The Toronto Raptors lose another disappointing game at home.
The Toronto Raptors faced a tough loss against the Memphis Grizzlies at Scotia Bank on Thursday night, falling 119-106. Ja Morant was sensational with 19 points and a career-high 17 assists, Dillon Brooks added 25 points, and Desmond Bane contributed 16 before fouling out late in the game. Steven Adams also had a stellar performance in the paint with 14 points and 17 rebounds to help seal the Grizzlies' victory.
Agony. The Toronto Raptors were utterly humbled by an inspired Memphis Grizzlies team at Scotiabank once again. It was another crushing home defeat for Toronto that has seen them go 5 straight losses at Scotiabank and 8 of their last 10 games.
This torturing tailspin has invited humbled hearts and tough questions across the Raptors fanbase.
As Toronto strives for answers to this slump, it's evident that the effort is not there anymore.
Toronto is at a loss. Not sure what to do, stuck in stagnation and feeling lost in the dark.
The effort needs to be stepped up. Answers are needed, and they’re not coming easy.
New ideas are needed to get things moving forward again, but all attempts seem futile.
The city yearns for progress but quickly fades away like smoke in a deserted alleyway.
Hope is desperately needed to revive the spark of creativity and get Toronto back on its feet again.
The Grizzlies were too much with their ball movement and getting to the paint at will.
Clearly, the Raptors couldn't match their opponent's energy and intensity, as Memphis recorded a season-high 37 assists on their way to the win.
The Grizzlies were certainly impressive from start to finish on this night, with Ja Morant's unselfishness setting the tone for his team. The Grizzlies shot 50.5% from the field and hit 44.8% from deep.
The grizzlies took hold of the paint early and never let it go. Towering over their opponents, they outscored Toronto 70-50 to earn a 20-point advantage. On top of that, they grabbed six more boards and 16 additional assists. This was the second night in a row that the Raptors got manhandled in the paint.
Pascal was fabulous once again, but he needs help.
Pascal Siakam was fantastic once again, as he scored 25 points and ten rebounds before fouling out. Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points, while O.G. Anunoby had 16 in the effort. Pascal can't carry us on his own every night. He needs more help around him.
Commenting on the match, Raptors coach Nick Nurse stated that he expected more from his team's effort, saying that they must do better and get serious about playing harder if they want to start winning again.
"Our biggest issue defensively is that we're playing transition defence far too frequently. They're coming at us off a missed shot or turnover way too much,"—added Coach Nurse.
Yet, we lack the focus and identity to turn it all around. Our defence isn't playing as one unit, resulting in too many transition opportunities in the paint.
The solution? We need to refine our strategies and play smarter. It starts with a defensive mindset and understanding what opposing teams are trying to do against us. We must also be aggressive yet organized. But the key here is trust - trusting that everyone will do their job, which takes time to build up. Without trust, transitioning from offence to defence only results in chaos.
Raptors are now 15-20 and in desperation mode.
The Toronto Raptors are now 15-20, desperate for a mental reset. This is no time for panic; instead, it’s a time to take a moment and regroup.
More than just physical energy, the Raptors need a collective mindset that can inspire greatness on the court. Reuniting through trust and camaraderie during tough times is key.
The Phoenix Suns have no intention of backing down from their high ambitions -- they are heading into the final game of 2022 confident and full of vigour.
But for those Raptors players’ mindsets who decide to embrace their strife, there could be an opportunity for the team to achieve success against the odds tomorrow night.
Rather than succumbing to defeat, we must rally together. Let's finish 2022 with a win.