The Toronto Raptors will try to live up to their name in their 30th season in the NBA by playing fast, aggressive basketball.
Star winger Scottie Barnes, at the heart of the Raptors’ game on both sides of the ball, summed up the situation well a few days before the Toronto team hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers for their opening game on Wednesday.
“Pick up the pace and play defense,” Barnes said on the field. OVO Athletic Centrewhere the team trains. This is our priority. We work a lot on this. »
“We have a lot of young players who can play with speed and try to be aggressive on defense. »
It’s a sentiment shared by point guard Immanuel Quickley, who will be a member of the Raptors’ starting lineup this season along with Barnes.
“I think the league can expect us to be one of the toughest teams to play against, that’s for sure,” he said.
RJ Barrett missed the majority of training camp due to a shoulder injury he suffered during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 6, 2024 at the Bell Center. He took part in a full practice Tuesday, but will not be in uniform for the opener.
While it’s unclear when Barrett will be back in the Raptors lineup, he agrees with Barnes and Quickley’s analysis.
“Defense, intensity, working harder than the other teams, running, playing together,” Barnes said of the Raptors’ identity for the new season.
Three facts have shaped this philosophy.
First, the Raptors allowed 118.8 points per game in a disappointing season that ended with a 25-57 record in 2023-24. Second, with an average of just over 25 years – they bought out the contract of 38-year-old winger Garrett Temple – they are one of the youngest teams on the circuit. Third, they are relatively small, especially at the power forward position.
At seven feet, Jakob Poeltl is the tallest player on the team, and at 29, he is the fourth oldest. He said a fast-paced, defensive-oriented style of play is what to expect.
“We’re going to be free to play, which is going to lead to a lot of learning experiences,” Poeltl said. Maybe a little chaos at times. »
“We’re still trying to understand each other, but once we do, I think it’s going to be difficult to counter us, because we play with power, we play fast, and we play unpredictably. »
The Raptors averaged 10.9 offensive rebounds per game last year, good for 11th in the league. In his second year at the helm of the team, head coach Darko Rajakovic is determined to improve this statistic.
Rajakovic said the key is to be strategic about when and how to attempt an offensive rebound instead of playing a tight transition defensive game.
“What are we going to do?” Are we going to be reckless and go for the rebound no matter what? “That’s not our plan,” he said after practice on Oct. 9. Our plan is to do a good job of hitting favorable spots for rebounds, but at the same time, do a good job in transition. We’re trying to combine these two things into one complex plan. »
One of the Raptors’ major problems is that they will have the toughest schedule to start the season. Twenty of the club’s first 25 games this season will be against teams that made the playoffs last spring. Eleven of them were still alive after the first round.
“I know we play the Cavaliers on Wednesday and I don’t know what happens next,” Rajakovic said Monday. I don’t want to know. Nothing will change my approach. »
The Raptors will miss several important players on Wednesday. In addition to Barrett, Kelly Olynyk (back), Bruce Brown (knee surgery) and Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) will also be out.
