The Struggling Raptors are taking on the Memphis Grizzlies at Scotiabank Arena tonight
The Toronto Raptors, 15-19, will take on the 20-13 Memphis Grizzlies in a major showdown tonight. Both teams are coming off losses at home and looking for a win to bring consistency back into their games.
The Griz lost 125-108 to Phoenix on Tuesday, while the Raptors were defeated 124-113 by the Clippers that same night. This game is vital for either team's momentum, so there's sure to be tension and excitement in the air at Scotiabank Arena. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance this season but have just as quickly stumbled and allowed their opponents to dominate the court. It's the moment of truth.
Sometimes it takes losing to see where you're at.
The Raptors have gotten an up-close look at the might of two familiar foes, Kawhi and Norm, sending them away empty-handed Tuesday night. But some bright spots were still seen in the loss, in particular Pascal Siakam's stunning performance with 36 points and a career-high five straight games scoring over 25 points. Scottie Barnes was also remarkable, putting up 17 points plus 13 rebounds.
Despite good individual showings from Scottie and Pascal, the team's overall shooting and defence weren't up to par. This ensured that their winning streak of two games ended abruptly. The mistakes of defence were glaring, leading to the team's ultimate downfall in the game. The consequences of these errors are undeniable, the Raptors have lost seven of their last nine games.
Memphis is also struggling right now.
Ja Morant has been the lone bright spot for the Griz during their recent struggles. Though Memphis has had a rough patch in their last five games, losing four out of five with their only win against Phoenix last Friday, Morant continues to shine on the court.
Morant's presence continues to be a beacon of hope for the Grizzlies, providing support and stability when others fail to do so. Coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledges that more needs to be done by himself, players and staff to reach the team’s high standards as his star continues to pull them through difficult patches unnoticed.
We need more from Steady Freddy and better 3-point shooting.
It was an injury-filled night for the Raptors on Tuesday. Fred VanVleet, who usually commands the court, struggled through 23 minutes of play and only scored four points. He was suffering from back spasms, which caused him to miss Wednesday's practice. Christian Koloko also had a rough night cut short by a sore knee. He scored four points in nine minutes before leaving and will be re-evaluated later in the day on Wednesday.
Raptors need to be better from the 3-point line tonight if they want to come out of this game with a win. We saw 19 treys land against an impressive opponent in Cleveland, but it dropped to just six conversions from 23 attempts in the next outing against the Clippers – matching a season-low. On the other hand, the Clippers made 15 of 38 three-pointers for a whopping %39.5.
The Toronto Raptors must step up their defence in a hurry to have a chance. Their defensive rating has been subpar since November 30th, leaving them 27th in the league at 113.7 points per 100 possessions. Furthermore, they rank dead last regarding opponents’ effective field goal percentage, giving up 66.9% on shots inside five feet and 41.2% on shots outside twenty feet.
Winning is more than just the final score. It’s a state of mind. When your team has the right attitude and shows their emotion, it sets the atmosphere for victory.
Raptors fans want to be part of that atmosphere too. They need to know that their team cares about them as much as they care about winning. We need this win!
