The Raptors face the Timberwolves in the second contest for both teams at Summer League. If Toronto wants to make the playoff round, this game is a must-win.
The Toronto Raptors send out their young hopefuls for the second time this summer on Sunday at 3:00 Eastern Time. Their opponents are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost their first game, as did the Raptors.
Toronto didn’t get any performances worthy of excitement on Friday afternoon. One wonders whether the kids nailed to the bench in Game 1 will get some burn. There were a number of DNP-CDs, particularly among the big men. Raptors coach Nick Nurse seemed content to allow his swingmen prospects a full opportunity to strut their stuff. They didn’t, which provides extra incentive for those neglected to show well.
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Creating a preview for a spectacle like a Summer League (hereinafter: SL – I’m getting writer’s cramp) game is a dubious undertaking. Winning or losing is not of primary concern to the coaches. They want to see how their charges react to stress.
Let’s consider the guards. Does my point guard try to dribble out of a double-team, or find an open mate? And how did he find himself in a double-team in the first place? Are the guards looking to create for everyone, or just for themselves?
The front court men are judged differently. Can they keep pace, or are they last down the floor? Are they solid at boxing out, or are they easily pushed out of position? Can they handle a “switch-all” defense, or are they blow-bys?
These questions are almost infinite. The army of coaches at each game will be assessing the answers in painstaking detail. The rest of us will try to enjoy the game.
Parting thoughts
I expressed concern in a preview post about OG Anunoby re-injuring his knee in what is essentially the G League tryout camp. My fears were not allayed in Game 1. The New Orleans Pelicans have high hopes for guard Frank Jackson. However, his time in Las Vegas is at an end after severely twisting his ankle against the Raptors. That’s bad karma – I wish Masai Ujiri would order OG off the roster. Let him work out in a controlled environment.
Malachi Richardson was the least bad of the Raptors Triplets (my term for the swingmen trying to win a position with the big team’s bench mob) in Game 1. Will he retain his edge over Malcolm Miller and Alfonzo McKinnie, or slip back to invisibility?
Josh Okogie, the Timberwolves #20 selection in last month’s draft, will probably be Minnesota’s best player. Pay attention to how well the Triplets cover him.
I’ll offer a score prediction, without conviction:
Raptors 92 – Timberwolves 86