Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Portland loses a hard-fought, but ultimately un-pretty game.
In a game best forgotten, the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Toronto Raptors 123-105 on Saturday night. Damian Lillard scored 30, but that didn’t even come close to compensating for the loss of Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart to injuries. As we detailed in our quarter-by-quarter game recap, Toronto’s big forwards destroyed Portland from the jump. Portland couldn’t shoot well enough from distance to compensate, and that was pretty much the ballgame.
Here are a few other observations and bits of analysis from a fairly by-the-numbers drubbing.
Paint Points
Without Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers had no real size inside to defend the rim. Without Josh Hart, they lacked one of their best perimeter drive-stoppers. That combination proved devastating. All Toronto had to do was get a Portland defender to bite on half a fake, ending up flat-footed, and the ball was in the lane like lightning. Once Raptors feet hit the paint, Portland had no height, no shot blocking, no rebounding, no nothing.
Credit the Raptors for being disciplined enough to keep pressing their advantage the whole game without getting bored. They ended up scoring 68 in the lane. For reference, they’re averaging 51.4 for the season.
The only time the story changed was when Portland went with a young, incredibly-switch-able lineup. That at least kept defenders in front of the ball instead of watching it being dropped in the cup. But the young lineup couldn’t produce enough offense to make a difference.
Open Threes
The painful part of that paint story was a corresponding vacancy of the three-point arc for Portland on defense. To have any chance at all, the Blazers had to collapse inside with everything they had. In brief streaks, it worked. They forced turnovers and grabbed rebounds. But over time, open threes for the Raptors proved a back-breaker. When the Raptors went cold from distance, Portland made up ground. Any time Toronto hit outside shots, the Blazers didn’t have a chance.
The Blazers ended up watching passes go to the perimeter and praying. Toronto shot 10-30 from distance, but seemed to hit the back-breaking ones.
Missed Triples
Just as the Blazers allowed the Raptors too many long shots, they failed to convert their own. Portland shot just 7-24 from distance. That’s always bad news for Portland, particularly on a night when they were out-manned already.
Injuries
Let’s face it...with Nurkic and Hart out, Toronto saw the open opportunity and exploited it mercilessly. Between Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa, the Raptors had a size (and often athleticism) advantage at multiple positions. Portland had no answer, and that doomed them from the outset.
Stars to the Rescue
When all else fails, the Blazers will try to win with talented scorers. Both Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant stepped up to the plate, especially in the third period with Portland in desperate need of a comeback. Their ability to convert or get fouled trying saved the Blazers from utter embarrassment. Lillard scored 30 on 10-20 shooting, 8-9 from the free throw stripe. Grant scored 26 on 9-19 shooting, 7-9 from the line.
Rebounding Dominance
Scoring wasn’t the only interior advantage for the Raptors. The grabbed 15 offensive rebounds against only 3 for Portland, winning the overall rebounding battle 45-27. That left Portland trying to get traction on a massive sand dune. They managed it for a while, but the momentum was never enough to escape the disintegrating ground under their feet.
In a non-coincidence, Hart and Nurkic have been Portland’s best rebounders all year, and some of the best in the league.
Tempo
Toronto likes to play faster than the Blazers do. When Portland allowed them to do so, the game got ugly, quickly. To their credit, Portland did manage to turn the tables during their various runs. When the Raptors played against the clock, they looked pretty bad. But the Blazers couldn’t make them do so long enough to make a difference. See also: rebounding, just above.
Unfriendly Confines
This loss guarantees the Blazers can earn no better than a 3-3 record during their current, six-game homestand. They had hoped to make up ground during this stretch. It’s going to be harder now, as following a Monday night game against the Atlanta Hawks, Portland heads out on the road for three, then back home for a tough slate of opponents.
Up Next
Stay tuned for analysis from the evening, coming right up!
Boxscore
The Blazers will have a day off to think about this one before welcoming the Atlanta Hawks in a 7:00 PM, Pacific tip on Monday night.
By: Dave Deckard
Title: Rebounding, Paint Points Doom Injured Blazers vs. Raptors
Sourced From: www.blazersedge.com/2023/1/28/23576177/portland-trail-blazers-toronto-raptors-final-score-stats-siakam-nurkic-injury-damian-lillard-threes
Published Date: 01-29-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Toronto Raptors' first season?
