Morning Coffee – Thu, Apr 15
Siakam’s scoring has ticked up since his return, as he is averaging 22.3 points over 15 games. (All stats reflect play prior to Wednesday’s game against San Antonio.) His impact has been felt acutely, too, with the Raptors disintegrating offensively without him. Over that span, the Raptors have been 17.2 points per 100 possessions better with Siakam on the floor rather than off of it, with 16.9 of that differential coming on offence. In games like the one against Atlanta, he was the only experienced playmaker of any note, finishing with 30 points on 13-for-19 shooting and supplying seven of the Raptors’ paltry 16 assists.
For the most part, though, the efficiency has been wanting. His 55.2 true shooting percentage is right around where it was last year, which itself is well down from his peak of 62.8 in 2018-19, when he was not the focus of opposing teams’ game plans. His playmaking remains a notable area of improvement, but his assist-to-turnover ratio has taken a slight dip. His 3-point shot has largely abandoned him. His shooting around the rim and between three and 10 feet — 68.9 and 42.1 percent, respectively — have stayed stable or slightly sagged from years past (70.2 and 39.1 last year, 71.7 and 45.9 in 2018-19).
His effort in Wednesday’s win encapsulated all of that. He eschewed the 3-ball, taking just one, and had a rough 7-for-20 shooting night. But as the sole established creator on the floor for the Raptors, he dished out six assists to go along with 11 rebounds and was one of the key drivers behind the win.
It is natural for efficiency to creep down when a player’s usage rises, but unless Siakam’s 3-point percentage jumps back to league average or he returns to previous levels within 10 feet, it will be hard for Siakam to fill this bigger role in the fashion the Raptors’ hoped he would and continue to hope he will. While you can shrug off a bad shooting year, it is less easy to do with productivity in and around the rim. It has become common to hear Siakam clamouring for a foul call as he attempts an off-balance drive — hence the worry about his overall strength. There were those moments against the Spurs, too.
“I always say finishing is always a lot about determination,” Nurse said. “You’ve got to almost will it into the basket. I don’t know if it’s with your lower body or your upper body, or your shoulder hits, or your forearm, or your finger-roll, or whatever, but you’ve got to will that thing in. And you’ve got to kind of follow-through (with your shooting motion). … You’ve got to follow through and keep your eyes on the rim and take the hit and try to will it in there more.”
“Finding your energy on defence … I think it makes it easier to probably attack the rim and finish,” Siakam said.
That is why nights like Sunday, when Siakam combined 5-for-18 shooting with several defensive lapses and, somehow, no rebounds in more than 35 minutes, are most concerning. How much did his time out of the lineup lead to nights like that? It is impossible to say. We can fairly state his poor play is not limited entirely to March 17 and after.
Raptors’ win over Spurs offers chance to wonder ‘What if?’
Toronto led by a point at the half and by three heading into the fourth quarter before steadily pulling away down the stretch until the Spurs made it interesting.
How some of the Raptors’ newer faces navigate the close to the season is the story of Toronto’s present and future.
But it was all set in motion by the trading of DeRozan, developing then-second-year big man Jakob Poeltl and the first-round pick that became Keldon Johnson for Leonard and Danny Green.
It was always a risky move.
Would Leonard even come to play? Would his troublesome knee allow him to put a franchise on his back? Would Green, coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, find his game again?
Would that be enough to actually improve a team that won 59 games in the regular season in 2017-18?
As we know, everything worked out pretty well.
But one of the underlying themes of the Raptors’ title was how close it came to not happening: Leonard’s durability was a constant concern as he introduced the concept of load management into the NBA lexicon. And even as he played at a superstar level in the playoffs, there were points when it didn’t seem like it was going to be enough.
Had Leonard’s leaning jumper bounced four times on the rim and out instead of dropping in, would Toronto have prevailed in overtime of Game 7 against Philadelphia in the second round?
What if Milwaukee had gone up 3-0 by winning one of the overtime periods in Game 3 of the conference finals?
What if Kevin Durant doesn’t tear his Achilles or Klay Thompson doesn’t blow out his knee against the Raptors in the NBA Finals?
Would the parade have ever happened?
Final Score: Raptors 112, Spurs 107 – Pounding The Rock
Derrick White started off the scoring in the game with a three point bank off the window. In fact, the Spurs first 12 points were off 3 point plays, with DeMar DeRozan providing the traditional midrange + free throw version. The Raptors kept it pretty close with hot shooting from Anunoby, and the Raptors took the lead on an 11-0 run to lead halfway through the quarter, eventually extending it to a 13-1 run to take a 5 point lead. Patty Mills came into the game and brought the Spurs back into it with 11 quick points and the Spurs led 32-30 at the end of one quarter.
The Spurs focus was missing as the second quarter began, and neither team was playing particularly well. But the Raptors played harder and thanks to holding onto the ball and getting to offensive rebounds led halfway through the quarter. Patty Mills continued to keep the Spurs in the picture by hitting open shots, and the Spurs finally retook the lead late in the quarter on a DeRozan layup, with the Raptors taking the lead back and leading 58-57 at the half.
