The Rap-Up: Toronto Raptors Games for January 3 – 9

It’s that point of 12 months the place everybody’s making New Yr’s Resolutions. So, why don’t we make some for the Raptors?

Fred VanVleet: Watch Forrest Gump. Truly, it might seem Fred’s been watching as a result of “run Forrest run” has been changed by “run Fred run.” He might run all the way in which to an All-Star spot in Cleveland.

Pascal Siakam: Take heed to this entire playlist consisting of songs about December. Spicy P was one in every of 5 gamers to common no less than 22 factors, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists throughout the month of December, joined by LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Karl-Anthony Cities, and Nikola Jokic.

OG Anunoby & Gary Trent Jr.: Watch the NFL playoffs. Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills), J.C. Jackson (New England Patriots), and Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys) are the league’s leaders in interceptions. OG’s already the most effective at turning lazy passes into pick-6’s and GTJ is among the many league leaders in deflections. They will polish off their larceny expertise by watching a few of the finest thieves in soccer.

Scottie Barnes: Keep true to your self. Barnes already performs with the exuberance that you simply and I’d if we have been paid thousands and thousands of {dollars} to play basketball. His latest feedback about what he did in isolation additional show that he’s identical to us. By no means lose that innocence, Scottie!

Dalano Banton, Yuta Watanabe, Valuable Achiuwa, Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, Svi Myhailiuk, Malachi Flynn, Justin Champagnie, David Johnson, and Isaac Bonga: Play prefer it’s the ultimate minute of your NBA profession. The Raptors rank lifeless final in factors per recreation from reserves (24.5) however a giant motive why is additionally they rank lifeless final in minutes per recreation (14.3). With the staff lastly at full energy (you’ll learn that loads on this publish), minutes distribution modifications for the reserves. For the 4-6 gamers that see taking part in time, it’s not a lot about rising the variety of factors they rating, however actually simply holding down the fort whereas the starters get relaxation.

Goran Dragic: Hold capturing. Most followers weren’t happy to see Dragic utilizing his “private causes” time to get some shots up in the Miami Heat practice facility. I get the frustration however the glass is all the time half full. With groups signing G-League/CEBL/worldwide gamers left, proper, and heart, Dragic can keep any type of commerce worth by merely staying in form.

Most of those resolutions are tongue-in-cheek however to be fully trustworthy, the whole staff can have a profitable 2022 by collectively following one decision: keep wholesome! Latest wins over the Warriors, Clippers, and Knicks — heck, even the losses to the Cavaliers and Sixers — present that it is a season about survival. The staff with the more healthy roster, particularly these that may keep away from well being & security protocols, will come out on high!

For what it’s price, I’ve already damaged my decision of holding these intros shorter! On to this week’s video games!

January 4 vs San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio involves Toronto with an additional day of relaxation and a barely lighter roster. Doug McDermott and Lonnie Walker entered well being & security protocols on Saturday, so they need to be out for this one. The Spurs are in the course of a brutal 7-game highway journey (and 11 highway video games out of 13) that isn’t even their longest of the season — that might be their annual rodeo highway journey, which lasts 8 video games and covers most of February.

The Spurs misplaced their first two video games of the journey in Memphis and Detroit. The Pistons recreation should have been particularly irritating as they have been with out Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant. This journey solely will get more durable as this recreation is the primary of a back-to-back, the second in Boston, adopted by journeys to Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and New York, with the final video games on a back-to-back too.

Solely 4 gamers common no less than 17 factors, 8 rebounds, and eight assists — Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, James Harden… and Dejounte Murray. On the defensive finish, Murray is tied with VanVleet for the league lead in deflections per recreation (3.8, simply forward of Trent Jr. who averages 3.6). He additionally ranks simply behind Alex Caruso, Paul George (each at 2.04), and Trent Jr. (2.03) in steals per recreation with 2.00.

The one different notable Spur on NBA leaderboards is a few fellow named Jakob Poeltl, who ranks third in offensive rebound %, eighth in FG%, and fifteenth in blocks per recreation.

Enjoyable reality which will solely curiosity me

Spurs Assistant Coach, Becky Hammon, made headlines final week by changing into the following head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

The supposed inheritor obvious to Gregg Popovich — she nonetheless might be — was additionally recognized for her excellent WNBA profession (2x All-WNBA First Crew; 6x All-Star; member of fifteenth, twentieth, and twenty fifth Anniversary groups).

