Key Takeaways as Raptors Fall to Bucks in Debut of Totally Wholesome Lineup

Milwaukee Bucks 128, Toronto Raptors 104

After 35 video games, the Raptors lastly had their full roster Monday evening. RJ Barrett’s return to the beginning lineup alongside Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl and Gradey Dick marked the primary time Toronto’s core performed collectively since March of final season.

The consequence? Removed from best.

Toronto was run off the court docket by a Bucks crew that dismantled the Raptors with out even needing to play its stars within the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, it is essential to not overreact to a sport — particularly the primary sport at full energy — in opposition to a crew as proficient because the Bucks.

“I noticed the primary sport of a bunch enjoying collectively for the primary time this season and we glance precisely like that,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković stated. “We weren’t related. We did not have sufficient fights in the course of the sport.”

One optimistic takeaway was Barrett’s play. His expertise as Toronto’s main offensive initiator earlier this yr was clear, despite the fact that Quickley and Barnes shared ball-handling duties. Barrett persistently created alternatives, however the Raptors’ poor taking pictures restricted his help numbers. He completed the evening with 25 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, though higher execution from his teammates might have made the stat line a lot stronger.

Within the worst column, Toronto’s lack of two-way gamers stays a evident downside. Except for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s roster is crammed with gamers who can hit three-pointers reliably. The Raptors simply haven’t got that sort of firepower.

Toronto shot simply 5 of 28 from three-point vary till rubbish time and lacked the perimeter protection wanted to comprise Milwaukee, which made 22 three-pointers Monday, together with 5 from Damian Lillard.

“We’ve got to do a greater job,” Barrett stated. “It’s simply not sufficient.”

If the Raptors hope to contend quickly, addressing the scarcity of dependable two-way gamers is essential. Including gamers who can lock down the protection and stretch the ground offensively must be a precedence transferring ahead. Even at full energy, this roster stays far too skinny with regards to impactful two-way expertise.

Barnes took a while to search out his rhythm Monday evening as he adjusted to enjoying alongside Barrett and Quickley for the primary time in 10 months. Early on, he was a spectator offensively, deferring to Barrett and never getting his first contact within the paint till 7:30 of the primary quarter.

He lastly discovered his rhythm enjoying alongside Toronto’s second unit. Barnes took benefit of a go to Brook Lopez early within the second quarter, draining a putback 14 ft. Moments later, he added a 13-foot turnaround over Lopez and hit one other 14-footer earlier than halftime. The mid-range jumper has shortly change into Barnes’ go-to shot within the half-court, and he is changing it at a good charge this season.

Defensively, Toronto made an adjustment with its new beginning lineup and tasked Barnes with taking up the Giannis Antetokounmpo project. This was a departure from the preseason plan, which envisioned Barnes as an off-ball defender, leveraging his excessive basketball IQ as a assist defender.

So how did it go?

Barnes made an instantaneous impression, choosing off Antetokounmpo within the first quarter and taking him coast-to-coast for a windmill slam harking back to Vince Carter. Minutes later, he denied the two-time MVP on the rim with a strong block, holding his personal in opposition to Antetokounmpo’s signature drive.

Toronto did an excellent job forcing Antetokounmpo to be a playmaker for a lot of the evening, limiting the Bucks famous person to only 11 factors in 29 minutes, however Antetokounmpo had 13 assists and 12 rebounds as Milwaukee buried Toronto behind the arc.

Barnes, in the meantime, completed with 21 factors on 10-of-18 taking pictures with 5 assists and 5 turnovers earlier than being pulled halfway by way of the fourth.

Jamal Shead has formally taken over as Toronto’s main backup level guard, pushing Davion Mitchell out of the rotation for the primary time on Monday evening. The transfer indicators Toronto’s concentrate on the long run, as Shead is seen as a long-term piece for the group, whereas Mitchell’s tenure with the crew will not be anticipated to increase past this season.

“He’s a younger participant. He’s the long run. We are going to take a look at him,” Rajaković stated. “That doesn’t imply Davion gained’t play sooner or later, however we are able to’t play all of them on the identical time.”

Though the Raptors proceed to prioritize growth this season, the crew stays dedicated to taking over Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown for a minimum of the following time round. The group believes their presence supplies much-needed stability to younger gamers like Ochai Agbaji, Shead and the remainder of the crew’s rising core.

“It’s essential for [the veterans] to be on the pitch to have the ability to give recommendation, generally to enhance the course of the offense or protection, to indicate the extent and what it ought to seem like,” Rajaković stated.

Ja’Kobe Walter was the final common participant off the bench Monday, logging 10 minutes, together with the second half of the fourth quarter.

The Raptors will hit the highway to open a back-to-back Wednesday beginning in New York in opposition to the Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET.