Watching Raptors games, it's not always the opposing teams’ star players who instill fear; often, it's their role players who can unexpectedly emerge as the true Raptors killers.
Look no further than January 11, when the Toronto Raptors traveled to Little Caesars Arena for a showdown with the Detroit Pistons. While Pistons cornerstone Cade Cunningham had a stellar night, finishing with a triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and an impressive 17 assists, it was a particular Pistons veteran who truly sealed the deal for Detroit with his exceptional shooting: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tim Hardaway Jr. torched Raptors like a Klay Thompson lite
Hardaway put up his season-best performance, scoring 27 points in just over 31 minutes of court time. He achieved this efficient night by shooting 9-for-13 from the field and an impressive 7-for-8 from three-point range. The night's stats concluded with Hardaway standing as the top plus/minus contributor among Pistons players, finishing with a +22.
Watching Hardaway sink those deep shots with endless flair and poise inevitably evokes nostalgic memories of one of the game’s greatest three-point shooters, Klay Thompson. While Thompson is still active in the league, injuries and age have diminished the once-magic of his sharpshooting ability. On his best nights, Thompson could shoot the lights out, and it felt as though the flame would never extinguish.
The Raptors were caught off guard by a sudden and unexpected barrage by THJ, reminiscent of the explosive outings from Klay Thompson back in the day.
This display highlights the depth of the Pistons' offense, which has the ability to surprise at any moment. In contrast, Toronto’s current roster significantly lacks this unpredictability. The only potential exception is stretch forward veteran Chris Boucher, but he isn't enough of an X-factor to warrant much confidence.
Consequently, their performance should raise a substantial red flag, indicating the need to acquire veteran sharpshooters to strengthen their lineup, irrespective of their ultimate goal.
On Toronto's side of the equation, they didn't necessarily struggle to generate three-pointers, converting at a respectable 16-for-38 from their rebuilding roster. However, their overall shooting efficiency fell short of meeting the challenge posed by Detroit, which boasted a slightly higher three-point shooting percentage at 19-for-33.
The Raptors' struggles with efficiency ultimately caught up to them, as their key starters Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, and Scottie Barnes all suffered significantly in their shooting, posting mediocre field goal percentages.
Ultimately, the Pistons' triumphant victory over Toronto, 123-114, was the result of a combination of poor shooting nights from the starters and a standout performance by Tim Hardaway Jr.