https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBDyS8wRhJ8
The Raptors have assigned Malachi Flynn to the 905. He’ll join fellow rookie Jalen Harris in the G League bubble.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 3, 2021
How Raptors might shore up their problems scoring in transition – Sportsnet
Unlike last season when the Raptors almost always had a traditional centre on the floor to clean up defensive rebounds, the Raptors now only employ one real centre in Aron Baynes. And while Baynes’ rebounding has improved since the start of the season, grabbing 22.3 per cent of defensive rebounds, he is only averaging 18.6 minutes per game, and the Raptors are generally playing much smaller than they have in the past.
The advantage of playing small is that the Raptors are averaging 9.3 steals per game and forcing the most turnovers in the league at 16.8 per cent, which is fueling their transition offence. In fact, the Raptors have been incredibly efficient when they run after steals, with 64.4 per cent of their transition offence coming off steals when the Raptors are scoring at a rate of 145.9 points per 100 possessions, ninth in the league.
One of the significant disadvantages to playing so small, however, is that the Raptors have been forced to “gang rebound” in order to be even average on the defensive glass this season, sending multiple bodies to the boards in order to make up for their lack of rebounding centres. This puts the Raptors in inopportune positions to run after live-ball rebounds because they very rarely have the numbers advantage required to push the pace.
Another disadvantage of playing smaller and gang rebounding is that the Raptors are playing wings like OG Anunoby and Siakam closer to the basket than they have in the past, with both of them averaging career-highs in rebounds, which is part of the reason we have seen so few go-ahead passes this season.
Instead of being in a position to leak out after the centre or guard comes up with the defensive board and finish plays, Anunoby, and especially Siakam, are being put in a position where they have to bring the ball up the court themselves, but their transition playmaking leaves much to be desired.
Diving into the numbers, a lot of the Raptors’ transition woes can be boiled down to their inefficiency after live-ball rebounds. While 34.5 per cent of the Raptors’ transition offence comes after rebounds, they are scoring just 113 points per 100 possessions on those plays, 22nd in the league. Comparatively, last season’s Raptors ran the same amount after rebounds and scored an improved 121.1 points per 100 possessions.
While it helps to have a trail threat like Gasol or Ibaka to finish plays or set drag-screens in transition, it starts with creating a numbers advantage in order to attack a back-tracking defence, and the Raptors are struggling to create those advantages because of their need to gang rebound and play their wings closer to the basket.
Fred VanVleet is re-writing more than Raptors record book – The Athletic
As much as VanVleet fits the typical underdog profile, both in terms of size and reputation — lightly scouted, et cetera et cetera — he does not come with the typical aw-shucks humility.
“I pride myself on trying to play the right way,” VanVleet said. “I’ve sacrificed quite a bit in stretches. I feel like I’m talented, and I feel like I can do a lot more than what I do sometimes.”
That preternatural confidence has been there since the start of his NBA career. The worst question to ask VanVleet is whether he is surprised by some element of his play. He wouldn’t be human if he did not need to prove to himself that he belonged at some point of his journey, but he rarely seems in awe of whatever steps he takes. If and when he makes an All-Star or All-Defense team, expect a similar, “I know I’m pretty good” sentiment.
It takes that mindset to plan your career out from the beginning, despite entering the league as just another four-year senior from a mid-major college. It takes that mindset to sign an initial NBA deal that allows you to become a restricted free agent after just two seasons, as opposed to three or four. It takes that mindset to sign a second deal that allows you to become an unrestricted free agent after just two more years, along with locking in $18 million, while players from your draft year chosen in the first round were still working their way through their rookie contracts.
Obviously, if the confidence is unearned, the foresight isn’t worth much. At the same time, confidence is what allows for the foresight in the first place. The same trait that allowed VanVleet to chart his career in this way allowed him to shake off a brutal start to the 2019 playoffs and burst into flames for the Raptors’ final nine games of their championship run.
“I had been doing so well from the moment I had stepped on to the court and got an opportunity. That was a little two steps back (to make me think), ‘All right, what can we do to get better?’” VanVleet told me last year of the 2019 series against Philadelphia, in which he personally cratered, shooting 3-for-24 from the field and playing only seven minutes in Game 4. “I hadn’t been benched or had my role reduced in a long time. And in (Game 4) … I was just like, ‘Shit. All right. Let’s try to learn from this and see how I can be better.’”
That is what the Raptors love to call “the growth mindset.” His inability to get shots off against the bigger Sixers caused VanVleet to reevaluate his game, a hard thing to do in real-time during the playoffs. It allowed him to come back and be a huge part of the title run, but it also allowed him to improve in the long run.
