The suddenly streaking Toronto Raptors have discovered an identity, a defensive edge that served them well Saturday night down in Dixie.
It must be put in perspective because the home-team Hawks have been grounded in the wake of injuries, but nothing should be dismissed from Toronto’s 117-94 win over Atlanta, the Raptors’ third straight.
The draft lottery odds have dropped, but the team’s record has soared as Toronto won its fifth game in the past six outings.
For the month of January, the Raptors have gone 6-6 as they enter Monday’s home tip versus New Orleans.
At no time during the Darko Rajakovic era have the Raptors played this well. He’s preached defence and perhaps his words and schemes have finally been embraced. Naturally, only time will tell.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett were solid against the Hawks as well as the team’s bench, but overall the Raptors were better once they overcame a not-so great start to the evening.
Atlanta’s loss was its fourth in a row and second to the Raptors in three days.
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This mini two-game set in not-so Hotlanta was viewed by Rajakovic as a glorified playoff experience, the closest the Raptors will get to an actual post-season matchup.
In two games, there was a physical dimension to the Raptors’ game, but more importantly they had the best player on the floor in Barnes, and the second-best in Barrett.
Atlanta hasn’t been playing well and did play without a handful of key offensive catalysts, putting a bigger burden on the shoulders of Trae Young, the NBA’s assists leader. Young, however, did not record his first dime until the opening minute in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors weren’t exactly at full strength, either. They were, however, full marks for rebounding from a slow start to take control.
Engaged, energetic and efficient, there were stops and just as many bricks by the Hawks. What stood out was Toronto’s activity. When the Raptors found their rhythm on offence, they began to roll.
TOUCHE, BOUCHER
Give Chris Boucher any amount of minutes under any circumstance and the veteran will deliver.
His turnaround season, which seemed to be going south, began in New York when the host Knicks were putting the final touches on a rout of the Raptors.
To illustrate how sometimes a man’s treasure could be discovered during garbage time, consider Boucher’s electric scoring outing against the Knicks. He hasn’t let up.
The latest burst arrived at State Farm Arena on Saturday night. It began with the Raptors on their heels, while the Hawks were playing on their front foot.
Enter the energetic Boucher. In nine sublime minutes, he drained all four of his shots, including two from distance, to net 10 points.
He was the first of five reserves used in the opening half as the Raptors took a 55-48 lead into intermission.
Boucher would add three rebounds and record one block. He had zero turnovers and did not commit a foul
Toronto’s second unit accounted for 22 points. An undermanned Hawks team managed to produce five bench points on 1-for-13 scoring.
Boucher re-entered with 4:03 left in the third quarter with the Raptors enjoying a double-digit advantage. It took all of seven seconds for him to launch a shot, a three-pointer no less. He was fouled and would make all three of his free throws.
Through three quarters, Boucher had 16 points on 5-for-5 shooting in 13 minutes. He missed his first shot on his sixth heave on the night two minutes into the fourth period.
LOW DOWN ON ORLANDO
In his first extended run as a Raptor, big man Orlando Robinson came up big.
To be perfectly honest, no one is going to compare Robinson to The Admiral in David Robinson.
In all honesty, the two do have something in common beyond their surname.
Signed to a 10-day contract by the Raptors, Robinson got the nod to come off the bench following Kelly Olynyk’s calf setback he suffered in Thursday’s win over the Hawks.
When Robinson entered the game in the first quarter, the Raptors were in a 12-point hole. Like his famous namesake, Robinson served as a defensive anchor, especially in high pick and roll sequences.
He has length and some decent foot speed. When the Raptors made their run, Robinson was on the floor.
The Hawks were forced to call a timeout early in the second quarter after the Raptors took a one-point lead, a stretch that saw Robinson record a plus-14 rating.
Following a Hawks basket that would tie the game, Robinson turned the ball over on an ill-advised baseline pass after he picked up his dribble.
Other than that poor decision, the Raptors were richer with Robinson being on the floor. He played 10 minutes in the opening half.
Olynyk’s absence was felt because he can spread the floor and he will make plays with the ball in his hands. His absence was more than compensated with the way Boucher was lighting it up.
The way Robinson played during his 10-minute sequence, the Raptors’ bench, which has stepped up recently, the team’s second unit was not compromised.
It’s clear his offence is very limited to the point of non-existent, which is fine because the key in putting himself in a position for a second-day contract can be found in the key and how well he defends and protects the rim.
He scored his first Raptors basket with two minutes left in the third quarter on a feed from Barnes. He made a nice pass to a cutting Boucher, who inexplicably missed at the rim.
The Raptors signed Robinson to a 10-day deal last Saturday.