The Raptors’ chipper little rebuild couldn’t proceed eternally.
The plucky group that collected lottery balls whereas enjoying higher groups proper all the way down to the wire has made the lengthy gaps between Raptors win slightly extra palatable. However the air is likely to be popping out of the tires slightly bit.
As an alternative of pushing groups down the stretch and even into the fourth quarter, the Raptors have principally been garbage-timed within the second half of their final two video games, a loss in Los Angeles to the Lakers after which Tuesday evening in Milwaukee.
The competition in opposition to the Bucks wasn’t as aggressive because the 99-89 last rating recommended. Toronto tied it early within the third quarter after an 11-0 run, however the Bucks responded with a 21-5 run of their very own and led by as many as 21 early within the fourth quarter. The Raptors have been capable of secure some face with a 12-1 run that reduce the Bucks’ result in 10, however that was principally beauty.
The Raptors made 21 turnovers and shot simply 34.9 per cent from the ground, which meant that their 17-12 edge in offensive rebounds and 16-7 edge in free throws made went for naught. Gradey Dick clocking his fourth career-high of the season – 32 factors – was the first spotlight.
The loss capped an 0-5 street journey and in addition dropped the Raptors to 0-1 in Emirates Cup play, and 2-10 on the season. The Bucks improved to 3-8, and 1-0 in Cup play.
Immanuel Quickley turned a Toronto Raptor on Dec. 30, 2023 when he was the point of interest of the commerce with the New York Knicks that additionally introduced RJ Barrett to Toronto.
The deal made loads of sense. Pairing an elite capturing level guard who can play on or off the ball looks as if a really perfect complement to Scottie Barnes, the Raptors’ cornerstone.
It stays largely an thought.
The primary anniversary of the commerce isn’t all that far off, and but via no fault of anybody, Barnes and Quickley have barely shared the ground. They performed simply 25 video games collectively final season earlier than Barnes’ season ended with a damaged hand. This 12 months, Quickley missed all of coaching camp and performed in only one pre-season recreation as a consequence of a sprained thumb, after which he obtained inadvertently undercut by the Cavaliers’ Darius Garland 14 minutes within the season opener. That saved him out of eight extra video games with a bruised pelvis.
Positive sufficient, whereas Quickley was out, Barnes was hit within the face by Nikola Jokic, and so when Quickley got here again in Los Angeles this previous weekend, Barnes may solely watch from the bench.
And now within the newest twist, Quickley might be out for one more lengthy stretch after the Raptors introduced Tuesday he suffered a partial tear to the ulnar collateral ligament on the within of his left elbow within the fourth quarter of a loss to the Lakers on Sunday. He’ll probably be out for one more month.
It’s laborious to fathom. Quickley performed 78 and 81 video games in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. He was on tempo to be in that vary once more final season earlier than he missed six video games as a consequence of a bereavement go away late within the 12 months. He’s a dependable participant hit with a exceptional run of unhealthy harm luck
It’s not simply Quickley and Barnes who haven’t been capable of construct on-court chemistry. Quickley, Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Barrett and Dick, the Raptors’ core starters, have performed solely 4 video games collectively since March 1 of final season.
That hurts growth, as does the variety of reps as a beginning NBA level guard that Quickley isn’t getting as a 25-year-old with a staff to name his personal for the primary time.
It’s not a disaster – the Raptors’ horizon is lengthy – however for the sake of Quickley and the staff’s core he’s purported to be meshing with, right here’s hoping this might be his final vital chunk of time missed for some time.
Barrett’s return to Toronto has been principally constructive. He performed among the finest basketball of his profession on the finish of final season, main Toronto in scoring and doing it with a formidable degree of effectivity (55-per-cent capturing from the ground and 39 per cent from three) that had eluded him for probably the most half whereas with the Knicks.
Even after lacking most of coaching camp and the primary three video games of the common season with a shoulder harm, Barrett regarded like his new recreation was constructed to final. In his first 4 begins this 12 months he put up 28.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds and seven.3 assists whereas capturing 49.4 per cent from the ground and 46.2 per cent from three. Star-J certainly.
Nevertheless it solely made sense that with out Quickley and Barnes, defences would have the ability to load up on Barrett and really take a look at him. Within the quick time period, it’s been a battle. Coming into Tuesday evening, he was scoring simply 17.5 factors a recreation whereas capturing 35.7 per cent from the ground and 19.2 per cent from three over his final 4 video games. The 5 assists (his common in that span) have been good, however the 4 turnovers not a lot.
