Listed here are some gameday necessities:
The Lineup with Manny (me)
Gameday thread
Rap Up with Sahal, Oren and Adon
Fast Response
Wow. I’m beginning to assume the Raptors are going to exceed expectations which have been set for them. I don’t need to communicate too quickly however after 4 straight wins, how are you going to not love the struggle and resiliency that’s on show each night time from this squad?
I’d be loopy if I didn’t point out OG Anunoby placing up a career-high 36 factors and breaking out of a hunch that has him capturing 40.4% from the sector – nicely under his profession common of 47.5%. He accompanied that with six boards and two assists. So whereas the playmaking left lots to be desired, OG’s confidence ought to solely proceed to rise from right here on out.
Additionally, can we speak about how Gary Trent Jr. has stepped the f*** up? He performed 42 minutes final night time, which was greater than anybody. He’s at the moment main the league in deflections (tied with Freddy) and had 4 steals final night time. We already know what he’s able to on offence, however he’s additionally driving to the rim much more and attacking the paint. I don’t know the way you are taking him out of the beginning lineup when Pascal returns.
Toronto already seems like a way more cohesive unit than the one which opened the season towards the Wizards. Have in mind, I’m scripting this after they left the Large Apple, with a giant victory over among the finest offensive groups within the league. If there’s one factor that brings a gaggle collectively, it’s adversity. American media doesn’t talk about the Raps as a result of it’s simply not attractive to take action. Why would anybody south of the border need to discuss concerning the lone Canadian group surpassing expectations? They’d moderately speak about LeBron’s Lakers jogging on the treadmill of mediocrity, or discuss concerning the odds of New York profitable a championship six video games into the season. Toronto is usually misplaced in dialog until the subject issues a blockbuster commerce or one thing of a excessive magnitude. Because of this, Toronto repeatedly surprises the NBA. In different phrases: THE DISRESPECT IS REAL.
However even right here in Canada, the group wasn’t anticipated to build up a multiple-game profitable streak at any level throughout the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
Anyway. That sport, eh?
I believed the Knicks had been about to have their means with the Raptors for 2 causes:
Saviour Scottie was out and has performed a gargantuan-sized position for Toronto up to now.
The Knicks have been performing like a well-oiled offensive machine, averaging 115 ppg – second highest within the league.
It appeared to be that means for a lot of the primary half as New York established a 34-26 result in finish the primary quarter and a 57-53 benefit to finish the primary half. Julius Randle had labored his approach to the basket on a number of events, whereas Mitchell Robinson was a vacuum on the boards for the Knicks. The sport wasn’t out of hand, however given New Yorks capturing splits of 47.6% from the sector, an absurd 52.6% from three, and a suitable 75% from the charity stripe, it regarded as if the Raptors had been toast.
However then one thing very unorthodox (I assume, orthodox in the event you’re Nick Nurse?) occurred. Toronto didn’t make a single substitution within the third quarter. Nurse noticed {that a} five-man unit of Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Svi Mykhailiuk, OG Anunoby, and Khem Birch was working nicely collectively on each ends of the court docket. With this lineup on the ground, the online appeared to shrink for New York and their offence wasn’t executing the way in which it had been all through the primary two quarters.
We’ve seen Nurses anxiousness when discussing lineup potentialities, together with the woes that OG and Fred had been experiencing, so yeah. Him not making any subs this complete quarter was a curve ball. However then once more, these are the gamers that immediately contributed to the W.
Listed here are a few issues that stood out to me from final nights sport…
Quick break dominance
In my pregame, The Lineup, I listed New Yorks quick break as a weak point, as they solely averaged 11-12 factors coming into final nights contest. If you happen to check out how they honest this morning, that common has been adjusted to 10.4 as of this morning. Now take that into consideration and consider that Toronto outscored the Knicks 21-3 in quick break factors. This was a sport the place Toronto’s half court docket protection was completely vital. New York has been on hearth, scoring round 115 a sport and connecting on probably the most made three’s, on the highest charge as nicely. Quick break factors had been Toronto’s greatest probability to win and that’s reflective of how adaptable this roster is and the way succesful it’s of defending a number of conditions.
O-boards & turnovers
Toronto is the primary group with regards to cleansing the offensive glass. No different group is as aggressive on this space and the Raptors proved that when once more final night time, conjuring up 13 of them towards New York. In The Lineup, I listed New Yorks low steal numbers as an ideal alternative for the Raps to handle the ball and it undoubtedly went nicely for them. The Knicks dedicated 16 turnovers and an undisturbed three steals, whereas Toronto swiped the ball 12 instances and solely gave it up 8. How does that TikTok go? The Raptors understood the project.
Raptors tackle the Wizards in DC on Wednesday and I anticipate that one to go a lot in a different way from what we noticed on opening night time.
Tip Manny Rao
OG’s profession night time leads Raps to W within the Backyard originated on Raptors Republic.