The third quarter didn’t have a good start for the Spurs, as they let the Raptors take the ball to the hoop and draw fouls for an 8-1 run at the start of the quarter. Both teams played horrible basketball for most of the quarter, and somehow, it balanced out as the Silver and Black fought back to lead the game with Derrick White hitting some three point shots finally. But missed free throws and defensive miscues hurt the Spurs as they trailed 85-82 after three.
The Spurs continued their sluggish play to begin the fourth and even when things went right for them they couldn’t take advantage, as Dejounte Murray got a steal in the backcourt and lost the ball driving to the hoop, for another wasted opportunity. The Raptors pushed their lead to double digits halfway through the final quarter and it was starting to look bad for the Spurs. The Raptors were hitting difficult shots and the Spurs had some open looks but they couldn’t sink enough of them to catch up. The Spurs put on an incredible rally to close the game as the young Raptor players had trouble handling the pressure, but it wasn’t quite enough as the Raptors won 112-107.
Recap: Energetic play leads Raptors to win over Spurs, 117-112 – Raptors HQ
The win moves the Raptors to 22-34 and, paired with a Bulls loss to the Magic, moves them within a game of the ten seed.
Leading the way in 34 minutes was OG Anunoby. Playing at shooting guard in a supersized starting unit along with Malachi Flynn, Pascal Siakam, Khem Birch, and Chris Boucher, Anunoby played to his position’s strengths, making 3-of-4 threes in the first quarter on his way to 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting overall.
Anunoby also added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, doing an excellent job as the primary matchup on DeMar DeRozan — who was held to a modest 19 points on 11 shots.
The other everyday Raptors starter was pretty good too, as Pascal Siakam had 20 points — albeit on an inefficient 7-for-20 shooting night. He made his impact elsewhere, though, pulling down 11 of the team’s season-high 54 rebounds.
Oh yeah, remember when the Raptors couldn’t get a board to save their lives? Those new guys are completely changing the story on that area of weakness for Toronto. In his first start with Toronto, Khem Birch had six boards and a pair of effortless blocks, making a strong presence in the middle, even when matched up with noted strong lad Jakob Poeltl.
G-League convert Freddie Gillespie had the best game of his ten-day contract too (possibly lining himself up for another), snagging eight rebounds — five offensive — to go with nine points. Chris Boucher, while not a new face, led the team with 12 rebounds and looked really solid as a natural four both with the starters and with Gillespie off the bench.
The Spurs, meanwhile, kept this game entertaining with a strong shooting display. They were led by 25 points from Dejounte Murray and 23 off the bench from Patty Mills. Even though they went 42.5 percent from distance as a team, San Antonio couldn’t overcome a -12 rebounding differential — the key stat in this Raptors win.
OG Anunoby shows versatility in win over former Toronto Raptors teammate, DeMar DeRozan – TSN.ca
Anunoby’s versatility and two-way upside was on full display in the win over DeRozan and the Spurs. With Trent and DeAndre’ Bembry nursing injuries, getting another rest night, and serving his one-game suspension, the Raptors had just one guard available, rookie Malachi Flynn. That shifted Anunoby, a small forward or small-ball power forward by nature, to shooting guard. He’s now started games at four of the five positions this season.
It also matched him up with his former teammate and mentor. DeRozan played well, he usually does against his old club. He put up an efficient 19 points and dished out 11 assists. Still, holding one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers under the 20-point plateau is no small feat.
If DeRozan was impressed with what he saw from Anunoby on the offensive end, it’s because the 23-year-old simply couldn’t do a lot of those things a few seasons ago. Early in the opening quarter, he came off a screen and drilled a contested three-pointer, one of four on the night. Later, he took a page out of DeRozan’s book, pulling up from mid-range and drilling the jumper. He made a nice pocket pass to set up in the pick and roll, and then threw down a perfectly timed put-back jam late in the game.
“We ran a bunch of stuff for him early,” Nick Nurse said of Anunoby, who scored half of his 22 points in the first quarter. “He was kind of turning the corner like he’s used to doing and then they were going underneath a lot of screens so I told him to start popping back and shooting the three like a two-guard would. So I thought he did good and he did a heck of a job on DeRozan too. He made it tough on him most of the night.”
Having lost to Atlanta on Tuesday, the Raptors were coming in with a record of 1-11 in the second night of back-to-backs this season. But despite being undermanned again, and playing their seventh game in 10 days, they seemed to have plenty of energy.
They were forced to play big, but after spending most of the season undersized it was a welcomed change. The Raptors, who are dead last in the league on the glass, out-rebounded San Antonio 54-42. The jumbo frontcourt of Birch, who got his first start in his third game with Toronto, and combined for 29 boards. Freddie Gillespie, who is halfway through his 10-day contract, had eight off the bench. They also got energetic minutes from and Paul Watson Jr., who was making his return after spending nearly three weeks in the league’s health and safety protocols.
