10 issues: Anunoby’s effectivity within the publish a promising signal for Raptors – Sportsnet
5 — Dalano Banton is an intriguing choice because the backup level guard. He doesn’t present what the Raptors need most from their guards, which is taking pictures, however he contributes in different areas. Banton is fast and shifty and is often capable of get downhill, equivalent to on his first play of the sport the place he blew previous his defender to attract a foul within the lane. That capability to penetrate additionally opens up his passing sport, the place he’s error inclined, but additionally artful within the kinds of passes he could make.
Defensively, Banton provides the Raptors size and is a large improve over Dragic, who usually will get focused. Banton would make sense within the all-wing lineup that Nurse tried in Monday’s sport, which didn’t totally work as a result of there wasn’t a distributor who might arrange the play.
Like DeMar DeRozan years in the past, Fred VanVleet is now making an attempt to tug a rebuilding Raptors workforce together with him – The Athletic
There shall be, and have been, loads of possessions wherein the Raptors don’t create first rate seems for themselves this season. In a approach, that makes VanVleet the brand new DeRozan, at the very least till Pascal Siakam returns to ease the offensive burden. By means of three video games, VanVleet was second in shot makes an attempt to OG Anunoby and first in assists and turnovers, proving how a lot the Raptors’ lagging offence has relied on the guard. In opposition to the Bulls, he took on extra of a passing mindset, particularly early on. Once more, the assists and turnovers piled up, with profession highs in each — 17 and eight, respectively. Nick Nurse performed him for almost 43 minutes. That’s how a lot of an opportunity the coach thinks his workforce has with out the purpose guard.
VanVleet will be dinged for a scarcity of effectivity to this point, largely owing to his gradual begin from 3-point vary, however these dismissing him for overshooting should not have watched the third quarter Friday in opposition to Dallas, when his midrange-roving saved many misbegotten Raptors possessions. He’s usually making an attempt to conjure up one thing from nothing.
With Nurse saying the forwards and bigs who’ve the inexperienced gentle to take the ball up the ground usually are not doing it sufficient but, and people gamers’ handles not essentially standing as much as the rigours of the league’s half-court defences, VanVleet must put rather a lot into movement himself. It’s totally different from DeRozan within the sense that that’s how the previous Raptor had it originally of his profession, whereas VanVleet is now experiencing that accountability for the primary time in what figures to be his prime.
“I at all times have conversations about that with Freddy … now. This can be a new dynamic,” DeRozan mentioned. “The conversations I’ve with Fred now, (main a rebuilding workforce) is a brand new dynamic in your profession that it’s important to determine. It’s robust. However each nice participant goes by way of it. There’s not too many guys that simply have a refined profession. It’s one other impediment you’ll be able to be taught from and construct on and switch you right into a a lot better participant than you even knew you had in you.”
VanVleet, in fact, will not be a DeRozan-style participant. He can’t vault up and get a jumper each time he would love. That’s a part of why he labored on extending his jumper effectively past the 3-point arc, not like DeRozan, who needed to be satisfied to get each toes behind the road by the top of his nine-year run in Toronto. DeRozan’s evolution got here as a playmaker for others, whereas VanVleet’s goes to should be as a risk, both scoring or allotting of the paint.
With a gentle, classic efficiency, DeRozan teaches younger Raptors a lesson – Sportsnet
Chicago was in management many of the sport – they led by 20 early within the third quarter and 15 early within the fourth, feasting on a gentle weight-reduction plan of Raptors turnovers, finally turning 21 of them into 27 factors — the kind of transition scoring that’s purported to be Toronto’s bread-and-butter.
The Bulls have been main by 11 with 7:46 to play earlier than a fast 9-0 Raptors spurt reduce the Bulls’ result in two with 4:49 to play. But it surely was DeRozan who took the temperature down notch for a new-look Bulls workforce that is determining the right way to shut.
Instantly after being subbed again within the sport he went to work on the perimeter till he bought long-armed Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes switched on to him. DeRozan took him to the precise elbow, rose up and stopped the Raptors’ run. Subsequent possession, he labored OG Anunoby baseline and drained a fadeaway over his lengthy fingers. With slightly respiratory room, the Bulls ran a pleasant two-man sport with Nikola Vucevic and Zach Lavine till Lavine nailed a 3 to place Chicago up 10 with 2:45 to play.
