Get the most recent information from Frank Zicarelli delivered straight to your inbox

Article content material

Not solely did the Raptors survive the Warmth in splitting with Miami, however in addition they might have swept their home-and-home set if Toronto had protected the basketball higher in South Seashore and if it hadn’t been so weak defending the three-point recreation. double.

Commercial 2

Article content material

Article content material

Article content material

With a house recreation in opposition to Indiana on Tuesday night time, the Raptors appear effectively positioned to take full benefit of their presence at Scotiabank Area, the place Toronto has established a successful file (5-4).

On the highway, the state of affairs was totally different because the Raptors received a victory in opposition to dismal New Orleans.

A complete of 21 video games had been performed amid many impressions of a younger group that continues to be taught and are available away with wins when late execution on each ends of the court docket is achieved.

Loading...

We apologize, however this video has didn’t load.

1. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

Take into consideration how strong the Raptors had been in Sunday’s first quarter when there have been no turnovers and take into consideration how they nearly allowed the sport to slide away down the stretch.

Toronto caught a break when Jimmy Butler injured his knee, however by no means discovered a option to maintain Bam Adebayo off the glass on an evening when he recorded 20 rebounds, two nights after recording a triple-double in of Miami’s 121-111 victory.

Commercial 3

Article content material

In whole, 16 turnovers had been dedicated by the Raptors within the final three quarters.

Scottie Barnes, who was flirting together with his second triple-double, and RJ Barrett deservedly had the ball of their arms within the fourth quarter.

The issue, typically, was not the train of confidence. On one possession, nobody took possession of the offense. This drawback will must be addressed sooner or later.

Whereas they watch for Immanuel Quickley to return, the Raptors have the luxurious of getting two gamers, Barnes and Barrett, who’ve clearly proven their means to make their very own photographs.

The worrying facet of Toronto’s 119-116 victory was its incapability to shut out the sport.

Toronto held its collective breath when Tyler Hero missed a possible three-pointer that may have tied the sport on a glance it often buries.

Article content material

Commercial 4

Article content material

Given the handful of late-game stretches that went in opposition to the Raptors, maybe it was becoming that they benefited from a missed shot. Averages, as they are saying, stability out.

Barnes confirmed no hesitation in taking an open look from afar at what he buried.

As soon as once more, free throws late within the recreation can be missed, permitting the Warmth to remain in competition.

On the night time, the Raptors went to the road 20 instances and made 15 of them.

A head-scratching second got here when Jakob Poeltl tried a bounce shot exterior of his consolation degree, which encompasses the two-foot space close to the rim and maybe even nearer.

His type isn’t precisely medical and there was no have to even try the open-sight bounce as opponents would stay with the outcome.

Commercial 5

Article content material

A win is a win and Sunday allowed Barnes and Barrett to impose their will.

Massive image, a ball handler able to making the correct choices in large moments should emerge.

Nobody is suggesting that Barnes and Barrett cannot be trusted in clutch conditions. On the identical time, the duo mixed for eight of the group’s turnovers.

Finally, the Raptors had been plus-four in turnovers, a far cry from minus-13 on Friday night time when Toronto dedicated 19 turnovers.

2. MOGBO MANIA

A really sturdy and compelling case will be made for granting Jonathan Mogbo prolonged enjoying time and position.

The kid, though crude, exhibits an excessive amount of promise.

Except one thing goes utterly off the rails, Toronto has found a draft gem in Mogbo, who was chosen with the primary decide within the NBA’s second spherical.

Commercial 6

Article content material

When sq. to the basket and his toes arrange, Mogbo has nice form on his three-point jumper.

He isn’t prepared to start out, though he made his debut in Charlotte out of necessity, however Mogbo is able to tackle extra accountability.

He tried two photographs Sunday with a three-pointer. Mogbo had six assists and pulled down seven rebounds whereas enjoying a complete of 13 minutes and 32 seconds.

When the Raptors’ injured gamers are out, there shall be a possible drawback in minutes and ego administration.

Mogbo is not about to shake issues up, however the Raptors want to search out methods to get him extra concerned.

This season, in any case, is all about improvement and inner development and the rookie embodies that strategy.

Commercial 7

Article content material

Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto’s first-round decide, made his beginning debut final week in New Orleans and was within the beginning unit for each video games in opposition to the Warmth, wanting good in each outings.

It is manner too early, nevertheless it raises the query of which participant, Mogbo or Walter, will turn out to be the very best discover for the Raptors, who might have hit the jackpot on this 12 months’s draft.

3. REMEMBER GRADEY

The excitement round Gradey Dick died down considerably following a calf damage he suffered in Cleveland when Toronto introduced its four-game highway journey.

Accidents allowed Dick to make as many photographs as potential. With every model, its repute grows.

Till his loss to the Cavs, Dick was having the type of breakout seasons that each group welcomes.

Commercial 8

Article content material

Throughout Monday’s assembly, Dick was capable of take part in what was described by head coach Darko Rajakovic as a lightweight, non-contact setting.

Sooner or later throughout Toronto’s house pleasant, Dick will return to the lineup.

There is no such thing as a cause to consider that the aptitude and freedom with which Dick was capable of play will disappear, however there are doubts about what number of makes an attempt he’ll get.

The sophomore strikes very effectively with the ball and confirmed fearlessness in attacking the basket and scoring in quite a lot of methods.

From the way in which Barrett sees the ground and distributes, to the way in which Barnes passes the ball, Dick ought to be capable of decide up the place he left off earlier than his damage in Cleveland.

Beneficial by the editorial

Thrice Dick has scored not less than 30 factors in a recreation this season.

His greatest streak was a loss to the host Milwaukee Bucks when Dick was the very best participant of the sport within the first half. For the sport, he tried 16 free throws and transformed 14 instances en path to a career-high 32 factors.

A wholesome Dick reworked the Raptors right into a enjoyable group that entertained and offered a vital glimpse into the longer term.

As soon as again, Dick should by no means take a again seat.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

Article content material

Share.
Leave A Reply