Fans In Halifax Did Not Get To See The Two Most Intriguing New Toronto Raptors.

Jonas Valanciunas, The Fifth Pick From The 2011 Draft, Missed The Entirety Of Training Camp Because Of A Strained Left Calf. Accordingly, He Sat Out Saturday’s Intra-squad Scrimmage.

Kyle Lowry, Whom The Raptors Traded For In July, Also Missed The Scrimmage. Lowry Was Kept Out As A Precaution Because Of A Sore Left Leg. He Participated In Each Of The Team’s Practices.

“He Had Some Problems Last Year With His Groin,” Raptors Coach Dwane Casey Said. “It Was More Precautionary Than Anything Else. We Want To Make Sure He’s Ready Come Oct. 31.

“We’re Going To Pick And Choose Our Spots With Him, As We Probably Will With [Valanciunas], Too, Just To Make Sure They’re 100 Per Cent Healthy.”

That Means It Would Be A Mild Surprise To See Lowry Play In The Raptors’ Pre-season Opener On Monday Against Real Madrid.

• The First Double Double Of The Raptors Season Goes To Ed Davis, Who Put Up 14 Points And 12 Rebounds In The Scrimmage.

Davis Will Be Fighting For Minutes In A Crowded Frontcourt. The Feedback Has Been Overwhelmingly Positive About The Third-year Player.

“He’s Playing Great,” Point Guard Jose Calderon Said. “He’s Got More Confidence And I Think When You’ve Got That Little Shot It Gives You A Lot Of Confidence Because Now The Defence Has To Respect Your Shot. You’ve Got To Be Closer To Him, [which Allows Him] To Make The Moves He Made Today. So, I Think That’s Why He’s Feeling More Confident Out There.”

• Valanciunas, Terrence Ross And Quincy Acy Were Made To Sing And Dance At Centre Court As Part Of Their Rookie Initiation.

Davis Did Not Remember Having To Do The Same Thing At His First Training Camp, In Vancouver Back In 2010. Davis Was Coming Off Of Knee Surgery, Although He Offered Another Reason He Escaped His Teammates’ Wrath: “Because I’m An O.G.”

That, Of Course, Would Be “original Gangster.”