Toronto Raptors Roundup: Kawhi vs DeMar headlines big week

Toronto Raptors Roundup is a weekly segment where we fill you in on all the games, highlights and stories from last week. Here’s what you missed from the twelfth week of the season.

Three things stand out after this week for the Toronto Raptors. First, the injuries to Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas have taken their toll. Their absence from the starting line-up has had a trickle-down effect, pushing steady bench players into the starting line-up which brings us to our second observation.

The bench has flat-out stunk as of late. Against Milwaukee, they scored five points. Five. They were a +/- of -12. The Raptors are patiently waiting for the return of a healthy lineup. But, the results of this week have shown us that the Raptors will eventually get healthy but need some players (C.J. Miles and OG Anunoby) to figure out whatever is ailing them. Indiana’s performance was nice, but it’s not enough to overcome the other pitiful performances.

The third thing? This team is still very good. Three wins, including two against teams chasing them hard. Players have been good. Kawhi Leonard has continued to play off the charts. Fred VanVleet has returned to form in the starting line-up, scoring in double digits with consistency and being that steadying force the team so needs him to be. Will he be able to continue once he returns to the bench? The Raptors definitely hope so.

A softening of the schedule this coming week should be a welcome sight for a team that has managed to right the ship ever so slightly.

Game Recap

Utah at Toronto

New year, new career highs for a couple of Raptors as Toronto started the year off on the right foot. Both Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam both scored a career high in points with 45 points and 28 respectively. And the Toronto Raptors would need both efforts to come out victorious against a good Utah Jazz team 122-116.

After a tough first half where the Raptors did not get the calls they were looking for from the refs (19 to 5), the Raptors came out with a concerted effort on both ends and finally received some grace from the men in black and white. Without Kyle Lowry once again, the Raptors got a strong effort from Fred VanVleet in the starting PG position (8PTS and +12) and another good effort from Norman Powell (14PTS & 2 for 4 from deep) off the bench.

Toronto at San Antonio

Clear your schedule for this one? You’re not alone. Probably the most anticipated game on the schedule (other than the Spurs game in Toronto), the hype machine was in overdrive for the first matchup between former Spur (and #1 enemy) Kawhi Leonard and former Toronto fan favourite DeMar DeRozan.

From the moment Leonard hit the court, the San Antonio crowd voiced their displeasure in a vocal display only ‘Vince-hating Raptor fans’ would’ve approved of. From the initial introduction to the brief video tribute to every touch and misstep, Kawhi heard how Spurs’ fans felt about his departure from the Lone Star State. He managed to finish with an efficient 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting. Danny Green, it must be noted, was welcomed quite warmly.

But this night was DeMar DeRozan’s night. In what might be described as one the better revenge games in Raptor history, DeRozan managed a thoroughly complete game, scoring his first career triple-double against the team he spent every season with up until the blockbuster trade this summer.

The game itself was never close, with the Spurs jumping out early in the first quarter and never really looking back. The short-handed Raptors looked rushed and pressured by a Spurs defence throughout much of the playoff-like game. Their shooting woes from deep continued as they managed just 6 for 30 from three. The Raps backcourt scored an abysmal 12 points. For Raptor fans, the 125-107 loss will hopefully be avenged by a healthier squad on February 22nd back in Toronto.

Toronto at Milwaukee

Toronto had every excuse to lose this one: down two starters in Lowry and Valanciunas, on the road and playing against the team atop the standings with an MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo,

But the Raptors showed heart and a full effort as they came out on top in one of their most significant victories of the season,123-116. The Raptors managed to win despite a Herculean effort from Antetokounmpo, who scored 43 points. The Raptors needed a couple of studs to step up and Siakam and Leonard were ready and able as they put together a fantastic effort, scoring a combined 60 points. VanVleet was gold again scoring 21 points in the starting PG position.

The victory was even more impressive considering the bench was non-existent once again. The injuries to Lowry and Valanciunas are certainly taking their toll on the team as a whole, but the domino effect that shifting players around has become devastating on guys six through ten.

Indiana at Toronto

Toronto continued where they left off the night before against the Pacers at home, winning 121-105.  The Raptors got a much-needed complete performance from their whole team as they were short Leonard (rest management) and Valanciunas. The Raptors as a team had eight guys in double digits, had 25 assists and shot the three better than previous games (near 50% from downtown). Kyle Lowry returned after missing 10 of 11 previous games, and contributed once again, adding 12 points and eight assists, including taking two charges.

But it was the other guys that were special. Norman Powell had 23 points off the bench, shooting an efficient seven for nine, while Ibaka and Green were strong, adding 18 and 15 points respectively. VanVleet, Siakam, and Monroe also scored in double digits.

The Raptors finished the week on a good note.  While they still struggle with the injury bug, there’s hope that the role players, guys not named Kawhi or Kyle, can contribute again. Hopefully, they can continue it next week.

The Week Ahead

Atlanta at Toronto

The schedule gets considerably easier this week for the Raptors beginning with a game at home against the hapless Hawks. Atlanta ranks in the basement for both points against and point differential so the Raptors should have their way over Trae Young, Vince Carter, and company.

Brooklyn at Toronto

The soft schedule continues as the Raptors match up against the Brooklyn Nets on three days rest. The Nets, though, have played strong of late, winning seven of 10 and hover around that final playoff spot in the East. D’Angelo Russell dropped 29 on the Raptors in the Nets’ OT win back in early December so the Raps can’t look past this game if they hope to win at home.

Toronto at Washington

Does anyone really know what Wizards team will show up next Sunday afternoon? The Wiz will be without John Wall and Markieff Morris, both out for extended periods of time. But Raptor fans know Bradley Beal can be a Raptor killer. The Raptors will have to shut him down in order to get their third win of the season against the team from DC.