As dangerous because it was shedding by 41 at residence, it may worsen for Raptors

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Peel again the various layers to the Raptors’ humiliating residence loss to the Pels and never many, if any, encouraging indicators emerged.

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At the least among the followers nonetheless within the constructing voiced their displeasure by booing the house workforce, whose 41-point defeat was the worst in franchise historical past.

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At one level, the workforce’s trustworthy chanted Chris Boucher’s title, one of many workforce’s three Canadians on the roster and considered one of three gamers who didn’t see the ground. For Boucher, he hasn’t performed in 5 of the previous six video games.

Nobody anticipated the Raptors to win Tuesday evening and whereas nobody may have seen a franchise-worst residence loss, a blowout appeared inevitable. In two conferences in opposition to New Orleans, the Raptors misplaced by a mixed 79 factors.

When an opponent is ready to make three-pointers as in the event that they have been layups, nights similar to Tuesday, whereas embarrassing, are a part of life within the NBA.

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After beating Toronto final Friday evening, the Golden State Warriors went into Boston and have been destroyed 140-88 on Sunday.

Late within the 2021 season, the Raptors, which had misplaced 13 of their earlier 14 video games, handed the Dubs a 53-point residence setback.

“You noticed it,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated after the 130-77 loss to Toronto. “We simply bought destroyed. Not a complete lot to be stated. Humiliating for everyone concerned.”

Head coach Darko Rajakovic wasn’t as candid following his workforce’s rout, however not a lot wanted to be stated.

Not many will keep in mind and even care, however the Raptors did start the evening by occurring an 8-0 run. Then got here the onslaught which might see the Pelicans drain 24-of-49 makes an attempt from past the three-point arc.

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The Raptors hadn’t been dominated this badly at residence for the reason that finish of the membership’s very first season again in 1995 when greats similar to Penny and Shaq got here to SkyDome as members of the Orlando Magic.

This time, names similar to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram imposed their wills on the Raptors.

When a workforce is that this depleted, defeats of this magnitude are greater than doable. However the Raptors should now flip the web page as a four-game journey begins with a date in Phoenix on Thursday evening.

With 20 video games left in what’s now formally a misplaced season, it’s anybody’s guess what number of video games the Raptors are able to profitable.

If nights similar to Tuesday are repeated, then some severe questions have to be requested — whether or not they contain administration and the way it has assembled this present roster or whether or not the message being despatched by Rajakovic and his employees has fallen on deaf ears.

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There’s a scarcity of familiarity within the face of accidents, a scarcity of measurement, ability and depth, the components that may lend themselves to what performed out in opposition to the Pelicans.

New Orleans is an effective workforce vying for a top-six slot within the Western playoff race. The best way the Raptors defended, they made the Pels appear to be championship contenders.

Tuesday would start with Kelly Olynyk’s information convention held on the workforce’s apply facility discussing his two-year extension. It might finish with information that Jakob Poeltl (left pinky finger) had undergone surgical procedure.

To recap, throughout Toronto’s 1-3 homestand, Scottie Barnes (left center finger) would get damage adopted by Poeltl’s harm.

Bruce Brown wasn’t accessible following knee discomfort, capped off by Ochai Agbaji compelled to exit Tuesday when he skilled knee soreness.

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As a lot because the Raptors must bounce again from Tuesday’s beatdown, nobody ought to rule out further embarrassments when wanting on the present make-up of this membership.

With Kevin Durant on faucet, there’s no telling what the Suns are able to doing if they’re allowed to make pictures.

Durant scored 35 factors in Denver to assist the Suns beat the reigning champions Tuesday on an evening when the Nuggets got here again from a 22-point deficit to drive additional time.

The Raptors will go to the Mile Excessive Metropolis to face the Nuggets and Kitchener native Jamal Murray on Monday evening.

Following Thursday’s tip in Phoenix, the Raptors will probably be in Portland for a Saturday assembly. The journey wraps up within the Motor Metropolis subsequent Wednesday, when the Pistons play host to the Raptors.

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Of Toronto’s remaining 20 video games, three are in opposition to groups sporting inferior data than the Raptors,, plus two video games in opposition to the equally inept Brooklyn Nets. The remaining 15 video games characteristic opponents that discover themselves within the hunt for the play-in.

The play-in is not an possibility for the Raptors. Enjoying with the kind of defensive depth that resulted in Tuesday’s lambasting by the Pels additionally just isn’t an possibility.

Professionalism and integrity have to be maintained, areas that may get misplaced when lopsided losses start to mount.

Gradey Dick is winding down his rookie season, however he can’t play 27 minutes and rating two factors like he did in opposition to New Orleans when he missed all 5 of his makes an attempt from distance.

This was purported to be a season improvement and transition, the place wins and losses didn’t characterize the true measuring stick.

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Alongside comes Tuesday evening’s annihilation and every part modifications.

No Barnes, no Poeltl, no reasonable shot of sustaining a aggressive stability — until the opposition occurs to be the Charlotte Hornets.

Neither participant ought to be requested to play once more this season, however there are others who must step up.

Rajakovic had his fingers full when he determined to simply accept the job realizing two of his finest gamers, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, wouldn’t be round for the lengthy haul.

With Barnes and Poeltl now on the shelf, teaching this Raptors unit turns into even tougher to the purpose the place posting a win in opposition to a high quality workforce is nearly not possible.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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