Morning Coffee - Jan. 14, 2025
Boucher making us feel ways about trading him | Barnes is really really effing good | Shead makes me happy
Barnes starts, Boucher finishes as Raptors hunt Steph Curry for the win - Raptors Republic
Boucher remains, just, unbelievable over this past stretch of games.
A flurry of 6 combined points and a blocked 3-pointer between Poeltl & Boucher sent the Raptors up by 1, set the arena on fire, and for the first time got chants going. “DE-FENSE” broke out! To match the intensity of the Canadian crowd, both Wiggins and Barrett hit shots to tie the game up 93-93 with just under 5 minutes left. Clutch time, almost by definition.
What do great players do in clutch time? Well, they typically make plays. After Curry drew a defensive foul — Davion Mitchell & Poeltl squished him like jelly in a sandwich — he came off a pin-down the very next play and canned a three. The Raptors crowd went berserk. Cheering. Sigh. Afterwards, Barnes got a steal, missed a layup, and who else but Boucher flew in from seemingly nowhere for a putback dunk. Incredible.
Remember, we talked about the Raptors picking on Curry? Well, they filtered through screening options until they found Curry to put in the pick n’ roll, Barrett got a driving angle and found Boucher for a triple. Insanity.
Then the Raptors doubled Curry after a pump fake and he found Kyle Anderson for three. THEN, Barrett rumbled middle and found Boucher for a layup. Insane, this guy.
The Raptors kept searching for Curry on defense, and they didn’t care if it meant that Ochai Agbaji became the shot maker, and he did, curling off of a pin-down into a layup against the greatest shooter of all time. Wiggins tried to match that with a push shot of his own, which he missed, and then Boucher got the rebound. This guy is everywhere. The Warriors also just started switching Curry out of actions. His guy is cutting? Just keep Curry where he’s at. Keep him away from the ball.
Curry missed a three, ball gets tapped out, to BOUCHER AGAIN, and he hits Agbaji in open court for a dunk. Raps up 3. Warriors miss a couple shots. Raps win.
Stars make plays in the clutch, and Boucher dominated it. His run of play has been incredible. Hardly any words for what he’s been able to do in the minutes he’s been afforded. Stunning.
Quick Reaction: Warriors 101, Raptors 104 - Raptors Republic
C. Boucher - A+
22 MIN, 18 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 7-9 FG, 3-5 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 +/-
HES HIM. MVP. CROWN HIM. Boucher checked into this game and immediately changed the tides, putting the ball on the floor and taking it right to the rim for a huge dunk. Then hitting clutch three after clutch three. I don’t know if it’s just to get his trade value up, but we need more of this Boucher, fantastic game.
Boucher briefly lifts Raptors' rain cloud with dominant outing vs. Warriors - Sportsnet
It made for a disappointing homecoming for Wiggins (20 points, three rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting) who hasn’t played in Toronto for so long due to injuries, the pandemic and personal reasons that kept him out of the lineup at various points the last couple of seasons.
It’s also more frustration for Curry, who has fond memories of watching his father, Dell, play his final seasons as a Raptor in Toronto, but at two months shy of his 37th birthday and in his 16th season has no choice but to hope his team can recapture some of the glory of their championship years, even if it seems more and more unlikely.
It didn’t help that the Warriors were without Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II due to injury.
“We have such optimism when it comes to trying to figure this out,” said Curry, who passed Allen Iverson on the all-time NBA scoring list on Monday. "You are technically one game away from righting the ship and figuring some stuff out, so that’s what we choose to focus on … but this [loss] does sting for sure.”
For the Raptors it’s a welcome diversion from the monotony of losing and a rare reward for efforts that have more often than not ended up in the wrong column of the standings.
“I think it's good. It helps for the spirit,” said Boucher, who is the longest serving Raptor and the only player on the roster remaining from the 2019 championship team. “I think we've been working extremely hard to get (a win) and find ways to get better. We got a couple good games where we played three (good) quarters and not get the win. So to get the win feels really good.”
