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.
2. Less Malachi Flynn
This feels like beating a dead horse, especially since Flynn had his best game of the season (for whatever that’s worth) against Philadelphia, but this also makes two games in a row where big leads have been given up the second the fourth-year point guard came into the game.
While even the best defensive point guards in the league have had some troubles with defending Tyrese Maxey, he wasn’t a part of the solution. Rajakovic’s confidence in Flynn is waning despite the fact he is clearly desperate for someone to take hold of the backup point guard role.
The Toronto Raptors can’t trust Malachi Flynn.
Dennis Schroder has been uncommonly effective from 3-point range while piling up 27 assists in three games. In case his shooting regresses to the mean, the Raptors need someone who can step in and give Toronto solid production without completely overturning the whole established pecking order.
With Jeff Dowtin no longer on the roster and 5-7 guard Markquis Nowell not in any position to step up and take minutes away from Flynn, we may see more of the San Diego State product until the wheels totally fall off, unfortunately. Rajakovic needs to have the guts to throw his rotation out for the time being.
1. Get Pascal Siakam more involved
The Raptors are clearly trying to move on to the Scottie Barnes era, but they haven’t surrounded him with talent by trading Siakam away. Pascal is shooting just 37.5% from the field and has just 14.7 points per game, all while seeing his attempts per game take a major step back from last season.
A player with as long of an NBA resume as Siakam’s struggling in his adapting to a new role is not uncommon. However, Toronto can’t claim to be a serious offensive team if they have a player like Siakam taking six shots midway through the fourth quarter of a rivalry game.
The Toronto Raptors must get Pascal Siakam involved.
As bad as the half-court offense has looked this season, it goes without saying that Siakam playing better and the unit performing more cohesively go hand in hand. Staying aggressive will be key, even though Barnes needs to get fed as well. It’s difficult, but not impossible.
Siakam knows what a pivotal campaign this is, as he could lose millions of dollars when it comes time to earn a new contract if he underperforms this season. With Toronto showing no signs of moving toward blowing it up, it’s on Rajakovic and Siakam to figure it out.