The Toronto Raptors were nailed by a classic trap game, as they were scheduled to take on Karl-Anthony Towns and the 6-20 Minnesota Timberwolves right before a few matchups against some of the best teams in the NBA.
Despite the fact that the Timberwolves were playing without one of their best players in former All-Star D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota looked like the better, more passionate team for most of the evening, using an up-tempo offense and zone defense to befuddle the Raptors en route to a 116-112 victory on the road.
While Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell all scored at least 18 points, a lack of scoring off of the bench and an inability to slow down a Timberwolves team that went 16-39 from behind the 3-point line ultimately served as the nail in the coffin, dropping the Raptors to 12-15.
Nurse might need to go back to the drawing board before the really difficult chunks of their schedule start to hit the Raptors in the face. Tonight’s game against Minnesota showed that Toronto’s current roster and style of play have some serious flaws. Even if Siakam came through at the end and made that shot, this is a flawed roster.
Unacceptable result. Raptors came out with no intent, pushed way too late, and this is the result. On a hugely disappointing season this one really takes the cake.
— William Lou (@william_lou) February 15, 2021
The Toronto Raptors learned three very hard lessons tonight
Lesson No. 1: Yuta Watanabe is sorely missed
The energetic Japanese forward had missed the last few games, meaning that the Raptors have missed his trademark energy and hustle on the defensive end. Losing a player that averaged just three points a game doesn’t sound too bad, but losing a 6-9 forward that can guard four positions, block shots, and rebound has been a killer for the Raptors.
Malik Beasley was rarely contested from beyond the three-point line, while a poor shooter in No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards was able to muscle his way to the rim and get some looks right near the rim. The Raptors have just one win this year in games where Watanabe doesn’t play, as he’s quickly become a lynchpin of the rotation.
Lesson No. 2: Physical centers will give the Raptors trouble
Aron Baynes is allegedly in this rotation because Nick Nurse values the Australian’s size and defensive physicality. While going up against one of the best offensive players in the league in Towns, Baynes was quickly in foul trouble, forcing 6-9 Chris Boucher into a defensive battle that was way above his weight class.
Unless the Raptors add another center near the deadline, Toronto looks destined to keep ending up on the wrong end of slugfests like this. What’s going to happen against a player like Giannis or Joel Embiid?
Lesson No. 3: Stanley Johnson offers almost nothing on offense
Johnson won praise early in the year for his defensive gifts and versatility, but his offensive warts are starting to show, especially now that players like Watanabe and DeAndre’ Bembry have emerged as comparable players with a higher ceiling on that end of the floor.
Over the last seven games, Johnson has scored more than three points in just two games, including four performances in which he didn’t score a single point. That production from a key roleplayer is simply not sustainable, and his limited offensive profile should have Nurse questioning his spot in the rotation.
With their next five games coming against these same Timberwolves, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors need to brace for impact, as this could be a very difficult stretch. Their play against Minnesota didn’t inspire a ton of confidence.