What some might not know or keep in mind is that her skilled profession began eerily much like a present Raptor. Hammon was a prolific scorer in highschool however was not extremely recruited as a result of she was thought of too small. She would lead her mid-major faculty to NCAA match success and lift some scouts’ eyebrows. Nonetheless, Hammon would go undrafted, signing with the New York Liberty and backing up their hall-of-fame-worthy level guard (Teresa Weatherspoon). She grew to become a fan favorite in New York, ultimately supplanting Weatherspoon because the starter and changing into a co-captain.

The remaining is historical past however not with out first betting on herself!

Prediction

The Spurs are one of many few groups which might be worse at attending to the road than the Raptors. They don’t flip the ball over (third in turnover %) whereas the Raps drive loads (1st in defensive turnover %). San Antonio doesn’t shoot quite a lot of nook threes (thirtieth), an space that usually hurts Toronto (twenty eighth in nook threes allowed). Rock meet onerous place.

San Antonio leads the NBA in assists, averaging a wholesome 28.5 per recreation. When Toronto permits 28 or extra assists, they’re 1-8 on the season. Gulp.

On the flip aspect, the Raptors are nonetheless the most effective offensive rebounding groups (12.9 per recreation, 2nd within the NBA), an space the place the Spurs battle (twenty third). Each time Spurs opponents get 13 or extra offensive rebounds, they’re 4-6. Bump that quantity as much as 15, San Antonio is 0-6. Toronto is third within the NBA with 9 video games of 15 offensive rebounds or extra. With the staff lastly wholesome and a troublesome schedule forward, Toronto rides the wave of momentum they’re on and get previous San Antonio, 110-108.

January 5 @ Milwaukee Bucks

After beginning the season slowly — profitable solely 6 of their first 14 video games — Milwaukee’s gone 19-6, reeling off an 8-game win streak and a 6-game win streak. A kind of 5 losses was at Scotiabank Enviornment.

When these groups met final month, the Bucks have been with out (Giannis) Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Donte DiVincenzo, and the Raptors got here away with a 97-93 victory at house. To be truthful, Toronto was with out OG Anunoby and Khem Birch.

This time round, Milwaukee would be the house staff and are lacking (Thanasis) Antetokounmpo, Lopez, and DiVincenzo. With the Raptors lastly wholesome, this figures to be a superb take a look at of how they stack up in opposition to the most effective within the East.

Enjoyable reality which will solely curiosity me

In 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington R*dskins to win the Super Bowl. Within the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in the course of a 4-year title run. That was the one 12 months the Vince Lombardi and Larry O’Brien trophies have been held by the identical metropolis in the identical season.

With the Green Bay Packers getting into the playoffs with one of the best report within the NFL, they’ve an opportunity to duplicate Los Angeles’ feat and convey one other championship to Wisconsin, alongside the Bucks’ 2021 trophy.

Prediction

After dialing again their three-point frequency final season in favour of extra mid-range pictures, the Bucks have reverted again to the 2018-19/2019-20 Bucks model and are at present firing away from past the arc at a top-4 clip. Toronto did a superb job of holding the Bucks at a decent 11-for-31 within the final assembly, properly under their common of 14.3-for-39.4. If the Raptors can mimic that defensive depth, they could shock a Milwaukee staff that’s constructed their latest 6-game win streak on victories over groups which might be all below .500. Actually, over the past month, Milwaukee’s solely had 2 video games the place they’ve confronted a staff above .500. Each of these video games — house to Cleveland and in Miami — resulted in losses.

Milwaukee might have an additional day of relaxation, however after feasting on the likes of Orlando (twice), New Orleans, and Detroit (which the Bucks truly misplaced), they’re about to face a hungry Raptors staff that’s lastly at full energy. Toronto is a shocking 3-2 within the second video games of back-to-backs, permitting the fewest factors, in comparison with different days of relaxation. It additionally helps that Toronto’s received the final 3 conferences, and 4 of the final 5 in Milwaukee. The Raptors pull off the highway upset and defeat the Bucks 115-107.

January 7 vs Utah Jazz

Rudy Gobert has been pulling his weight and a lot extra for the Jazz this season. He leads the NBA in defensive AND offensive win shares (and clearly whole win shares). Gobert’s additionally adopted go well with from final season by main the league in FG%, 2-point FG%, and efficient FG%… once more… with vital will increase in every class. To high it off, he additionally leads the league in rebounding — a feat he’s by no means accomplished earlier than over a full season.

However Gobert can’t do the whole lot.