The Toronto Raptors lost 21 games in their first season. 1995-1996 was the inaugural season for the Toronto Raptors in National Basketball Association (NBA). The Raptors joined the league as one of two expansions teams, along with Vancouver Grizzlies. It was also the first NBA season playing 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 helped draft Damon Stoudamire to be named Rookie and Year. In separate trades they also acquired Tracy Murray, Oliver Miller and Oliver Miller. Thomas also introduced a brand new primary logo, featuring a play by basketball dinosaur and new pinstripe jerseys with the logo. The Raptors added purple, and red to their new color scheme.
Brendan Malone became the Raptors head coach on November 3. They beat the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome to win their debut. But they lost the next seven games.
Murray finished second in scoring and averaged 16.2 points per match. He also led the team's total of 151 three-point goals. Miller provided the team with 12.9 points, 7 .4 rebounds, 1 .4 steals, and 1 .9 blocks per game, and Robertson contributed 9 .3 points, 4 .4 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game off the bench.
Despite having one among the worst records, attendance was good. They averaged more than 17283 fans per SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).
What does "We The North" actually mean?
The Toronto Raptors' anthem is "We The North", also known under the name We The North Nation. It was written by Drake and Noah Shebib, a producer.
Drake composed the song while he was staying in Toronto with a friend. Drake finished his album Take care with Kanye West. Drake also wrote some lyrics about his hometown during the recording process. Drake wanted it to be universally applicable. It is about unity, pride, hope.
Drake began to work on the melody for We The North after he went to London to film the video for his single "Nice For What". He then recorded the instrumental version in one take.
Drake was composing the lyrics and 40 came up w/ the chorus. Drake loved the hook and asked to record it. Together, they came up with the final product.
The official music video for "We The North Anthem," was released on October 5, 2018. It featured Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes performing along with Drake and other musicians.
How was the first year of existence for the Toronto Raptors?
The first season of the NBA for Toronto Raptors was difficult. Brendan Malone was appointed head coach by Isiah Tom, and they soon acquired many talented players via trades and in the draft. They beat the Chicago Bulls once, but overall finished with a 21 - 61 win-loss record.
Toronto drafted Marcus Camby (Rookie of The Year) in 1996. Camby joined the Toronto starting line-up along with Alvin Williams at guard. Damon Stoudamire was traded later in 1997. Toronto made more roster changes over the years to ensure future success.
Despite all its changes, the team continues to struggle in its first few NBA seasons. Toronto finally made it to the playoffs in 2000 after a period for rebuilding and transition. Unfortunately, the New York Knicks won the series.
When was the Raptors' inaugural game?
The Raptors played the New Jersey Nets in their first regular season at the SkyDome on November 3, 1995. 33,306 fans were in attendance to watch Alvin Robertson score the first points in franchise history. The Raptors defeated Nets in 94-79. Contributions from Damon Stoudamire (10 and 10 assists), as well as Robertson (30 pts) were key.
What was the best year for the Raptors?
The 2019 NBA Championship season was the Toronto Raptors best year. The Raptors won the NBA Championship for the first time in their history. It was an exciting and memorable season. Kawhi Leonard was named Finals Champion after a team record of 58-24. The Golden State Warriors were defeated in six games by the team to win the title.
In 2013, the Toronto Raptors changed their front office, replacing then-general manager Bryan Colangelo with Masai Ujiri. This change would bring a new era to the franchise and make them one of NBA's best teams.
The Raptors were able to make a comeback under Ujiri and made it to the playoffs in 2014. They have won five Division titles since then. Their most successful regular season was in 2018. Ujiri was also able to make a risky yet successful trade that sent DeMar DeRozan from the San Antonio Spurs to get Kawhi Leonard.
The Raptors had an amazing 2019, winning their first conference championship and reaching the NBA finals for a record-breaking second time. In six games, they defeated the Golden State Warriors.
