New Offense Shines for Raptors in Preseason Victory Over Kings
The new-look Toronto Raptors are here.
It’s preseason so we’ll take everything with a large helping of salt, but there are certainly things to be excited about from Toronto’s 112-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday evening in Vancouver.
Starting Lineup
Toronto opted to go with Dennis Schröder in the starting lineup, as expected. He played alongside Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, and Jakob Poeltl, with Gary Trent Jr. coming off the bench in the sixth-man role.
Schröder looked fast and while he isn’t going to bring the offensive firepower of his predecessor, Fred VanVleet, the ball moved quickly when he was on the court. Ironically, his lone field goal came off a stellar kick-out pass from Siakam who found Schröder, a below-average three-point shooter, behind the arc for three.
The 30-year-old did battle foul trouble that will have to get cleaned up, but he was aggressive in pick-and-roll coverage, chasing his man through screens, and finished the game with five assists, six points, and just two turnovers in nearly 17 minutes.
Point Scottie
Barnes certainly had the ball more often, especially when Schröder went to the bench and Toronto turned to a point guard-less group. He made a stellar entry pass to Anunoby in the first quarter, using his size to throw a high-arching pass over the Kings’ defense to set up a Chris Boucher dunk. There were, at times, a few over-aggressive passes from Barnes but overall, it was a strong showing from the third-year forward who finished the game with 15 points, four assists, and seven rebounds in nearly 18 minutes.
Post Offense Poeltl
Poeltl’s usage in the offense went way up in the new system as Toronto used the 7-foot Austrian as a hub for ball handoffs and off-ball screens. Siakam opened the second half by weaving his way through the Kings' defense, shaking off his defender courtesy of a screen from Poeltl at the elbow, before a handoff from the big man freed him up for an and-1 finish at the rim.
Toronto is hoping to use Poeltl sort of like Sacramento uses Domantas Sabonis, taking advantage of Poeltl’s screening ability and passing skills to create more ball movement this season.
6ary Trent Jr.
Toronto’s sixth man didn’t miss a beat in his return to the court. He was firing on all cylinders with 22 points in almost 21 minutes against the Kings. More ball movement and screening should be a bonus for Trent’s offense this season as he looked totally comfortable wiggling his way around screens before nailing pull-up jumpers. The lone nitpick in his night was his five turnovers and so-so playmaking when asked to handle the ball. If there’s going to be more passing this season from the Raptors, Trent’s playmaking ability is going to have to improve too.
Bench Notes
- Malachi Flynn came in early for the Raptors. I guess you can say it’s a new era under head coach Darko Rajaković. He had just five points on 1-for-6 shooting.
- Gradey Dick was late to the party, but eventually checked in late in the third to a loud ovation from Raptors fans in Vancouver who’d been chanting “We want Gradey,” a cleaner version of the alternative chant. He used a Thad Young screen to free himself for his first bucket of the preseason, a mid-range jumper that looks like it’ll become his trademarked shot one day.
- Speaking of Young, he’s sort of on the roster bubble, but if Toronto wants to run the offense through the post more often this season, his veteran savviness and playmaking ability as a big man might be something the Raptors choose to keep around this year.
- On the outside of the roster bubble conversation sits Jeff Dowtin Jr. who did not appear Sunday. Not a great sign for him, but there’s still time for the backup guard to show he deserves a guaranteed roster spot this season.