However that was barely sufficient because the Bulls made 4 suspect turnovers within the closing 5 minutes to maintain the Raptors respiratory.
As effectively, Fred VanVleet wouldn’t let the Raptors settle in opposition to the Bulls and his outdated mentor.
He arrange a dunk for Treasured Achuiwa after a steal, bought to the road and made a pair after the Raptors pressured one other turnover and the pulled the Raptors inside 4 earlier than DeRozan backed down Gary Trent Jr. for one more calming mid-range jumper. DeRozan then basically iced the sport with 24 seconds left when he drew a foul off an in-bounds play and made each free throws.
The Bulls aside from DeRozan had their points, nonetheless, underscoring his worth.
Main by 4 with 16 seconds left Lonzo Ball threw away an in-bounds go, permitting Barnes to take it the opposite approach for a dunk to chop Chicago’s result in two with 13 seconds to go. Vucevic then missed a free throw that may have put Chicago buck up 4. That arrange a last-second game-tying triple by VanVleet however he couldn’t get to fall, pulling his jersey up after the buzzer in frustration.
DeRozan’s play down the stretch was classic, the sort of shut out he supplied numerous occasions in a Raptors uniform and it was the distinction for the Bulls.
Bulls vs. Raptors closing rating: DeMar DeRozan comes up clutch in Toronto return to assist Chicago keep away from collapse, transfer to 4-0 – Weblog a Bull
Identical to the primary three video games, the Bulls began out gradual slowly on offense, however the Raptors couldn’t take benefit. DeRozan was the one participant who did a lot of something for the Bulls early, scoring 11 factors to assist make it a 24-24 sport after one.
The second was a lot better for the Bulls. They shot 14-of-22 total and 4-of-7 from 3-point vary to pour in 37 factors within the body. Lonzo Ball had 9 factors within the quarter, all of them off 3-point makes. Chicago was capable of make the most of some offensive errors by Toronto and cashed in on them. They completed the half robust by happening a 7-0 run within the closing 1:33 to make it a double-digit lead (61-51) going into the break.
Third quarters don’t appear to be an issue for the Bulls anymore, as they as soon as once more began off a second half brilliantly. The lethal mixture of the Bulls forcing turnovers and stepping into transition shortly was on show. Throughout the first three minutes that they had gone on a 12-2 run, with a LaVine and-1 dunk being the highest spotlight. Within the blink of an eye fixed it was a 20-point sport and Chicago seemed to be in management.
However Toronto responded and commenced to chip away on the lead. Slowly however steadily the Raptors would make mini-runs and began to make the sport tense for the Bulls. Even throughout stretches the place Chicago was up massive, it nonetheless felt like the sport was hanging within the stability as one massive Toronto run might flip issues on its head. Every time the Bulls regarded like they have been pulling away, the Raptors would combat again. They have been capable of get the deficit to inside hanging distance, 12 factors, as we entered the fourth quarter.
Toronto was capable of get the sport inside single digits with 9:07 left as Goran Dragic knocked down a few free throws. From then on it was a tense battle because the Raptors clearly had the entire momentum and the Bulls have been making an attempt to maintain them at a distance.
Chicago’s offense within the fourth quarter didn’t assist.
There have been quite a lot of unhealthy pictures and panicked passes. That in flip gave Toronto ample alternatives to additional reduce into the lead. The Bulls’ sudden looseness with the ball in opposition to bodily full-court strain was problematic, leading to a number of live-ball turnovers and factors on the opposite finish. Issues bought actually tense with 4:49 left when OG Anunoby’s layup made it a 97-95 sport. It felt like one other a type of nightmare video games we’ve seen lately from the Bulls the place they construct an enormous lead just for it to slide away within the closing moments.
However that is the place DeRozan stepped in and delivered for Chicago.
Chicago Bulls: 2 studs, 1 dud, from nail-biting win over Raptors – Pippen Aint Straightforward
Down the stretch on this win over the Raptors, the highlight was handed to the four-time All-Star choice and veteran star taking pictures guard/ahead DeMar DeRozan. Within the return to the place his profession began multiple decade in the past within the NBA with the Raptors, DeRozan took full benefit of the highlight within the second.
