There is some hope for the Raptors, but more needs to be done, according to the GM, while the team waits for…..
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Sixteen games into the season, the Raptors are about where most expected them to be.
At 8-8 they sit 10th in the conference, not totally in the playoffs, but not totally out either with a chance to book their ticket in with a good showing in the Play-In tournament.
But as much as Masai Ujiri or Darko Rajakovic or even Scottie Barnes want you to believe, this year isn’t really about winning.
The goal is finding a path forward where winning, and winning big enough to be a legitimate championship contender, is achievable.
So far that path remains unclear, but one of the biggest obstacles to clarity is showing signs of abating.
That would be the likelihood that Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes on the floor together will ever be an efficient and productive pairing.
The two operate in much the same space and score the ball in a similar manner, but head coach Rajakovic has seen proof that the two men can make it work together.
It came Wednesday night in Indianapolis when the Raptors bested the white-hot Pacers at their own up tempo offensive game, eking out a 132-131 win.
The day began with the Raptors expecting to have a full roster, but about midday the team revealed Precious Achiuwa was dealing with some knee soreness and was doubtful. When that doubtful turned into Achiuwa being out the Raptors were forced to change things up.
Those changes led to Barnes and Siakam running more actions together than the team had run all year. Rajakovic liked what he saw.
“It was kind of out of necessity because Precious did not play that game,” Rajakovic said. “And we learned a lot. Those two guys actually in pick-and-roll actions, DHO (dribble hand off) actions, that they can be very effective. And both of them, they were looking for opportunities for themselves and for the team, being aggressive. I think there is a lot to build on that.
