SUBJECT: Raptors (29-12)

TRACKING: 1/8-1/13 • @ BKN, V. MIA, V. CLE, V. GSW

Without Kyle Lowry (TOR) v. Cleveland & Golden State, how did the Raptors fare against elite competition?

GAME 3 OF 4

1/11 v. CLE • W, 133!-99

Without Kyle Lowry, DeMar Derozan, Fred VanVleet! and co. put a beatdown on the Cavs. Despite their All-Star guard, it was a tour de force in offensive execution: ft. a season-high 133! pts, 31! dimes & 18! triples.

It was an absolute wreckage under the national spotlight, one that ended as a strong showcase of Toronto's new depth & second unit reliability. Here were a few bright spots:

• F. VanVleet: career-high 22, 4 & 4 dimes -- VanVleet hit 6! triples, wasn't hesitant to fire if there was an inch of space; played tough D, competed hard & made plays for teammates 

• Jakob Poeltl: DD - 12, 12! boards & 3 blocks -- impacted shots all night on the interior; ability to play big is vital in future meetings v. CLE; got inside buckets, easy paint pts by leveraging strengths 

• Pascal Siakam: 16, 7 & 4! dimes -- Siakam made plays on both ends, was active on the break, had mixed results from downtown; activity & energy gives Coach Casey plenty of lineup flexibility

• Norman Powell: 14, 6 & 3 dimes -- one of Powell's most productive outings this season; confidence booster? - in & out of Casey's rotation; staying ready in spot minutes is Powell's short-term goal: able to slot in as a defender and attacker off the bounce 

Another notable thing is DeRozan's 8! dimes despite a 5/13 night - he only scored 13 pts, TOR's supporting cast led the way.

Though it's obviously just the regular season, referencing this tape is important: utilizing key lineup combos/placing an emphasis on size & depth could be a key ingredient in beating the Cavs when it matters most. 

GAME 4 OF 4

1/13 v. GSW • L, 127-125

Despite surrendering 81! first half points, the Lowry-less Raps, somehow (someway) pushed the defending champs to the edge last night. A furious, second-half rally saw Toronto down 116-115 w/ just under 4 minutes left to go.

Once again, DeMar DeRozan led the way - 42! pts, 5 boards & 3 dimes - but a strong night from OG Anunoby (17 pts) & heady play from guys like F. VanVleet (13, 5 & 4 dimes) helped Toronto rapidly close the gap after halftime. 

If it wasn't for a couple of missed free throws & a few questionable call, a 3-1, gauntlet of a week would've been in store. 

Sure, there are no moral victories in sports. But Toronto showed a level of mental fortitude previously unseen during their recent runs to the top.

For the second straight game, Coach Casey's depth passed a difficult test v. an elite team. 

QUICK STATS & NOTES

• TOR: season-high 133! pts v. CLE

• TOR: hit 18 triples v. CLE

• Fred VanVleet: career-high 22 pts v. CLE

• Norman Powell: saw big minutes off the bench, 14 pts v. CLE; back in primary rotation for good?

• Allowed 81! 1H pts to GSW

Tracking Goals

• D. DeRozan: avg. 30+ ppg -- just shy: avg. 28.8 points

• 3-1 record -- went 2-2

• 10+ triples in all 4 games -- 10+ in 2/4 games

• Outrebound opponent in 2/4 games -- Yup! 3/4

• 20+ dimes in 2/4 games -- Yup! 2/4

Goals Completed: 3/5

TAKEAWAY

All in all, this was one of the most encouraging 2-2 weeks you'll see. With Kyle Lowry out since the 114-113 slobberknocker in Brooklyn at the start of the week, questions arose whether Casey's group could tread water onsidering their competition as the week unfolded.

A close, 1-pt loss @ MIA (the very next game) indicated the Raps would fight but might have trouble scoring and getting an offensive flow.

Well, about that...

They followed their ugly gm. @ MIA (89 total pts) w/ a season-high 133! in which 7 players reached double figures and 76! pts came from the second unit. And though they got blitzed by the Dubs in the first 24, TOR bounced back and almost stole a victory from the league's most potent squad. 

So what does it all mean, really? What can we take from this tracking assignment? Possibly, the answer to the question below:

"Are they real contenders or is it just the same old Raptors not able to push the button v. the league's most elite?" (from the Tracking Preview)

This week confirmed TOR is legitimately deep than a year ago, possess different tools to both match up & potentially defeat fellow contenders. Their size, if utilized correctly, poses a tremendous threat v. CLE's smaller front line & their depth & athleticism allowing Casey to preserve his top players for a playoff run.

Sure, they have things to work on: defensive consistency, maintaining optimal ball movement at all times + managing & maximizing lineup combinations. 

But if you're searching for a dark horse, look no further: Toronto's prospects aren't as cut and dry anymore, it's time to take them seriously.

*his play over the last few weeks might have done the trick

Tracking Complete. 

(Baro.)