If I gave you strictly the quick notes for Saturday’s Raptors 905 game, it would seem much like every other Raptors 905 game. After all, they held a fourth-quarter lead, at one point led the game by double-digits, ultimately lost a tight 125-119 decision in the fourth quarter, and were plagued by turnover issues.
But despite a similar box score and line score, the loss to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers hardly followed the usual formula. Odd though it may seem considering the result was the same, Saturday’s felt like one of the 905’s most complete efforts yet. At least in terms of playing a strong 48 minutes, that is. The Vipers are more talented than their 12-8 record suggests, and while the 905 defense hardly came out looking sparkling, the game was also played at a pace that makes the final score a poor representation.
To be honest, I kept an eye on the score throughout the Toronto Raptors’ game and watched afterward. Before turning it on, I thought this recap would wind up very much like the others, a somewhat depressing repetition of learning how to win and how to play a complete game, with the 905 having turned in a great quarter or half only to turn in equally bad parts at times. Pleasantly, that wasn’t the case. The 905 played four mostly even quarters, their offense rarely stalling for more than a few possessions at a time and their defense mostly working hard throughout, save for the difficult task of guarding a team that thrives on tempo in transition opportunity after transition opportunity.
If this seems damning with faint praise, maybe it is. This is a 5-16 team that’s struggled mightily on offense and been a mid-level defense despite having a good deal of talent on paper. Things are somewhat disappointing, if understandable, on the whole, and consistently coming up with reasons for positivity has been challenging. But I’m not reaching, I don’t think, when I express optimism from Saturday’s loss, even if the team themselves are surely unhappy with any silver linings in an 0-2 showing at The D-league Showcase.
[aside header=”More Showcase coverage”]
Axel Toupane setting the mold for Raptors 905 defenders
DeAndre Daniels nearly ready for overdue start with Raptors 905
Sisyphean Raptors 905 suffer best loss to Sioux Falls yet
Ronald Roberts is ready for his showcase
Raptors 905 looking to recharge with mid-season D-League Showcase
D-League Showcase Preview: Talking Raptors 905 with Upside Motor
[/aside]
After trading blows for the better part of four quarters – they opened up a lead early, saw it slip away, then traded it 13 times with 15 ties mixed in – the 905 led 107-104 With 3:46 to play. The game from there unfolded as it tends to for the very young, inexperienced squad. The offense actually kept scoring, a good sign moving forward, but the defense couldn’t keep the Vipers from quick-hitting buckets to take and subsequently stretch a lead. Joshua Smith came on in the post, K.J. McDaniels continued his ridiculously efficient game, Raphael Putney, now free of foul trouble, pushed the offense with his defense, and Will Cummings did well to get others involved.
The 905 should, eventually, be able to match up with a team this talented. Ronald Roberts provides and provided more than Smith and got Putney in enough trouble in the first half the he was neutralized and seemed to be taken out of the game offensively. Scott Suggs can get his own shot with the best of them, though it wasn’t falling against a lot of length in the paint Saturday. Axel Toupane turned in maybe his best performance of the season in support of a starting unit that lacks a natural point guard. And Melvin Johnson picked up where Jay Harris left off Thursday, catching fire off the bench.
I’ll spare the back-and-forth of the final minutes because it’s late on a Saturday and I’m not sure the execution matters all that much. You can watch here and find the box score here, if you care to. The takeaway, for me, was that the 905 put together a 48 minute punch-for-punch with a quality team, and while they couldn’t get it done late, a common refrain, they showed they’re just as good as the Vipers. Considering how tight they’ve played Sioux Falls in four showings, coming up short in all four, that’s a nice confirmation it’s not just familiarity with an opponent that was leading to those incremental improvements.
The losses piling up is straining. There’s no doubt about that, and it would be really nice to see the team start to put together a few wins to continue building with some positive reinforcement. In the absence of those, and in the absence of NBA assignees to evaluate, I think it’s important to recognize that the true D-League core is coming along, however hard that may be to see in the standings. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, or whatever, but playing good teams tight consistently has to be taken as a sign of underlying potential. This team is too talented to keep losing these games that they’re talented enough to stay in.
It’s midnight on a Saturday night. That’s all I’ve got. Here are some quick notes.
Showcase call-up watch
Suggs: Shot 7-of-18 but hit 5-of-8 from outside and remains a firmly plus-40 percent outside shooter. A minor issue for the team is that Suggs isn’t a great distributor and starting point guard Shannon Scott can’t really score, so they lack a clear lead ball-handler.
Toupane: He picked up that facilitating slack, dishing 10 assists with five rebounds, three steals,a nd 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting. His defense and versatility have been close to NBA-ready all year; if his offense continues to improve by the game, he might truly be “on the cusp,” as general manager Dan Tolzman described it to Raptors Republic.
Roberts: Anything Roberts failed to show in a solid-not-great showing Thursday got put on display here. He flashed skill instead of just strength in the post, was terrific as a help rim defender, threw a few quality passes, and was the best player on the floor for long stretches in a game where there are several NBA-caliber players. He finished with 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting with eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
Johnson III: He’s not close to the NBA radar yet but he hit 6-of-10 on threes and is shooting something like 70 percent from the corners this year. Had 26 points and three dimes in 24 minutes.
Putney: Not long removed from a 30-and-20 outing, the 905 did well to get him off his game offensively. He shot 4-of-15 but still finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and six blocks. He’s been great of late.
Smith: The former 350-pounder shot 6-of-6 for 19 points, though he was a non-factor at the rim and on the glass.
Chris Walker: He’s not there yet but if it’s patently obvious why the Rockets wanted to get him in their organization. He’s oozing talent, finished with 10-and-8, and can really play above the rim.
McDaniels: He’s not a prospect since he’s on assignment, but I remain enamored. I’ve been enamored since before the 2014 draft. He hit 5-of-8 from outside en route to a 28-and-10, and if he can ever shoot the three reliably, he’ll find his way to NBA playing time.
