Raptors HQ - Toronto Raptors 2021-22 Player PreviewsThe International Fan Site of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Clubhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/14481/raptors-fave.png2021-10-22T13:30:00-04:00http://www.raptorshq.com/rss/stream/224869832021-10-22T13:30:00-04:002021-10-22T13:30:00-04:00Player Preview: Fred VanVleet takes the point guard mantle
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<p>It will never be easy taking Kyle Lowry’s spot, but finding a balance between floor general and his personal skillset will be key for Fred VanVleet — and the Raptors.</p> <p id="xbE9gw">Through all the pre-game hype videos at the Raptors home opener on Wednesday — the Kardi singalongs, the palpable joy of seeing Canada’s basketball team back in, well, Canada — you could feel the absence of Kyle Lowry. That much was obvious.</p>
<p id="WyS90p">Lowry and the Raptors have been so synonymous with each other under this unprecedented generation of success, one Toronto is tentatively moving on from in the early stages of this season. Lowry’s attitude constantly pushed the team to success when it looked like none was possible. Even last year, with a pandemic raging and the team limping through a season in Tampa, Lowry still found a way to have multiple middle-fingers-up-classic-Kyle-Lowry moments.</p>
<p id="ZhNUQ3">This isn’t a player preview for Kyle Lowry, though. It’s for the guy who’s generally thought of as taking his place as the team’s leader. </p>
<p id="w6Ts01">Fred VanVleet has large shoes to fill this season, and that pressure might be enough to cave a lot of players. With five years of NBA experience, though — coming off his best statistical season to date in 2020-21, averaging 19.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game — VanVleet isn’t shying away from the spotlight in Toronto. OG Anunoby may be the number one option and Pascal Siakam may be the All-Star soon to return as the team’s top iso player, but through a combination of voice and basketball position, this is VanVleet’s team for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p id="ZJQeue">He understands where the team is at too. This won’t be a 2019-20 situation, where a collection of veterans can grind and push each other, with a collective understanding of what it takes to win in the NBA. This is an incredibly young team who’re going to give a lot of run to players like Scottie Barnes, Dalano Banton, and Precious Achiuwa.</p>
<p id="DWh9Yf">In <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/lewenberg-fred-vanvleet-ready-to-lead-toronto-raptors-back-to-prominence-1.1707975">an interview with TSN’s Josh Lewenberg</a>, VanVleet recognized his role as shepherd.</p>
<blockquote><p id="BAELFf">“For me as a point guard, [I’m] just focusing on the growth of the guys, which guys need to get where, and just trying to be a part of that process,” VanVleet said. “If [we’re not a championship team right now] then we’ve still gotta build it up and I still gotta hold myself and my teammates to a high standard because that’s the best way to grow. But at the same time, it’s just realizing that every mistake isn’t the end of the world. It’s a weird dynamic because when you’re chasing a championship the way you deal with things is totally different than when you’re not. So, it’ll be a new experience, but for me, the only way I know how to do it is to go try to win every game possible and figure out what happens from there.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="MMHxAP">So this season, VanVleet’s job is finding out where his skillset best fits among this experimental roster. </p>
<p id="Bmz2f0">The first thing he’ll need to understand is that he’s <em>not</em> Kyle Lowry, and that if the team is going to run more offence through Anunoby and Barnes, that VanVleet is going to need to change where he finds his opportunities — hopefully shading more to the off-ball star that blossomed during the Raptors’ title run in 2019.</p>
<p id="XjMgKe">In the season opener versus Washington, you saw on the first play what Fred can bring. After winning the tip, VanVleet caught the ball on a swing from Goran Dragic, catching a soft weak side defence and draining a deep three. That understanding of NBA defences and where the mushy spots are will be key. </p>
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<p id="QMW5Cq">It also means — on this version of the Raptors — that he doesn’t always need to be creating driving lanes, something Lowry would often do in his prime. VanVleet doesn’t have the same kind of rim running game as Lowry, which often resembled a bowling ball in a china shop, bouncing off bigs at high-velocity angles, creating a layup or a foul where one didn’t seem possible.</p>
<p id="4ghohs">Rather, VanVleet would be better served developing a steady floater, or attacking from the weak side when one of the bigger Raptors is the primary option. On a team where anyone and everyone will be bringing up the ball, and where opposing teams don’t have as many shooters to honour while they pack the paint on defence, VanVleet will need to adapt his game.</p>
<p id="t4ShOw">And, of course, Fred needs to make his three-point shots. His percentage took a dip in Tampa, from 39.0% to 36.6% on just over two more attempts per game (6.9 to 9.2). This seems like normal regression for depression, if I can use the term, considering how miserable everyone was in Tampa. If VanVleet can get back to sniffing 40% — taking more open threes at the end of the shot clock and less forces on limited action — the Raptors’ starting units are going to thrive. The chemistry he can build with Scottie Barnes is super intriguing too, as the rookie has already shown the ability to find the open man in traffic.</p>
<p id="CDoKaQ">More esoterically, Fred VanVleet’s role on the Raptors this season is to calm the waters. As one of just a few members who were there when the team won it all in 2018-19, VanVleet understands pressure situations and how to succeed through them. With a large swath of raw talent, Toronto is going to be up against these difficult moments a lot this season.</p>
<p id="L1KwYK">Up until last year, Kyle Lowry was always the guy who would get mad, get a bucket, and right the ship. Now that falls to Fred, and even though his game is miles apart from his mentor, there’s no question he can handle the job of leading the Raptors on and off the court.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/22/22725265/player-preview-toronto-raptors-fred-vanvleet-point-guard-mantleJohn Gaudes2021-10-22T12:00:00-04:002021-10-22T12:00:00-04:00Player Preview: Is this the year Chris Boucher finds consistency?
