Raptors core will grow or get exposed with team set to finally field its best starting lineup
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The start of a new year ushered in a new experience for a Raptors team that had been reeling.
One win on New Year’s Day does not wipe away the Raptors’ 54-point humiliation in Boston one night earlier when the Celtics handed Toronto its most lopsided loss in club history.
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Raptors core will grow or get exposed with team set to finally field its best starting lineup Back to video
Thankfully for the Raptors, there was another game to be played the next night — coinciding with the long-awaited return of Immanuel Quickley — against a Brooklyn Nets team nowhere near as good as the reigning champion Celtics.
With Quickley back in the lineup, the Raptors turned the page, ending an 11-game losing streak with a 130-113 victory over the visiting Nets.
And now, when the Orlando Magic comes to town Friday night, they will likely be able to field their projected starting five for the first time this season
With Quickley back on Wednesday, the Raptors had four of their five projected starters on hand, RJ Barrett (illness) being their only absence.
If Barrett is back, as hoped, on Friday, the Raptors will be as healthy as they’ve been this season, though it remains to be seen how head coach Darko Rajakovic handles his rotation.
The days of having Barrett and Scottie Barnes serve as emergency point guards should be over now that Quickley is back. Looking back, neither was suited to operate an offence and the turnover total reflected their inefficiency.
Necessity dictated the move, but now it’s time to move on. Quickley is the only legitimate and proven point guard whose presence allowed players to fit into their proper roles.
The fact he played 32 minutes in his return and committed only one turnover speaks volumes as did his plus-23 rating and 21 points.
Whether this is sustainable will be determined in the many games to follow. But it was certainly an encouraging step, welcomed on a team in need of a feel-good moment.
“When you have the game taken away from you for a long time, you’re a little bit more grateful,’’ said Quickley. “You miss it. Not that I took the game for granted before, but it’s just a different feeling than being on the sidelines.”
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His presence was obvious, allowing the Raptors to push the ball, while also protecting it as evidenced by the team committing only four turnovers the final three quarters of the match.
Barnes, for one, didn’t have to handle the ball as often. As a result, he had one of his most efficient and effective games in scoring 33 points by taking 18 shots.
The perpetually positive Rajakovic — who blew his top in getting ejected at Memphis on Boxing Day when the Raptors yielded 155 points to the Grizzlies — often speaks of the team’s resilience in the face of embarrassing setbacks.
“If you could see the way those guys are studying the film, the way they’re connected, supporting each other, you would be really proud of this group,” he said. “I am proud of this group.”
What else can a second-year head coach say without compromising the locker room?
Quickley’s return, as well as that of Barrett on Friday, would allow the Raptors to officially begin anew.
Ochai Agbaji, who played well against the Nets, will be the first casualty once Barrett is back in the starting lineup. Agbaji’s defence, energy and ability to hit corner threes should play well on the second unit.
Bruce Brown will be available against the Magic after sitting out the against the Nets, as will Chris Boucher, who barely saw the floor against the Nets.
Of the young pieces, the only player worthy of getting extended minutes is Ja’Kobe Walter.
At the same time, the Raptors’ rebuild hinges on internal growth and development.
At the heart of the Raptors’ future remains the team’s core pieces in Quickley, Barnes, Barrett and Gradey Dick. Toss in centre Jakob Poeltl and what shakes out is the team’s expected starting unit.
Perhaps now the Raptors will be able to return to their entertaining style of basketball, even on nights when wins are elusive.
It’s still uncertain right now how the core pieces will function as a unit, but at least they’ll get that long-awaited opportunity.
Orlando emerged as one of the NBA’s feel-good stories last season. Injuries have taken a toll this season, but there’s reason for optimism with Paolo Banchero’s return is looming from an oblique setback he sustained on Oct. 30.
Moe Wagner is lost for the season following a knee injury, while his brother, Franz Wagner, is out with an oblique injury.
The same fans who wanted the Raptors to draft Jalen Suggs instead of Barnes will get to see the Gonzaga product. Suggs left Sunday’s home tip versus Brooklyn because of a wrist injury, but he came back on New Year’s Day to score a game-high 24 points in Orlando’s 105-96 loss to the host Detroit Pistons.
Friday’s game also marks the return of Canadian Cory Joseph.
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