It's a full circle moment for Boucher, whose circuitous and unlikely path to an NBA career began with Golden State when he went undrafted out of the University of Oregon and signed a two-way contract that saw him spend most of his time in the G-League, making a one-minute cameo in the final game of the regular season before being waived.
“When I went there [in 2017-18], I was with KD. I was with Steph, Klay Thompson, [Andre Iguodala]. So I got the chance to see what the pros are doing,” he said. "The one thing that I think that's changed a lot is just the determination of doing something. I think I wanted to be a player. I wanted to do something special. And when I went there, I was a little too young and kind of naive in a lot of things. A lot of maturation came in — especially this year. I think this year was one of the biggest years where I was able to just figure it out, what I need to do better and just to be consistent and not have too many ups and too many downs. So I think that's what's changing right now.”
Warriors go cold, lose late to Raptors - Golden State of Mind
Chris Boucher’s career began with the Golden State Warriors. Back during the team’s 2017-18 title run, Boucher began his NBA journey by signing a two-way contract. He spent the bulk of the year playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, and his NBA debut — a 79-second stint against the Los Angeles Lakers in mid-March — was the only time he would step on the court for Golden State. He won a championship with the Warriors and, two weeks later, was waived.
He caught on with the Toronto Raptors, where he played a larger role — but still a small role — on a team that beat the Warriors in the NBA Finals, giving him two titles in two years.
Now he’s a proven, quality role player in the league, a lanky big who drains threes, gobbles up rebounds, and blocks shots. He’s the only Raptor from that championship team who still plays for Toronto, and on Monday he paid homage to his former team by exacting revenge on them.
The Warriors marched into frigid Toronto with visions of a solid win, as they were welcoming back Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins, though Draymond Green was ruled out due to illness and a minor back injury. But their shooting was as icy as the Canadian weather: through the first half, Golden State shot just 7-for-24 on threes, 9-for-23 on twos, and 11-for-16 on free throws. They did some good things on defense, though, and took care of the ball, with just five turnovers. And because of that, they trailed just 52-50 at halftime, despite the dismal shooting.
Things looked to turn in the third quarter. They rattled off a run to begin the frame, with a banked-in triple courtesy of Dennis Schröder giving them a lead, and shifting the momentum. They hung onto that lead, and entered the fourth quarter winning 78-75. Things were looking good for a Warriors team that entered the game 18-3 when leading after three quarters.
They quickly pushed the lead to nine points, further giving you confidence that they could get back in the win column.
And then Boucher happened. Jump-started by the former Warrior, Toronto went on a blazing 14-4 run to take the lead just over halfway through the quarter. From there, the teams went back and forth and back and forth again, until an Ochai Agbaji layup gave Toronto a 102-101 lead with 1:33 left, that spelled doom for the Warriors.
35 minutes, 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, 9-for-17 shooting, 4-for-10 threes, 4-for-4 free throws, 69.3% TS, 0 +/-
There are a lot of reasons why the Warriors lost, but Curry having 26, seven, and seven certainly isn’t one of them. The turnovers have really been an issue lately but, not to excuse Curry, they feel more the result of him having to shoulder too big of a load than anything else.
A very solid game for the chef. Bummer it couldn’t be rewarded with a win.
Grade: A-
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points and assists.
Chris Boucher’s energy, and his big fourth-quarter, a shot in the arm for the Raptors - Toronto Star
None of Toronto’s success would have come without another stellar outing from Boucher. The veteran big man scored 17 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and single-handedly energized the roster.
Rajakovic joked before the game that Boucher’s resurgence can be chalked up to his pre-game ritual.
“I’m going to give you a secret over here: He’s started drinking espresso before the games,” the coach said.