They had a lot of talent sitting on the bench in street clothes, including three starters, but the 10 players that got on the floor made up for it with their effort.
“I got on them a little bit about last night about [the ball] being a little sticky and not [playing] energetic enough on the defensive end,” said Nurse. “And they responded well.”
Raptors put in a big effort, set season high for rebounds in win over San Antonio | The Star
With an outstanding contribution from two true centres and another solid outing by emerging rookie guard Malachi Flynn, the Raptors fanned whatever fading embers there are of a playoff chase.
Toronto’s win, combined with Chicago’s loss at home to lowly Orlando, moved the Raptors to within one game of the Bulls in the chase for 10th place. It’s a long shot and Toronto’s season-long habit of inconsistent effort and play may ultimately be too much to overcome but there remains a bit of life left.
Birch had 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor as he continued to adjust to having the freedom to let shots fly in Toronto’s offence.
“It’s funny,” the Montreal native said, “I asked them, ‘Can I shoot this?’ And they were like, ‘Do you know where you’re at? You’re in Toronto now.’
“I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re right.’ Now I’ve got to just get up more reps. And that’s it. Eventually it’s going to translate to the game.”
Anunoby had 22 points to lead Toronto as the Raptors had six players in double figures and the shots were equitably distributed
“I just think that most of this tonight was the product of us playing much, much more organized and unselfishly offensively,” Nurse said. “We really were moving it from side to side, we were playing next-action basketball and what happens is (the offence) gets … spread around to everybody. And they all just stepped into it and just happened to hit them tonight.”
Mysterious Raps display good version of themselves in win over Spurs | Toronto Sun
Size has been a disadvantage most of the year for the Raptors but the recent additions of Birch, and Freddie Gillespie have altered the options pretty drastically.
Take it from no greater authority than former Raptor DeMar DeRozan. That size was noticed.
“They killed us on the boards, that was one of the big things,” DeRozan said referring to the 54-42 edge the Raptors enjoyed. “They definitely just kicked our butt on the boards, that kinda hurt, and we let them get out in transition and get some buckets.”
Defensively the size seemed to help, but the fresh bodies also played a big role in this one.
Birch and the aforementioned Gillespie, the two newcomers, combined for 23 points and 14 boards including a career-high-tying 14 points from Birch.
Paul Watson Jr., a guy coming off the health and safety protocols list who hasn’t been in a game since March 24, was big in the second half with nine points when the Raptors seemed to be struggling to score.
And then there was Yuta Watanabe, the young Japanese forward on a two-way contract for the Raptors, who enjoyed perhaps the best shooting night of his young Raptors career with 11 points including three three-pointers.
OG Anunoby led the Raptors with 22 points as he showed off some of his expanded offensive arsenal. That, too, caught the eye of DeRozan.
“Oh man, he started out stiff as a cardboard box,” DeRozan said thinking back to OG’s rookie days. “Now to see how he handles the ball, how he drives the ball, his post game. I saw him a lot this summer, we worked out a lot this summer, and to see his skill-set grow from when I first saw it speaks volumes of how much he loves and appreciates the game. He’s come a long way. He deserves everything that comes his way. I hope he keeps growing. It’s fun to see that, it’s fun to compete against that, and I’m glad I was a part of his career early on.”
Not to be overlooked, Siakam had a solid all-around game with 20 points, six assists and 10 rebounds as well.
Yuta Watanabe gets chance to prove he belongs with rash of injuries to Raptors roster | The Star
The intriguing young talent has shaken off long and serious mid-season doldrums to work himself into the conversation for the final 17 games of this year and the future.
He’s playing more, he’s playing better and, on a team that is going to have a handful of jobs available for next season, the 26-year-old from Japan is playing himself into the mix.
“He’s really, really good defensively and his hustle plays always are good, they rub off on others,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
The Raptors only have four players — Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Malachi Flynn — on fully guaranteed contracts for next season.
It’s logical to assume Gary Trent Jr., a restricted free agent, and Chris Boucher, with a team option, would be in the mix, and the Raptors have hopes of signing Khem Birch in the summer. Beyond that, there are several spots that will be open.
That’s why the final 17 games of the season are vital to players like Watanabe, DeAndre’ Bembry, Paul Watson and Stanley Johnson.
Watanabe, who has averaged about 17 minutes a game over six outings before Wednesday night , is once again showing the Raptors the kind of versatility they need. He’s not a huge scoring threat at the moment but his work ethic is consistentand he plays a mistake-free kind of game a struggling team needs. He’s not likely to ever become a star but he might morph into a solid backup who offers deep roster protection against injuries and absences.
“He’s a positive player in that fashion, he doesn’t make mistakes,” Nurse said. “He got some (scoring) opportunities just because of his continuous running and cutting and, again, we’ve asked him when he makes those drives at the rim and it’s one on one, he’s got to find a way to finish them and he’s starting to do that.”
Morning Coffee – Thu, Apr 15 originated on Raptors Republic.