HOUSTON – It wasn’t an entirely lost visit.
On Thursday night, Pascal Siakam got to visit with his mom, who he presented with a house here on Mother’s Day a few years ago in wonderful little viral moment if you haven’t got a chance to see it.
So when the Toronto Raptors forward was learning that he’d been passed over as an Eastern Conference All-Star, at least he was in good company, with his mom, brother, and sister.
It made up for being the first person to average 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists a game and not be part of the NBA’s mid-season showcase.
“It is what it is. Out of my control,” said Siakam on riday as the Raptors were preparing to take on the Houston Rockets, the NBA’s worst team, or alone in first place in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, depending on how you look at these things. “Control what I can control and keep pushing.”
It’s the Raptors’ mantra as they navigate a season that’s short on wins and running short on hope. Siakam getting passed over for an All-Star nod while in the midst of a career season and a year after making all-NBA for the second time is a symptom of a greater ill.
The NBA rewards individual success, but the tiebreaker goes to those who achieve it within a winning environment. The Raptors will be without an All-Star for just the second time in 10 years.
“We’ve benefited a lot in the past from being one of the top teams in the East and gotten a couple of All-Star picks and first-time picks,” said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. “And this year we’re not where we’d like to be in the standings, and I think [Siakam being overlooked] is a direct result. It’s helped us in years past [having a good record] and this year it didn’t help us and that’s disappointing because I certainly want to those guys to achieve their individual goals.”
Their team goals are very much a work in progress as they wind down their seven-game road trip – the longest uninterrupted trip the team has had since 1997-98.
The Raptors took care of business against Houston as they shook off a slow start to push the Rockets around most of the rest of the game on their way to a 117-111 win. Toronto led by 19 at point in the third quarter and the Raptors were comfortably in control – up by 11 – to start the fourth.
The Rockets cut it to eight midway through the fourth but couldn’t mount enough quality possessions and hurt themselves with missed free throws until they were running out of time. The Raptors weren’t exactly lighting it up either, but got a couple of buckets off Rockets turnovers to keep their lead in double figures until the final minute.
The Rockets made a flurry of free throws – benefitting from a technical foul assessed against Toronto’s Precious Achiuwa to briefly cut the lead to six with 34 seconds left before the Raptors sealed it.
The win improved Toronto to 24-30 on the season and 3-3 on their road trip, which concludes in Memphis on Sunday. The trip has been played while the team has been the subject of trade speculation prior to the Feb. 9 deadline. The Rockets dropped to 13-39.
The Raptors got another excellent performance from Fred VanVleet, who is looking like his old All-Star self in recent weeks after a poor start to the season. The Raptors point guard led all scorers with 32 points while adding four assists and five rebounds one game after putting up a 34-point triple-double.
Gary Trent Jr. had 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Both players have had their name in trade rumours, but each seems unbothered.
“I’m open and having conversations with them,” said Nurse. “The next game and winning it is always at the forefront. But there has to be a 1A there where we’re trying, we’re doing what’s best for these guys, career wise [but] making sure when we’re talking to these guys as a subject, and then you have to put it aside and I think they’re pretty good about putting it aside when it’s time to focus in practice or in film or play the game, and that’s the reality of it. There is business going on outside of the games and you got to be able to handle that and re-focus when the ball goes up. “
Eric Gordon – the veteran Rockets guard who has been featured in trade speculation for the past two seasons – led Houston’s young team with 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Toronto shot 16-of-39 from three and 46 per cent from the floor. The Rockets shot 6-of-20 from deep and 48.7 per cent from the floor and had 13 turnovers to Toronto’s nine.
As inconsistent as the Raptors have been lately, even a visit with the 13-win Rockets couldn’t be taken lightly.
“They play with great speed and energy and enthusiasm as a young team would,” said Nurse. “ … they attack and they crash the glass and play pretty care free and they have some good athletes. You better match their energy and enthusiasm.”
