Here are five takeaways from the Toronto Raptors‘ 128-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
1. The Raptors are finding new ways to lose and disappoint as the season continues to spiral. This time, the Raptors led for over 40 minutes, before going cold at the very end and allowing the Timberwolves to win on a cheap rip-through foul by Fred VanVleet. As if that wasn’t painful enough, the Raptors also made sure to throw in two wide-open bricks from three — one from each corner from O.G. Anunoby — to rub salt in the wound. Putting aside the late mistakes, the Raptors have only themselves to blame. Minnesota was on the second night of a back-to-back having just lost narrowing in Denver, played with neither one of their max contract centres and a handful of rotation pieces, their main star Anthony Edwards was questionable to play and didn’t find his groove until the fourth quarter, and still the Raptors allowed 128 points.
2. The surest sign of a team that doesn’t play together is how it defends. Blame it on fatigue, blame it on discord, blame it on the schedule — the bottom line is that the Raptors have lost their identity as a defense-first team. This is the 10th time in their last 19 games where Toronto conceded 119 points or more. Last season, the Raptors ranked top-five on defense from January onward, which turned the season around and propelled them to a strong finish with 48 wins and the fifth seed. It’s a mystery how the exact same team, with the same eight-man rotation, could be so consistently awful a year later. Toronto struggled so much on defense in this loss that coach Nick Nurse resorted to playing zone for more than half the game, and not just because it was tactically prudent, but simply just to get players in their spots and to have them communicate with each other. And yet the Timberwolves just got whatever they wanted each time down, which is why the Raptors led by only eight despite racking up 109 points through three quarters. When the inevitable drought hit, the Raptors capitulated.
3. Pascal Siakam seems to be wearing down. It’s no longer a given that he will dominate in the same way as he did to start the season. This was a prime matchup for Siakam against a Timberwolves side that had nobody to check him individually, and no rim protector to keep him from the basket, yet he struggled to score, especially down the stretch. The officials allowed Minnesota’s defenders to manhandle Siakam, but he’s too good to be shut down. Over his last four games, Siakam is fourth in team scoring on 17.8 points per game, and is shooting a frigid 1-for-15 on threes and 18-for-27 from the line. On the other end, Siakam’s defense has become error prone with occasional flashes of brilliance. He is clearly still trying to drive the team forward and there is no lack of intent, but the overall picture is one of an exhausted figure. Siakam’s ebullience to begin the season masked other underlying issues with the roster, but perhaps that took too much out of him, and with him coming back down to earth, the bottom has fallen out.
4. The silver lining is that Scottie Barnes and VanVleet have finally found their footing. Barnes scored a season-high 29 points and at one point was 10-for-11 from the field after nailing a buzzer-beating three in the fourth quarter. He started off as a finisher on the pick-and-roll, but grew into his confidence as the game went on and repeatedly got downhill for dunks as he pivoted into initiating the offense. Defensively, it’s a concern that Barnes sustained a few hits defending the rim, which left him holding his face on a handful of occasions. As for VanVleet, his catch-and-shoot threes are finally starting to drop, which was his biggest issue to start the season. VanVleet has also found a nice groove playing in pick-and-roll, with Barnes and Precious Achiuwa as his partners in the two-man game. VanVleet had 18 points at halftime on 5-of-6 shooting and finished with 25 points and 10 assists. If Siakam were to rediscover his form to start the year, the Raptors would finally have three functioning offensive creators to sustain the offense, which has been effective of late. Nurse keeps getting strong results from plays where VanVleet, Barnes and Siakam are playing off each other, and that should be the emphasis from start to finish rather than wasting possessions where Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., or an unreliable bench player freestyles.
5. It’s hard to get a grasp on Nurse’s approach toward the bench. Two weeks ago, he leaned hard into a 10-man rotation with lineups that involved four reserves at once. It was funky and it succeeded against bad opposition, but it was producing results. But in the last three games, the rotation has tightened once more and stretches no more than eight. Nurse brought Joe Wieskamp, who is on a second 10-day deal, into the mix for strong results as Wieskamp nailed three triples and showed good activity on defense at the top of the zone, but it came at the expense of Chris Boucher, who didn’t see a single minute after also being benched for the second half in Milwaukee. Achiuwa has been strong since his return and should see more time as his energy and physicality on defense clearly stands out, but he too can wear on your patience with his decision-making at times. Juancho Hernangomez keeps getting run even though he is a net neutral at best, while Thad Young saw a rare stint at centre, which is an open invitation for the opposing team to attack since an undersized 34-year-old isn’t deterring anyone.
By: William Lou
Title: 5 things: Raptors find new ways to disappoint with another late collapse
Sourced From: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/5-things-raptors-find-new-ways-to-disappoint-with-another-late-collapse/
Published Date: 01-20-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Raptors win in 2019 the NBA title?
DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl and a protected 2019 draft pick were traded by the Toronto Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs on July 18, 2018.
On February 7, 2019, the Raptors traded Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright C. J. Miles and a 2024 second-round pick from the draft to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Marc Gasol, another multiple All-Star and former Defensive Players of the Year. Jeremy Lin was signed shortly thereafter.
The Toronto Raptors had an exciting offseason. They made two major trades that shocked the NBA. The Raptors first traded DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl, and a 2019 first-round draft pick (that was protected) to the San Antonio Spurs. In exchange, they got Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green (Spurs). Then, Jonas Valanciunas was traded to the Spurs in exchange for Delon Wright C. J. Miles and a 2024 second-round pick were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Marc Gasol, another multiple All-Star and former Defensive player of the year. These moves place the Raptors at the forefront of the race for a NBA title. Let's look at each trade.
Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Raptors as a risk-reward trade. Leonard is a top-5 pick in the league, when healthy, and just finished an MVP-caliber campaign. However, Leonard only played nine games last season because of injury and it is unclear if he will continue to play. But the Raptors decided that it was worth the risk, and they signed the deal. Leonard is healthy so far and has been playing at an All Star level. He's averaging 26 points per game, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and shoots 49% from the floor and 38% from three point range. If he can stay healthy, he gives the Raptors a real chance to win an NBA title this season.
The trade for Marc Gasol was more of a short-term move than anything else. Gasol is well into his 30s and clearly is past his prime. But, he's still a good player that brings valuable experience and talent to the young Raptors. He is averaging fifteen points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game. He shoots 45% from three-point range, while also shooting 45% from behind the arc. The Raptors gave up some young assets in Delon Wright and C.J. Miles to acquire Gasol, but they believe his experience will be invaluable come playoff time.
The Raptors were off to a good start with a winning 6-0 record. Their 16th win was on November 23rd. The Raptors took precautions with Leonard and rested him for more 20 games to avoid worsening the injury. The Raptors still managed to capture the 2nd East seed, trailing only behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Raptors had a great run in the playoffs. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks to reach their first NBA Finals. Leonard was named Finals MVP and the Raptors won their first title against the Golden State Warriors in game 6.
The Toronto Raptors enjoyed a successful offseason. This has been a huge success. Two All-Stars are on the roster and the Raptors look poised to be contenders in the years ahead. They have shown they are capable and willing to make bold moves as well as take risks when it comes to assembling a championship-level team. It will interesting to see if their success continues in the future.
How was the Toronto Raptors' inaugural season?
The Toronto Raptors lost 21 games in their first season. The 1995-1996 Toronto Raptors' inaugural season in the National Basketball Association was the first season for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were one of two expansion teams that joined the league that year, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. It was also the NBA's first season outside of the United States.
Isiah Tom, an All Star point guard and a Detroit Pistons legend was named the team's general manager. He was involved in the draft that produced Damon Stoudamire. He would go on to win Rookie-of-the Year. In separate trades, they also acquired Tracy Murray as well as Oliver Miller. Thomas also introduced a new primary logo of a dinosaur playing basketball and new pinstripe uniforms with the logo on the front of their jerseys. The Raptors added purple and red to their color scheme.
Brendan Malone, the new head coach of the Raptors, won the Raptors' first game on November 3, against the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome. However, they lost seven of their next seven games.
Murray finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game, and led them with 151 three-point field goals during that season. Miller scored 12.9 points, had 7.4 rebound, 1.4 steals and 1.9 block per game. Robertson added 9.3 point, 4.4 rebound, four assists, and two steals per night from the bench.
Despite their worst record in the league, they had a very high attendance, with over 17283 people per game at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).
Why is Toronto Raptors called Raptors
The NBA's expansion to Canada saw the creation of the Toronto Raptors in 1995. Name and logo for the team were inspired from Jurassic Park. The team colours include bright red, purple and black as well as silver.
The Raptors finished their first season with a 21-61 record. This was due to the team's inability to find their feet in the league. However, the team improved each year, and by 1999, they had made their first playoff appearance.
The Raptors' most memorable moment in 2019 was when they won their first NBA championship title. Toronto's first title was won by Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, their backcourt duo. They defeated the Golden State Warriors in six thrilling games.
The Raptors have been one of Canada's most beloved teams since that time. Toronto continues to excite basketball fans from around the world, with international superstars and local talent.
The Toronto Raptors are a proud part of Canada's basketball heritage, and their success on the court inspires young athletes around the country. The Raptors are a beloved team in Canada thanks to their passion, unmatched style of play and dedication to excellence.
How was the Toronto Raptors' inaugural year of existence?
The Toronto Raptors first season in the NBA proved to be difficult. Brendan Malone, who was then hired by Isiah as GM, became the head coach for the Raptors' 1995 franchise. They soon acquired many talented players through the draft and through trades. They beat the Chicago Bulls once, but overall finished with a 21 - 61 win-loss record.
