As an abnormal number of cameras, audio recorders, microphones and reporters quickly engulfed him Monday afternoon, Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey had a question.

"Is this a playoff game?" Nope. At 9-20, it will be tough for the Raptors to sniff the postseason. But the appearance of Jeremy Lin is creating a lot of hype in Toronto, with the New York Knicks' visit Tuesday dwarfing Kobe Bryant's lone appearance at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Nearly a dozen New York reporters are making the trip to Toronto, as are a few national writers. But the media hype has not completely taken hold. There are still tickets remaining for the game, although the Raptors are anticipating their first sellout of the season since the home opener. "There are guys that have been doing this for season after season that haven't been getting the same attention," Raptors centre Jamaal Magloire said. "I'm very curious to know where it's all coming from."

While Lin was being honoured as the Eastern Conference's player of the week on Monday, a Raptor - or, more accurately, a future Raptor - was receiving a different kind of award.

Jonas Valanciunas, the No. 5 pick in the 2011 Draft, was named FIBA Europe's Young Player of the Year. A panel of European basketball experts selected Valanciunas over Spain's Nikola Mirotic, a product of the Chicago Bulls. Valanciunas led Lithuania to the FIBA under-19 world championship, averaging 23.0 points and 13.9 rebounds in the tournament. He also played for the senior team in Eurobasket, and is currently playing for Lithuanian club Lietuva Rytas. Valanciunas is scheduled to join the Raptors next year.

Jerryd Bayless, who has missed the past two games with a sore left ankle, will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's game against the Knicks. Casey indicated he would likely be available to play.