After ending 4th final 12 months in offensive ranking, the Jazz have leaped to 1st this season. So, there aren’t any points on that finish of the ground. On the defensive aspect, although, Utah’s relying manner too closely on the excellence of the Stifle Tower. Gobert’s defensive ranking (99.4, ranks 2nd within the NBA) is nearly single-handedly carrying Utah’s Sixth-ranked 107.3 defensive ranking. How do I do know this? Of the seven different gamers who common no less than 16 minutes per recreation, solely Royce O’Neale has a defensive ranking that meets the staff’s common (107). The opposite six gamers all have worse defensive rankings.

Enjoyable reality which will solely curiosity me

If there’s a theme on the high of the Western Convention, it’s continuity.

As seen above, Utah’s beginning 5 has been fortunate with well being this season. Actually, the whole staff has been fairly fortunate. The Jazz are the one staff within the NBA to not have any of its gamers enter well being and security protocols! ** insert eyes emoji **

Prediction

The magic quantity is 15. The Jazz are one of the best 3-point capturing staff within the league averaging 15 three-pointers made per recreation. Once they hit that many threes in a recreation, they’re an astonishing 17-3. When the Raptors enable their opponents to attain 15 threes or extra in a recreation, as they did within the earlier assembly this season (19 threes from Utah), Toronto is 3-7 (and 0-5 when the opponent hits no less than 17). Toronto’s three-point protection has picked it up these days, solely permitting 15 or extra threes in 3 of their final 15 video games.

Sadly, the Jazz aren’t the #1 offense as a result of they solely depend on triples. They’re one of the best staff at attending to the charity stripe — an space that Nurse’s aggressive defensive fashion will all the time be a weak point. This will not be the blowout we noticed within the first assembly, however Utah finds a solution to prevail over Toronto, 117-114.

January 9 vs New Orleans Pelicans

How for much longer can Zion Williamson stay a Pelican? He’s performed the equal of 1 full season (84 video games over two+ seasons), might not return this season and is left with yet another season on his rookie scale earlier than hitting unrestricted free company. New Orleans has no house subsequent low season, in order that they’re locked right into a core of Zion, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Josh Hart, Devonte Graham, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That lineup screams “first-round sweep”, in the event that they even get that far.

With this season virtually half full, however basically over in New Orleans, what does Zion do about his future? His household is already involved about his future and unhappy with the organization. Zion’s expertise, damage historical past, and his staff’s annual journey to the lottery make Williamson somebody to keep watch over. It could not be shocking in any respect if he adopted in former Pelican, Anthony Davis’ footsteps — after years of ineptitude, push your solution to a greater state of affairs.

This 12 months’s rookie class is so deep {that a} stat line like this one by Herb Jones can simply go unnoticed amidst all the opposite nice video games being performed by the league’s freshmen.

Jones, although, has performed his manner into the All-Rookie dialog. As issues at present stand, he’s in line for a shock spot on the Second Crew.

Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, Cade Cunningham, and Josh Giddey seem to paved the way for First Crew. Alperen Sengun, Chris Duarte, and Jalen Inexperienced can be on this hypothetical All-Rookie Second Crew. If (ahem, when) the Pelicans flip to full lottery mode, Jones will seemingly get extra time to shine and increase his personal profile.

Enjoyable reality which will solely curiosity me

Alright, that is admittedly not a enjoyable reality. It’s truly even sadder than the Danny Inexperienced championship ring jokes.

This recreation marks the primary time Jonas Valanciunas performs in Toronto as a customer!

After he was traded in 2019 to Memphis, the Grizzlies didn’t have any video games remaining in Toronto. In 2020, the scheduled recreation in Toronto was canceled due to the pandemic and made up within the Bubble. Final season, all “house” video games have been in Tampa.

Valanciunas lastly returns……and there received’t be a single fan in attendance. Screw you, COVID!

Prediction

The Pelicans will likely be coming to city after enduring a brutal 5-game stretch in opposition to the “who’s who” in as we speak’s NBA: Cleveland, Milwaukee, Utah, Phoenix, and Golden State. They definitely deserve the additional day of relaxation they’ll have over Toronto. Whereas JV will definitely have his manner in opposition to Toronto’s undersized frontcourt, the Raptors’ aggressive protection will certainly trigger matches for a Pelicans squad that’s a bottom-5 staff in turnover price.

The Raptors are 11-5 in opposition to New Orleans since they modified their title from the Hornets (11-3 if we, rightly, don’t depend the Tampa season).

There are some numbers that make this a considerably interesting upset choose, however the Raptors ought to (and can) deal with this like they need to (and can) in opposition to the Spurs — beat up on the lottery-bound staff. Toronto wraps up a profitable week with a 116-108 victory over New Orleans.

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Final Week: 3-0

Season Document for Predictions: 18-15