It’s hard to look at what Darko Rajakovic, Scottie Barnes, and the rest of the Toronto Raptors did in the preseason and not come away highly impressed with how this offense is performing. The Raptors appear to have gone from an also-ran to someone who must be taken seriously.
Toronto finished off a 4-0 set of exhibitions that was more impressive than that figure would indicate, as three of those wins were comprehensive blowouts that were over before the fourth quarter started. The bench looked deep, and the vibes were simply immaculate.
The Raptors are heading into a very difficult stretch to begin the season, starting with an October 25 duel against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with as much momentum as one team can pick up from a four-game preseason schedule. The question of how much will transfer is the key.
While there were still a handful of players and a collection of observers who did not cover themselves in flory as a result of these four games, many of Toronto’s more integral players looked as effective as one could have hoped. Which Raptors were winners? Who lost big time?
Winners and losers after standout Toronto Raptors preseason run.
Winner: Scottie Barnes
The untouchable Barnes was put right at the tip of Toronto’s spear, as the Raptors are wasting no time making him their franchise cornerstone. Based on the early results, Toronto fans should expect a genuine 1-2 punch of Pascal Siakam and Barnes leading the offensive charge.
Barnes’ 18.5 points per game and ridiculous 63% success rate from the field is impressive enough, but he paired that with improved 3-point success after drilling seven of his 14 triples. Among players who played all four games, Barnes led that group in rebounding and was third in assists.
Scottie Barnes looked like a future Toronto Raptors star.
The three-headed hydra of Barnes’ improved physical condition, a confidence inside of him that was lacking at times last year, and the schematic tweaks a tactician like Rajaklvic can bring to the table are all melding together in a perfect storm that will set Barnes up for success.
Toronto has seen Barnes be great before. Consistency is the key. If nothing else, Barnes’ standout showings in the preseason prove he is in a better place to replicate that consistency under Rajakovic than he ever was during what was an ill-fated end to the Nurse era.
Loser: Gradey Dick
This isn’t necessarily a direct fault of Dick’s performance, as his trademark 3-point shot appeared to make the trip up from Kansas and he was playing with the energy fans wanted to see. Those hoping to see him in the rotation might be in for a bit of a disappointment.
While Rajakovic did make mention of all the positive things Dick is doing in his first action with Toronto, he was also reprimanded by the unnaturally cheerful coach for “rushing” in his first few games. The surplus of forwards might also make it challenging for Dick to stand out.
Gradey Dick might sit on the bench for the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors are willing to give Malachi Flynn a vital role as the backup point guard, and names like Chris Boucher and Jalen McDaniels have performed way too well for Rajakovic to exclude them from the proceedings. Fans might see a few DNP-CDs in Dick’s immediate future.
The Raptors invested in Dick believing that he would be a star, but it might take some time before he can kick someone more established out of the rotation. That may not be the wisest move for a team that needs shooting, but this is certainly not unprecedented for someone who can’t even buy a beer in America.
Winner: OG Anunoby
Between improved offensive efficiency and his trademark on-ball defense being so dominant it earned a postgame shoutout from his head coach, things are really looking up for Anunoby as he heads into what could be the final year of his Raptors tenure.
Anunoby’s 46 points in four games may not sound like world-beating numbers, but his 61% field goal percentage and 47% 3-point percentage are both marks that would make Masai Ujiri and the rest of the Toronto front office swoon into complete unconsciousness.
OG Anunoby looks ready to lead the Toronto Raptors.
As much as things change, the more things stay the same. Even with all of the pieces around him being different, the popular trade target once again finds himself in a third-banana position that will see him conceding touches and offensive responsibility to Siakam and Barnes.
All OG can do to improve his value is put his head down and play like a demon on both sides of the ball. After making Jordan Poole look like a rookie and putting up efficiency numbers that he has never reached at any prior point in his career, Anunoby is off to a good start.
Loser: The preseason haters
The Raptors are not held in high regard, as their Vegas over-under has been set at 36.5 wins in a division that might be the toughest in the league outside of the Pacific. After a 4-0 run in the preseason, led by a fun new-look offense, those predictions might need to be altered slightly.
Preseason success may not be a 100% perfect predictor of winning in the regular season. Still, the Raptors appear to be much further along than those who projected them to have the 28th-ranked offense and predicted a significant fire sale thought they would.
The Toronto Raptors could easily exceed expectations.
Think about everything that went wrong last season. The team was rarely healthy, ball-hogging at the end of games was rampant, starters were breaking down due to insane minutes workloads, and the lack of shooting was pitiful. That team still managed to win 41 games.
Losing Fred VanVleet is a blow, but keeping most of the infrastructure intact and adding a few very impressive complementary pieces might be all the innovation the Raptors needed to get back on the right track. Rajakovic could have this team gunning for a postseason spot.