Perhaps the benefit of having two days off in Los Angeles might prove therapeutic for the Raptors, who can use all the help they can get in trying to get their first road win of the season.
The team’s current trip began in Denver on Monday night and will wrap up Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
Some encouraging stretches were played against the Nuggets and Kings, with a few players providing some unexpected moments of quality play.
But in the two losses, the Raptors saw their opposition attempt 37 more free throws. In the NBA, teams receive a favorable whistle when a style of play is firmly established, a star-driven league where the marquee names receive the benefit of the doubt.
Officiating did not cost the Raptors in either game when you take into account how Toronto actually had a decent grip in each outing until some costly turnovers or some sloppy breakdowns in coverage on the defensive end led to a wide-open looks.
Four games played on the road, four losses as the Raptors will play the host Clippers in a very late Saturday night tip at the Steve Ballmer’s freshly minted Intuit Dome — and its much-discussed Wall — before playing the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena.
There will be no Kawhi Leonard to contend as he continues to nurse inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, the same issue he dealt with last season.
There will be Norm Powell, though. During his days in Toronto, Powell was a key member of the team’s bench brigade.
When he arrived, it marked one of the many shrewd deals engineered by management that ultimately led to the franchise’s 2019 championship. He was later traded to Portland for Gary Trent Jr., whom many viewed at the time as a cheaper and younger version of Powell.
Heading into Friday night’s game in Sacramento, Powell was averaging 25.0 points — double his career total — while shooting a career-high 53%, including 48.5% from three-point distance.
In a win over visiting Philadelphia, Powell scored 26 points on 8-for-10 shooting while draining six three-pointers and dishing off six assists.
He’s 31 years old and clearly has flourished in his expanded role knowing Paul George is with the Sixers and the many unknowns that seem to dog Leonard. Even when exercising hindsight, the Powell trade for Trent Jr. was not good.
Nothing can aptly describe Toronto’s road fate to begin this season.
Eventually, a win will be posted and maybe even a sustained period of success at some point.
Teams win on the road by defending, limiting turnovers and making shots in big moments.
Granted, the Raptors’ margin for error is quite slim, their chances of returning home with a win perhaps slimmer if they continue to be so defensively deficient.
The team’s first road game was in Minnesota, where Toronto began the night by missing eight of its first nine shots in trailing 16-3.
The Raptors would turn the ball over 20 times, while attempting only 13 free throws as opposed to Minnesota’s 26 from the stripe. Toronto trailed by 14 points after the opening 12 minutes and would lose 112-101.
In Charlotte, the Raptors had to make do without the services of Scottie Barnes following his right orbital fracture.
Seven turnovers and 16 points could be mustered in the first quarter before the Raptors responded by scoring 43 in the second period.
At one point, the Raptors trailed by as many as 23 points, but — as is their calling card — they fought back to make it a game before allowing the Hornets to go on a 12-0 run to end the third quarter. Charlotte’s bench would score a combined 72 points in keying a 138-133 win.
In a 121-119 loss, Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his third triple-double in four games for Denver, which played without Jamal Murray (concussion protocol) and lost Aaron Gordon to a right calf strain in the first quarter.
The Nuggets trailed 109-98 with 5:45 left in the game and would go on to survive a potential buzzer-beater by RJ Barrett.
In Sacramento on Wednesday night, the Raptors were outscored 33-14 in the fateful fourth quarter. Trailing 95-89, the Kings went on a 9-0 run to take control of the night that would see Sacramento beat the Raptors 122-107.
Gradey Dick had his worst game of the season in the loss, but he’ll now have a chance to make amends against the Clippers.
The Clippers have established a defensive mindset — in other words, they are the antithesis of the Raptors.
Ivica Zubac holds down the paint, but Jakob Poeltl matches up well.
L.A.’s primary scorers are Powell and James Harden, who entered Friday’s play averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 9.4 assists.
The Raptors have hitherto been incapable of defending without fouling. And when they don’t take careless and senseless fouls, their defence isn’t any better.
Harden and his antics may result in a foul-fest if the officials allow him to embellish plays.
It was a year ago during a visit to Los Angeles against the host Lakers when then-rookie head coach Darko Rajakovic went on his epic post-game rant following a Raptors loss.
In the decisive fourth quarter, the Lakers were the beneficiaries of the whistle, a charitable description because the disparity in free-throw attempts was quite pronounced.
A repeat always is possible, but at this point it would serve the Raptors and their morale better if a win can be produced on the road.