Nothin’ But Positives – Raptors vs. Wizards – October 20th

Welcome to the very first edition of Nothin’ But Positives, Raptors Republic edition!

We already have your pre-game, your post-game, and your quick reactions for every game, but by popular demand (a few people on Twitter) I am bringing my quarterly positives right here in long-form. Rather than try to sum them up in 240 characters or less, I can now expand on what I liked each quarter of the game. If you’re familiar with this format, you’ll know what to expect. If you aren’t, just know that if there is a baby wearing noise-canceling headphones, it counts as a positive and it’s going on the list.


First Quarter Positives:

 

• Can you imagine being Dalano Banton right now? Hearing Kardinal Offishall work your name into a song because you’re playing for your hometown team in the arena you daydreamed about playing in as a child? 
• Hearing Strizzy doing the intros. It’s been 84 years (this is a Titanic reference).
• The absolute ROAR of the crowd when Dalano’s name was introduced. His smile said it all.
• Scottie’s walk almost makes up for Kyle’s absence during the player introductions. Almost.
• Raptors win the tip! This is a big deal as it’s something they struggled with in past seasons. 
• Fred draining a 3 to start. The Raptors are BACK, and the two point guard line-up of Fred and Goran is proving successful, as Goran’s dish to Fred on the weak side created the opportunity for Fred to shoot.
• Goran Dragic catch and shoot from the high post to give the Raptors a 5-0 lead.
• Precious Achiuwa gliding through the post like a gazelle, slamming the ball like pray against a rock (I think gazelles eat meat?) into the net. 
• Precious’ ability to move so quickly from the handoff into the screen. He had spoken previously about his ability to move not only laterally but across the court as well, and this was a prime example.
• Precious can BOX OUT. Good luck getting points in the paint when he’s on the court.
• Scottie Barnes throwing a cross-court pass to Fred, who immediately draws the foul. The Raptors were down 5 at this point, and you get the points by any means necessary. 
• Fred getting the steal and heaving it down the court to Gary Trent Jr. The CHEMISTRY is alive and well.
• Scottie Barnes working as the ball handler and bodying his way into the paint. He was called for the offensive foul but it is nice to see him recognizing his abilities and putting himself in the driver’s seat.
• Scottie reverting to his pass-first play style, swinging the ball to a baseline Khem without looking, whose free throws after getting fouled by Davis Bertans cut the Wizards’ lead to 2.

 

Second Quarter Positives:

 

• A Goran Dragic 3 to settle down a Raptors offence that had been quite shaky through the first two minutes. 
• Svi Mykhailiuk’s smothering defence. Svi-fence, if you will.
• After Nick Nurse called a much needed timeout, the action returned with a quick Fred VanVleet pass to Precious Achiuwa for the signature slam.
• Fred kicking the ball out to OG in the corner. OG knows this is his signature shot, and it didn’t fall this time but sometimes it be like that.
• Nick Nurse had mentioned during the pre-season that his intention was to play both Precious and Khem in short bursts. This method, though the sample size is small, is proving successful, as it conserves their energy and helps in situations like tonight when Precious has 3 fouls before the half. 
• Montrezl Harrell getting a technical foul while the Wizards are up 20. He wants to be a Raptor so bad. 
• OG SLAM BAM THANK YOU MA’AM. He popped up out of nowhere and BOOP slam dunk.
• OG grabbing his own rebound. Looking like a number one option or something. 

 

Third Quarter Positives:

 

• Precious kicking it out to Scottie Barnes from the paint. Scottie again bodies his way in, this time learning from his past mistakes and drawing the foul. 
• Precious cleaning the glass and drawing the foul on Harrell, again, getting the points where you can, especially when you’re down 25. 
• Scottie Barnes is the most energetic yet level-headed player I think we have ever witnessed. His patience, letting the game come to him, allows him to finish deep in the post, cutting the lead to 23. 
• A bounce pass (personal favourite) from OG to Khem Birch for the immediate slam. Birch has probably been the most consistent player in an otherwise dismal third quarter. 
• Another Khem Birch and OG Anunoby connection, this time with Khem inside kicking out to OG. Even though the shot didn’t fall, these two have great, gigantic, chemistry. 
• A long defensive rebound by Gary Trent Jr. The play was broken and the clock ran down, but Khem immediately grabbed the offensive rebound in hopes of saving the possession. 
• Scottie Barnes blowing past Kyle Kuzma like Road Runner for a layup. 
• Chris Boucher checking in for Scottie, who sat with four fouls. What a luxury to have a team that, while not deep with super stars, is able to play so many positions.
• Containing Davis Bertans, a deadly three-point shooter, and keeping him away from the perimeter. The only problem with this is that focusing on the outside Bertans allows Harrell to slip inside quickly and finish at the rim. 
• Euro-Svi! Svi Mykhailiuk euro-stepping and kicking out, with the ball eventually ending up in the hands of Chris Boucher at the top of the arch and immediately draining a much needed three. 
• Dalano checks in! With fresh braids!
• AND IMMEDIATELY BANKS A BUZZER BEATER!!!!!

 

Fourth Quarter Positives:

 

• Dalano Banton stuffing Bradley Beal before he could even get to the rim. It’s like a “welcome to the league” moment except the exact opposite. 
• Dalano snatching the defensive rebound and getting the ball ahead to Chris Boucher for a nasty Canadian slam. 
• Coast to coast Dalano Banton off of the defensive rebound for the lay-up. He is single-handedly bringing the energy back into this game. 
• Banton’s ability to guard vertically without fouling.
• Dalano Banton is going to win Rookie of the Year.
• Dalano Banton is the greatest basketball player of all time. 
• Dalano Banton is going to win MVP.
• Dalano jab stepping PAST his defender and to the rim. 
• Scottie Barnes attempting a shot under the basket, and Khem Birch cleaning the glass on the rebound a foot away. It’s important to trust your teammates and their shots, but just as important to be in the right position in the event that the shot doesn’t fall. The art of rebounding is rarely perfected.
• Back to back threes for OG Anunoby, both times with the assist coming from Fred VanVleet.
• A bouncy Precious block after not seeing him during the second half.
• Defense to offense: Precious grabbing the rebound and sending it ahead to Dalano, who whips it into the paint for Scottie for the bucket plus the foul.

 

 

Final Score: WAS 98 – TOR 83

 

Positive Player of the Game: Dalano Banton (duh)

 

 

 

 

Nothin’ But Positives – Raptors vs. Wizards – October 20th originated on Raptors Republic.