How fitting that the Raptors should find themselves in the Big Easy when nothing has come easy for this youthful, feisty and depleted roster.
Toronto’s four-game trip, not surprisingly, began with losses to Cleveland and Detroit because the Raptors have been known for losing on the road. In fact, they remain the lone NBA team not to post an away win.
Close but no cigar has been the unwitting mantra.
By now, the mere mention of a moral victory must be forgotten.
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What can’t be forgotten is how poorly games have started with the Raptors trailing by double digits to both the Cavs, who have been the NBA’s biggest surprise, and the Pistons, who played without star point guard Cade Cunningham.
In Cleveland, when the Raptors put themselves in a position to actually win a game heading into the fourth quarter, it was Donovan Mitchell who emerged as the closer and the night’s best player.
In Detroit, lack of execution at both ends of the floor set the stage for the game’s final possession that would see the Pistons force a switch on the final possession. In the end, the Raptors would succumb to poison ivy as Jaden Ivey’s baseline floater beat the buzzer while Ochai Agbaji did all he could in forcing a difficult shot.
The Raptors should not have been in that situation on a night when Agbaji did not have a good game. He hasn’t played well and his recent slip in performance only underlines how Agbaji’s role will be best served as a reserve.
There’s no Gradey Dick and no telling when the Raptors will get all their injured players back, then a true assessment of this unit might come into focus.
Until then, it’s shaping up as one of those rinse-and-repeat scenarios, unless some of the issues plaguing this group can get resolved.
Kudos to Davion Mitchell, who continues to ball and be a ball hawk on defence, but his end-of-game possession in Detroit was ill-advised.
Three games into his return from his fractured orbital and Scottie Barnes is finding his footing. His best was on full display in Detroit, where Barnes should have had the ball in his hands with a game on the line.
He’s the team’s best player and the ball should always run through Barnes when the stakes are at their highest.
After starting the night by missing his first three deep balls, Barnes buried three straight looks from beyond the three-point arc. It often has been stated, but it bears reminding that Barnes is more than capable of knocking down shots from distance when his feet are set and able to step into heaves.
Maybe when Immanuel Quickley is back, the potential for draw-and-kick actions will become a staple of the Raptors offence that will, in theory, allow Barnes to spot up on the perimeter.
Without Quickley, Barnes is the de facto point guard. RJ Barrett can serve as a facilitator, but he’s limited in going to his dominant left hand.
When Detroit visited Toronto recently, Barrett’s baseline feed to an open Dick underscored the Canadian’s court vision.
Dick hurt his calf in Monday’s loss to the Cavs when Toronto’s four-game trip tipped off.
It would surprise many if Dick is available Wednesday night when the New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Raptors, who will wrap up their road slate Friday night in Miami before the Heat visits Toronto on Sunday for a 6 p.m. tip.
The way Barnes played in Detroit, the way the Raptors continue to pound the offensive glass led by Jakob Poeltl, it’s easy to see what this team could look like once all the pieces are fully engaged.
By any measurement, Toronto’s 4-10 record is misleading. In a way, it debunks the famous Bill Parcells line: “You are what your record says you are.”
While it’s painfully true and abundantly obvious, the Raptors only have won four of their first 14 games, all at home where they’ve gone 4-4. It’s also true they’ve given themselves opportunity to win perhaps as many as three additional games.
The two losses to the Pistons immediately come to mind, the near misses in Denver and to the host L.A. Clippers fall under that what-if category.
Against the Pels, the Raptors are presented with a winnable opportunity, a chance to finally get that road gorilla off their back.
In a loss to the host Indiana Pacers on Monday night, the Pelicans were missing four projected opening day starters because of injuries in Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson.
CJ McCollum did return and scored 23 points in his first action in nearly a month, but the Pels lost 114-110 to drop their record to 4-14. New Orleans has lost five games in a row.
In Indy, Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points to match his career high, while Elfrid Payton recorded a career-high 21 assists, the most dimes posted in an NBA game this season.
Given their winless road record, no game must ever be viewed as easy, but if ever a team is poised to finally break through it is the Raptors.
In Detroit, 23 offensive rebounds were recorded that led to 25 second-chance points.
Control the glass Wednesday night, continue to see Barnes play at a high level and be more attention-detailed in late-game moments and the Raptors might actually win on the road.
On paper, Wednesday’s matchup might not even be decided late because the Raptors clearly have a decided advantage.