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<p>The lanky forward has flashed equal displays of brilliance and confusion.</p> <p id="rZHftN">Chris Boucher is incredibly fun to root for. Has an <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/longform/inside-chris-bouchers-incredible-evolution-impact-nba-player/">incredible backstory</a>, a journey that takes him from Saint Lucia to Montreal, from poverty to discovering hoops in his late teens, from knee injury to an NBA champion to a multimillion dollar contract with the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a>. He’s covers the court in long, graceful strides and he’s full of energy, tossing in threes with that catapult-like shot and flashing his signature play — blocking opponents’ three-pointers. </p>
<p id="cXVND3">Through it all he has steadily improved, on both sides of the floor. in 2019 he was a project; in 2020 he was a play-him-in-spurts bench energy guy; in 2021 he was a top seven rotation player.</p>
<p id="v1Fizw">One last thing now remains: Delivering consistent play, on both ends of the floor, from game-to-game. </p>
<p id="j5q5GP">It’s one of the hardest things for a player to do. We saw Norman Powell struggle with it for years. It took Fred VanVleet a couple of season too. Heck, it took the greatest Raptor of All Time, Kyle Lowry, almost seven years and three teams before you could call him reliable.</p>
<p id="3HQV9b">And consistency isn’t just a matter of shots dropping; that’s going to fluctuate, especially for a big who plays on the perimeter like Boucher. Overall, we know he can shoot — he converted on 38% of his three-pointers last year, on almost four attempts per game.</p>
<p id="JP9xLe">It’s more about finding his spots at the right time. Making the right cuts, relocating, knowing when to dive and when to pop out — and developing that chemistry with his point guards. Finding ways to score on the nights when the shot isn’t dropping. </p>
<p id="QlX12r">For Boucher, that might mean expanding his offensive game a little bit. Boucher isn’t going to be a top option on offense; Nick Nurse is not going to turn to him as a shot creator or playmaker. But the Raptors, as we have seen, struggle in the half court. What can Boucher do to alleviate that? Well, navigating the screener side of the PnR will help. But a post move or two, a baby hook or a drop step/up-and-under move, might serve him well. We saw Scottie Barnes unleash a couple of post moves on Wednesday’s season debut; does Boucher have something similar up his sleeve? </p>
<p id="fknfcp">Or perhaps most practical: How would a consistent midrange jumper fit his game? I know, <em>midrange bad, threes and layups good</em>. But the midrange <em>matters</em>. One of the biggest elements missing from last season’s Raptors compared to the previous year, was Serge Ibaka’s midrange jumper. It was deadly. In pick-and-roll situations, Ibaka could pop all the out to the three-point line, he could roll to the rim, or he could take one step laterally and drain that J. It kept defenses guessing. With Chris, it’s either three or dunk. A midrange option could really help him, and the team.</p>
<p id="hD0JGX">Inconsistency rears its head on the other end of the floor, too. Chris is a highlight-reel shot-blocker. It’s one of his greatest assets. But it’s also a weakness — his propensity to go for the swat often takes him out of position defensively, or leaves him out of rebounding position. (Or both, I guess.) Knowing when to go for the block and when to play solid positional D is something Chris is still working on. He’s also working on verticality; he likes to go for the big swat, but swinging your arm like that can lead to extra foul calls. </p>
<p id="qwKni3">Outside of shot blocking, again Boucher again has an even good/bad ratio. Sometimes he moves his feet quickly, and stays with smaller and faster players. Other times he's caught standing still. </p>
<p id="V13g0g">The good/bad teeter-totter needs to shifting in favour of the good side. Given the that Boucher has gotten better every year, and given what he’s gone through to get where he is, I have to believe he can get his game to that level. </p>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/22/22739486/toronto-raptors-player-preview-chris-boucher-role-consistency-health-defenseJosh Kern2021-10-21T13:30:00-04:002021-10-21T13:30:00-04:00Player preview: Pascal Siakam has a lot of weight to carry
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<p>The Raptors star forward won’t play for another month, but will be highly scrutinized upon his return.</p> <p id="ci9jmO">In 2019-20, Pascal Siakam averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 45/36/79 shooting splits, made the All-Star team and made second-team All-NBA, leading the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> to the second-best record in the NBA. He was labeled one of the league’s up-and-coming stars.</p>
<p id="6aA7o9">In 2020-21 as the Raptors floundered in Tampa, Siakam averaged 21.4/7.2/4.5 on 46/30/83 splits, and — judging from reactions from certain circles of fandom and media — you’d think he was one of the worst players in the league. </p>
<p id="I8Czz4">By now, you know this: There really isn’t too much of a raw statistical difference between Siakam’s past two seasons, despite the dark clouds that surrounded him in Florida. Siakam is a very good basketball player! And that hate was and is unwarranted. </p>
<p id="gcgEgO">But some negativity is indeed deserved. The clutch shooting numbers are not great — we all remember all those Siakam shots bouncing off the rim in critical situations, and the double-dribble in the closing minutes against the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com">Knicks</a>.</p>
<p id="av1Hdp"><strong>Siakam Clutch Shooting:</strong></p>
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<li id="LLKA7D">2019-20: 30 games, 51.9% on 1.7 attempts per game (21-9 record)</li>
