Raptors Takeaways: Youngsters seize opportunity as injuries plague early season

When the NBA schedule got here out, it was exhausting to have a look at it objectively and determine the place the Toronto Raptors would discover their wins within the early going of what has been definitively labelled a rebuilding season.

Sport after sport, it appeared the Raptors had been matched up with groups that had been both within the playoffs or the play-in event a 12 months in the past. Solely 3 times of their first 25 begins had been they scheduled to play a staff that had received lower than 46 video games final season, a 12 months wherein the Raptors received simply 25.

It appeared scary or — should you’re of the thoughts that enhancing draft lottery odds must be the primary precedence this season anyway — it appeared like a chance. 

However because the video games started being performed out on wooden, reasonably than within the thoughts’s eye, mileage on pre-season prognostications started to predictably range. An unsightly blowout loss to Cleveland on opening night time appeared to verify the worst-case eventualities, however then a difficult match-up in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers turned out to not be, as stars Joel Embiid and Paul George sat out with damage and the Raptors outworked them, profitable comfortably. A tough-fought loss on the street to the aspirational Minnesota Timberwolves adopted, however then a match-up in opposition to the Denver Nuggets turned out to be not that huge a deal — certain Nikola Jokic dominated — however the 2023 champs, it seems, have their very own points elsewhere of their lineup.  The Raptors misplaced a sport they very a lot ought to have received.

However Charlotte?

Charlotte was a sport that appeared like one the Raptors might get. The Hornets received simply 21 video games themselves a 12 months in the past. They’re rebuilding, they usually have the added incentive of not having to surrender their protected first-round decide to San Antonio in the event that they keep among the many league’s backside 14 groups.

Flip aspect? Wins or losses over groups like Charlotte could be pivotal within the race to the underside of the standings and higher lottery odds.

This was after all earlier than the Raptors introduced that Scottie Barnes — who led Toronto in factors, assists and steals and stands second in rebounds by means of 4 video games — could be out for the subsequent three weeks at minimal after struggling a fractured orbital bone when a stray Jokic elbow caught him within the face.

Instantly the Raptors’ short-term future obtained that rather more daunting: attempting to win video games with a wholesome Barnes has confirmed exhausting sufficient. As properly, with Barnes out for an prolonged interval, level guard Immanuel Quickley nonetheless out with a bruised decrease again and RJ Barrett having simply come again from his shoulder damage, the cohesion and synchronicity the Raptors had been seemingly hoping to develop among the many three highest paid members of their younger core appears like it is going to take a little bit bit longer to hone.

As one may need anticipated, Toronto misplaced to Charlotte on the street in one other sport with out their start line guard and their star. However the Raptors’ losses aren’t as anticipated.

Toronto fell behind by 23 within the second quarter and briefly appeared just like the rope may be slipping by means of their fingers however rallied earlier than half because of scoring 43 factors on 17-of-22 capturing within the second quarter. They took a lead early within the third quarter and had been main by 5 with 2:29 left within the interval earlier than they tripped over themselves once more — 4 dwell ball turnovers within the closing two minutes sparked a 12-0 run by the Hornets, who led 103-96 to start out the fourth.

The Raptors stored at it and obtained some wonderful performances up and down their lineup — a career-high 30 factors from 20-year-old Gradey Dick; 31 factors (and 17 within the fourth quarter) from Barrett in his second sport again; a monster sport from Jakob Poeltl who added 20 factors and 16 rebounds and was a team-best +18 for the night time, simply to notice just a few. However Toronto was solely 9-of-28 from three whereas Charlotte was 20-of-45, and the Raptors missed 10 free throws on 30 makes an attempt. That’s powerful math to beat.

The loss dropped Toronto to 1-4 on the season with a tricky dwelling back-to-back arising in opposition to the Lakers and Sacramento earlier than they head out on a five-game street journey. The file they’ve and the challenges forward of them may need been anticipated, however Toronto is at the very least displaying that they won’t be going quietly into the nether areas of lottery land.

