3 changes Raptors must make after uneven start to 2023-24 season
By Mike Luciano
Darko Rajakovic, Pascal Siakam, and the Toronto Raptors have started their season off with a 1-2 record thanks to some of the zanier games fans will see all season long. As is to be expected with a new head coach, the results have been all over the place in the early going.
Between an old-fashioned slugfest against the Timberwolves, the crime against basketball that was their Bulls loss, and their defeat against former coach Nick Nurse’s 76ers, fans have seen this team look like a potential playoff spoiler and a lottery team eyeing a top pick.
The Raptors have shown some glimpses of potential, and it’s on Rajakovic to keep building on the signs of positivity. However, eliminating the very obvious issues that contribute to maddening inconsistency and volatility is an equally important task for this new-look staff.
The Raptors need to make these tweaks to their roster as soon as possible, as they could slide down the standings in what appears to be a very competitive Eastern Conference. If Rajakovic is the master tactician Masai Ujiri thinks he is, these will be implemented soon.
3 changes the Toronto Raptors must make after 1-2 start.
3. More Gradey Dick
The Raptors appear to be easing Dick into action in the NBA, as he was only given a few cameos in which he failed to score a point in limited minutes, The injury to OG Anunoby helped Dick get more time in the spotlight against Philadelphia, and did he ever make the most of it.
Dick finished with 16 points, making five of his eight shots and four of his six 3-point attempts. With some very impressive passes and defensive possessions that show improvement from his Kansas days, Dick looks like a very consistent rotation player for this team.
The Toronto Raptors must unleash Gradey Dick.
Gary Trent Jr. hasn’t been scoring at the clip we’ve seen him reach in the last few seasons, and the rest of the Raptors’ roster is not equipped to get into shootouts with the rest of the league. Dick can play a big part in helping a half-court offense that can look flat at times.
Rajakovic is willing to let his young players make mistakes in the course of a game without yanking them back to the bench, and that philosophy could be the best mindset for Dick. If nothing else, the shooting will provide him with a relatively high floor.