<li id="TPsh8C">2020-21: 29 games, 35% on 1.4 attempts per game (9-20 record)</li>
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<p id="Eck7LF">Siakam’s ability to finish at the rim also suffered; in 2019-20 he made 4.4 buckets within five feet per game, at a 61.6% clip; in 2020-21 that dropped to 3.9 per game at a 59.9% rate. Not a <em>huge</em> difference, to be sure, but enough, especially given how much the Raptors needed scoring at the rim, what with the team’s giant gaping hole at centre. </p>
<p id="8lwPeA">Then there was the off-the-court/adjacent-to-the-court stuff: Leaving a game early, getting into a shouting match with Nick Nurse and so on.</p>
<p id="Jhj2pZ">Here’s the point where I remind myself that this isn’t a <em>review</em>, it’s a <em><strong>preview</strong></em>. What does all of the above mean to Siakam, and to his role on this Raptors squad, heading into 2021-22?</p>
<p id="DJGLwo">It means Siakam has a lot of pressure on him. To put up better numbers than last year, especially shooting numbers. To be a better leader than last year, especially with Kyle Lowry’s departure. To help the team win more games. To prove that he’s a #1 guy and that he’s “worthy” of his contract. </p>
<p id="dnUXjw">And that pressure isn’t just the external factors — Siakam will be pressured on the floor. The fact is that Siakam is the team’s most effective offensive weapon. We saw it in the team’s first game: They don’t have a lot of scoring threats in the halfcourt; they couldn’t get anything going on Wednesday night against the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com">Washington Wizards</a>, not exactly known as a stalwart defensive team. They threw multiple defenders at OG Anunoby, effectively neutralizing him. Teams will do the same to Siakam, probably with even more aggression, and they’ll do </p>
<p id="iJTKC3">Thankfully, Siakam’s improved playmaking last season should pay dividends in those cases — it should also help Anunoby thrive. And if Scottie Barnes continues to develop, his court vision and basketball IQ should also help relieve some of that pressure. </p>
<p id="CLzdQT">Between the bad vibes of last season, and the offseason surgery, it’s hard to predict what to expect from Siakam this year. Of course, I know he’s <em>capable</em> of doing all of those things. Even in his down year, numbers aside, his defense remained solid and his playmaking improved significantly. He’s still got room to grow. He’s never shied away from putting in the work.</p>
<p id="KFq0wv">Not coincidentally, the Raptors’ team-building philosophy seems to be “build around guys like Siakam.” From Scottie Barnes to Precious Achiuwa to Isaac Bonga, pretty much every player the Raptors brought in this offseason is long, athletic, can guard multiple positions and play more than one position on offense. Their shooting might need work, but they’ve all got some ball handling and playmaking skills. </p>
<p id="lTH8IA">Who better to lead them than Siakam? This roster’s built for him.</p>
<p id="Zl8AvM">And he looks to be in good shape, considering the offseason surgery. His attitude seems to be in the right place, which, to me, was the thing that stood out most last year; not just the fighting with his coach but the lack of joy in his game. I really hope to see that return this season.</p>
<p id="q4l4c8">But none of that really matters if it doesn’t translate to production on the floor. <em>Can</em> he do all those things? Yes. <em>Will</em> he? We won’t know that until he gets back on the court. </p>
<p id="KgrX5z">What I do know for sure is that A) I can’t wait to see him back out there, and B) I’m rooting for him, big time. </p>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/21/22735779/toronto-raptors-player-preview-pascal-siakam-high-expectationsJosh Kern2021-10-21T11:00:00-04:002021-10-21T11:00:00-04:00Player Preview: Scottie Barnes’ rapid development instrumental for Raptors success
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<p>With Pascal Siakam sidelined with a shoulder injury, Scottie Barnes’ game-to-game development is critical.</p> <p id="AkwT3R">We’ve come a long way from draft day. </p>
<p id="03cqzc">I, like many of the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> faithful, was locked in on Gonzaga standout Jalen Suggs. All the tools were there. A steady, head strong, two-way lead guard. With Kyle Lowry’s imminent departure, he would fit the vacated backcourt spot like a glove. </p>
<p id="mLzfZN">When the Raptors selected Scottie Barnes 4<sup>th</sup> overall, the disappointment of not getting our guy arose. </p>
<p id="kZSk7M">That disappointment lasted all of 18 hours. Barnes had already won us over in less than a day.</p>
<p id="l4irvH">It’s not difficult to root for the 20-year old Barnes. His reaction to getting drafted by Toronto brought smiles all around the war room. One thing that stood out immediately was his infectious energy. Then, an impressive summer league showing later, we were sold. Fast forward a couple of months and he’s the hero that was promised to save us from that cursed season away from home. As the saying goes, trust in Masai.</p>
<h2 id="lDvWYq"><strong>What we saw:</strong></h2>
<h3 id="XuF6K4"><strong>On and on and on…</strong></h3>
<p id="XiBSjY">What Barnes doesn’t lack in any situation, is energy. On the court, he’s always right in the middle of the action. If he’s not battling with bigs down low, he’s chasing guards under and over screens. If he’s not the one starting the fast break after a rebound or steal, he’s doing his best Pascal Siakam impression by sprinting down the wing. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keep your eye on Scottie Barnes. Great hustle & speed getting up the floor. Completely dusts Sengun <a href="https://t.co/UcmJrUTuOV">pic.twitter.com/UcmJrUTuOV</a></p>— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftDummies/status/1447709052771790855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="EGLgpu">On the bench, he talks and claps so loud you can hear him from the stands. Scottie Barnes is the Energizer Bunny in the flesh. He just keeps going and going. </p>
