Morning Coffee - Nov. 8, 2024

Competitive losing gives us best of both worlds | Raise your hand if you don't hate this team | Lots to like early in the season...considering...

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Raptors rookie Jonathan Mogbo is getting a crash course in the NBA — and surviving - The Athletic
It is very early, but the Raptors have won Mogbo’s 159 minutes by 21 points. He has the best individual net rating of any rotation regular. They grab more offensive rebounds and play at a faster pace when he is on the floor rather than on the bench. In other words, he helps them play in their preferred style.

While he can hold his own defensively on the perimeter, he is in the development phase inside. He got stuck in no man’s land trying to guard a pick-and-roll off of a faked handoff between Kevin Huerter and Sabonis, resulting in a dunk for the latter. He is built sturdily, but doesn’t provide a serious impediment when a player as big as Sabonis wants to get inside. He has more work to do there.

“Learning the physicality, learning how to maneuver around it,” Mogbo said about defending the best centers. “I feel like I can use my speed and my quickness to help myself out and put myself in an advantage here. They obviously have a bigger size on me, (more) weight. So just trying to outsmart them.”

Of course, players such as Sabonis and Jokić are as smart as they come. That is what the reps are for.

He is off to an encouraging start as he gets hit with a lot of information in a little time. His hustle is always there, his instincts are good and the reps should help with his interior defence.

That brings us back to the simple thing: his shot.

Raptors' faith in late-bloomer Ochai Agbaji a testament to determination, ethic - Sportsnet
So far in the early days of the Raptors' official rebuild, the obvious win has been Gradey Dick, the second-year forward taken 13th in 2023 who is seemingly blossoming into one of the most effective second-year players in the league. Nailing a mid-to-late lottery pick is another rebuild home run, and with Dick, it looks like the Raptors have at least hit a line-drive double.

But almost as important in its own way has been the start that Agbaji, Dick’s workout partner this past summer in Kansas, has put together. The Utah afterthought is showing signs of becoming a redraft steal, the NBA equivalent of finding an unused gift card in the pocket of an old coat.

Although it’s not even 10 games into the season, it’s hard to imagine the Raptors being anything but thrilled with Agbaji’s showing, both as a starter or coming off the bench. He’s been slotted as the team’s primary wing stopper defensively, and has adapted into a sort of Swiss Army knife role offensively, using his speed, athleticism and energy to either distract defences with his cutting and general motion, or take advantage of them when they lose track of him along the way.

The 24-year-old is averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 30 minutes of floor time and doing it with remarkable efficiency, converting 56.8 per cent from the floor, including 42.4 per cent from three.

And he’s doing it with the lightest of touches: Agbaji ranks third on the Raptors in total minutes played and fifth in minutes per game, but his 14.2 per cent usage rate is 13^th on a 15-man roster.

It’s the profile of the perfect complementary player: someone who is willing defensively and efficient offensively without taking too many touches away from the team’s primary weapons.

This season feels different. Masai Ujiri seems to have found what he was looking for - Toronto Star
Darko Rajakovic coaches at a high pace, cajoling constantly with positivity. A bunch of smallish, youngish, relatively inexperienced players take on games together and, more often than not, try to make plays for teammates rather than themselves.

It hasn’t turned into a lot of wins — this group lacks the ability or knowledge to close games — but it’s been a huge step in the right direction. These Raptors are entertaining and that can make up for a multitude of sins.

A half dozen lazy passes get picked off and become turnovers? They are easy to handle for fans if they’re followed by hard-playing, fast-paced rallies that erase whatever deficit the mistakes have caused.

Can’t handle a late fourth-quarter lead? Can’t quite make that game-winning play? Hey, it’s all about learning and plenty lots of fans — and more than a few people close to the team — are OK with the close-but-no-cigar game that might mean an extra ping pong combination or two come draft lottery time.

It remains to be seen whether this spate of energetic and entertaining efforts is sustainable over the final 70-plus games.

That’s a grind, and not getting tangible wins has to eventually wear on the players. But the eventual return of Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes will help, and this group has an energy that is unique and enough talent to turn those tough, close losses into the odd victory.

Toronto Raptors' deficient defence will be addressed only when players smarten up - Toronto Sun
At the heart of making stops is the premise of team defence — the focal point for head coach Darko Rajakovic back on media day — and yet it remains an issue.

It was also a major source of concern last season when the Raptors were truly and historically horrific.

Time is required, a healthy roster would help and a sound scheme go a long way in helping a team become less defensive deficient.

The Raptors have extended their defence knowing that once an opponent is operating in the half court breakdowns are inevitable. Once their coverage gets exposed, easy baskets are generated leading to Rajakovic calling a timeout.

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The effort seems to be there, but obviously something is amiss.

Aggressive play a double-edged sword for Raptors - TSN
"But with the team that we have we need to know that we're playing good but ultimately we need to know how to finish out games."

Drilling down into the Raptors' numbers paints a complicated picture of who they are this season.

Toronto is fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds with 13.8 per game, but is 17th in overall boards with an average of 44.2.

Perhaps most confusing is how often Toronto gets referees to blow the whistle.

The Raptors are averaging 26.2 fouls per game — second worst in the league — but are tied with the Washington Wizards for 10th most drawn at 20.8.

That second figure would make more sense if Toronto's forwards were struggling, but they're not. The Raptors are scoring 60 points in the paint per game, second most in the NBA.

A team that's doing so much around the rim — both scoring and grabbing offensive rebounds — should be able to draw more fouls, but they haven't been able to get the benefit of calls so far this season.

"It's every night we're fouling a lot," Barrett told reporters in Sacramento after Toronto had 15 free throw attempts to the Kings' 32. "We just have to try to figure that out, figure out how to play defence without fouling.

"Then on the offensive end just going to the paint strong and making the right plays."

Happy Birthday, Scott. Miss you brother. RIP