This was under no circumstances the perfect efficiency you’ll ever see from DeRozan. But it surely was a clutch efficiency when the Bulls wanted it most down the stretch.
DeRozan would rating almost half of his factors on this sport within the fourth quarter. His 11 factors within the closing quarter would even be greater than half of the factors that the Bulls scored within the fourth quarter (19 complete for the workforce).
This efficiency as a complete isn’t going to look incredible for DeRozan on the stat sheet. He completed up this sport with a game-high 26 factors, 4 rebounds, six assists, no steals, no blocks, and one turnover. And he shot simply 7-of-19 from the sector.
However DeRozan was additionally very environment friendly from past the arc and very environment friendly from the charity stripe. DeRozan shot 2-of-4 from past the arc and was excellent on 10 makes an attempt from the free-throw line. That’s the place DeRozan made his cash on this evening.
The truth that DeRozan was capable of go excellent on a double-digit variety of free-throw makes an attempt, shoot 50 % from downtown, and register six assists with just one turnover, goes to indicate how necessary he shall be at occasions to this Bulls offense in closing time.
Recap: Turnovers burn rallying Toronto Raptors in loss to Chicago Bulls – Raptors HQ
And whereas VanVleet could be probably the most talked-about participant popping out of this sport, it was OG Anunoby who scored probably the most factors for Toronto — 22, alongside eight rebounds, 5 assists and two steals. OG additionally had crucial baskets throughout Toronto’s fourth quarter rally, but additionally discovered success early within the sport within the publish, working in opposition to Chicago’s smaller backcourt of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Anunoby began 1-for-5 from the sector, but it surely’s that technique of understanding the place his benefits are in-game that feels encouraging at this level within the season.
If this appears like too optimistic a recap for a loss, then let’s carry it all the way down to earth. The Raptors weren’t sharp with the basketball – these 21 turnovers inform that story. In addition they proceed to battle ending on the rim, each within the half courtroom and, frustratingly, in transition. VanVleet, Treasured Achiuwa and Goran Dragic all took turns lacking makable layups or bunnies on this sport. If solely two of them had gone down, we could be trying on the Raptors’ first house win of the season.
Elsewhere on the field, Gary Trent Jr. had 18 factors among the many Raptors starters, whereas Scottie Barnes had a balanced 13 factors on 75% taking pictures, 4 assists, a steal and a block.
For the Bulls, the experiment in guards appears to be working effectively, as they have been ready to make use of DeRozan late within the sport to make some troublesome contested jumpers in isolation. The previous Raptor was in classic kind, getting each Barnes and Svi Mykhailiuk to chunk on pump fakes within the first half, then making three troublesome mid-range jumpers to present the Bulls simply sufficient cushion within the fourth — two over Barnes and one spinning again over Anunoby. DeRozan would end with a game-high 26 factors on 19 pictures, committing only one turnover.
DeRozan was supported by 22 factors from LaVine, 17 factors from Vucevic and 15 factors from Ball.
Raptors Can’t Claw Out of Large Gap vs. Bulls – Sports activities Illustrated
Fred & Treasured Can’t Discover Connection
One thing has been only a break up second off between VanVleet and Treasured Achiuwa this season. The 2 can’t appear to hook up within the pick-and-roll with any consistency. VanVleet will throw it up and Achiuwa can’t fairly corral it, often making an attempt to slam it down with one hand. Possibly it’s one thing that’s simply going to take a while, but when issues can’t come collectively, it could be time to swap Khem Birch into the beginning lineup as his chemistry with VanVleet appears slightly additional alongside.
DeRozan’s late sport heroics one thing Raptors followers have seen, simply not when he’s on the opposite workforce | The Star
The Raptors really performed fairly effectively within the first half, regardless of being down 10 on the break, in line with Nick Nurse.
Then it fell aside.
That 10-point deficit grew to become a 20-point gap within the first three minutes of the third quarter, taking quite a lot of steam out of them and quite a lot of vitality out of the constructing.
Yeah, they bought again in it and had a stable shot on the buzzer to drive extra time but when they didn’t have that terrible lull, all of the late-game comeback stuff may not have been essential.