<p id="MhBypW">However, constant energy with good decisions isn’t sustainable. Most rookies do seem to hit a wall around the 35-game mark. How he adjusts will be important. Will he start to commit silly turnovers due to exhaustion? Get into foul trouble for being, as Kevin Garnett would put it, too hype? What’s the right balance? Barnes will have to adjust to the long season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.</p>
<h3 id="azwizF"><strong>Magic?</strong></h3>
<p id="J2rQo8">Through 5 preseason games, Barnes posted 4 games with over 5 assists. Whether it’s through dribble hand offs, or down in the post, Barnes’ playmaking is much further along than expected. He’s made some great reads in both situations, creating quality scoring opportunities. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is a great read from Scottie Barnes, seeing OG on the weak side. With all the action taking place around the elbow and Precious cutting to the basket, defenders decide protect the paint. The skip pass forces the defender to close out, allowing for the dribble pull-up. <a href="https://t.co/hqGMgLycWl">pic.twitter.com/hqGMgLycWl</a></p>— Waell (wa-ill) (@CoachWaell) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWaell/status/1446475668376719372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a>
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<p id="GiFgwV">In the post, he finds cutters for layups (Gary Trent Jr. and Svi Mykhailiuk have already seemed to make a connection in the regard with Barnes). In a dribble handoff situation, he has the ball handling and physical tools to fake and take it to the rim. With the gravity shooters like Fred VanVleet and Trent can command, Barnes will see himself in multiple 4-on-3 situations. And with his passing at such a high level already, only good things can happen.</p>
<p id="DtiP5D">Barnes’ feel for the game is not like the average rookie. It’s what makes it difficult for me to manage my expectations. So many rookies play at an uncontrolled pace and force the issue leading to unnecessary turnovers. While it’s likely we will see Barnes make those mistakes during the season, in the preseason he led all rookies in assists per game while posting a 3-to-1 assist to turnover rate. He shows an incredible amount of poise. We just have to see if he can continue to play like this when it matters.</p>
<h2 id="5N8RWd"><strong>What We’ll Need to See</strong></h2>
<h3 id="k7o6xk"><strong>Follow Through!</strong></h3>
<p id="LYPn2M">Despite being better than advertised as a shooter, Barnes failed to connect on a single three pointer in five preseason games. He’s only attempted eight threes, a little less than two per game. His mid range and short game however, was pleasantly surprising.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scottie Barnes looking very comfortable shooting these little fade-aways in the lane. These are great shots for him. <a href="https://t.co/qcqjOvu8e7">pic.twitter.com/qcqjOvu8e7</a></p>— Brett Usher (@hooperbole) <a href="https://twitter.com/hooperbole/status/1446991131422515200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2021</a>
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<p id="VrCTNj">While Barnes is destined to take some of the playmaking responsibilities off of Siakam’s shoulders, his shooting will have to be respectable. It’s not realistic to expect 35 to 40% from distance, but more in the range of 29 to 32%. At some point in the season, we could be seeing a lineup of VanVleet, Anunoby, Barnes, Siakam, and Birch. With Anunoby and VanVleet being knockdown shooters, opponents are likely to put their second big on Barnes. He needs to make them pay just enough to where Toronto can take advantage of Nick Nurse’s crazy scientist lineups.</p>
<h2 id="36Fh0A"><strong>Final Expectations</strong></h2>
<p id="9zQKW9">Scottie Barnes is an amazing prospect. 6’9” and can guard 1-through-5. Impressive feel for the game, excellent decision maker, and great teammate. He could possibly be the best prospect in this draft (my vote goes to Cleveland’s Evan Mobley), a just reward for that disastrous and cursed season in Tampa. </p>
<p id="avSNOF">But Barnes is not that guy yet and he has a long way to go. All signs point to continued improvement from the <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> Seminole, but as of now, just an exciting rookie. Numbers don’t always measure the impact Barnes could have but his numbers could likely fall in between the range of 7.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 4.5 rpg on 48/28/64 shooting splits and 11/5/5 on 52/32/71 shooting splits. Like I said earlier though, I have trouble managing my expectations. I do hope it’s the second line. It’s unlikely he wins Rookie of the Year due to the opportunities afforded to Houston’s Jalen Green and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, but with his upside he might win Defensive Player of The Year in 5 years. Or MVP, who knows?</p>
<p id="R5Wgi8">The best indicator of future success is history. The flashes we’ve seen in the preseason, and to a lesser extent the summer league, offer a glimpse into what Barnes is capable of doing. An infectious energy guy with a high motor. A self described 6’9” point guard whose no-look passes emulate an all time great. I, or we, cannot get ahead of ourselves but one thing is certain: It will be a pleasure watching him play this season. </p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/21/22733730/toronto-raptors-player-preview-scottie-barnes-rapid-development-instrumental-for-raptors-successZakaria Abdulle2021-10-20T15:30:00-04:002021-10-20T15:30:00-04:00Player Preview: Has Isaac Bonga finally found a home?
