Wrapping up the Raps 2023 Season
The thrill of the Play in Tournament chase.
There was little to be excited about as the Raptors finished this year.
The team remained a tough out on a nightly basis, and teams that are tough to play against are fun to cheer for.
The grit and grind mentality can be embraced by a fan base. The dogged determination to find a way to win, no matter who the opponent, may have been a rallying cry for Raptors fans, who were a little confused with the direction the teams leadership seemed intent on taking the franchise.
The passion felt stale, the bottom of the barrel left over from 2019’s championship year. And with the marked departure of the teams’ head coach and PG, this offseason, it feels like a newchapter in Raptors history has started. Albeit, one that the front office seems a little unwilling to get started.
Masai and Bobby Webster had a lot of options at the trade deadline… And they acquired Jakob Poeltl and Will Barton.
When Masai acquired Poeltl (Welcome back) from the Spurs, it signified the gaping black hole that was their interior paint presence at that point in the season.
This team of Forwards, that were supposed to be able to guard on the permitter, defend on the inside, and switch every action… Couldn’t do any of those things consistently.
Not at an elite level anyway. Not in any one particular aspect. The Raps remained, as one might expect, average at all aspects.
The Raptors finished the season strong, yet couldn’t consistenly put together the kind of controlled havoc necessary for success. With so many switchable parts, the moving pieces were forced to try and guard everything, everywhere, all at once.
Inevitably there were some nights they couldn’t defend at all.
For that is the razor thin line that this group tread all year:
Jack of All Trades, do everything, long athletic forwards… Versus the lost, out of place, out of touch, Masters of None, that they so frequently became.
Barton’s addition was a continuation of the prevalent attitude affecting the Raptors roster building philosophy: Tall, long, athletic playmaking.
It’s a dogma that the Raptors top brass is stuck too. And judging from their most recent moves, it’s not one that’s changing soon.
But more on that later…
For now, we need to address the issue with the Raps that the whole league seems intent on, roster construction aside.
One that was put on ghastly display in their final game against the Bulls.
Well … Shoot
The most obvious manifestation of poor shooting is at the 3 point line.
But the less obvious sign of a poor shooting team, and far more telling of a team’s late season success, is in the free throws.
Free throws close games. They give late leads. They are the difference in winning and losing close games.
The best shooters are great free throw shooters. The best shooting teams are great free throw shooting teams.
The Warriors dynasty is built on great shooting. Not just from 3. But from the free throw line.
This years Heat were an 8 seed that made 41 out of 41 free throws in a game this season.
The Raptors missed 18 against the Bulls.
8 Fucking Teen.
And they lost by single digits.
The Raptors lack of shooting plagued them all season and killed them when it mattered most.
It was horrible to watch, and uncomfortable as it may be to admit, it was a fitting end to the season and, what feels like, an era in Raptors hoops.
Their best shooter, and franchise great, has left to play for, what was, the worst team in the league last season.
Goodbye Fred. We love you.
Their head coach, a stylized shooting guru and early innovator of the heavy 3 point, no midrange 2’s, diet of basketball offense, is coaching the 76ers this season.
Thanks Coach. We’ll miss you.
Drafting sharpshooter and all time jersey sales instant booster Grady Dick (The Dick Pick) is an acknowledgement of the issue at hand. Bringing back Gary Trent JR was a smart move as well.
But the Raptors don’t have more shooting than they did last season, they have less.
The Youngin’s
As the roster stands right now, and that’s a precarious place with a Siakam or Anunoby trade looming, it is less talented than last years. Which you could expect after an All-Star walks in free agency.
But it’s frustrating to watch a team’s most glaring holes in the roster go relatively unattended after each passing opportunity.
This is a team that didn’t have enough depth at 2 positions, and hasn’t had it for nearly 2 seasons now:
PG and Centre.
Currently the Raps depth chart at both positions looks like this
PG:
Dennis Schroeder
Marquis Nowell
Malachi Flynn
Centre:
Jakob Poeltl
Christian Koloko
Nowell would have benefited from the opportunity to learn under Fred’s mentorship. He’s objectively similar to Vanvleet both in stature, style and circumstance.
A smaller guard with an affinity for pick n roll playmaking and a love of the deep 3. He’s undrafted and has the same confident demeanor that Fred brought. You can bet he’s ready to bet on himself.
But this is all based on college and summer league.
Schroeder is a spark plug. A hard-working defender, and a fun guy to watch. But he’s not a floor general, or a floor spacer.
I’ve lost hope in Flynn.
Koloko showed promise early in the season and was quickly relegated to the G-league. He filled a nascent role in the Raptors line up during his time on the floor. Hopefully, he’ll have more opportunity under coach Rajdkovic.
Scottie Barnes suffered the Sophomore slump. He’ll likely improve this season and get back to giving Raptors fans the bright light they expect from him after a stellar rookie campaign.
He’s yet to demonstrate that he’s capable of being a franchise lynchpin.
Grady Dick is a specialist. A specialist in the Raptors sorely deprived skillset.
Should they have taken him over Jonathan Hawkins? The best player on the best team who won on the biggest stage? I wonder.
Going Forward… Literally
The Raps are sticking with their plan. The fanbase isn’t happy about it. It’s odd, judging from the social media chatter and internet columns, you’d argue the country is ready for a young team, built to suck, lead by Scottie Barnes.
The teams best asset is its treasure trove of Forwards… For the third season in a row now. The front office is determined to employ a coaching staff that utilizes that strength.
I’m dubious that it’ll work. It’s well documented at this point.
The question I raise is: Is this front office struggling to do its job, replacing Serge Ibaka, Gasol, and now Vanvleet (Miss you already Steady Freddy), forcing the coaches and roster to compensate?
The lack of movement to acquire serviceable centers and point guards looks like a GM and President intentionally turning a blind eye, and it’s becoming an eye sore.
Reportedly, the argument that Masai has brought forward has been: If the Heat can do it…
- TheOutletBball