Ujiri's tenure with the Raptors has been a resounding success, and he should be credited with changing the team's fortunes. Thanks to his leadership, the Raptors are now one of the best teams in the NBA and look poised to remain contenders for years to come.
The 2019 championship season is certain to be one of the most memorable in Raptors' history.
Ujiri and other members of the Toronto Raptors team should keep their eyes on the future and work hard to create a winning culture that supports both players and employees. With continued dedication to excellence, the future looks bright for this team. The 2019 Toronto Raptors championship season set the standard. Now it's up for Ujiri to build on that success with his team.
How many NBA teams are there in Canada?
The Toronto Raptors were the Canadian NBA's only team in 2001. The Vancouver Grizzlies used to be an NBA team between 1995 and 2001. In 2001, however, they relocated to Memphis where they became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have the Vancouver Grizzlies (and the Toronto Raptors) for a time, but there are no NBA teams in Canada. Canadians love basketball, and many travel to the United States to watch games. The Toronto Raptors have been a famous team since their inception in 1995 and continue to draw large crowds for their home games at Scotiabank Arena. The NBA All-Star Weekend is attended by hundreds of Canadians each year. Canada can have multiple NBA teams, as it has a population greater than 38 million. Many North Americans have discussed and debated the idea of a second basketball team. The Toronto Raptors continue to be the only Canadian representation within the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a professional basketball league based in Canada. The league includes six teams representing Canadian towns and cities: the Fraser Valley Bandits, Abbotsford (BC), Edmonton Stingers(Edmonton (Alberton), Guelph Nighthawks) Guelph Nighthawks [Guelph], Ontario], Hamilton Honey Badgers (“Hamilton”), Saskatchewan Rattlers (“Saskatoon”), and the Niagara River Lions (“St. Catharines”) The CEBL currently operates Canada's sole professional basketball league.
The National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), a professional men's basketball team, was in existence from 2011 through 2020. It had eight teams representing eight cities: Moncton (Moncton), Saint John, Cape Breton; Summerside, London; Windsor, Windsor, and Kitchener. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the NBLC to close its operations in 2020.
Canada has several junior basketball leagues. One example is the Canadian National Basketball League (CNB), which is a semi-professional men’s league that is based in Vancouver. CNB teams come from British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. Another Canadian junior basketball league (CEDL), which mainly features teams from the Greater Toronto Area, is the Canadian Elite Development League (CEDL). AC) as well as the Canadian Youth Basketball League. These leagues provide opportunities for young basketball players to develop their skills while competing in a competitive environment.
What year did the Raptors win their inaugural playoff series?
Toronto won their first-ever playoff series as they defeated New York 3-2 in 2001, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in franchise history under head coach Lenny Wilkens.
Statistics
- 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)
- As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)
- After Thomas attempted to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed, he resigned from his position in November and sold his 9 percent stake in the team to Slaight. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
thestar.com
jerseymuseum.org
en.wiktionary.org
vividseats.com
How To
Tips on Where to Eat Before the Toronto Raptors Game at Scotiabank Arena
It is best to avoid eating too much before a game. There will be plenty of food for sale in the arena if you feel hungry after entering the arena.
You will also find concessions at the concourse and stands. Some places offer beer only, while others offer hot dogs and pizza, as well as burgers.
Concession stands that sell nachos are a popular choice. These cheesy snack options include toppings such as cheese sauce, jalapenos, and bacon bits.
You can also buy tickets for a pre-game party. Many restaurants host these events where guests can enjoy food and drinks before entering the arena.
There is a barbeque restaurant near the arena that serves local cuisine. The menu includes pulled pork sandwiches and chicken wings as well as ribs.
Many fast food chains can be found nearby, such as Subway, Tim Hortons, and McDonald's.
Walking distance from many restaurants offers healthy eating options. One notable place is Freshii. This chain offers fresh salads and wraps made from organic ingredients.
Other options include juice shops and sushi bars.
If you prefer to grab a drink rather than eat, there are several coffee shops and ice cream parlours right across the street.
No matter your tastebuds, there are plenty to choose from before and after the Toronto Raptors match. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to go through security and get to your seat.
Enjoy cheering for the home team and thank you for reading! Go Raptors Enjoy the game
