Morning Coffee - Jan. 22, 2025
Raps spot 21 points then take it back | Barnes ascending | Brown\Olynyk helping themselves get traded for something
Scottie Barnes outduels Banchero as Raptors dominate Magic - Raptors Republic
The start of the third quarter went fast and furious for the Raptors. The Magic were wearing down to some degree due to the relentless on ball pressure that Davion Mitchell was subjecting them to, and on the other side the Raptors went 3 for 3 against the Magic’s zone possessions — with a couple nice zone busters — and they got a few chances to get out and run. All of that led to a 20 – 8 run for the Raptors to open the quarter, and for those of you who care deeply about the performances of Gradey Dick? He factored in, in a big way.
In the same way that Boucher & Olynyk allowed the Raptors to get away from some of the ball pressure that the Magic were throwing at them, so too did Dick’s off-ball movement. Whether it was running him off flares, setting pin-ins, or just having him come off of some motion plays, the Magic cared a lot about where he was. He didn’t just serve to move the defense, but was able to provide some scoring punch as well – he finished with 17 points on 9 shots, his best scoring game in some time.
Not to mention, Dick got Paolo Banchero to bite hard on a pump-fake, tossed a throw ahead dribble and punched home a monstrous poster over Tristan Da Silva, and the style and ferocity on the dunk would be much more at home in a catalogue of James Johnson posters than it would alongside a collection of Gradey’s. Nasty. Awesome.
The Raptors also got a little bit freaky on offense, as they tried a lot. We got an inverted, snug pick n’ roll between Olynyk & Brown that resulted in a roll and an and-1. Olynyk was a knuckleball all night, and his awkward form of live-ball creation, his shooting + the professionalism of his passing in the triangle concepts all allowed the Raptors to outskirt much of what the Magic wanted to do. As crazy as it sounds, through 3 quarters and 15 minutes of play, Olynyk was a +35.
Underscoring all of this stuff, of course, was Barnes. Barnes was playing well within himself as an offensive player — taking what comes, doing so in stride — and finding his way to points and assists fairly regularly, but his most important role was providing punctuation on the back end of defensive possessions. Mitchell would set the tone, and Barnes would bring the noise. They hammered the Magic in the 3rd quarter, literally doubling their score – 40 to 20 and taking a commanding lead into the final frame.
The 4th quarter was a surehanded continuation of the dominance the Raptors displayed in the 3rd. The high-low passes and the ball movement worked on offense, and defensively the Raptors routinely flattened the Magic out and forced them into isolations. Banchero is a pretty slick isolation player, but an offense can’t be made completely out of those things. Even Poeltl, who struggled immensely earlier, managed to find his way to impact later in the game as a roller and finisher.
About as much went correctly for the Raptors on offense as possible. No one player was overextended with a creation load, assists piled up easily, and they shot remarkably well from downtown. RJ Barrett started slow, but let the game come to him and eventually started driving the offense down the stretch to put the Magic away. Per Cleaning the Glass, this was the second best offensive rating the Raptors have put up in the halfcourt all season.
Quick Reaction: Magic 93, Raptors 109 - Raptors Republic
S. Barnes - A+
34 MIN, 17 PTS, 11 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 6-13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-4 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 21 +/-
A bad turnover from Scottie B gave Kentavious Caldwell-Pope the first bucket of the game with a free layup. He also got the Raptors going with a corner three off of a Gradey Dick feed which took the team just under three minutes to finally score. It was nice to see Scottie make two three-pointers tonight as it was the first time that happened since the Raptors were in New York, 13 days ago. Just like in the first half, Barnes opened up the scoring for the Raptors in the second half, this time right away with their first possession with a layup. Scottie had a great night on the defensive end and gave Toronto a true two-way performance tonight which was consistent the whole night.
