RAPTORS BLOG: Legends of the Lone Star State

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For years the Raptors had a troublesome time in Texas, dropping numerous video games to sturdy San Antonio, Dallas and Houston squads. However these days issues have shifted and the group is coming off one in all its most spectacular two-game runs within the Lone Star State ever.

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There was a Scottie Barnes-driven 22-point comeback towards San Antonio on Sunday. Then, following two days off, scored at will towards a Dallas group that had been 6-1 and taking part in extraordinarily nicely.

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It’s nonetheless onerous to get a deal with on these Raptors, but when Pascal Siakam is again, as he was in Dallas, Toronto will win a whole lot of video games as a result of the defence is excellent.

OG Anunoby is pretty much as good because it will get as a defender, Barnes has made a leap as a kind of rover, inflicting havoc all around the courtroom and Siakam appears extra engaged defensively. Jakob Poeltl is a powerful inside defender and finally they’ll get assist from Treasured Achiuwa and Christian Koloko. Malachi Flynn has been disruptive and Otto Porter, is huge and good, a great combo in the case of defence.

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Siakam obtained what he needed offensively towards Dallas and regardless that Barnes had a quiet offensive night time, he was in every single place and nonetheless stuffed the scoresheet. There’s no query the 2 can co-exist defensively, and we imagine they will click on offensively too, however most likely not when non-shooter Jakob Poeltl is on the courtroom (which might be why we’ll maintain seeing Porter ending video games with Barnes filling in at centre). Towards Dallas, Toronto had its only offensive sport within the half-court.

One fascinating factor we’ve been monitoring right here on the Raptors weblog:

The numbers for the Raptors towards groups that guard the inside nicely and people who don’t are stark.

The Raptors shot 42% within the paint and 40% on two-point makes an attempt towards Rudy Gobert and Minnesota to open the season, they went simply 39.5%/38.2% towards Philadelphia within the first assembly, however 56.8%/54.9% within the rematch, 51% towards Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

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Towards donut groups (these with a giant gap within the center), the Raptors have shot 65% within the paint (towards Chicago) and 63% from two. They have been even higher towards Dallas, scoring on two-third of their paint makes an attempt and 60% of their two-point photographs total. In addition they shot 52% inside towards Portland.

We’re throwing out the Milwaukee sport (77% within the paint, 68% from two) as a result of the Bucks didn’t present up for that one and didn’t know learn how to play defence then and needed to swap up their system after that.

What’s going to occur within the subsequent week? Effectively, the Raptors get a extremely huge Boston group (Kristaps Porzingis, Al Hereford, and so forth., plus a lot of huge guards and robust wings), adopted by a Washington group that stinks, however does boast some shot-blocking (ninth in blocks per sport) after which there are the revamped Bucks and the Celtics once more. Will probably be fascinating to see how Toronto finishes inside in these video games.

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AROUND THE RIM

-The Raptors sit third-last within the NBA in tempo. Monday’s opponent, Washington, performs on the quickest tempo. One thing’s obtained to provide.

-One thing in big want of labor: Toronto is taking pictures a horrific 69% from the free throw line, the worst within the NBA (perhaps it’s not so dangerous, the defending champion Denver Nuggets sit second final). And that Toronto quantity contains hitting 92% towards Milwaukee. Take that sport away and the numbers are shockingly dangerous.

-Good friend of the area Blake Murphy delivered to my consideration that Barnes has blocked six three-pointers thus far, twice as many as Wembanyama, who has the second-most of most of these blocks. Final yr the league chief (Bol Bol) had 16 for the entire season. Chris Boucher tied for second final yr with 14 with Bruce Brown. Barnes and Anunoby every blocked 9, Siakam eight, which all ranked within the High 11. These Raptors usually are not simple to launch threes towards.

-Apropos of nothing, the place Toronto’s opponents thus far rank defensively:

30 – San Antonio W

25 – Milwaukee W

23 – Dallas W

21 – Chicago L

11 – Portland L

5- Philadelphia L, L

1 – Minnesota W

THREE STARS VS. DALLAS

1 Pascal Siakam

2 Luka Doncic

3 OG Anunoby

THREE STARS VS. SAN ANTONIO

1 Scottie Barnes

2 OG Anunoby

3 Victor Wembanyama

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