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<p>Once was thought of as a long shot to make the Raptors’ opening night roster, Isaac Bonga beat the odds to join his third team in four years. Could he possibly be on a team that wants him?</p> <p id="V4mvzi">Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA. One can be seen as a long-term prospect with a high ceiling one day, only to be seen as a trade chip the next. Not all raw prospects would get the “rope” that “years-away” players like Bruno Caboclo had, and sometimes, it takes the right situation for them to blossom. For Isaac Bonga, it’s been a bumpy NBA journey after starting his career in places not ideal for a development project like him.</p>
<p id="iACdZU">Bonga had a decent season for the South Bay <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a>, where he played with Svi Mykhailiuk during their rookie season. He was a lanky 6’8” point forward that alternated flashes of court vision and carelessness with the ball. Bonga was determined to work on his perimeter shooting back then, and he shot a modest 34.4% during his lone G League season. Unfortunately, his growth was stunted once he was traded to the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com">Washington Wizards</a>, and they let him go when his contract expired. He then had to fight his way to beat the odds of making the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a>’ opening night roster.</p>
<h3 id="h0a0rQ">Player Profile</h3>
<p id="2h1V4G">Defensively, Bonga’s unlikely to lock anyone down. However, his length, IQ, and activity cause spacing issues for the opposing team. Based on the preseason, he’s good enough to stay in front as an on-ball defender and provide enough resistance. It’s Bonga’s natural fit with the team’s defensive philosophy that stood out during the preseason. He’s very switchable. He demonstrated good defensive reads in making quick rotation decisions and when to gamble by either getting his fingertips on the ball or showing his length to discourage a pass in his zone. Add his nose for the ball and the knack for finding the small opening to grab the rebound; his fit on the defensive end is undeniable.</p>
<p id="XA57nm">Offensively is when Bonga’s got a lot of work to do. Actually, let’s not even get into a debate as to what his natural position should be. At this point the question should be — even in position-less basketball — what can he do to score in the half-court set? His offense is non-existent outside of the paint. His handle is very loose for a guard and does not give him the advantage to create separation. Bonga also doesn’t have the quick first step nor explosion to finish his moves. If people get frustrated with Pascal Siakam’s preference to go for a layup than go strong for a dunk, Bonga’s a much more under-the-basket finisher than Siakam. </p>
<p id="fN51MK">His saving grace offensively is his ability to make plays— he sees the floor well and can set his teammates up. His IQ also allows him to make those hockey assists and make passes that lead his teammates to a scoring opportunity that initially looked like it wasn’t there. </p>
<p id="cadnBL">Now, don’t get me wrong here — Bonga’s not totally scoring challenged. He’s got the basic Euro-step package and utilizes the same spin move that Siakam and OG Anunoby like to use. Bonga’s also got a couple of go-to moves. He likes to go left on a downhill and will finish with a feathery lefty touch, and the other is a sweeping hook shot going to his right that is impossible to block.</p>
<h3 id="dawcAG">Looking Ahead</h3>
<p id="p8I6u2">Often, the right situation can do wonders for a player. Bonga found a team that values his skill set, size, and effort and is willing to overlook his limitations. Not to take anything away from him, but Bonga was able to show enough in limited minutes on the court and in the training camp that he’s worth a potential year-long look. </p>
<p id="9TiFGD">On a healthy Raptors roster, Bonga won’t be part of the rotation. However, coach Nick Nurse likes to throw a curveball whenever the Raptors are in a rut. Chris Boucher, Oshae Brissett, and Yuta Watanabe have fulfilled that “curveball” role in the past. Looking at the Raptors’ offensively-challenged roster, I’m pretty sure Nurse would find his team in a rut more than he would like this season. So yeah, there’s a chance for Bonga’s number to get called, and he has to make the most of those minutes.</p>
<p id="Tkux23">The Raptors are starting the season with key rotation players injured, namely Siakam and Chris Boucher. While Bonga is not expected to get any of those minutes, that should be enough to move him a few seats closer to get his number potentially called. Outside of that, of course, there’s garbage time.</p>
<p id="4ZtGHJ">A G League assignment is a possibility, but Bonga’s tenure (starting his fourth season) makes it hard for the Raptors to easily assign and recall him. We had this situation a few years ago with Bruno Caboclo. He accepted the assignment but had to be buried with the Raptors 905 due to the rule that makes it tedious to assign a player with more than four years of experience.</p>
<p id="CbFkzz">At this point of Bonga’s career, he needs to start putting things together — enough for the team to keep him for the rest of the season. He has grown into his body (180 lbs. after a trip to a buffet during his rookie year). Bonga’s got the basketball IQ but needs a lot of in-game reps to work on his offensive game. Unfortunately, those minutes will be too few and far between, given the number of good players ahead of him on the roster. </p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/20/22733804/player-preview-toronto-raptors-isaac-bonga-finally-found-a-homeJD Quirante2021-10-20T13:30:00-04:002021-10-20T13:30:00-04:00Player Preview: What’s Yuta Watanabe’s fit — and can he find another level?
