Raptors have been sieves on the defensive finish and routinely uncovered

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The Raptors have introduced the enjoyable issue again into their model of basketball, an entertaining fashion that includes ball motion that has led to aggressive and at-times combative video games, even when the result doesn’t to their means.

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Alongside comes Wednesday’s late-night tip in Sacramento and the fissures turn out to be problematic.

Whereas it ought to be clear as day to pinpoint the areas of deficiency, the treatment isn’t so apparent.

Too foul-prone, too vulnerable on defence, too sloppy and, to be completely candid, too silly when defending back-door cuts or requested to rotate. The Raptors weren’t paying consideration when the fourth quarter began in opposition to the Kings.

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Sacramento would avenge its loss in Toronto final Saturday night time when Vince Carter had his jersey raised to the rafters. In beating the Raptors 122-107 on the Golden 1 Heart, the Kings uncovered Toronto’s No. 1 drawback.

Till some semblance of a defensive id is created, established and in the end entrenched, what performed out within the fourth quarter will likely be frequent.

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The Raptors stay winless on the highway as they take their act into Los Angeles for a pair of weekend video games in opposition to the Clippers after which Lakers earlier than heading to Milwaukee.

A horrid first quarter in Minnesota doomed the Raptors on an evening they might endure a double-digit defeat.

They have been valiant in Denver the place RJ Barrett’s potential buzzer-beater rimmed out and in.

For many of the sport in Sacramento, the Raptors have been capable of dictate tempo, however then the roof caved in within the fateful and frightful fourth.

A Gradey Dick pull-up one minute into the interval gave the guests a 95-89 benefit. Two minutes later, the Raptors immediately have been watching a 96-95 gap — hardly insurmountable.

Poor decision-making with the basketball would result in turnovers and simple run outs, poor defence would enable the Kings to take full management of the sport.

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When DeMar DeRozan scored on a driving layup with 2:33 remaining, the Kings have been main by 15 factors.

Cue the bench to be emptied, and enter the dialog on how the Raptors can presumably turn out to be a extra environment friendly defensive crew.

On the coronary heart of creating stops is the premise of crew defence.

Defending turned the point of interest for head coach Darko Rajakovic on media day and but it stays a difficulty. It was a serious supply of concern final season when the Raptors have been actually and traditionally horrific.

One of many few occasions final season when an opponent was held to beneath 100 factors got here within the opener, a house win over the Minnesota Timberwolves who would later hand the visiting Raptors the worst loss in franchise historical past.

Time is required, a wholesome roster would assist and a sound scheme will go a great distance in serving to a crew turn out to be much less defensive poor.

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The Raptors have prolonged their defence realizing that after an opponent is working within the half court docket, breakdowns are inevitable.

As soon as their protection will get uncovered, straightforward baskets are generated, resulting in Rajakovic calling a timeout.

The trouble appears to be there, however clearly one thing is amiss.

Toronto held the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to 107 factors, however there was no Joel Embiid and no Paul George obtainable.

The season started with the Raptors getting run off their residence ground by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who put up 136 factors.

Charlotte scored 138 factors whereas the Lakers torched the Raptors for 43 first-quarter factors.

Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in opposition to the Raptors, whereas Domantas Sabonis upstaged the Joker by recording two — together with a not often seen statline that featured no misses from the sphere and charity stripe Wednesday night time whereas Sabonis additionally dished off a game-high 13 assists.

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The Raptors are younger and inexperienced, the rising pains acceptable when losses are produced.

Nobody is about to lose sight of the massive image, however nobody ought to be happy on the means the Raptors are defending and have been defending for fairly a while, regardless of the composition of the roster.

The Raptors are nowhere close to the event of the Kings, who’re able to merely outscoring an opponent as soon as the post-season arrives when making key stops in vital moments are paramount when a sport is on the road.

Jakob Poeltl is the Raptors’ finest defender within the publish and the crew’s lone rim protector. However put him in pick-and-roll sequences on the perimeter and he’s susceptible.

Davion Mitchell was stable on defence in his return to Sacramento, however the drop-off was alarming.

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In the course of the grind of an 82-game season, selecting up your man within the full court docket is just not sustainable, higher utilized in spurts.

Scottie Barnes is greater than able to being a defensive presence as a result of his ability set permits him to defend a number of positions. Ochai Agbaji has proven to be succesful and competent. When he’s transferring his ft, Barrett can preserve in entrance of his man.

On nights when Dick is unable to empty a single shot from past the arc, will get into foul hassle and is held to a season-low seven factors, a mean defence can assist bail a crew out.

The Raptors are nowhere close to common, made worse when an opponent such because the Kings emerge with a plus-13 rebounding edge and try 17 extra three throws.

When Sacramento visited Toronto, Dick tried seven free throws. In his previous two video games, he has a mixed 4.

Whether or not it’s a perform of youth, being undersized in sure positions, lack of depth and chemistry or just not having the psychological wherewithal to learn and react, defence stays the Raptors’ greatest problem that should in some way enhance.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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