Boucher must have waited to have a shot on Monday. After a pedestrian first three quarters when he missed the only shot he took, Boucher was 8-for-9 from the floor in the fourth.
“We know what Chris brings to the game every time he steps on the floor,” Barnes said. “He brings energy, he’s on the glass, making threes, he can shoot the ball really well.
“He was great, huge for us tonight. What, 17 in the fourth? We needed that, he won us the game.”
Boucher been an astonishing 25-for-35 from the floor in his last four games. and 14-for-20 from three-point range.
“When I get the ball, it feels like I’m at the right place, it’s the right shot,” Boucher said. “It’s also making the reads. I think I’m doing a lot better making the reads — not just shooting the ball (but) having the drive, making a pass, knowing when to take a shot or not. And I think that’s really helping me right now.”
Raptors best Curry, Warriors, in epic thriller behind Barnes and Boucher - Toronto Sun
“He’s been dealing with his left hip soreness a little bit. It was nothing serious. He woke up this morning, it flared up,” Rajakovic said. “So our doctors had a chance to see him and he’s ruled out for (the game). We’ll have much more information (Wednesday) upon further evaluation.”
Golden State was also hobbled, with mercurial star Draymond Green, young wing Jonathan Kuminga, who averaged 21 points a game in December, struggling, but talented sophomore Brandin Podziemski and defensive guard Gary Payton II all out of the lineup.
The struggling Warriors came in with a .500 record, but a dismal 7-16 run over the last 23 games following a surprising 12-3 start had dampened all enthusiasm surrounding the team. You could feel it with Warriors coach Steve Kerr post-game as he talked about the performance.
“Just didn’t get good looks. Didn’t execute very well. Weren’t disciplined enough and that’s my fault. I’m the coach of the team. I have to find a way to help the team and I’m not doing a good job of that,” Kerr said.
“Down the stretch, we’re not executing and that’s happening throughout the game. Missed rotations, missed coverages on defence and then poor possessions offensively. It’s on me.
“This is as frustrating a night as we’ve had all season. This game was right there for us to win and we let them get right back in it.”
Toronto led 28-26, held Golden State to 33% shooting from the field, while shooting 50% after a quarter and by two at halftime. Toronto made two more three-pointers than its opponent through two quarters — a rarity this season, but only shot four free throws to 16 by Golden State.
Of course the Raptors then proceeded to attempt only two three-pointers in the third, missing them both, yet managed to only trail by three points, setting up the best fourth quarter of the season in front of a lively crowd.
Curry passed Allen Iverson for 28th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in the game.
Takeaways as Raptors Shock Warriors With Upset Victory - Sports Illustrated
Jamal Shead has found his three-point stroke.
It was the biggest question mark surrounding Shead coming out of the draft last summer. Despite his accolades as the NCAA Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year, teams couldn’t overlook his lackluster three-point shooting. For a six-foot point guard, shooting below 30% from deep simply wasn’t going to cut it.
But lately, something has changed.
Shead has been on a tear, sinking eight straight three-pointers, including his first three attempts against Golden State. That shooting improvement has transformed his ceiling, making him a far more intriguing prospect with legitimate two-way potential.
On Monday, he again provided a spark for Toronto’s second unit, filling the corners in transition and capitalizing on every opportunity that came his way. His newfound range continues to elevate both his game and his value to the Raptors.
"He's putting a lot of work in," Rajaković said of Shead's shooting. "He's really diligent about the work, and we believe in his shot. We trust his shot. So it's good to see that he's making those in games as well."
Shead finished the night with nine points on three three-pointers in nearly 18 minutes off the bench.
Raptors takeaways: Toronto prioritizing mental health as injuries, losses pile up - Toronto Sun
Everyone knows how taxing the grind of the NBA is on players physically, but it can also take a mental toll. Particularly when injuries and losses pile up the way they have this season for the Toronto Raptors.
Immanuel Quickley was felled for the third time on Monday, missing the game against the Golden State Warriors due to left hip soreness.