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<figcaption>It could be a make of break year for Yuta Watanabe. | Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bench rotations, injury and a dedication to improvement will all play major roles in Watanabe’s season to come.</p> <p id="hWU8wH">Yuta Watanabe is a prototypical Nick Nurse bench player. He’s a defensive-minded, no-quit, hustle machine who does so much of one thing — defense — that you can excuse the things he doesn’t do at the level you would like him to. Yes, that was a long-winded way of saying he’s an excellent defender, but the true mystery of Yuta is in what could come next.</p>
<p id="8IsgMH">Watanabe has a grand total of three NBA seasons under his belt and for as much as last season counts for anything — it surely doesn’t count for much at all — Yuta hasn’t quite had “the full NBA experience” just yet. He rode the pine over 23 games in two seasons with the <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com">Memphis Grizzlies</a> where he showed enough tenacity for the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> player development brain trust to pick him up on a 10-day contract. The 10-day contract grew to a two-way contract and the two-way contract was converted to a full NBA contract by the middle of last season under the auspices that there might be an additional gear that has yet to be unlocked for “The Chosen One”. </p>
<p id="F3ucAd">So what might the next step in Yuta’s progression look like? Well, that depends on how much stock you put into his self-proclaimed, new-found confidence and assertiveness, particularly on the offensive end.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In his about 10-minute press conference today, Yuta Watanabe said the word "aggressive" eight times.<br><br>This must be his theme for this new season <a href="https://t.co/fy2doTYIJt">pic.twitter.com/fy2doTYIJt</a></p>— ラプターズ情報局:Raptors Info Japan (@RaptorsInfoJPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaptorsInfoJPN/status/1444093790654926853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a>
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<p id="NKb2v8">Watanabe showed flashes of an offensive game after his contract was converted. There was <em>some </em>decisiveness off the bounce and the <em>occasional </em>propensity to let it fly from three, but ultimately, Yuta found himself relegated to the quick-swing role in the offense. As a new-ish player who was still finding his way and his minutes, that was okay!</p>
<p id="zclM7z">Now, with the departure of Kyle Lowry, the Toronto pecking order isn’t quite what it used to be. Yes, the trio of Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet will do an extreme amount of heavy lifting for this year’s squad, but what of the bench? More specifically, what happens when Coach Nurse starts to stagger minutes through the middle of the game? Will Yuta fade into the background like he did in Tampa, or will he push the pace the second he touches the ball like he did in his limited pre-season run? Will he be looking to shoot the ball and initiate his offense? One person who seemed to unlock some easier looks was Scottie Barnes, so it will be interesting to see how much Nick Nurse plays them together.</p>
<p id="B3RgtO">The true question, really, is how much of an opportunity Yuta will really have. After a solid showing in the pre-season, Watanabe went down with a calf strain that, initially, was thought to be minor but has now lingered to the point that he could miss time into the regular season. With a hungry bench unit that is clamoring for minutes and opportunities, Yuta will find himself re-entering the fray with a bit of a hill to climb. Will it be too late? Might someone like Svi Mykhailiuk. Sam Dekker or Justin Champagnie come out strong and carve themselves a solid role?</p>
<p id="aOzqz3">One thing Watanabe has going for him is that Nurse already knows what he’s going to get from his hard-nosed, wing-forward. Here’s hoping he will get the opportunity to showcase that there could be so much more to come.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/20/22735756/toronto-raptors-player-preview-yuta-watanabe-calf-defense-aggressivenessMitch Orsatti2021-10-20T12:00:00-04:002021-10-20T12:00:00-04:00Player Preview: Malachi Flynn has the keys to the bench unit
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After a strong finish to the 2020-21 season, Malachi Flynn is set to have the first regular role of his NBA career.</p> <p id="TACVYp">Of every player to have a slow start to their rookie season, Malachi Flynn surely has one of the best excuses. Granted, as the 29th overall pick by the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a>, he wasn’t expected to produce anything more spectacular than his 7.5 points and three assists per game. But Flynn’s gradual development throughout the 2020-21 season — he averaged two points in eight minutes per game pre-All-Star break versus 10 points in 25 minutes post-break — was surely slowed by the strange circumstances of his rookie year.</p>
<p id="kDhSdb">With no summer league, no real training camp, and, due to injuries on the NBA roster and issues with COVID-19 protocols, a mere six games played in the G-League, Flynn was only given a brief taste of the Raptors’ well-reputed developmental system. Flynn logged 207 total minutes (averaging 21 points on 57 TS%, mind you) in the G-League last season; for reference, Fred VanVleet and Delon Wright played 518 and 536 G-League minutes apiece in their rookie seasons. </p>
<p id="2dKQ0B">Luckily, with Kyle Lowry and VanVleet on last year’s roster, Flynn was able to remain comfortably in the background for the season’s first few months without being rushed into too big a role. By the time the onslaught of COVID absences, injuries, and “injuries” arrived, Flynn’s meek offensive play was beginning to catch up to his already quite competent defense. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April 2021, during which he shot 41% from three while averaging 12.7 points and 4.8 assists. While he still looked a step slow at times on offense, Flynn was clearly ahead of where he’d been to start the year.</p>
