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Two things have become clear nine games into this Toronto Raptors season: They can’t defend at all and, perhaps related to that issue, they can’t stay healthy.
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Wednesday night’s 122-107 loss at Sacramento was Toronto’s seventh so far and there will be more to follow. Once again the Raptors hung around for a good amount of time — including after three quarters — but could not seal the deal. Toronto was outscored 33-14 in the fourth quarter.
Sacramento all-star Domantas Sabonis had his way with the Raptors, including a usually far more effective Jakob Poeltl, posting basically a perfect game. Sabonis had 17 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, but hit all six of his field goal and all five of his free throw attempts, without a single turnover. That’s extremely difficult to do. Sabonis has four straight triple-doubles against the Raptors, which is also difficult to do.
To make matters worse, a Toronto team already missing Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown lost two of its rookies to injuries. Ja’Kobe Walter, the 19th pick of last June’s draft, got caught on a Sabonis screen and banged up the same shoulder that cost him all of the pre-season and the start of the year. The Raptors said X-rays were negative, but shoulders are tricky and it’s not a good sign that the frail Walter is already hurt again. We’ve seen this type of injury linger before with other Raptors (think Delon Wright during his rookie season or Norman Powell).
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Drew’s college coach at Baylor Scott Drew had told me during the summer that young Walter would need to develop his body for the wear and tear of the NBA (similar to how Gradey Dick had to last year). This is a man’s league and it can be tough if you’re slight to stay healthy.
Jonathan Mogbo, the 31st pick, suffered a hip pointer and also left the game. There isn’t any word yet on the seriousness of the injury. Mogbo has shown some flashes and was having one of his better games yet with five points and five rebounds in 18 minutes.
Again, a look at just how impactful Toronto’s injuries have been:
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According to Statscentre, Toronto has surrendered the ninth-most points ever in the first nine games of an NBA season. The grain of salt needed here is offence has rocketed upward in recent years as the three-point era emerged. Still, only one of the teams that has surrendered more points (San Antonio last year) did it anywhere close to this time period.
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