It was extra of the identical in opposition to the Bucks on Tuesday as Barrett completed with seven factors and 5 turnovers whereas capturing 3-of-14 from the ground.
There’s a stubbornness to Barrett that’s admirable, however when the turnovers mount and the choices get iffy – no, making an attempt to drive into 14 toes and 500 kilos of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez directly is just not an excellent determination – he can look miles from the participant he’s proven most frequently as a Raptor. Slumps are nothing new to Barrett – his month-by-month capturing splits can seem like a roller-coaster. Hopefully his subsequent stage of growth might be to maintain this skid quick.
Bucks struggling, however Giannis rolling
You may’t blame the two-time MVP for the Bucks’ woes to this point this season. The 12-year veteran has misplaced no steps.
Antetokounmpo got here into Tuesday’s recreation averaging 31.6 factors, 12.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 60.2 per cent capturing for the Bucks. For reference, he averaged 28.5 factors, 13 rebounds and 5.8 assists on 56.6-per-cent capturing over his MVP years in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He wasn’t his typical dominant self offensively in opposition to the Raptors, however the Bucks didn’t really want him to be.
He nonetheless completed with 23 factors, seven assists and 4 blocks, so not precisely an off evening. However what stood out was his prepared passing, main his teammates into open appears or orchestrating dribble handoffs that may make Jokic proud, and in addition his defence.
After the Raptors tied the sport with an 11-0 run after halftime, Antetokounmpo recorded 4 blocked pictures within the area of 5 minutes, which was on a regular basis it took for the Bucks to return up by 13. Who is aware of the place the Bucks’ season goes or the way it ends, however Antetokounmpo stays one the NBA’s singular two-way forces. It will be good to see him compete for a title once more, it simply may not be in Milwaukee.
I’ve written this earlier than, however I’m satisfied it’s true: a giant a part of Gradey Dick’s success is that he’s obtained two older brothers – Brodey and Riley, eight and 4 years forward of him within the household pecking order. Each are large, each performed basketball, and each confirmed no mercy to their little brother when he performed with them and their mates.
So when Gradey drives the lane and tries to dunk on Lopez, and the Bucks centre clobbers him, after which Gradey tries to dunk on him once more and Lopez sends him flying as soon as extra, it’s not that shocking. The Raptors’ second-year wing grew up being thrown round by relative giants who have been kin.
It’s simply one other strategy to specific that for all of Dick’s basketball IQ and great talent, maybe the ingredient that’s surest guarantor of him reaching his appreciable potential is that he’s fearless. He performs at full pace, on a regular basis, and has no issues of being knocked on his butt. It’s a sure sort of relentlessness that belies the floppy hair and goofy grin.
Dick turned simply the fourth participant to attain at 30 factors at the very least 3 times within the first 12 video games of a season at age 20 or youthful, per Sportsnet Stats, becoming a member of Bernard King, Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Fittingly, his last bucket got here with one other drive on Lopez after which he was placed on the ground once more. Dick regarded like he may need obtained drained within the second half – he shot 3-of-13 from the ground after going 4-of-7 within the first half – and missed some nice appears, in any other case he may have put up a very large quantity.
Robust begin for Trent Jr.
You must really feel for Gary Trent Jr.
It was just a few seasons in the past that his profile – a close to 40-per-cent three-point shooter in his early 20s who may play a smidgeon of defecse – indicated he was about to receives a commission. His comparisons – optimistic possibly – have been Jordan Poole, Anfernee Simons and Tyler Herro, who collectively are incomes $85million this season.
However the summer time earlier than final, the free agent market regarded slightly dicey, so Trent Jr. opted into the ultimate 12 months of his three-year, $54-million cope with Toronto, hoping {that a} good 12 months in 2023-24 would open up extra alternatives this previous summer time.
As an alternative, it was the alternative. The Raptors received simply 25 video games and Trent’s 12 months was principally abnormal. One of the best provide he may get was a beginning position with the championship-aspiring Bucks on a veteran’s minimal. Trent was pondering that subsequent large deal would materialize with an excellent 12 months on a profitable staff.
As an alternative, Trent is capturing simply 23.1 per cent from three and 29.5 per cent general and has misplaced his beginning job after simply seven video games on a Bucks staff that’s off to a depressing begin.
Trent is streaky and has proven the flexibility to catch hearth in a rush. If he will get on a heater and the Bucks flip issues round, Trent may put himself in an excellent place subsequent summer time, however he and the Bucks must choose issues up. Trent Jr. – who missed the final two video games with again issues – was scoreless in six minutes final evening.
