RAPTORS TAKEAWAYS: Shut however no cigar regardless of robust effort

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The Raptors returned house after 5 straight losses on a tricky journey to battle it out with an improved Detroit Pistons crew, however fell quick as soon as once more, 99-95.

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The Pistons pushed the shedding skid to 6, dropped the Raptors to 2-11 and ended any NBA Cup hopes within the course of. A 25-point, 19-rebound recreation by Jakob Poeltl was wasted, with Cade Cunningham going for 15 factors, 10 assists and 6 rebounds and Malik Beasley nailing 4 of Detroit’s eight three-pointers on the best way to twenty factors.

The Raptors trailed 32-27 after one, because of a 10-0 Pistons run to shut the quarter. The Pistons led 55-52 after a primary half of basketball that was arduous to observe as a result of offensive futility displayed by each side. The scoring points continued, however the Raptors carved out a five-point edge after three, solely to observe it rapidly slip away. A late Pistons shot clock violation with Toronto down by 4 gave the remaining crowd some hope. RJ Barrett hit a pair of free throws and the Pistons turned it over. But it surely was to not be, as Gradey Dick rimmed out a pleasant Barrett kickout from three. The Pistons then missed 1-of-2 free throws to provide Toronto a shot at extra time, however Dick missed one other good look. The short-handed Raptors misplaced for the twenty sixth straight time when trailing at halftime relationship again to Feb. 7, per TSN.

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SOME TAKEAWAYS:

BREAKING IT DOWN

Toronto was averaging 16.8 turnovers per recreation earlier than committing simply 14 (seven in every half) on Friday. Solely 4 groups have averaged greater than the pre-game quantity. A part of that’s to be anticipated with prime creators Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley lacking a lot of the early motion as a consequence of accidents.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned pre-game that the crew has been wanting into the place all the errors have been coming from. “We need to be the crew that performs with a number of tempo and we can’t decelerate in that space,” Rajakovic mentioned. “Truly, our turnovers, when have a look at the analytics, they aren’t taking place within the first six seconds of the shot clock, the vast majority of the turnovers are turnovers taking place within the center clock, that point from 18 to 6 seconds and that’s the place it’s worthwhile to have execution. You can’t permit the ball to hit you within the leg and also you flip it over that method (it’s worthwhile to make) easy passes,” he mentioned.

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“I might perceive if groups have been actually aggressive and disruptive and going to trigger turnovers, I don’t suppose that’s the case with us. It’s guys attending to know one another, having the chemistry there, realizing what we have to accomplish on offence. But additionally a part of it’s being prepared to take open pictures early within the clock, realizing when the rhythm is coming to you and taking part in to our strengths.”

That cohesion Rajakovic wishes might be arduous to return by till the vital items lacking from the lineup are in a position to play. As we’ve talked about right here just a few instances, Barnes, Quickley, Barrett and Poeltl haven’t all performed collectively since March 1.

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FOUL PLAY NOT PLEASING

Rajakovic isn’t thrilled about his crew’s fixed fouling both. Toronto was averaging 24.4 fouls a recreation, worse than some other crew. The Raptors foul about 50% extra usually than Boston and San Antonio, the groups fouling the least to date.

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“There isn’t any positive line, there needs to be a pink line like we’ve got to do a a lot, a lot better job of being aggressive however taking part in defence with out fouling and particularly not committing foolish fouls,” Rajakovic mentioned when requested about it.

“Our turnovers are taking place and groups are operating in transition, that’s the place we’re committing these fouls, too.”

The Raptors dedicated solely three fouls within the first and third quarters, and 4 within the second, an enormous enchancment and completed with 13.

“Any of these we’re going to take it, much less turnovers, much less fouling, all of these, they’re good for us,” Rajakovic mentioned after the sport.

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LEARNING CURVE ON DISPLAY

Rookies Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead and Jamison Battle had quite a few good moments early on this season, however the outcomes haven’t actually been there since. Nonetheless, Rajakovic is wanting on the brilliant facet.

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“Our rookies are in an ideal place. They’re precisely the place they must be,” he mentioned, earlier than elaborating. “They’re taking part in NBA minutes. They’re taking part in towards actually good groups. They’re stepping on the court docket. They’re doing a little great things, but in addition failing. Failing on the court docket is so good and so vital to study and to rise from that,” Rajakovic mentioned, including having the ability to present rookies their errors on tape helps pace up the developmental course of. That wouldn’t be attainable in the event that they weren’t on the court docket.

“They’re studying what it takes to be skilled. And I’m happy with them, how dedicated they’re, how severe they’re and the way arduous they play.”

Battle chipped in with couple of three-pointers within the third quarter, Mogbo was quiet in 13 minutes whereas Shead scored 4 in 11 minutes.

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THE STAT:

Toronto’s 2-11 begin is the third worst in franchise historical past (the 1997-98 Raptors started a horrendous 12 months by going 1-19 and the forgettable 2005-06 group went 1-15).

The franchise solely gained 16 video games in all of 1997-98, had an possession change, noticed its normal supervisor Isiah Thomas depart, Butch Carter take over for Darrell Walker as head coach, and its star participant Damon Stoudamire ask out and get traded.

In 2005-06, the Raptors would rally to win 27 video games, however normal supervisor Rob Babcock was fired, with Wayne Embry coming aboard till Bryan Colangelo took over.

THE QUOTE:

Rajakovic pre-game: “The whole lot is part of the method. Each recreation this season we obtained to take it one recreation at a time and actually concentrate on that and actually concentrate on what we are able to study and the way we are able to get higher. And if we proceed doing that and bettering, wins are coming. Wins are coming. Toronto Raptors are going to win,” he mentioned.

@WolstatSun

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