Fred VanVleet’s Historic Night Sparks New Hope for Raptors | Complex CA
It’s a testament to VanVleet’s spirit and temperament that playing the game the right way was all that mattered even as history beckoned. There was the final play of the third quarter when he sprinted back to defend an Orlando Magic transition opportunity and swiped the ball away from Terrence Ross. There was the kind smile and encouragement he offered DeAndre Bembry when he was wide open for a three-pointer in the corner but Bembry shot it himself, and of course, the three blocks showcasing how he has perfected the art of stripping the ball away from opponents as they rise up to shoot.
“I’ve got to talk to the league about that,” VanVleet said. “I think I would be for sure in the running for the steals leader every year if the swipe downs were listed as steals. But I’ll take the blocks as well, I’m creeping up that ladder.”
When VanVleet entered free agency this past off-season there seemed little doubt that the Raptors needed to maintain his services. Is four years and $85-million already looking like a bargain? A night like this leaves little room for debate. But the stature of the man within stands just as tall as the accomplishments he’s adding to his resume on the basketball court. VanVleet has become an integral member of the Raptors’ culture with his gritty leadership, never-say-die attitude, and swagger. He has become one of the key voices in the locker room and been just as vocal in speaking against racial injustice the Black community has suffered.
As VanVleet got nearer the previous franchise-record and eventually passed it, there was an appreciation from teammates, coaches, and all members of the organization involved that pointed to just how much he means to them beyond putting a basketball through a hoop.
“Y’all know how I feel about him,” Kyle Lowry, the greatest Raptor of all-time said. “That’s my little brother, man, and I’m proud of him. I seen DeMar [DeRozan] sent out the tweet saying I was too old to get it, and I am. But my two guys, DeMar and Freddy, have the records, and even Terrence is in there, and I was able to witness all three of those 50-point games. They all are special to me. Tonight is really special because it came from a kid who was undrafted, worked his way to an NBA player, and an NBA starter, and possibly this year an All-Star and possibly an All-Defensive Player. That’s what makes it really special.”
A bumpy 2-8 start to the season suggested the Raptors had lost too much in the off-season through the departures of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. But as the season progresses and the Raptors having won 7 of 11 to improve to 9-12, it appears the early growing pains of moving to Tampa and new players having to learn the system and earn their place in the rotation are slowly but steadily fading in the rearview mirror.
The bonding moments that can usually occur on the road—the Raptors are in the midst of playing nine of 10 on the road—have largely been eliminated as COVID protocols have meant that players can’t go out together and explore a city or eat out at a restaurant. For this Toronto team that has been battling to find their best selves, a moment where they could all bask in the glory of one—that was also glory for all because of the win that accompanied it—can make all the difference in the world.
Ranking Fred VanVleet’s 54-point night in Raptors history – The Athletic
Our own John Hollinger created Game Score, so I’m contractually obligated to stop the article here and award VanVleet the honour. If John allowed us to dive deeper, we’d explore that Game Score is created to give an approximate measure of statistical productivity in a game, scaled to points scored where 10 is average, 30 is great, 50 is incredible and so on.
VanVleet’s game Tuesday laps the field with a score of 50.3, 14 percent higher than any other Raptors performance. It’s the 24th-highest game score in the entire league dating back to 1983-84; a game this good happens, on average, less than once a season. (Damian Lillard’s 61-point game in August is a recent example of one that is a rounding error better than VanVleet’s night Tuesday.)
From DeRozan to VanVleet: A celebration of the new Toronto Raptors lineage – Raptors HQ
Last night though, we really did need some goodness. This Raptors season has been bizarre — the team’s been losing more than it’s been winning and they’re playing all their home games in Tampa, Florida, which feels like a cruel existential punishment. In all, there just haven’t been as many good vibes around Toronto. Seeing DeRozan on social media expressing his pride at VanVleet’s accomplishment was the kind of special moment we all needed. And it pointed to what exactly DeRozan did manage to bring to Toronto in lieu of a golden championship moment. We can go back now to those DeRozan-led teams and see how his goodness got Lowry onboard and invested, how DeRozan welcomed every new player to the team — from Serge Ibaka to Pascal Siakam to, yes, VanVleet — and how DeRozan and his iterations of the Raptors continued to strive for something more. He gave Toronto something to believe in.
