At first, we have been skeptics.
The nullity of the preseason and the circumspection of the season opener left us all of the extra uncertain.
The Boston win was, maybe, merely a fluke – an overconfident and drained crew underestimating the efficiency of a younger roster.
Dallas and Chicago solely served to reaffirm the rising sentiment of detraction. The 2 groups demonstrated what superior firepower and a legion of natural-born scorers can do to a crew unable to reply with its personal offensive salvoes.
Then, Indiana occurred. Then, Orlando, Indiana, once more, New York, and, final evening, Washington.
Now, we’re zealots.
A fanbase dedicated to the trigger. One by which different groups and their supporters will fail to grasp.
We’re the few who name for aggression, for disruption, for defence, for our precocious leaders to step as much as the altar and lead us worshippers of chaos onward.
That’s this Toronto Raptors, our crew, our fanbase, our path to victory.
And, what Goddamn enjoyable it’s.
Earlier than our very eyes, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby are metamorphosing into All-Star degree skills. Not simply in scoring and playmaking, however in defence, management, and relentlessness.
In opposition to Chicago, FVV had a career-high 17 assists. Per week later, on Nationwide Tv, OG scored a career-high 36 factors and spoke a career-high greater than 5 phrases:
Wow OG is definitely taking this fairly critically pic.twitter.com/sZ7Q8AwiKM
— emma (@_emmajbrown) November 2, 2021
The duo are omnipresent. They’re the spine of an emaciated half-court offence and the claws of a fervent full-court onslaught.
Every sport, their transcendence finds new bounds.
Fred, final evening, assaulted all the court docket together with his scoring prowess. He managed the sport, instrumentally, deciding on how and the place he would inflict wounds. It’s one thing we’ve but to see in such a voluminous method.
Washington’s choose and roll defence was in full retreat by the tip of Fred’s offensive thrust unable to counter his array of assaults.
He scythed the paint together with his patented scooping lay-ups:
Ain’t nothin over there 
@FredVanVleet pic.twitter.com/eQGvQje8kz
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 3, 2021
He fired pictures spanning the mid-range with a range and accuracy we’ve but seen unleashed:
Individuals don't actually perceive this sport however once you see the sport with a skilled eye there isn't a debate on what the footage exhibits you. There was a gap in Fred Vanvleet's sport which was the mid-range skill. pic.twitter.com/YLuuLnMw4m
— Tru LBanks (@Tru_LBanks) November 4, 2021
He struck well timed threes like a divinical metronome absolving Toronto’s offensive woes at a relentless tempo all through the evening. Like this desperately wanted rating within the third quarter (he had 14 within the interval):
Fred making an attempt to cease the bleeding pic.twitter.com/nsUYqrQKLb
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) November 4, 2021
Even when Washington did contend, he was to not be stopped.
Quiet the gang with the financial institution pic.twitter.com/S1CM75sAre
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) November 4, 2021
In OG, too, we noticed a holy offensive warrior emerge – as if, he’d inhaled Arrakis’ spice.
He labored his isolation sport, methodically, discovering the weaknesses in his opponent and exploiting them with the endurance, imaginative and prescient, and newfound confidence of a Grasp Scorer.
OG aspect step 3 to finish the quarter pic.twitter.com/SdO5NFZY8J
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) November 3, 2021
I ain’t NEVA seen you act like this earlier than @OAnunoby pic.twitter.com/WWhwoaT4ax
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 4, 2021
Neither Dinwiddie’s dimension – he switches on to OG to upsize from Raul Neto – nor Kentavius Caldwell-Pope’s double might apprehend OG’s intent:
Give me extra OG publish sport pic.twitter.com/o5HgHTmjLk
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) November 4, 2021
It was not the scoring, although, that OG revealed this previous evening. Nor was it his defence – his 5 deflections, 3 steals, and 1 block are anticipated now, as is his nullification of the opposing crew’s famous person (Bradley Beal completed with 25 factors on 44% taking pictures). A listing of his victims’ discipline objective percentages this season (recall matchup information shouldn’t be all the time essentially the most correct or contextualized):
No, tonight OG demonstrated that he’s able to each shouldering the scoring load and creating for others.
