"The Toronto Raptors can't get out of their own way. The team is now 1-4, with four increasingly pathetic losses after a picture-perfect season opener against the Atlanta Hawks. This time, against the Houston Rockets, Toronto caught fire from deep, saw a miraculous shooting performance from their roster, and still managed to collapse against a Rockets squad that wasn't quite picturesque itself. Things aren't working."
"I actually do think it might be time to ring the alarm right now in Toronto. There are issues all over the court, on both ends, up and down the roster. And there is no urgency in the play. It's not time to trade everyone or fire anyone. But the Raptors need to change their approach either in their mentality, their system, both, or even in other ways I can't conceive."
"The hope, the most optimistic hope possible, is that the Raptors simply are outclassed by size. And there could be something to that. The Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner), Dallas Mavericks (Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II), San Antonio Spurs (Victor Wembanyama), and Houston Rockets (all) are simply enormous teams. Perhaps the four largest in the league? Or, at least, four of the five - the Cleveland Cavaliers are coming up next. (Hold on to your butts.)"
The Toronto Raptors have begun the season 1-4 with multiple collapse losses despite occasional hot shooting. Size mismatches against teams like the Bucks, Mavericks, Spurs, Rockets, and upcoming Cavaliers have exposed defensive vulnerabilities and offensive rebounding weaknesses. Defensive bigs are often out of position, leaving the offensive glass open and allowing opponents to dominate second-chance opportunities. The Raptors' offense relies heavily on paint passing, touches, and attempts, but the roster lacks players who can consistently score when attacking the rim. The team displays a lack of urgency and systemic cohesion, necessitating adjustments to mentality, scheme, or personnel to halt the slide.
Read at Raptors Republic
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