The Toronto Raptors weren’t going to keep winning forever, and the fun ended on Friday night after an unimpressive performance against the Chicago Bulls.
The 122-106 final flattered the home side a bit, given all the defensive an offensive issues. Some takeaways from a bit of a strange night at Scotiabank Arena:
VETERANS TAKE A SEAT
Toronto did not play veterans Chris Boucher or Kelly Olynyk, even though Boucher has been on a bit of an all-time heater and with Olynk playing some of his best basketball as a Raptor.
A cynic would say all of the wins that were piling up had something to do with the benchings. Head coach Darko Rajakovic wasn’t going to go there post-game and came prepared with viable answers.
“Chris was available. But as you guys know, Chris played amazing last stretch over here, he’s ultimate professional. I’m really happy to see everything that he’s bringing to the table,” Rajakovic said. “With (Immanuel) Quickley coming back with guys that we have now available, with the health and everything. I just wanted to night to give more room for Ja’Kobe (Walter, who played 18 minutes), and then have him there to play more minutes as a young player we’re trying to develop. I think that Chris doing is amazing job and you know he’s the ultimate professional and Kelly as well was available tonight,” Rajakvic said.
“Since we have Orlando (Robinson) on a 10 day contract they wanted to continue to see what he can bring.”
We’ll see how this continues to play out, with three games to play before the February 6 NBA trade deadline.
Rajakovic had been asked before the game how his players are dealing with rumours.
“We do have side conversations with guys, especially new guys in the league, just making them aware that this is the nature of the business,” Rajakovic said.
“They need to be focused on things that they control, and that’s showing up on time, that’s putting a lot of work in, that’s playing hard and that’s pretty much message for all of us, all we can do is take care of the business.”
IQ STILL NOT 100%
Credit Quickley for getting back in the lineup, he’s missed most of the season and the team needs its point guard, but it sounds like he isn’t quite 100% yet.
Quickley said it’s been tough dealing with his groin injury because unlike when he had an elbow issue, he couldn’t keep his cardio up and do any basketball work.
He said the groin “bothered me a little bit tonight, but just trying to get treatment (from the medical staff) … But overall, just good to be out there with the guys. Unfortunate we couldn’t get a win, but good to be out there with my teammates.”
Quickley said he didn’t know how he suffered the injury but said it wasn’t related to the hard fall he took on opening night and the initial injury that kept him out of the lineup in October.
Shifted back to the bench, Davion Mitchell played a strong game for the Raptors, while Jamal Shead was unable to play due to flu-like symptoms.
BARNES ISN’T BUMMED
Scottie Barnes didn’t seem too put out by being snubbed as an all-star reserve pick.
“I have no reaction. It is what it is. I’ve been in the all star weekend events the last two years,” Barnes said.
“To be able to just go, relax, chill with my family — no reaction. It hurts a little bit. The year’s not going as we want it to go: losing some games. So no reaction. It is what it is. I’m still blessed to be in the position I’m in and blessed to be alive. I just enjoy life how it is, man,” Barnes said.
Rajakovic said: “In my mind he is an all-star. He plays like one, he’s practicing like one, he’s acting like one. I’m just encouraging him to continue to be himself and not to change.
“All those accolades will come and everything is going to come in order, he just needs to keep pounding the way, pounding the same rock and stay the same course.”
Barnes supported the selection of former teammates and friends Pascal Siakam, Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley on social media. Cunningham and Mobley are first time all-stars, which Barnes was a year ago.
@WolstatSun