Grizzlies beat the Raptors at their own game, showing how far Toronto is from competing

 

The Toronto Raptors’ attack ought to be effective, in principle.

 

The half-court offense was never meant to be effective. Still, Toronto was supposed to be able to get by thanks to its outstanding offensive rebounding and abundance of transition opportunities. It’s never been simpler to win: confuse, run in transition, and triumph in the battle for possession. It’s a way of thinking that was the cornerstone of the Memphis Grizzlies’ whole season last year and has continued to be so this year.

 

Problematic is the roster rather than the approach.

 

Consider the 119-106 defeat to the Grizzlies on Thursday night. The Grizzlies are not a club that excels on the half-court. They were only marginally ahead of the Raptors, who were rated 28th in terms of half-court scoring as of Thursday. Memphis’ talent makes a difference: Ja Morant, an otherworldly point guard, ignites everything in transition with his breathtaking quickness. Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks, two highly skilled 3-and-D wings who can guard many spots and punish opponents from behind the arc, are on each side of him. Additionally, the Grizzlies use two imposing rim protectors who rule the board Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr.

 

 

Memphis defeated Toronto at its game on Thursday night; they weren’t doing anything novel. It wasn’t close to the glass, though. Christian Koloko was outplayed entirely in his 13 minutes of play without a center to slow down Adams. The Grizzlies also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

 

Memphis got back-to-back offensive rebounds twice in the second quarter, setting up second and third chances before ultimately scoring. Even when the Raptors started on their fourth-quarter run, Memphis was still up 13 points thanks to an offensive rebound by Adams and a kick-out three by Jackson.

 

As if that weren’t enough, Toronto’s lauded transition defense, which is meant to be supported by all these long, athletic wings, could not stifle the Grizzlies’ transition offense and slow down Morant. Even 265-pound Adams, who lumbered into the paint for two of Memphis’ 21 fastbreak points, once outran the Raptors down the court.

 

The disparity should be moderate, but no one anticipated the Raptors to perform at Memphis’ level this season. The squad requires improvement, and Toronto must seek elsewhere if this team needs help to deliver.

 

Beginning lineup concerns

 

After starting Koloko and Juancho Hernangomez alongside Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes, Raptors coach Nick Nurse quickly realized his error. Memphis was able to increase its lead to 13-4 without anyone breaking a sweat, thanks to five straight mistakes on the offensive end and little to no pushback on the defensive end. By the time the second half arrived, Nurse had made up his mind to make a permanent substitution, starting Gary Trent Jr. and Khem Birch while relegating Koloko and Hernangomez to the sidelines for most of it.

 

Trent Lights a Fire

 

Trent, who has continued to excel off the bench, was the lone bright spot on Thursday. When Siakam walked to the bench, he boosted Toronto offensively by making five of his seven three-point attempts for 20 points.

 

Grizzlies beat the Raptors at their own game, showing how far Toronto is from competing

 

The Toronto Raptors’ attack ought to be effective, in principle.

 

The half-court offense was never meant to be effective. Still, Toronto was supposed to be able to get by thanks to its outstanding offensive rebounding and abundance of transition opportunities. It’s never been simpler to win: confuse, run in transition, and triumph in the battle for possession. It’s a way of thinking that was the cornerstone of the Memphis Grizzlies’ whole season last year and has continued to be so this year.

 

Problematic is the roster rather than the approach.

 

Consider the 119-106 defeat to the Grizzlies on Thursday night. The Grizzlies are not a club that excels on the half-court. They were only marginally ahead of the Raptors, who were rated 28th in terms of half-court scoring as of Thursday. Memphis’ talent makes a difference: Ja Morant, an otherworldly point guard, ignites everything in transition with his breathtaking quickness. Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks, two highly skilled 3-and-D wings who can guard many spots and punish opponents from behind the arc, are on each side of him. Additionally, the Grizzlies use two imposing rim protectors who rule the board Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr.

 

 

Memphis defeated Toronto at its game on Thursday night; they weren’t doing anything novel. It wasn’t close to the glass, though. Christian Koloko was outplayed entirely in his 13 minutes of play without a center to slow down Adams. The Grizzlies also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

 

Memphis got back-to-back offensive rebounds twice in the second quarter, setting up second and third chances before ultimately scoring. Even when the Raptors started on their fourth-quarter run, Memphis was still up 13 points thanks to an offensive rebound by Adams and a kick-out three by Jackson.

 

As if that weren’t enough, Toronto’s lauded transition defense, which is meant to be supported by all these long, athletic wings, could not stifle the Grizzlies’ transition offense and slow down Morant. Even 265-pound Adams, who lumbered into the paint for two of Memphis’ 21 fastbreak points, once outran the Raptors down the court.

 

The disparity should be moderate, but no one anticipated the Raptors to perform at Memphis’ level this season. The squad requires improvement, and Toronto must seek elsewhere if this team needs help to deliver.

 

Beginning lineup concerns

 

After starting Koloko and Juancho Hernangomez alongside Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes, Raptors coach Nick Nurse quickly realized his error. Memphis was able to increase its lead to 13-4 without anyone breaking a sweat, thanks to five straight mistakes on the offensive end and little to no pushback on the defensive end. By the time the second half arrived, Nurse had made up his mind to make a permanent substitution, starting Gary Trent Jr. and Khem Birch while relegating Koloko and Hernangomez to the sidelines for most of it.

 

Trent Lights a Fire

 

Trent, who has continued to excel off the bench, was the lone bright spot on Thursday. When Siakam walked to the bench, he boosted Toronto offensively by making five of his seven three-point attempts for 20 points.