It’s not nothing to consider VanVleet’s scoring explosion happened against the Magic’s Terrence Ross, who was also briefly Fred’s teammate and definitely someone who gained from his time under the wing of DeRozan. There’s a cosmic bit of coincidence at work here too. It was after all Ross who had held the Raptors previous franchise high-scoring mark in regulation, tied with Carter at 51, and representing another link to history. It’s amazing to note these connections. It’s amazing, in fact, to note they even exist, that there is indeed now a Raptors’ lineage of which to be proud. It’s a small thing perhaps, something that’s only truly important to fans of the team. But this joy and pride once felt just as unlikely a decade ago as Toronto’s championship win.
To see DeRozan celebrate the accomplishments of his former teammate, to see Lowry, now nine years on in Toronto, hold the game ball up in profuse appreciation, to see VanVleet accept the plaudits as the next player in that historic line is to feel something special about the Raptors. It’s not often this kind of bond is formed through history.
And win or lose, it’s definitely something to be cherished on and on into the future.
Where in the world is Chris Boucher? – Yahoo!
Chris Boucher, who is currently featured on milk cartons everywhere, went on a six-game tear from Jan. 8 to Jan. 18 that had me feeling like a genius and fantasy owners across the world feeling like they were going to be unstoppable. And what a glorious 10 days they were, with Boucher averaging 20.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers, along with a tasty 29 minutes per over those six games. The Raptors went 4-2 over that stretch and were on a three-game winning streak when Nick Nurse suddenly turned course and decided that Boucher only deserved 23 minutes in a loss to Miami on Jan. 20. And Boucher has been a disaster ever since, although it doesn’t appear to be his fault.
Over his last eight games, Boucher is averaging just 8.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers, and most importantly, just 19.8 minutes per game. He’s played 19 or fewer minutes in four straight games and his minutes per game over that eight-game sample would be even lower had he not mysteriously emerged for 30 minutes in a loss to the Pacers on Jan. 24, when Boucher hit just 3-of-12 shots for nine points, nine boards, a steal, two blocks and a 3-pointer. The Raptors have gone 4-4 over their last eight games and went on a three-game losing streak from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29, with Boucher playing just 13 and 14 minutes in two of those.
Meanwhile, Aron Baynes, who had basically fallen completely out of the rotation when Boucher was cooking with grease, is suddenly Nurse’s man, getting a ridiculous 27 minutes per game over his last four, while averaging just 7.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 3-pointers over that stretch. Sure, the rebounds are decent, but he hasn’t blocked a single shot in any of his last three games. Plus, he’s Aron Baynes. Meanwhile, Boucher’s last four games sit at averages of just 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 1.0 3-pointers in just 16 minutes a night. Sixteen minutes!? Gross.
I don’t know if Nurse suddenly decided he doesn’t like Boucher, or if Boucher was late to a practice or game, or if his teammates don’t like him. Nor do I care. But I’m a tad bitter, angry and confused, as are most of the fantasy managers who roster Boucher. I asked Jonas Nader on Twitter if he’s worried about Boucher yet (because he wasn’t, initially) and while I haven’t heard back from him yet, I did hear some thoughts from people who are as equally confused and disappointed.
No one should be surprised with VanVleet’s progress — he isn’t | Toronto Sun
Through it all VanVleet is smiling but looking somewhat uncomfortable with all the attention. He has this same look on his face minutes later when Lowry gets the attention of the room to present VanVleet the game ball and gush about the work it takes to produce a game like that.
There is real excitement and pride throughout that room but also a level of surprise underneath it all that VanVleet could do this.
Fact of the matter is the least surprised man in the room is probably VanVleet and this is where the narrative in the moments after the game and even a day later gets a little skewed.
People want to celebrate the long-shot nature of the accomplishment, but by doing so you almost diminish the amount of work and effort that went into this.
It’s not that VanVleet had one night of unimaginable good shooting that makes him a player every team in the league covets.
It’s not that one 54-point night that suddenly puts him on an all-star level.
It’s the body of work leading up to that night that puts VanVleet at that elite level. And teams around the league have been coveting guys even from draft night, but more about that later.
But, it’s natural in this in-the-moment generation to overreact to one night and while neither VanVleet nor any other player to ever don a Raptors’ uniform has reached these heights, VanVleet has been playing at a super high level really since the midway part of the championship run almost two years ago.
Tuesday’s number is huge and historic but the performance shouldn’t be that surprising to anyone who has watched this young man progress from undrafted rookie paying his dues on the bench to basically sharing the leadership and court direction duties with a 14-year vet in Kyle Lowry in just his fifth season.
Send me any Raptors related content that I may have missed: rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