Not a lot to be accomplished about it, Nurse mentioned.
“(I) didn’t assume we got here out with a lot vitality to start out the second and dug ourselves slightly bit deeper a gap. However, once more, they bought some prolific shot-makers they usually have been making just a few.
“Two turnovers, they arrive down and shoot a side-step three-point banker, bang in (one other) three and that 12 turns to 18 fairly fast.
“It’s simply sort of a part of the sport, I feel.”
However these three- or five-minute stretches of so-so play are components of the sport the Raptors can unwell afford.
5 Every day Ideas: Toronto Raptors drop a heck of a sport to Chicago Bulls – Raptors HQ
3. Talking of getting the ball up…
Fred and Goran each have to get into the frontcourt, and into the offense, sooner after makes and useless balls. All too usually the Raptors are beginning their offense with fewer than 14 seconds or much less on the shot clock.
Within the fourth quarter final evening, the Raptors had the reduce the Bulls lad to 1 with just below 9 minutes to go, and compelled a turnover. OG inbounded the ball from the Bulls’ hashmark — after which took SEVEN SECONDS to cross halfcourt. By the point the Raptors bought into the offense, there have been 14 seconds left on the clock, and predictably, the play ended up with Anunoby forcing a shot, which bought partially blocked and missed the whole lot. The Raptors turned it over on a 24-second violation.
There’s completely no want for Fred to take that lengthy to get from the hash to the frontcourt — particularly in a state of affairs the place the Raptors had all of the momentum.
DeRozan takes management down stretch denying Raptors first house win | Toronto Solar
The Raptors picked up their depth within the fourth and wound up getting a 20-point sport down to simply two with slightly over 5 minutes to go.
That’s when DeMar DeRozan, realizing his workforce wanted to proper the ship and proper it fast, went into game-saving mode and pulled this one out for the guests as Chicago bought out of Toronto with a 111-108 win, their fourth in a row, to start out the 12 months.
DeRozan, who left Toronto within the Kawhi Leonard commerce, completed with a game-high 26 factors, 11 of these within the fourth quarter.
“Tonight he put us on his again just about and carried us house,” Bulls’ guard Lonzo Ball mentioned.
DeRozan, by no means one who enjoys speaking about his personal accomplishments, principally mentioned that function, hitting pictures down the stretch when his workforce requires them, is why he’s in Chicago.
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse mentioned from his view DeRozan principally took the momentum again by himself.
“He bailed them out as a result of I believed we turned the water off on the opposite guys,” Nurse mentioned. “He was actually, he got here in that final run within the fourth and just about made all their buckets. I don’t keep in mind some other scorers. I’m certain there have been some, possibly, possibly not. However he made some robust ones, and provides him credit score, he can do this.”
The Raptors, who fell to 1-3 on the 12 months, have been led by OG Anunoby with 22 factors however the odd line of the evening award was simply grabbed by Fred VanVleet, who had a career- excessive 17 assists on the identical evening he had a career-high eight turnovers.
The eight turnovers have been the majority of the 21 the Raptors dedicated on the evening, resulting in 27 Bulls factors.
It’s usually an space the place the Raptors excel with all their size, youth and athleticism however on this evening they have been soundly overwhelmed in that class by a 21-12 depend.
A extra highly effective Ed Rogers isn’t what Toronto wants. He’s already the least common sports activities proprietor on the town | The Star
Now think about a future the place Ed Rogers has much more affect in terms of the Leafs, the Raptors, the Blue Jays, the Argos and Toronto FC. This energy battle will principally determine whether or not Edward runs Rogers alone or not, and a victory would presumably imply his sister Melinda Rogers-Hixon wouldn’t be terribly welcome on the MLSE board of administrators, not when there are Rogers flunkies mendacity round far and wide. (Rogers-Hixon, in line with sources, was in favour of retaining Ujiri.) Rogers additionally owns the Jays and 37.5 per cent of Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure. When minority proprietor Larry Tanenbaum divests his shares within the firm — and sources point out it’s coming, probably throughout the subsequent 5 years — MLSE shall be break up between Bell and Rogers.
