The Toronto Raptors started off 2022 with three straight hard losses, moving the team closer to trading one of their starters and making a concerted charge at acquiring Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson. Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers coming to town didn’t seem like the easiest game on the schedule.
Despite their lack of momentum, the Raptors picked up a much-needed 117-105 victory that was bolstered by a Scottie Barnes masterclass on both ends. With four of their next six games coming against teams that are below .500 on the year, the Raptors could turn things around.
Raptors fans already photoshopping Wembanyama in Raptors jerseys need to put their fantasies on hold for a bit, as Toronto might try to squeeze every drop of success they can get out of this team before finally settling into seller territory.
If the Raptors want to move forward positively, the Portland win could help them turn over a new leaf and get back in the win column more consistently. These three trends, shown off in both the Portland game and some of their prior losses, are reasons to look on the bright side.
Toronto Raptors: 3 reasons for fans to stay positive.
3. Christian Koloko has confidence
Koloko has experienced ups and downs during his rookie season, but that was to be expected with someone as raw as him offensively. When he’s been on the floor in the last few weeks, Koloko has put together a very promising set of games against some challenging opponents.
Koloko is averaging 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in the last four contests, missing just one shot from the field in that span. His game-clinching 3-pointer against Phoenix was one of the highlights of the season, as it showed that the game is starting to slow down for him.
The Toronto Raptors have high hopes for Christian Koloko.
Koloko may not have the gaudiest block numbers, but it is very clear that he can impact the game on the defensive end with his size and mobility. Toronto’s aggressive defense needs a rim protector, and Koloko has taken steps toward eventually becoming that player.
The 3-pointer seems like a funny moment, given how unusual it was. However, the fact that Koloko is on the floor and willing to take that shot in that situation shows that both the team and player feel extremely comfortable about where he is at right now.
2. Gary Trent Jr. is locked in
Trent is back in the starting lineup after a brief stint on the bench, and he has reenergized a team that has lacked any dynamic ability on the perimeter. Trent may have been mentioned as a trade target, but he’s playing so well that the Raptors’ offense would fall apart without him.
Trent has averaged 25.0 points per game in his last six contests, crossing 27 points three times and 30 points twice. The fact that he’s doing this while playing alongside an underperforming bench is even more impressive, showing how tremendous he is at hitting shots with defenders draped all over him.
Gary Trent Jr. is the best shooter on the Toronto Raptors.
After Nick Nurse called rent out for not going as hard as he did on the defensive end, Trent is back to being one of the best young two-way guards in the league. His deflections are solid, and he’s nailed 44.6% of his 3-point attempts on eight attempts per game.
Suppose the Raptors can keep Trent for the long haul. In that case, they’ll end up with a player that can be an impact player on both ends for the next half-decade while providing a surplus of perimeter shooting for a team that is still multiple offseasons away from becoming elite in that area. That’s worth such a gaudy price tag.
1. Scottie Barnes is aggressive
Before the Portland game, Barnes hadn’t made a shot from the field in the first three quarters of consecutive losses against the Pacers and Knicks. While he’s made up for those numbers thanks to some very impressive late rallies in the fourth, Barnes was an impactful presence in all four quarters against Portland.
Barnes recorded 22 points, nine rebounds, and four assists against the Blazers, further beefing up his stat sheet by piling up two steals and two blocks in one of the best defensive performances he’s had all season long. Barnes is at his best when he’s screaming toward the basket, and Nurse let him unleash the beast in this game.
The Toronto Raptors need Scottie Barnes to be energetic.
Barnes was clearly not himself in the last few games, but this new directive has emboldened him and made him an even more deadly scorer than he has been all season long. It’s tough to give him tons of shot attempts when there are so many mouths to feed, but his play is so impressive at its peak that he has warranted it.
The Raptors’ success in the next few years will inevitably be tied to Barnes and how he performs. There is no way that the Raptors can mold him into a franchise player unless they give him the necessary schematic help and confidence boost he needs to be a star.