Healthy veterans lead Raptors to big comeback win over Magic - Sportsnet
It took the Raptors a minute to figure it out against the Magic. Toronto got off to a slow start — a couple of quick turnovers and some lapsed defence had head coach Darko Rajakovic calling a quick timeout just 1:47 into the game — that was made worse when the Magic hit their first five three-pointers. But Brown gave the Raptors a boost as Rajakovic’s first sub off the bench. The Raptors were already trailing by 13 and trailing by as much as 21 in the quarter before Brown helped shore things up with a sequence in the final 3:32 of the quarter that included a lay-up; a steal and an assist on lay-up by Boucher; an assist on an Olynyk three and a three-pointer of his own at the horn.
The Raptors defence picked up from that point as they held the Magic to 13 points on 4-of-19 shooting in the second quarter and 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting in the third.
A big factor in that was the individual defence that Scottie Barnes played on Magic star Paulo Banchero, who finished with 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, but had five turnovers, and eventually fouled out. Barnes met the six-foot-10, 250-pound wing with his own brand of physicality while also having the energy to deliver 17 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block in his 34 minutes.
Meanwhile several of the other Raptors starters had strong nights: RJ Barrett was limited to just 28 minutes with foul trouble but still had 19 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting, while Gradey Dick had 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting including a pair of convincing dunks as the Raptors were surging in the third quarter.
But the Raptors likely wouldn’t have been in position to close out the slumping Magic — who lost for the fourth straight time and sixth time in seven games to fall to 23-22 on the season — without the combined efforts of Olynyk and Brown.
Big picture it’s likely for the best. Even with the win Tuesday the Raptors have the third-worst record in the NBA, which should make for optimal draft positioning come June, pivotal for a rebuilding team. And with the trade deadline just over two weeks away, there’s a reasonable chance that one of Brown or Olynyk could find themselves traded to teams in need of the veteran boost they are showing they can provide.
But for one night you could watch the Raptors play with a roster as intended and think it could have been different.
Gradey Dick is working to burst through the sophomore wall for Raptors - The Athletic
“It’s good because as long as you’re going hard, and that’s what Darko tries to instill in us … you have a little more leash to make a mistake,” Dick said. “Because if you’re just being hesitant, falling back, then you make the mistake, then you’re not helping anyone. So (the important thing is) going hard. You can make some mistakes. I think that’s what I try to do: I try to play hard, and the way I move around offensively and try to tire out the defence, I got to remember to execute defensively. And it takes a lot of conditioning, but it’s my job.”
The Raptors came into Tuesday’s game with the third-worst defence in the league based on points allowed per possession. It’s no one player’s fault, but a group accomplishment. To his credit, Dick works hard to make good decisions defensively. He generally knows where to be, like when he fought against the bigger Tristan da Silva to stay in front of the rookie’s drive. The Magic forward missed, but it is easy to see how a bigger, more seasoned player might have bullied Dick to the rim. Dick also hasn’t quite mastered screen navigation, either.
Offensively, Quickley’s presence would surely help Dick over time. Dick is by far the most dangerous shooter in the Raptors’ starting lineup and gets treated as such. The clean looks in the half court are few and far between.
Dick has not been as creative off the catch as he was earlier in the season, and that could be an area where the swingman’s fatigue is showing. He came into the game shooting a mediocre 55.2 percent at the rim. He can finish with aggression, but more often loses the battle in the air with stronger bigs protecting the paint. He can make the right pass at the right time but also tends to go into traffic with no backup plan.
The best part of Dick’s game continues to be how he moves without the ball. He got himself a layup and a dunk against the Magic, an excellent defensive team, via smart cuts. Imagine what might happen when he can use the shooting gravity of teammates, and not just his own, to bend defences. Dick was a big part in Tuesday’s third-quarter push by the Raptors, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the frame.
Progress rarely comes in a straight line for young players, especially when they play just one year in college. It is right to extend Dick some courtesy as he tries to play the strong majority of an 82-game season for the first time. Even if the main goal of a marathon is to finish, if you only excel in the first few miles, you have to do a lot of thinking about how to attack the next one. Luckily, this race isn’t over yet.