Washington’s technique was to encumber OG’s strikes with awaiting henchmen. In response, within the first quarter alone, OG had three non-assists-assists, the place he attacked and located slicing teammates who have been subsequently fouled.
third nice go by OG on a drive, nonetheless not an help as svi goes to the road once more
— William Lou (@william_lou) November 3, 2021
Svi Mykhailiuk, who has an acute understanding of spacing and timing at each ends of the ground, was a repeat recipient:
OG imaginative and prescient pic.twitter.com/h5xyiOJNXj
— Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) November 4, 2021
The enjoyment of this crew’s ferocity is its contagion. In its transformation, we’re seeing a crew wholly dedicated to an aggressive, unrelenting, and constant work ethic. They need nothing greater than to overwhelm opponents by combusting passing lanes, crashing boards, and plundering the scoring elite. Solely collectively can they succeed – we’ve seen the poor outcomes when unaligned.
Khem Birch devoted himself to the trigger final Spring. Scottie Barnes joined draft evening. Gary Trent Jr.’s right here for it (he had 3 steals, final evening, and 5 extra deflections). Dalano Banton, has arrived, like a Banshee. Dalano Bantshee. Valuable Achiuwa is among the many troops, too; his confidence and decision-making woes a superficial problem.
FVV: "As some extent guard you attempt to instil that mentality and your character on the crew and it's been straightforward for me this yr. We're all on the identical web page and we go on the market and play actually laborious… We're constructing belief every day and you may really feel the chemistry rising."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 4, 2021
Now, Svi Mykhailiuk has enlisted.
Within the final three video games, together with final evening, he’s averaged 15 factors. He’s working his damndest defensively and opens the half-court up together with his deadeye taking pictures (72.5 true taking pictures proportion this yr) and well timed cuts to the ring giving OG and FVV the shops they want as defences closed. He has a rim-homing machine connected to his head; each ball possession he appears to be like instantly to assault the ring; he’s studying to seek out early passes. He confirmed a sultry step-back within the mid-range, which, if he can harness, will make him a practical 3-level (rim, mid, three) scorer.
A five-game win streak is one thing to exalt in.
The Toronto Raptors have now gained 5 video games in a row, 4 of them on the street. For reference, Zach LaVine didn't win 4 video games in a row till this season… he has by no means gained 5 in a row in his NBA profession. It's laborious to win on this league. Dont take it without any consideration.
— Oren Weisfeld (@OrenWeisfeld) November 4, 2021
Our devotion leaves no room to doubt that victories in opposition to Cleveland, Brooklyn, Boston, and Philadelphia will deliver us to 9.
That’s the surprise of this crew and its designs: no opponent is proof against the furor of Toronto basketball.
Different Scriptures:
Valuable struggled on the rim – a season-long downside, up to now – however his passing and endurance with the ball have been encouraging indicators of growth (@Valuable see subsequent bullet).
Khem Birch completed with a web ranking of +29; in opposition to New York, it was +20. We noticed equally absurd differentials final yr. He’s a flexible huge on the defensive finish, a tough rebounder, and makes fast, decisive pictures and passes out of the choose and roll. He began the second half and can possible eat additional into Valuable’ taking part in time with such ostentatious numbers.
Don’t suppose I’d overlook about Valuable’ posterization of Corey KRUSHEDpert
MY GOODNESS! @PreciousAchiuwa pic.twitter.com/sVZIqDqzkC
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 4, 2021
My nervous-0-meter for Scottie Barnes’ harm is slowly surging
Warning: Upsetting information under. Reader discretion is suggested.
On the harm entrance, Nurse mentioned Barnes' thumb will likely be reevaluated after they get again to Toronto tomorrow. Feels like he might miss just a few extra video games.
Siakam wants inexperienced gentle from doc in LA earlier than he's able to return however has been training with contact & isn't "that distant"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 3, 2021
Tip Adon Moss
The Toronto Raptors avenge their season-opener and provides discover to the remainder of the league originated on Raptors Republic.