And if he wins, Rogers can be the Edward present whereas Bell can be a extra historically company companion, and reliant on a powerful CEO to counterbalance Edward’s whims. And in virtually each MLSE determination, Rogers and Bell should agree for it to go ahead.
So Edward’s voice can be stronger nonetheless. Edward, in fact, referred to as up Chicago White Sox proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf in 2014 and instructed him the Jays have been in search of a alternative for workforce president Paul Beeston; Reinsdorf then referred to as Beeston, one in all his finest buddies, to let him know. Edward wished to let Ujiri stroll, whereas the remainder of the MLSE board most popular to maintain probably the most credible sports activities govt the group has ever had.
Ed Rogers is already most likely the least common sports activities possession determine in Toronto since Harold Ballard. Think about if he wins the combat for his firm.
Let’s return to the bodyguard accusation for a second. It’s onerous to discern whether or not that was a real interpretation or only a clumsy tried smear, however neither one provides you confidence. We are able to chortle on the unbelievable company catfight, on the approach Edward tries to make his personal guidelines. We are able to marvel at how Toronto it’s that the mayor, longtime Rogers man John Tory, may very well be able to forged a probably deciding vote to take away Edward from the household’s controlling belief. Outdated white males with a conservative bent. That’s this metropolis’s established order, all proper.
After which there may be the Toronto of Masai Ujiri, of excellence that arrived from overseas. That’s what’s at stake right here.
Sports activities is a small a part of the larger image within the Rogers combat, but it surely’s additionally the town’s connective tissue in a approach cellphone loyalty isn’t: Rogers isn’t going to tug just a few million individuals into the streets to have a good time one thing collectively.
So, let’s see whether or not Edward Rogers can pull this off. It wouldn’t be for the perfect.
Raptors followers can thank MLSE’s convoluted possession construction for Masai Ujiri’s continued management – The Athletic
Proper now, the Raptors can be grateful for these checks and balances. In a totally reported story stemming from the behind-the-scenes drama engulfing Rogers proper now, the Toronto Star revealed Edward Rogers, who might or is probably not the chairman of the corporate that bears his identify, tried vehemently to combat the brand new contract given to Ujiri to proceed as president and vice chairman of the Raptors this summer time, arguing that the manager wasn’t well worth the top-of-market deal he was going to get, plus different concessions, together with incentives tied to future development within the franchise’s worth. Rogers is one in all seven MLSE board members, and one in all two representatives from his household’s firm. The opposite is Melinda Rogers-Hixon, one of many members of the family Edward Rogers is preventing within the battle over the management of that firm.
In the end, Ujiri stayed because of his robust relationship with a number of members of the MLSE board, together with the Bell representatives and Tanenbaum, who, as governor of the workforce, was capable of push the deal by way of. Rogers appealed to the NBA to contemplate his facet of the negotiations, with the league saying Tanenbaum had the ultimate say on such offers. That was not earlier than Edward Rogers had reportedly referred to as Ujiri to inform him he wasn’t well worth the cash he was searching for, with Tanenbaum having to guarantee Ujiri he shall be protected against having to cope with Rogers going ahead. A consultant for Edward Rogers mentioned Rogers was ready to carry again Ujiri at a excessive value, though the specifics of the deal have been regarding to him.
You possibly can agree or not with Rogers’ evaluation of Ujiri. The actual fact is Ujiri has been and stays probably the most coveted executives within the NBA, constructed a championship workforce in a non-glamour market and ignited a fan base as maybe the face of the franchise. Like anyone else, Ujiri, 51, has warts as a decision-maker, significantly in free company, however at the very least three-quarters of the league would like to have him in cost.
This all, in fact, comes again to cash — not simply the cash Ujiri is making, however the cash Rogers thinks his household ought to be making. At its coronary heart, the Rogers’ drama is a product of Edward Rogers believing his firm ought to be raking in more cash relative to its rivals. You possibly can perceive why he would chafe, then, at paying Ujiri what another skilled sports activities group absolutely would. Bell and Rogers are each publicly traded corporations and should disclose their monetary conditions.