In 1996, Toronto drafted Marcus Camby, who became Rookie of the Year and formed part of the starting line-up with Alvin Williams at point guard. Later in 1997, Damon Stoudamire was traded away, and more changes to the roster were made over the following years as Toronto looked to build a foundation for future successes.
Despite all of these changes, the team struggled through its first few seasons in NBA. Toronto made its first playoff appearance in 2000 after years of rebuilding and transition. However, it lost the series to New York Knicks.
How many NBA teams are there in Canada?
As of 2001, the Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian NBA team. The Vancouver Grizzlies, a former NBA team, moved to Memphis in 2001 and became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have two teams--the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies--for a brief time during the late 1990s, but no other Canadian cities currently have an NBA team. Despite the lack of an NBA team in Canada, Canadians are still avid basketball fans, and many make their way to the United States to catch games. Since 1995, the Toronto Raptors have been a well-known team and draw large crowds to their Scotiabank Arena home games. Many Canadians travel to the United States each year to enjoy the NBA All-Star Weekend. Canada has more than one NBA team, with a population exceeding 38 million. Many North American basketball fans debate the possibility of having a second NBA team. The Toronto Raptors will continue to be the only Canadian representative in the NBA.
Canadian Elite Basketball League, (CEBL), is a Canadian-based professional basketball league. The league has six teams from Canada, including the Fraser Valley Bandits (Abbotsford), Edmonton Stingers [Edmonton], Alberta], Guelph Nighthawks—Guelph. Ontario), Hamilton Honey Badgers—Hamilton. Ontario), Saskatchewan Rattlers—Saskatoon. Saskatchewan and the Niagara River Lions—St. Catharines. Ontario). The CEBL, Canada's only professional basketball league, is currently in operation.
From 2011 to 2020, the National Basketball League of Canada was a professional basketball league for men. It included eight teams from Halifax (Moncton), Saint John; Cape Breton), Summerside and London. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the NBLC to close its operations in 2020.
Canada also has junior leagues like the Canadian National Basketball League, which is a semiprofessional men's basketball league located in Vancouver, BC. CNB is home to teams from British Columbia. Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Manitoba. Canadian Elite Development League - Another junior basketball league in Canada, the CEDL features teams mostly from the Greater Toronto Area. AC) and Canadian Youth Basketball League. These leagues offer young basketball players the chance to improve their skills and compete in a friendly environment.
Statistics
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
- This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
en.wiktionary.org
basketball-reference.com
vividseats.com
globalnews.ca
How To
How to Get a Toronto Raptors Authentic Jersey
An authentic Toronto Raptors jersey is the best way to show your support for the team. High quality jerseys are made using high quality materials. They have the same cut and designs as the players. There are several ways to purchase an authentic Raptors jersey, whether you want a modified version or a reproduction.
The easiest and best way to get the Toronto Raptors jerseys is online. You'll find many jersey options for kids, men, and women. You can even choose from home, away and alternate designs so that you're sure to get the look you want. The store also carries a range of accessories to complete your authentic Raptors game-day look.
The Toronto Raptors teamshop at Scotiabank Arena has something for everyone. The shop offers a wide selection of jerseys as well other team merchandise. This includes limited-edition items like autographed Jerseys.
If you are looking for an authentic Raptors jersey, there are many online sellers that specialize in them. Do your research to ensure that the seller is legitimate before you buy. Be sure to keep an eye on special deals, discounts, promotions, and other offers that may save you money.
A Toronto Raptors jersey goes beyond being a simple piece of clothing. A Toronto Raptors jersey is more than just a piece of clothing. It's a symbol for pride for all sports fans. Many fans treasure their team's jerseys. This jersey isn't just an item of clothing. These jerseys hold special meaning to the fans who wear them.
They represent an elite team in basketball. These jerseys are cherished by fans because they have seen their stars grow up and play on the court.
Fans love watching the game live and seeing the players perform. This gives them a sense of connection to the athletes.
Toronto Raptors jerseys make it easy to show support for your favorite players while you're enjoying the game.
Here's how to get a Toronto Raptors authentic jersey
- Head to Official Stores or Retailers – If you are looking for a Toronto Raptors authentic jersey, then visit an official store or retailer such as Nike or Adidas. These items can be purchased at any sports shop.
- Look For Authenticity - Each item should have a certificate of authenticity. You should ensure that the jersey is authentic and includes the correct player numbers and name. If there are stickers or patches, check them out. Also, make sure to inspect the jersey for any damage.
- Buy Online - You may be able purchase your jersey online even if you don't live near an official shop. Be sure to get free shipping if you are purchasing from an online seller.
- Wait for your item - Once you have received your jersey, take good care. Do not wear it outside. Only use it for watching the game. Never wash it.