<p id="Ncl2g1">Now, with no Lowry on the team, Flynn will in all likelihood be placed in the role of full-time backup point guard. Last season, the Raptors fared well with their best players on the court, outscoring opponents by 13.4 per 100 possessions with a Lowry-VanVleet-Powell-Siakam-Anunoby lineup. But things got hairy when the starters exited the game and the team’s paltry depth became exposed. If the Raptors want to be a playoff team once again, they’ll have to get more out of their reserves.</p>
<p id="EjipY1">This begs the key question surrounding Malachi Flynn’s upcoming season: can he help lead a successful bench unit? It remains to be seen who will spend the most time next to Flynn in the backcourt — and who that is might depend on just how comfortable he looks. If Nurse chooses to start Gary Trent Jr., the steady playmaking hand of Goran Dragic would surely help keep their bench unit afloat while the starters rest — but Dragic’s services probably won’t be available to Nick Nurse past the trade deadline.</p>
<p id="FV94nN">Then, of course, there’s the possibility that Flynn comes off the bench with Trent, a skilled shooter who, at the same time, would do little to alleviate Flynn’s playmaking burden. In either scenario, it’d be nice to see Flynn operate more in the pick-and-roll with partners like like Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, and Precious Achiuwa. When sharing the court with Lowry or VanVleet last year, Flynn was sometimes too passive, and would give them back the ball without properly testing the defense. But as the year progressed we saw more and more <a href="https://twitter.com/BigRingRaps/status/1383496252000665602?s=20">flashes of Flynn’s playmaking out of the pick-and-roll</a>, which was really his bread and butter in college. If Flynn remains aggressive when he reaches the paint and takes the shots when they’re there (see: <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1448095623698391041?s=20">game-clinching bucket vs the Wizards</a> in the preseason), then defenders will overcommit to him, creating <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/events/?ContextMeasure=AST&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0012100039&PlayerID=1630201&RangeType=0&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Pre%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game">opportunities for him to find guys open for kick-outs</a>. </p>
<p id="lCRnUC">Of course, before we saw much of anything from Flynn on offense, it was his solid defense that got him more playing time (spoiler: Nick Nurse likes that aspect of basketball). At six-foot-one and 175 pounds, Flynn is often giving up some strength in his matchups which can make it difficult to navigate screens. But his quickness, his knack for making the right rotation, and his awareness of the team’s scheme make him a plus defender. So, if we’re doing our math here, Flynn is at no risk of losing his spot in the rotation (no matter how much we love Dalano Banton). </p>
<p id="mhLTZ8">Flynn’s defense and ability to hit threes define the floor of his playing time. But how will the Raptors fare in those minutes? It’ll depend on who’s healthy and who’s on the court with him, sure. But after looking ahead of the competition in Summer League — a standard litmus test for whether a second-year player is NBA-calibre — and picking things up at the end of a shaky preseason, the hope is that Flynn will be enough of a positive to make this team’s bench unit better than last. Malachi’s Flynn defense is there, but his progress as an on-ball creator could be the x-factor to how well this team’s depth performs. </p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/20/22730299/toronto-raptors-player-preview-malachi-flynn-bench-unit-keysJoseph Strauss2021-10-19T15:00:00-04:002021-10-19T15:00:00-04:00Player Preview: Whatever comes next for OG Anunoby, soak it all in.
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<img alt="NBA: Preseason-Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NfBuv6tweP92nJJB3UDL7PKbtqg=/0x0:2044x1363/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70017054/usa_today_16965666.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>OG Anunoby is set to begin a potential breakout season. Don’t forget to enjoy it while it’s happening. </p> <p id="2vd2TZ">The entire OG Anunoby experience right now is, outside of the deep stages of the post-season, the most thrilling place to be as a fan. It’s not often a player with the juice to change the fortunes of your franchise comes along, let alone one with such a slow burning developmental arc. The hope of what could be just might kill you eventually, but hitching your wagon to a rising star is just about as good as this sports thing gets. </p>
<p id="lhbUIV">OG’s fifth year, beginning tomorrow, is about possibilities; the road not yet paved but cleanly blueprinted. Expectation foretells disappointment, unless you don’t even know what exactly you’re looking for. </p>
<p id="s1vAQa">It’s fair to assume whatever is on tap for Anunoby this year will be some degree of good. He has of course been just that in each of his NBA seasons, with his niche ranging from super low-usage three-and-D rookie to wildly efficient third option who guards everyone, and guards them well. Each new campaign comes with additional forays into the type of stuff you like to see from true building blocks — a pick-and-roll run here, a pull-up mid-ranger there. All those moments have had an air of experimentation, like Anunoby’s been taking a peek in his bag just to see what’s in there. It feels like the last four years have been in service of what’s about to happen. </p>
<p id="jXym0J">What OG did during Toronto’s exhibition schedule was different, more thrilling, and more all-encompassing than any flashes he’s conjured before. The puny insignificance of four preseason contests is notable, but every self-created three or punishing drive Anunoby completed over the last couple weeks felt like confirmation of the inklings those who’ve long speculated on his upside have held for years. </p>
<p id="97JagT">The breakout is coming in some form or another. What’s important now is enjoying the hell out of it while it’s happening. Worry about the big picture stuff later, relish the 6’8 marble slab of a dude drop 20-plus and moving even larger dudes with ease right now. </p>