What does Edward Rogers fiasco imply for Toronto sports activities? | Toronto Solar
Taken as a complete, it’s evident that even whereas the assorted Toronto groups have run comparatively easily and quietly over a interval of years, they haven’t completely been spared the whims of a wealthy man who thinks he is aware of higher. The large query is what occurs subsequent. The courts will determine if Ed Rogers remains to be chairman of the Rogers board, or if he was efficiently deposed by a gaggle that features his mom and two sisters. Because it pertains to the Rogers sports activities properties, until Edward finally ends up taking his ball and going house, it appears possible he’ll nonetheless have some presence round MLSE and, significantly, the Blue Jays, of which he stays the chairman.
That the story of his conflict with Ujiri emerged now means that his capability to wreak havoc at MLSE is muted, because the Raptors boss finally re-signed, and with vice-chairman added to his title. It’s unlikely Masai shall be sitting on the Rogers desk at workers events.
NBA Energy Rankings, Week 2 – The place do the Lakers stand after a gradual begin to the season?
Final Week: 20
This Week: 22
2021-22 report: 1-2
If he hadn’t already, rookie Scottie Barnes formally arrived with 25 factors and 13 rebounds in Toronto’s blowout win over Boston on Friday. Whereas the Raptors’ roster doesn’t have the excessive ceiling this season it has been accustomed to lately, it does enable Toronto to make sure Barnes will get each attainable alternative to develop. — Bontemps
NBA Energy Rankings: Bucks, Nets, Suns & Lakers stay in prime tier as Warriors creep up with robust first impression – The Athletic
Final Week: 17
This Week: 22
Toronto Raptors (Beforehand seventeenth), 1-2, +2.7 internet score
Weekly Slate: Loss to Wizards, Win at Celtics, Loss to Mavs
First-impression from Week 1: It could be ugly till Pascal Siakam will get again. The Raptors averted a totally disastrous week with that dominant efficiency over Boston, however their offense seems prefer it could be in actual hassle till Siakam will get again. The positives are Scottie Barnes seems phenomenal. He would possibly find yourself being a no brainer at 4, even when lots of people (together with myself) questioned if Masai Ujiri ought to’ve taken Jalen Suggs over him. That’s good to see him so snug so early. However the remainder of this workforce can’t hit pictures. Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Goran Dragic, Gary Trent Jr., Svi Mykhailiuk, and Chris Boucher are all taking pictures underneath 40 % from the sector whereas placing up at the very least 5 makes an attempt. It received’t be that unhealthy for lengthy, however they get knocked approach down till they cease posting the accuracy of Bob Cousy’s profession discipline aim proportion.
Energy Rankings, Week 2: Jazz take management of No. 1 spot – NBA.com
Final Week: 18
This Week: 20
Document: 1-2
Tempo: 100.2 (22) OffRtg: 97.3 (26) DefRtg: 94.7 (6) NetRtg: +2.7 (16)
It’s a brand new season, they’re not in Tampa, and Pascal Siakam isn’t accessible to try any game-winning pictures that roll off the rim. (None of their three video games have been inside 5 factors within the final 5 minutes, really.) However bless the Raptors for ending Week 1 with a shedding report and a optimistic level differential, one thing comfortably acquainted for us wonks who monitor such trivia.
Scottie Barnes has been fairly relentless along with his assault. Thirty of his 42 discipline aim makes an attempt have come within the paint, he’s made 18 of these 30 paint pictures and his free throw charge (28.6 makes an attempt per 100 pictures from the sector) is effectively above the traditionally low league common (21.4 per 100). However offense has in any other case been ugly on each ends of the ground. In truth, two of the three least environment friendly performances of Week 1 have been the Raptors in opposition to Washington on Wednesday (83 factors on 107 possessions) and the Celtics in opposition to Toronto on Friday (83 on 101). All 5 guards within the rotation (and OG Anunoby too) have shot worse than 40%.
Nick Nurse made a lineup change (Goran Dragic out, Gary Trent Jr. in) after Sport 1 and the brand new group has outscored its opponents by 19 factors in its 42 minutes. However the bench had a tough evening in opposition to Dallas on Saturday.
Week 2: vs. CHI, vs. IND, vs. ORL, @ IND
Tip Sam Holako
Mid-Morning Espresso – Tue, Oct 26 originated on Raptors Republic.