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Takeaways:

Jonathan Mogbo, starter:

With Barnes out, Darko Rajakovic crammed his spot within the beginning lineup with Barnes’s childhood good friend who occurs to play a mode not all that completely different from the Raptors’ injured star. Mogbo is positionless within the sense that — like Barnes — he can kind of play all of them. He noticed loads of motion at centre in small-ball lineups however appeared his finest enjoying alongside Poeltl and greater than passably guarding Miles Bridges, the Hornets’ over-sized small ahead who scored 45 in opposition to the Raptors the final time the 2 groups performed in Charlotte however was held to only seven factors on 2-of-11 capturing on Wednesday. Mogbo (11 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocked pictures in 25 minutes) continues to impress by doing loads with out attempting to do an excessive amount of. His most spectacular play may need been late within the fourth when he corralled a tricky cross on the pick-and-roll, didn’t panic whereas caught beneath the basket, and calmly flipped a cross to a reducing Dick for an necessary bucket. Mogbo does extra with much less.

Davion Mitchell, alternative seized:

The Raptors predictably didn’t provide an extension to the fourth-year level guard who they acquired from Sacramento within the low season — they management his rights as a restricted free agent, so why not ensure they know what they’re getting earlier than they purchase? However what they’ve given Mitchell is a uncommon alternative to rack up begins whereas Quickley has been out and sure discover an expanded position off the bench with Barnes now out. In opposition to Charlotte, Mitchell proved his worth as he made life very tough for LaMelo Ball — the rangy Hornets level guard shot simply 7-of-20 from the ground and dedicated six turnovers, with Mitchell in his jersey more often than not. On offence, Mitchell is proving himself a strong, no-nonsense flooring normal. He completed with 11 factors and 11 assists and was an enormous purpose the Raptors had been in place to win the sport.

Extra Jak:

For the reason that Raptors have at all times been a lot better with Jakob on the ground than when he sits, it’s truthful to marvel why the massive Austrian centre has averaged simply 27 minutes a sport as a Raptor. It’s match-up dependant, seemingly, and represents the problem of enjoying a non-shooting huge who shoots free throws poorly down the stretch of shut video games, which explains why he’s averaged simply 26 minutes a sport for his profession. Nonetheless, if he performs extra, he produces extra. In his previous two video games, Poeltl has been on the ground for a median of 37 minutes and averaged 18 factors and 17 rebounds (it was 20 and 16 in 35 minutes in opposition to Charlotte) whereas changing 63 per cent of his area objective possibilities. His power has been notable prior to now two video games, particularly banging in opposition to Charlotte’s huge man Nick Richards. Extra Poeltl may be the Raptors’ best lineup repair.

RJ Barrett, that’s who:

There’s little query that Barrett is snug if much less Barnes and no Quickley means extra weight on his shoulders. As he stated after his questionable try on a game-winning three in opposition to Denver in time beyond regulation: “That’s simply who RJ Barrett is.” However in opposition to the Hornets, he appeared rather more ready for the position he’ll seemingly be getting into. After a shaky first quarter (1-of-5, three turnovers), he locked in and was a pleasant a part of Toronto’s second-quarter circulate as he headed into halftime with seven assists. However within the fourth quarter when the Raptors wanted buckets, he was greater than prepared for that job too. He had 17 factors on eight pictures, and when he hit a pair of threes on consecutive possessions within the closing two minutes — one as a trailer on a break, one other after Mitchell sought him out on a dribble handoff — to tug the Raptors inside 5, it appeared briefly like his dedication to take necessary pictures would repay.

Gradey Dick for 2:

The Raptors had been optimistic that the second-year wing would construct on his encouraging end to final season, nevertheless it’s unlikely they thought it could be this a lot, this quickly. Dick doesn’t flip 21 till Nov. twentieth and he’s set his profession scoring marks twice prior to now three video games, topping his 25-point outing in opposition to Minnesota Saturday with a 30-bomb Wednesday. What’s notable is that his huge scoring nights aren’t a product of high-volume three-point capturing. He made 4 in opposition to the Timberwolves and simply two in opposition to Charlotte. As an alternative, it’s fixed off-ball motion, great effort in transition and a rising knack for locating a technique to get the ball within the basket when he drives closeouts. Floaters, finger rolls, reverses, proper hand or left, Dick is aware of the way to get the ball within the hoop. Dick is averaging 18.8 factors a sport in 5 begins however capturing simply 34.4 per cent from three. There’s a superb likelihood that each of these numbers will proceed to climb.

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