How shorthanded Magic dropped 4th straight at Toronto - Orlando Sentinel
After the Magic lost to the Nuggets on Sunday, veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said they needed to play a full 48 minutes to snap a three-game skid.
Missing three starters and five rotational players Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, however, Orlando hit a wall against the Raptors.
After Orlando jumped out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter, it trailed by as many as 22 points in the second half when Toronto stormed back to capture a 109-93 victory, just its 11th on the season.
The Magic entered without Franz Wagner (return to competition reconditioning), Jalen Suggs (low back strain), Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol), Gary Harris (left hamstring strain), Jett Howard (left ankle sprain), Cole Anthony (illness) and Moe Wagner (left knee torn ACL).
Jonathan Isaac (illness) only played five minutes when he exited in the first quarter, leaving them with just eight active players.
“I mean, I don’t think it’s really an excuse at that point. It’s just — that’s a reality,” Jamahl Mosley said of fatigue becoming a factor due to a limited roster. “We came out great, we had high levels of energy, intensity, communication, running through screens, getting over screens. As the game wore on, trying to maneuver with eight guys, having to continue to battle, continue to fight, and then they got extremely physical.”
Toronto had five different scorers finish in double figures they took control with a 10-0 third-quarter run. The Raptors (11-32) posted 40 points in the frame as they outscored Orlando in each of last three quarters.
Orlando Magic have frustratingly lost their identity - Orlando Magic Daily
The Toronto Raptors had pushed and prodded, living in the Orlando Magic's chests and preventing them from moving. Frustration was boiling as shots refused to go down, and the Raptors took advantage.
Banchero was doing his part as the nominal center to try to set a screen to free up a teammate. He moved into Davion Mitchell's space and set his feet. But Mitchell got there quickly and flung himself into Banchero perhaps before he could get set.
Offensive foul on Banchero. Another foul. Another moment where the Magic could not gain separation and could not find space to breathe.
The Magic are looking for that space to breathe because right now they are flailing. And they are feeling the frustration of it all.
They had watched a strong and free-flowing offensive start build a 21-point lead and give way to a 15-point third-quarter deficit and eventually a 109-93 defeat. They watched the Raptors score 40 points in the third quarter to flip the game on its head while the offense sputtered.
Banchero was rightfully upset and frustrated. He picked up a technical foul as the frustration boiled over. They are still seeking that room to breathe and some answers after another hot start gave way to a lifeless offensive effort to a crash on defense.
The team is down right now and searching for answers. Answers that are not coming so easily as injuries and illness rip through the roster. They can only move forward and try to find themselves again.
Raptors pull a win out of their hat: A running diary of G.O.A.T. Night - Raptors HQ
Olynyk keeps the fans cheering on the next trip down the floor by blocking a Sideshow Black drive.
Olynyk is taking over this game! He finds Gradey for back cut and dunk. Then Brown on back cut leading to a foul on Magic
Raptors defense is swarming. Orlando scored 32 points in the first 8 minutes of the game. It took them over 26 minutes to get another 32 points.
Another successful Olynyk pick-and-roll with Brown leads to a 3-point play for Bruce. Raps now up 82-70
Frustration boiling over on the next play. Banchero is called for an offensive foul on the next play. He complains to the ref and is called for a tech.
Raps keep pouring it on. Olynyk with THREE blocks over two minutes of game time (final minute of the third and first minute of the fourth)
This is not a typo. Poeltl is -26 while Olynyk is +35. Wow.
The collapse of Orlando is so shocking, not because the hot-shooting first quarter was likely an aberration, but because the defensive foundation Jamahl Mosley spoke so highly of pre-game was non-existent.
Scottie finds Poeltl for an easy dunk. Barnes & Ja’Kobe Walter force an Orlando turnover. Raps up 95-80 with 6 minutes remaining. Orlando’s offense doesn’t look like it has the ability to come back, let alone muster 16 more points.