<p id="xf2p6Y">Growing pains are going to happen for Anunoby this season. It’s the inevitability that all but the very greatest face as their games expand. They’ll probably even be amplified in OG’s case, considering the circumstances under which he’s set to begin his ascent to a new plane. Toronto’s incumbent best player, Pascal Siakam, is out for who really knows how long to start the year; early, mid or late November all seem like reasonable ETA’s for the former All-NBA Second-Teamer. He is Toronto’s most dynamic ball-handler and scorer, and the third-best passer on the roster at worst. If Anunoby’s near-25 percent usage rate in the preseason is any indication, the majority of the burden Siakam confronts each night as the team’s number one is about to be shifted OG’s way. I’d guess few up-and-coming guys with All-Star aspirations have faced the sort of trial-by-fire Anunoby is about to run up against in the weeks before Siakam returns to share the load. </p>
<p id="f8YBVZ">That said, there’s a lot to pull from the preseason to suggest Anunoby just might be ready for all that responsibility. It could be that he weathers the extra attention defenses throw his way in month one admirably, if not totally flawlessly, and the return of Siakam sets him up for even more of an explosion than he might have been in line for with a fully-healthy roster from the jump; like dropping a difficulty level in 2K and becoming unbeatable to your piddly A.I. foes. </p>
<p id="RyLvfL">His work on the ball over those four warm-up outings does inspire hope. Clearly given the green light to test some stuff out, Anunoby continued the years-long trend of scaling up his workload without hurting his efficiency, and did so on a far more difficult diet of looks than he’s used to. </p>
<p id="nO9TLm">Per <a href="http://NBA.com">NBA.com</a>, 97.1 percent of Anunoby’s threes in 2020-21 were assisted, with assists leading to 70.3 percent of his total baskets. Heap all the preseasony grains of salt onto these numbers you like, but those figures were down to 53.8 and 50 percent respectively over the exhibition schedule. His True Shooting percentage not only held steady, but spiked to 69.1 percent. Again, it’s four workshop games. But damn. His assist totals held steady at 2.2 a game, and he sported a turnover rate of just 14.3 percent, the same as Fred VanVleet. </p>
<p id="7qBovb">None of these figures are to say that Anunoby is <em>for sure</em> about to take the East by storm. Plenty of guys shine under the dimmed and bizarre lights of the preseason only to not quite parlay that into sustained regular season success. Hell, Malachi Flynn looked better than LaMelo freaking Ball in the abbreviated lead up to their rookie years. However, the wildly altered shot profile, and the sheer comfort with which OG took on top scoring duties do lend credence to all the buzz from the broader NBA coverage world that has OG penciled in as one of the key swing characters of 2021-22. </p>
<p id="CT7bBt">What’s important now is to not let your expectations outpace reality. Even if Anunoby is loading up the springs for a leap, there’s almost no way the end product will be on display over the next six months. These things take time, and plenty of flashpoint learning moments. The first month will be a fast, extremely flavourful marinade to help out with the seasoning. But growth curves can’t progress without the rest of the league’s help. If OG comes out bombs away as a number on scorer early, the league will adjust, meaning he’ll have to in response, and so it’ll go until he maxes out his ability or slams through the ceiling. Jayson Tatum’s been going through the process Anunoby’s about to start for the better part of four seasons, and still isn’t anywhere close to finished. Most of the greats truthfully never are. </p>
<p id="ioyT5B">There is an outcome, perhaps a not terribly unlikely one, that sees Anunoby struggle to match his preseason efficiency, where is 20 percent mark on pull-up threes last year makes a comeback, and where his fledgling playmaking makes him an easy target for double-teams from which can’t keep the Raptors’ offense moving. His usually sterling efficiency will probably drop off some some degree. If his true shooting percentage falls slightly to 58 percent, that’s overwhelming success. If it tumbles to something below average — 53, even 52 percent, it’s by no means a failure. That’s not a conclusion anyone should be drawing about OG’s expansion for years. </p>
<p id="TFjHps">The way Siakam has become one of the most idiotically discussed players in all of basketball should be a good example of how <em>not </em>to approach these next few years of Anunoby. Siakam went from delightful surprise to legit home grown star to guy who is apparently broken all within the span of a couple years. In actuality, Siakam is just fine, and this coming season could be yet another positive step in his grander growth arc as well. By April, the Siakam-slandering corners of Raptors internet and NBA media could end up looking pretty stupid. The same will apply to any reactionaries who jump at the first signs of struggle of Anunoby as some sort of proof that all the All-Star prognostication with him was off-base. If the first month is trying, that’s OK; more than that, it’s part of the deal. Impatience for the end destination will leave you wishing you’d paid attention on the way there.</p>
<p id="QIk95x">It really sucks that this is true, but Anunoby’s contract will probably be what keeps the discourse about him several degrees cooler than it has been in Siakam’s case. He’s already wildly underpaid, and his new deal doesn’t even kick in until Wednesday. Any step he takes beyond the All-Defense-worthy, dead-eye shooter status he occupies today is a bonus; stagnation won’t come with the cap-brained laboriousness with which Siakam’s max deal is analyzed. </p>
<p id="h44WJM">So there’s really no excuse not to revel in the excitement of what comes next for Anunoby. It’s new, and unknown. Whether Anunoby morphs into an All-NBA quality two-way monster, or something either a little or a lot less than that, is barely relevant right now. Worry about that in 2024. In the mean time, hitch your emotions to every last OG pull-up triple, or coast-to-coast dunk off a steal. Let him inspire a new array of gasps and yelps and other guttural mouth sounds you didn’t even know you could make with each pop of stardom. If he becomes the type of cornerstone he could be, Raptors fans will have years to discuss, debate and enjoy that completed version of Anunoby. You’ll only get one chance, however, to soak in each moment of the climb. </p>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2021/10/19/22733601/player-preview-whatever-comes-next-for-og-anunoby-soak-it-all-in-nba-season-2021-2022Sean Woodley