The Raptors didn’t initially – they trailed 9-0 after four minutes – but Nurse went to his bench early and got a quick boost from Chris Boucher (11 points, eight rebounds), who scored nine quick points who helped the visitors get their transition going. It wasn’t pretty but the Raptors were in the game, trailing 21-20 after the first quarter, even while shooting just 29.2 per cent. Toronto got its offence going in the second quarter as the Raptors knocked down 4-of-7 threes – all of them in the final four minutes of the half, with VanVleet and Trent Jr. each hitting a pair — and 14-of-25 shots overall.
The Raptors led 55-48 to start the third quarter.
Siakam finished with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes on 10-of-20 shooting.
As the Raptors’ leading scorer and best all-around player, Siakam could only be sanguine the day after the snub. It’s likely a tough pill for a player who said before the season started his goal was to be one of the NBA’s top five players.
He’s been very good this season, but not that kind of good, and even over the course of the year his performance has slipped. He averaged 28.3 points a game in December after coming back from a groin injury in November but put up just 22.4 points a game in January with a decline in efficiency from a True Shooting percentage of 58.5 in December to 53.6 in December.
“I’m not playing for those type of things,” said Siakam. “Obviously [individual awards] are great to have, but that’s not my motivation. But at the same you want to be in a position where it’s not a debate. It’s easy to be like ‘I could have done this’ or point the finger, but it is what it is. I have to look at myself in the mirror and do everything I can to be in a position where you it’s not a debate. That’s how I take it.”
In another circumstance he might benefit from a lighter minutes load than the NBA leading 37.7 he’s been chugging along at night after night, but there’s problems with that too:
“I don’t think about those things,” he said. “I’m a basketball player, so I go out there and play and when I’m not playing basketball do everything I can to take care of my body and the rest of it I really don’t look at.”
Besides …
“It’s hard to do load management when you’re losing every game or your record isn’t what it’s supposed to be …,” said Siakam.
Helping the team win will help Siakam and just about anyone else on the team. It’s the challenge of the NBA where individual numbers get a lot of attention, but team success is what separates the best from the rest.
“It’s a pretty common message,” said Nurse who – like all the league’s coaches – voted on the seven reserve spots after the All-Star starters are named via vote by fans, media and players. [Winning] weighs in my voting, for sure. I think it’s real. We’ve seen it play out in our own organization in the 10 years I’ve been here.
“Mostly good, and this time bad.”
More from Sportsnet
NBA Trade Rumour Roundup: Raptors’ Anunoby drawing plenty of interest
Raptors’ Siakam denied All-Star spot, Canada’s Gilgeous-Alexander gets in
By: Michael Grange
Title: Siakam puts All-Star snub behind him, helps Raptors beat Rockets
Sourced From: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/siakam-puts-all-star-snub-behind-him-helps-raptors-beat-rockets/
Published Date: 02-04-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the best year for the Raptors?
The 2019 NBA Championship season was the Toronto Raptors best year. It was a thrilling and memorable season for the Raptors, marking the first time they won an NBA Championship in franchise history. The team posted a 58-24 record during the regular season, with Kawhi Leonard named Finals MVP. They beat the Golden State Warriors six times to win the title.
2013 saw the Toronto Raptors replace Bryan Colangelo as general manager with MasaiUjiri. This move would herald a new age for the franchise. They would be one of the best in the NBA.
The Raptors saw a resurgence under Ujiri. In 2014, they reached the playoffs for first time since 2008. They've won five division titles and had their best season yet in 2018. Ujiri made a risky trade for Kawhi Leonard that resulted in DeMar DeRozan being traded to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Raptors had an amazing 2019, winning their first conference championship and reaching the NBA finals for a record-breaking second time. They conquered the Golden State Warriors in a total of six games.
Ujiri’s tenure with Raptors has been a tremendous success. It is worth recognizing him as the one who changed 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, which was undoubtedly the best in Raptors history, will be a lasting memory.
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. This team is looking brighter with their continued dedication to excellence. The Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship season was a milestone. It is up to Ujiri, his team and their continued success to improve on this achievement.