The Raptors dig a hole, then dig deep on defence to surprise the Magic - Toronto Star
The Raptors got 41 points from their bench, with Brown’s 15 coming in 25 minutes and Kelly Olynyk adding 12 points and four blocks in 22 minutes.
Brown was coming off a season-high 17-point night in a loss to Milwaukee on Friday.
“I’m completely comfortable out there now. I know exactly what they need me to do on both ends of the floor,” he said. “Today our first unit started off kind of slow and we had to come in a give them a little spark.
“That’s our job. Some games we need the starters to lift us a bit. Jamal (Shead) brings energy, C.B. (Chris Boucher) brings ultimate energy every night, and we take pride in that.”
Immanuel Quickley missed his fourth straight game with a left hip injury. Davion Mitchell started in his place, and had seven points and six assists.
Ochai Agbaji missed a second consecutive game with a right hand laceration he suffered last week in a home game against Boston.
“He does a lot of great stuff defensively for us,” Rajakovic said. “He was guarding point guards to (forwards), you’re able to put him on different matchups pretty much every single night … Not having him (means) our options become limited but, at the same time, it’s an opportunity for some other guys.”
Takeaways for Toronto in Raptors Shocking Comeback Victory vs Magic - Sports Illustrated
Scottie Barnes can carry the load.
He may never be the most polished offensive player, but his two-way impact sets him apart. Few players in the league can dominate on both ends like Toronto’s All-Star. His ability to anchor the offense while taking on the opposing team’s best player defensively puts him in elite company as a true two-way force.
At times, it’s clearly exhausting.
Slowing down Paolo Banchero, bringing the ball up the court, and battling inside is no easy task. Yet Barnes does it at an exceptional level. After a sluggish start Tuesday, he regrouped and delivered a phenomenal performance. He hit tough turnaround jumpers, made smart plays out of the post, and carried the heaviest defensive responsibilities for Toronto.
"Kudos to Scottie. He's doing it on both ends," said Bruce Brown. "Paulo is huge. He can wear him down, but yeah, ... you don't see that a lot in the NBA, your best player taking on the top offensive player."
Barnes put his versatility on full display. He picked Banchero’s pocket in the second quarter, capping the play with his signature look-back dunk in transition. Later, he swatted away a Trevelin Queen layup in the third quarter as the Raptors tightened their grip on the game.
Banchero still got his points, finishing with 26 points in 32 minutes, but it didn’t come easy. Barnes consistently walled off the 6-foot-10 forward, forcing him into tough, contested jumpers throughout the night. On the other end, it was Barnes who stole the spotlight, delivering a standout performance with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Raptors to victory.
"When you look at the work that Scottie Barnes is bringing in every single night, everything is about that, it is about how do I help team to win?" Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. "Tonight that meant to play more defense and to be focused on Banchero which is physically exhausting, but he was our best matchup on him and he did an outstanding job on him."
Raptors relish Magic moment by overcoming poor start to beat Orlando - Toronto Sun
A complete and utter embarrassment would be averted the moment the Raptors figured out the Magic wasn’t deep enough and nor was it good enough to sustain an early surge that had the Raptors reeling.
Scottie Barnes led the way and his teammates followed, supported by a bench against an Orlando team whose bench grew thinner, one of the reasons why Toronto was able to prevail, 109-93.
Stylistically, this was not a thing of beauty pitting two teams that endured long stretches of offensive futility.
At least the Raptors did earn a degree of redemption following their Friday night loss to the host Milwaukee Bucks on a night Toronto was not good.
Once all the injured pieces are available, Orlando figures to be good.
Tuesday night, the Magic looked good at the beginning before reality kicked in, going from making every shot to missing every shot.
The Raptors aren’t accustomed to winning, which is why any win, regardless of the state of the opposition, must be savoured.
Toronto improved to 11-32 with 10 of those wins produced at Scotiabank Arena.
