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Once the self-inflicted wounds would be addressed, once the shot-making improved and once the Raptors found some kind of offensive rhythm, they looked more than competent.
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In the hours leading up to tipoff in Charlotte, the club announced Scottie Barnes had been diagnosed with a right orbital fracture and will miss at least three weeks before being re-evaluated.
Life without Barnes won’t be easy and nothing came easy to start the game against the host Hornets before Toronto turned its game around in posting 43 second-quarter points.
It didn’t matter in the end, though, as the Hornets beat the Raptors 138-133.
By no means was Wednesday’s matchup as enthralling or as entertaining as Monday’s home date versus the Denver Nuggets, but it was nonetheless close and the evening provided the Raptors the first of many opportunities to adjust without Barnes.
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Gradey Dick was good, showcasing his fearlessness and creativity when the ball was in his hands. RJ Barrett led, but his early game turnovers seemed to serve as a precursor. In his first start, Jonathan Mogbo looked the part, while Jakob Poeltl recorded another double-double in anchoring the interior.
There were other encouraging developments, including how well the Raptors shared the ball and how they fought back from such a huge first-half deficit. Toronto even took the lead as defence became an afterthought on this night, when the Hornets’ ability to make shots from distance proved to be the difference.
With four minutes left, it was a two-possession game, the Raptors well within reach of posting a road win. It would have been one had Dick not been called for an offensive charge.
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A couple of Barrett three-balls made it interesting, Toronto’s resilience once again front and centre. Missed free throws were a factor, but solid defence did allow the Raptors to make it a three-point game with 45 ticks on the clock.
In terms of fight and competitive spirit, full marks for the Raptors. In terms of the start, the Raptors were well deserving of a failing grade.
Without Barnes, Barrett and Dick needed to shoulder more of the offensive load. Each delivered and in Barrett’s case it came in the fourth quarter.
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Dick fouled out with 1.8 seconds left. When he left, he had posted a career-high 30 points, while Barrett had 31.
Once again, Poeltl’s value to this team was underscored, whether he was controlling the glass or scoring around the hoop.
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Davion Mitchell and Jamal Shead combined for 20 assists.
Moral victories aren’t documented in the NBA standings, but the Raptors, at least as currently constituted given their injury status, have earned more moral wins than actual wins. Granted, it’s very small consolation as some optimism surfaces amid the losing.
The one area the Raptors must clean up is very much controllable and that involves protecting the basketball.
When all the pieces eventually get healthy, it would be very hard to keep Dick out of the starting lineup.
FUTILE FIRST
Everyone knew the Raptors would miss Barnes, knowing the team is also missing starting point guard Immanuel Quickley and key rotational players in Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown.
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Everyone was fully aware of the difficult transition without Barnes, but what played out in the opening 12 minutes at the Spectrum Center wasn’t good enough.
Charlotte began by going on a 9-0 run before the visitors were forced to call a timeout. When play resumed, the Raptors responded by going on a 7-0 run.
The team’s biggest deficiency remains its inability to protect the basketball. Turnovers once again bit the Raptors, who would allow the Hornets to go on a 13-0 run.
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When the first-quarter buzzer had sounded, the Raptors were trailing 30-16. A third of Charlotte’s points came off Toronto turnovers. In the opening quarter, the Raptors made as many shots (seven) as they committed turnovers.
The primary culprit was Barrett, who had three inexcusable turnovers when he was caught leaving his feet or forcing passes into contested lanes.
It didn’t help when the Raptors couldn’t make shots from beyond the arc, going 1-for-7 from distance.
MOGBO MANIA
Mogbo was thrown into the fire, thrust into the starting unit in the wake of Barnes’ injury.
The two are childhood friends.
The rookie is quite limited when it comes to his offence, but Mogbo brings energy, swings the ball, will set screens, cut to the rim and he’ll defend.
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There was one sequence where the Hornets basically tempted Mogbo, who had a wide open look, to heave a shot from the left elbow. He didn’t take the bait. Instead, he passed it to Barrett, who found a cutting Mogbo before finishing with a flush.
When he gets out in transition and is decisive, Mogbo looks like a seasoned veteran.
Five games into the season and the Raptors have been forced to use five different starting units. Head coach Darko Rajakovic tried to find some kind of serviceable group by mixing and matching his rotation and substitution pattern.
He did get his team to play much better in the second quarter, which featured the Raptors trailing by as many as 23 points. Toronto got into the game by playing defence and getting out in transition, especially when controlling long rebounds following Charlotte misses.
The ball moved much freely and there was a certain degree of aggressiveness in attacking the basket as opposed to the team’s first-quarter penchant for passivity.
The Raptors’ inspired play in the second quarter would carry over into the second half.
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