Who owns Toronto Raptors
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the owners of this team, owns it. MLSE also has the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the MLS's Toronto FC and CFL's Toronto Argonauts. They also own the AHL's Toronto Marlies and Toronto Rock lacrosse team.
How many NBA teams are there in Canada?
Since 2001, the Toronto Raptors have been the only Canadian NBA team. The Vancouver Grizzlies were an NBA team from 1995 to 2001 but relocated to Memphis and became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have two NBA teams for a while, the Vancouver Grizzlies in Canada and the Toronto Raptors in Canada. But there is currently no NBA team in Canada. 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. The Toronto Raptors, a team known for its fame since 1995, continue to attract large crowds at Scotiabank Arena. The NBA All-Star Weekend is attended by hundreds of Canadians each year. Canada has more than one NBA team, with a population exceeding 38 million. Many basketball fans in North America have discussed and debated its potential for a second team. The Toronto Raptors will continue to be the only Canadian representative in the NBA.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), a professional league of basketball, is located in Canada. 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 is Canada's only professional league for basketball.
From 2011 to 2020, there was a professional male basketball league called the National Basketball League of Canada. It featured eight teams from Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Cape Breton, Summerside, London, Windsor and Kitchener. The NBLC ceased operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada also has junior basketball leagues, such as the Canadian National Basketball League (CNB), a semi-professional men's league based in Vancouver, BC. CNB is home to teams from British Columbia. Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Manitoba. The Canadian Elite Development League (CEDL) is another junior basketball league in Canada that fields teams primarily from the Greater Toronto Area. AC) and the Canadian Youth Basketball League (CYBL). These leagues provide opportunities for young basketball players to develop their skills while competing in a competitive environment.
What is the name and origin of the Toronto Raptors' Mascot?
The Toronto Raptors are an NBA franchise founded in 1995. They play at Scotiabank Arena.
Raptor is the Raptors' mascot. He is a giant, red dinosaur. Raptor has been entertaining fans since 1995 when he was introduced. He makes regular appearances in Toronto to support community projects and charities. He was honored with the NBA Mascot of the YEAR award for his years of service to the Raptors. Raptor has become a familiar figure in Toronto as well around the NBA. He is also a symbol of Canada's passion for basketball.
Many in the country and throughout the city share Raptor’s enthusiasm for his team as well as its fans. Raptor was the Raptors' most prominent leader and they won their first NBA championship in 2019. This victory marked a huge milestone for basketball fans in Toronto and Canada. Raptor is a source of pride for all Raptors family members. There will be plenty of Raptors pride as long as he's around. Long live the Raptor. Go, Toronto Raptors!
Statistics
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
raptorshq.com
basketball-reference.com
assets1.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/teams/toronto-raptors
nba.com/raptors
How To
Can I bring my digital camera to a Raptors home game?
You'll be fine if you stick to the plan and follow the rules. A camera is fine to take along to an NBA basketball game. There is nothing illegal about this. However, it is important to be aware and cautious about the risks.
First, you must consider whether you must take pictures during the game. As long as you're sitting near the courtside, you might be able to capture some great shots without having to lug around a bulky DSLR or even a smartphone.
But if you've got a serious interest in sports photography and want to make sure you score a few more photos for your portfolio, then you need to check out these tips for better basketball snapshots.
You should also consider the type of camera that you are going to use. A professional-grade camera is essential if you plan to take action shots or capture memorable moments with friends.
You should also decide how much time and effort you're willing to put into setting up your shot. For instance, if you're going to shoot hoops with your kids, you may want to invest in a tripod and a remote release instead of carrying heavy equipment.
Finally, you need to determine where to store all your gear. You can't expect anyone to hand you a SD card or set up shop in an arena. You'll need to bring extra batteries and cables or have somewhere to store your things while you watch the game.
To summarize, planning ahead is key to taking great photos of sporting events. This will ensure that you get great photos you can use later.
