It’s safe to say that nobody outside of the Raptors' locker room predicted this team would win four straight games at any point this season. After all, the club is supposed to be in rebuilding mode.
Yet once the horn sounded on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors had won their fourth straight game, a 106-90 thrashing of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Right from opening tip-off, there was a certain positive aura surrounding the Raptors. Fans in the building were eagerly anticipating the debuts of guard Jerryd Bayless and forward Peja Stojakovic, who came over from New Orleans on the weekend, and Toronto could smell blood, a result of the Sixers lowly 3-11 record.
And like they’ve been doing lately, the Raptors took control of the game by getting their big man Andrea Bargnani involved early, allowing him to get a feel for the game. He didn't disappoint, showcasing the fluidity and touch that has become his trademark early in the 2010-11 season, one in which he’s averaging a career-high in points scored per game at 21.7.
Without the services of Elton Brand due to a suspension, the Sixers stuck lanky-forward Thaddeus Young on the Raptors center. Early on, Bargnani backed him down and used his newly-developed arsenal of post moves to score. Then when Young sagged off, the seven-footer showed his knack for knocking down the long-range jumpers. Bargnani used this inside-outside combination to terrorize the Sixers’ defense for 24 points on 8/16 shooting from the field.
It’s becoming clear that Bargani is getting more comfortable in his role as the go to guy. Getting him touches early on in ball games has been a key component in building his confidence and efficiency on the court this season. The Italian is finally exhibiting the maturation that Raptor's fans have been expecting for years, but perhaps could have only arisen after the departure of Chris Bosh.
Opening up space on the court has also helped Bargani find his stride, and the Raptors can thank forward Reggie Evans for this. His tough presence in the post and his super-human rebounding ability has helped Bargani play off the ball and establish an offensive rhythm.
It’s Evans who’s also injecting the team with passion and swagger, two intangibles that have been lacking in Toronto. After the November 16th loss to the Washington Wizards, he spoke up to the media regarding his team’s lack of effort and poor attitude, and they responded with four impressive wins in a row.
Evans came into Wednesday night's contest ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounding with 11.8 per-game. |He pulled down ten rebounds in the first quarter alone, en route to a career-high 22 in the game. He also chipped in with 12 points for his first double double of the season. While his offense won't be there on every night, the second chance opportunities that Reggie creates with his rebounding are invaluable. The Raptors are no longer hesitant to take jump shots and they are letting them fly in the flow of the offense. If the shots don't drop, there is always the chance that Reggie will grab the offensive board and keep the possession going.
What about the new guys?
Nobody really knew what to expect from the 22-year old Bayless, a shoot-first point guard who in his two previous stops in the NBA, hadn’t really been given a fair opportunity.
Similarly, nobody knew what to expect from Stojakovic, one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, but well past his prime. However, the questions surrounding the two newcomers did little to discourage them from contributing to the winning cause on Wednesday night.
Bayless showed off his quickness, defensive tenacity and his smooth shooting stroke, while going a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc and finishing with 13 points in only 15 minutes of action. While Stojakovic dropped a quick 7 points in only six minutes of action.
Hopefully, as Bayless continues to get comfortable in head coach Jay triano’s offense, he will be given more minutes, and a clearer picture will develop of how he might fit into the Raptors long-term plans.
With regards to Peja Stojakovic's ability, if he remains with the Raptors for the rest of the season, he will be a valuable three-point threat. The Raptors are currently the worst three-point shooting team in the NBA and Stojakovic will help turn that around. He says he’s healthy and ready to go, and if he can prove to be consistent, might carve out a niche role with the club from behind the arc.
The current winning streak has been fun for Raptor fans, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. The Raptors were picked by just about everybody to finish last in the Eastern Conference, if not the NBA. Heck, they're even ranked last in the NBA 2K11 video game!
But there are certain positives that have emerged during this streak; positives that cannot be denied. With every win, their confidence is getting stronger and their passion more evident. If the recent roster moves can prove successful, it is not inconceivable that the 2010-2011 Raptors could surprise some people; that is if they haven't already.
I guess im in the locker room, because i sure predicted they would win 4 in a row...
ReplyDeletei cant wait for the blog about them sneaking into the playoffs in that 8th spot...when they do i expect a mention as the only raptor fan to predict that