The team’s starting point guard has been plagued by injuries, first a pelvis issue suffered after a bad fall on opening night kept him out for eight games. Then it was an elbow injury after just two games back, costing Quickley 22 games. He had only been back for six and had looked off apart from a great performance in the first one.
Overall, Toronto has lost more man-games to injuries than all but two other teams (New Orleans and Brooklyn), so it’s understandable if frustration has set in. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said he tries to send his players a message that will resonate when injuries pile up: “The biggest thing is understanding what is in our control and what we cannot control. And this is one of those things that is in our control, unfortunately,” Rajakovic said.
“But just to comprehend that and to accept that, that there are some things that you cannot control and that you’ve got to focus on some other stuff that you can control, which is your recovery, what you do, preparation for the games, and all of that, is (somewhere) that that focus needs to be. And we talked to (Quickley) this morning. Obviously, he’s disappointed that he cannot go out there and have continuity with the group and play. But hopefully this is nothing long term.”
On a broader point, Rajakovic added that the Raptors provide plenty of mental help support. “It’s a very important topic. Mental health is something that gets more and more present as players and people step up and talk about it and (the) importance of it. You can always take some measures how to help yourself, how to help the team,” he said. “We do have a mental performance coach. We have a sports psychologist who is working with the team that’s always available for players. It’s something that we always take very seriously and I think there is a lot of value in it.”
Winning always helps too, and the Raptors pulled off a 104-101 win Monday, leading to a happy locker room.
Chris Boucher deserves this final flourish, likely his last with the Raptors - The Athletic
Chris Boucher’s effort isn’t unpredictable, but his production and decision-making are. Boucher has improbably lasted in Toronto since 2018, when the Raptors signed him to a two-way contract, the last remaining player from the championship era. He’s worked his way in and out of the rotation of two coaches probably a half-dozen times in that span.
Boucher will run the floor like his job depends on it because it does. And yet, because Boucher disrupts the offence with a quick shot or gets outmuscled on the defensive glass, coaches have trouble depending on him.
When things are going well for Boucher, though, it is pretty darn fun — laugh-out-loud fun. For example, Boucher hitting a 3 over an excellent contest by fellow Canadian Andrew Wiggins, doing a backward somersault as he absorbed some post-shot contact, is pure joy. Every Boucher moment of his 17-point fourth-quarter flourish in the Raptors’ 104-101 win over the Golden State Warriors was some version of that.
“Yeah,” Boucher said of his shot over Wiggins. “I shot that one to the moon.”
“He won us this game,” Scottie Barnes said of Boucher.
Given it was win No. 9 for the Raptors, that counts for plenty. Most fans understand the Raptors will lose most of the time, but in order to make the locker room tolerable, the odd win is important.
Boucher has been on a heater lately, and Raptors fans have to feel good for him. He is in the final season of his three-year deal, and this one will almost certainly be his last one in Toronto. He turned 32 on Saturday, and the Raptors are in a rebuild. Organizationally, it doesn’t make sense to invest more time into him. Whether he gets traded at the deadline or finishes the year with the Raptors, that will likely be it.
His recent play might be increasing the odds of a trade — he’s hit 26 of his last 48 3s over 11 games. The Warriors game was his crowning moment, as he threw in a big dunk in traffic, a delicate layup off a baseline drive and a few big rebounds to help the Raptors secure the win.
“I think being patient (has been important),” Boucher said. “I think that’s one thing that I needed a little bit more, being patient with the ball, knowing that it’s not just the shot — that (if you are) moving the ball, it is going to come back to you.”
Boucher has made similar observations about himself before. He has put his shot selection on blast in front of microphones, always good for an endearing bit of self-recognition. When Raptors coach Darko Rajaković came in last year, replacing Nick Nurse, preaching an offence predicated on ball movement, it was always going to be tough for Boucher to get regular minutes.
