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Raptors start the season on a winning note with victory over the Cavaliers

Oct 20, 2022

The Toronto Raptors worked a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to start their season on a winning note.

All in all, the Raptors played a solid game. The first half was tight, and both teams exchanged points. You’d like to see Toronto play more challenging in some areas, but there’s not much to complain about. Toronto found themselves chasing Cleveland throughout the third and fourth quarters. However, they kicked their Defence and offence into gear when it mattered most.

Some talk heading into the season’s first game about whether Scottie Barnes could pick up where he left off” Barnes not only contributed, he showed how important he would be for Nick Nurse’s Defence. 

The dude’s a stud. He finished with 17-3-7 dishing the winning bucket with .7 seconds left and played suffocating Defence at multiple positions. Barnes might look like an out-of-control spaz, but he’s the most naturally gifted player not named Kawhi Leonard to wear the jersey.

Pay attention to his development – watching a superstar become a superstar in your team’s jersey is a thing. See Auston Matthews.

The Raptors looked confident Wednesday night. Pascal Siakam (23pts /11 RB) and Fred VanVleet (15/5) were the leaders they needed to be on the court. They played with purpose. If the Raptors want to be successful, their best players must be their best. Luckily for Toronto, Barnes, VanVleet, and Siakam did what they expected.

OG Anunoby continues to show Nurse why he deserves to be a significant part of the game plan. OG ate up minutes and made his impact known on both sides of the court. He was strong on the glass and carried a field goal percentage of over 40%. It’s rewarding to see OG contributing the way he did on Wednesday. Raptors fans had turned on Anunoby, and he’s been able to fight through the adversity of being mocked for an entire offseason.  

The Raptors are a good team, but they’re in no danger of winning a championship this year. Or next.

The Raptors are an experiment. Everyone is 6’7- 6’9. Everyone can handle the ball. Everyone can shoot the 3 (except Koloko), and Nick Nurse wants interchangeable parts that play Defence first.

Don’t focus on a championship; concentrate on the storylines and the journey, kids. The Raptors are a good, big, fun group of fucking incredible athletes and weird draft picks by mad scientist Masai Ujiri.

Scottie Barnes is blossoming into Kawhi Leonard. Freddie

Van Vleet is evolving into a philosophical Kyle Lowry.

Christian Koloko become Dikembe Mutombo.

There’s a lot to look forward to this year and a 108-105 opening night win at home against a MUCH better Cavs team featuring Donovan Mitchell is a great start.

 

 

 

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