Game 3 against the Cavaliers was not just Toronto’s biggest win of the season. It offered a glimpse of the Raptors’ future.
Darko Rajakovic had enough confidence in 2024 19th overall pick Ja’Kobe Walter to give him the nod as the team’s fifth starter. Toronto’s 2025 first-round pick, Collin Murray-Boyles, came off the bench, but set a Raptors rookie playoff record with 22 points.
Starting Walter shows what this team thinks about him
Walter struggled in Game 3, but the fact Toronto had enough confidence in him to give him an increased role should fill Raptors fans with pride. He also deserved the start.
Walter was arguably Toronto’s most consistent three-point shooter during the regular season. He was the only rotation player to shoot above 40 percent from three. Walter also always brought energy and hustle on defense. Shooting and defense are two of the most important skills in basketball, and Walter thrived in both all season.
With Immanuel Quickley missing the first round due to injury, many fans wanted Walter to start from Game 1. This season, especially since the All-Star break, has been a true breakout for the young wing.
No one doubts Collin Murray-Boyles
Collin Murray-Boyles has averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting an NBA-best 72.7 percent from the field in the playoffs. He has done all of that while playing standout defense.
Like Walter, many Raptors fans have been calling for Rajakovic to insert Murray-Boyles into the starting lineup since Game 1. Those cries have only increased in volume throughout the series. Starting center Jakob Poeltl has struggled to consistently match Cleveland’s bigs in athleticism and physicality. CMB can match just about anybody in those areas.
Even without Murray-Boyles starting, he is already playing substantially more minutes than Poeltl. He has effectively been Toronto’s starting center in this series.
The Raptors’ core is coming together
In the modern NBA, to build a successful team, you must hit on your draft picks. Toronto appears to have done that with Walter and Murray-Boyles. They fit the Raptors’ defense-first identity, but can provide enough offense to be effective on both ends.
What may be most important is their fit with franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes. Walter’s shooting and defense make him a natural fit alongside almost anyone.
Some media members thought Murray-Boyles would struggle to play beside Barnes. This season, the Barnes-CMB combination has shown it can wreak havoc defensively, and Barnes has enough playmaking chops to involve Murray-Boyles offensively, especially in transition.
For a franchise trying to build its next contender around Barnes, that may be the most encouraging development of this postseason.
Expect these three players to be fixtures in many more Raptors playoff runs. The future is bright in Toronto.
Add us as a preferred source on Google