The Toronto Raptors extended their season-opening win streak to a franchise record six games, against the Dallas Mavericks. Here are the top takeaways following the win:
The Toronto Raptors took care of business once again on Friday night. The Dallas Mavericks were the latest victim as the Raptors improved to a franchise record 6-0 start.
Toronto jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Raptors never trailed in all 48 minutes, and despite being significantly short-handed, looked like the better team throughout. After yet another impressive win, here are the three biggest takeaways:
The Battle of Villanova guards goes to the veteran
With Dennis Smith Jr. declared out before the game due to an ankle injury, rookie Jalen Brunson was thrust into the starting lineup. On the other side, Kyle Lowry once again started for the Toronto Raptors, creating a competition between two former Villanova Wildcat ball handlers.
The matchup, though coincidental, was unfair from the onset. Lowry, one of the premier guards in the NBA, had his way, flashing both scoring and passing ability early. He even threaded the needle on a breakaway to Pascal Siakam:
Kyle Lowry finds Pascal Siakam out in front!
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2018
20-6 start for the @Raptors on League Pass.#WeTheNorth #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/1FFvKNly6v
Brunson, in his first career start, finished with eight points, four assists, and three boards.
On the year, Lowry has enjoyed a resurgence under new Coach Nick Nurse. Coming into the game, the guard had accrued the sixth-best offensive rating in the league.
Lowry was shooting 53 percent from deep coming into Friday’s contest and hit 3-6 against the Mavericks Friday night. Due to his success from outside, Lowry’s true shooting percentage was a sterling 74 percent coming in, the best of any starter in the league outside of center Rudy Gobert.
The addition of Kawhi Leonard has paid dividends as well. The two have combined to form a lethal two-man game, with the ability to drive and kick benefitting both greatly. Leonard has averaged a career high in points thus far.
A potent year from Lowry has resulted in the team’s best start in franchise history with the former Wildcat looking like a lock for an All-Star bid already.
Danny Green is gaining steam
Early in the team’s sixth matchup of the year, newly acquired Danny Green played the role of Raptors’ sharpshooter. The guard, known for his stroke from outside above anything else, started 3-5 from the field, netting 12 points in the opening quarter alone.
Green’s ability to catch and shoot was pivotal in the team’s 10 assists on 13 made field goals in the opening frame.
Along with shooting prowess, Green aided on the glass as well, picking up six boards in the first, with eight in the game’s entirety. With Fred VanVleet on the shelf due to a toe injury, Green was relied upon even further on offense and came through for the Raptors.
On the year, Green has averaged a mere 11.1 points per game. The figure is deceptive however as the guard has suffered from a pair of down nights dragging down his average. The total would still be his highest scoring output per game since the 2014-15 season.
In the offseason, it was under debate who would start at the two for the Raptors, with Delon Wright and Norman Powell being in the discussion. Green has quieted the questions, forcing Nurse to insert him into the starting lineup each game until further notice.
A career year may be on the horizon for the veteran.
The puzzle pieces are fitting in just right
Adding multiple new players, while losing others, figures to impact the cohesiveness of a team to some degree. Such has not been the case for the Raptors.
The additions of Leonard and Green, as well as the inclusion of a new leader, has been effortless for the Raptors. The team has the most wins in the league and sits atop the Eastern Conference.
As a team, the Raptors came into the matchup with both a top-five offensive rating and net rating. Per 100 possessions, there are only two Raptors on the entire roster that have a defensive rating of worse than 110. The defense is at a level of teams that have been together for a lengthy period, not one that is welcoming a pair of new starters.
As mentioned previously, the offense assisted 10 of their first 13 attempts from the field, with 23 for their 44 in the game as a whole. The total came close to matching their season total of 56.6-percent. Stretching the floor with multiple shooters, including new starters Leonard and Green, has brought the team’s offense to a new level.
The longer the season continues, the more the team will mold their styles together under Nurse’s system, signaling that this may be the least cohesion the team will have.
Already having defeated last year’s top competitor, the Boston Celtics, the Raptors appear to be the class of the conference through the season’s first two weeks.