Article content
The Raptors have brought the fun factor back into their brand of basketball, an entertaining style featuring ball movement that has led to competitive and at-times combative games, even when the outcome doesn’t to their way.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Along comes Wednesday’s late-night tip in Sacramento and the fissures become problematic.
While it should be clear as day to pinpoint the areas of deficiency, the remedy isn’t so obvious.
Too foul-prone, too susceptible on defence, too sloppy and, to be perfectly candid, too stupid when defending back-door cuts or asked to rotate. The Raptors weren’t paying attention when the fourth quarter started against the Kings.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Sacramento would avenge its loss in Toronto last Saturday night when Vince Carter had his jersey raised to the rafters. In beating the Raptors 122-107 at the Golden 1 Center, the Kings exposed Toronto’s No. 1 problem.
Until some semblance of a defensive identity is created, established and ultimately entrenched, what played out in the fourth quarter will be common.
Your Midday Sun
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
The Raptors remain winless on the road as they take their act into Los Angeles for a pair of weekend games against the Clippers and then Lakers before heading to Milwaukee.
A horrid first quarter in Minnesota doomed the Raptors on a night they would suffer a double-digit defeat.
They were valiant in Denver where RJ Barrett’s potential buzzer-beater rimmed in and out.
For most of the game in Sacramento, the Raptors were able to dictate tempo, but then the roof caved in in the fateful and frightful fourth.
A Gradey Dick pull-up one minute into the period gave the visitors a 95-89 advantage. Two minutes later, the Raptors suddenly were staring at a 96-95 hole — hardly insurmountable.
Poor decision-making with the basketball would lead to turnovers and easy run outs, poor defence would allow the Kings to take complete control of the game.
Advertisement 4
Article content
When DeMar DeRozan scored on a driving layup with 2:33 remaining, the Kings were leading by 15 points.
Cue the bench to be emptied, and enter the conversation on how the Raptors can possibly become a more efficient defensive team.
At the heart of making stops is the premise of team defence.
Defending became the focal point for head coach Darko Rajakovic on media day and yet it remains an issue. It was a major source of concern last season when the Raptors were truly and historically horrific.
One of the few times last season when an opponent was held to under 100 points came in the opener, a home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves who would later hand the visiting Raptors the worst loss in franchise history.
Time is required, a healthy roster would help and a sound scheme will go a long way in helping a team become less defensive deficient.
Advertisement 5
Article content
The Raptors have extended their defence knowing that once an opponent is operating in the half court, breakdowns are inevitable.
Once their coverage gets exposed, easy baskets are generated, leading to Rajakovic calling a timeout.
The effort seems to be there, but obviously something is amiss.
Toronto held the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to 107 points, but there was no Joel Embiid and no Paul George available.
The season began with the Raptors getting run off their home floor by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who put up 136 points.
Charlotte scored 138 points while the Lakers torched the Raptors for 43 first-quarter points.
Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double against the Raptors, while Domantas Sabonis upstaged the Joker by recording two — including a rarely seen statline that featured no misses from the field and charity stripe Wednesday night while Sabonis also dished off a game-high 13 assists.
Advertisement 6
Article content
The Raptors are young and inexperienced, the growing pains acceptable when losses are produced.
No one is about to lose sight of the big picture, but no one should be pleased at the way the Raptors are defending and have been defending for quite some time, no matter the composition of the roster.
The Raptors are nowhere near the development of the Kings, who are capable of simply outscoring an opponent once the post-season arrives when making key stops in critical moments are paramount when a game is on the line.
Jakob Poeltl is the Raptors’ best defender in the post and the team’s lone rim protector. But put him in pick-and-roll sequences on the perimeter and he’s vulnerable.
Davion Mitchell was solid on defence in his return to Sacramento, but the drop-off was alarming.
Advertisement 7
Article content
During the grind of an 82-game season, picking up your man in the full court is not sustainable, better used in spurts.
Scottie Barnes is more than capable of being a defensive presence because his skill set allows him to defend multiple positions. Ochai Agbaji has shown to be capable and competent. When he’s moving his feet, Barrett can keep in front of his man.
Recommended from Editorial
On nights when Dick is unable to drain a single shot from beyond the arc, gets into foul trouble and is held to a season-low seven points, an average defence can help bail a team out.
The Raptors are nowhere near average, made worse when an opponent such as the Kings emerge with a plus-13 rebounding edge and attempt 17 more three throws.
When Sacramento visited Toronto, Dick attempted seven free throws. In his past two games, he has a combined four.
Whether it’s a function of youth, being undersized in certain positions, lack of depth and chemistry or simply not having the mental wherewithal to read and react, defence remains the Raptors’ biggest challenge that must somehow improve.
Article content