. "I think he understands now too who he is and what he is: he's a rebounder and a defender. He doesn't have to worry about scoring. He's an opportunity scorer."
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Biyombo's recent play doesn't surprise him at all. While some might have expected a player drafted seventh overall in the 2011 NBA Draft to play a bigger offensive role, Biyombo eventually found his niche.
"He's a good basket protector, he plays with great energy, he's an offensive rebounder," Clifford said. "When he was younger, I think he wanted more. He's an easy guy to cheer for. He's a worker, has great character."
He hauled in 13-plus rebounds in five consecutive games in December – something no Raptor had done since Chris Bosh. That stretch included a career-high 20 rebounds versus the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 22.
Biyombo is leading the team with 51 total blocks and 14 double-digit rebounding games and sits 16th in the NBA in rebounding per game. Before Valanciunas got injured, the Lithuanian 7-footer had averaged 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 27.3 minutes in his 14 starts and was among the league's top rebounders.
"It's just that the system and the way the team is playing here, I just fit in perfectly, and I've been in the right place at the right time," said Biyombo, who said he still thinks he has played better in his career. "I give a lot of credit to my teammates here – they've helped me play the right way."
Casey said his players had to get used to not throwing Biyombo a pass 15 feet from the basket like they would with Valanciunas. While the Lithuanian can do something with a pass that distance from the bucket, that is not Biyombo's strength. The Congolese player has found a way, in Toronto, to contribute with his own strengths.
"I'm not just talking about an average defender, he's an elite defender," Casey said. "As long as Bismack is playing the way he is playing and playing with that confidence, you can erase [where he was drafted], he's going to have an impact on the game."
The Raptors have improved to 21-13 with one game left in their three-game home stand. The Chicago Bulls come to town on Sunday afternoon.
Rachel Brady