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Trent Jr. impresses in debut, but can’t solve Raptors’ biggest problem – Sportsnet.ca

Published

4 years ago

March 27, 2021

First impressions?

Gary Trent Jr. will have a better career with the Toronto Raptors than Gary Trent Sr., who back in 1998 — in one of those bizarre confluences of timing and numbers — was also traded from Portland to Toronto after 41 games of this third season with a career scoring average of about 10 points a game

But the elder Trent — a bruising post player who was perfectly built for rugged, no blood, no foul 1990s basketball — only lasted 13 games as a Raptor, although he went on to play 506 in the NBA over nine seasons.

Trent Jr. is equally suited for his era as a wing with some length whose specialty is stretching defences from deep and who is adept at switching to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. The Raptors are hoping to have him around for a while, given he’s only 22, and the team will be in a position to offer him a multi-year contract this coming summer.

He got the start against the Phoenix Suns, taking the departed Norman Powell’s place in the lineup alongside the Raptors’ other trade deadline ‘acquisition’ Kyle Lowry, who the Raptors didn’t trade.

That alone made Raptors head coach Nick Nurse’s day on Thursday.

“I found out probably like most of you guys about three o’clock when the thing shut down that he was still gonna be a Raptor,” said Nurse about finding out he’d have Lowry to coach until at least the end of the season after it was widely assumed the pending free agent would be dealt for parts and picks. “Listen, I’m happy about it. I still think that we’re in a season that’s been tumultuous at best, but we’re not out of it or anything like that and we continue to prove we can play pretty good basketball. Just hope we can string, I’m not saying a whole bunch of wins together because I just wanna string good play together and that takes care of itself, and hopefully we can get out of seemingly there’s some little road bump or pitfall or something ahead all the time since we got here. Hopefully we can get through that and get a chance to do that.”

Next impressions? Trent Jr. alone won’t save Toronto — he looked emotionally spent after a long week where he was at the centre of the NBA rumour mill, as he finished with eight points in 31 minutes. And Rodney Hood won’t either, although he hardly looked out of place, but he can’t do much to solve Toronto’s season-long struggles against teams with quality big men.

The Raptors lost 104-100 and although they can be encouraged by a fourth-quarter defensive effort where they held the high-flying Suns to 7-of-22 shooting, they still dropped their ninth game in the past 10 to fall to 18-27 as they try to scramble from 11th place into a playoff position.

Known as a shooter, Trent finished 4-of-11 from the floor and 0-of-5 from deep, including a miss on a potential go-ahead three in transition with 59 seconds left. But the career 40 per cent three-point shooter encouragingly had some of his best moments on defence, including forcing a miss from Suns veteran star Chris Paul in a one-on-one situation in the paint a couple of possessions prior to that.

The Raptors got to within two points with 2:11 to play after trailing by nine with 3:50 to play with a quick 7-0 run, but Toronto stalled at that point, counting only a lay-up by Fred VanVleet.

Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists but Toronto shot just 41.1 per cent from the floor for the game. The Suns got 19 points and eight rebounds from Paul while big man DeAndre Ayton had 19 points and nine rebounds and helped Phoenix to a 58-32 edge in points in the paint as they shot 48 per cent from the floor and help a 9-7 edge in offensive rebounds.

Wearing the same No. 33 that his father wore as a Raptor, Trent Jr. didn’t take long to show that he should acclimatize quickly. On his first touch he ran a simple pick-and-roll that ended up in a wide-open three for Siakam that went down. His first basket as a Raptor wasn’t a three but an elbow jumper on the move. Defensively he was as advertised: engaged and alert, though limited in that his only exposure to the Raptors systems and terminology came in a pre-game walkthrough.

“He’s coming into his own, little bit different style than Norman,” said Nurse before the game. “Kinda the shooting’s similar, the three-point shooting’s kinda similar percentage wise. Doesn’t maybe go to the rim maybe as explosive as Norman does, but not many do. And then we’re just gonna have to see how he fits in with the rest of it.

“You guys know what’s important to me and what’s important to making our team good is can he guard, and will he guard, and can he understand the schemes, and will he be a good chemistry piece, which, you know, that’s what we’re gonna start to find out.”

Playing the first three years of his career alongside one of the most prolific backcourt combinations in the NBA in Dame Lillard and CJ McCollum was good preparation for stepping into the lineup alongside Lowry and VanVleet.

“Coming from a two-guard set I know where to find my spots to score, know my role and [about] playing that to the best of my ability,” said Trent Jr. “I’m coming here to gel with everybody, to try to help get on the winning track and win as many games as possible and be a great teammate.”

Unfortunately, there’s not much that Trent Jr. can do about the Raptors’ biggest weakness which is finishing defensive possessions with a rebound and, too often of late, simply playing good defence at all.

The Raptors trailed 53-51 at the half but it was almost an illusion. The Suns shot 56 per cent from the floor and 41 per cent from three in part because the Raptors were struggling to make shots. Their 18-of-46 shooting meant the Suns were going the other way against scrambled Raptors defenders trying to get back in transition — the Suns were five-of-five on the break. The Suns also feasted on the Raptors’ lack of size. Ayton was 5-of-6 from the floor, facing no threat as he rolled comfortably down the lane to the rim, a big reason why the Suns enjoyed a 26-10 edge on points in the paint in the early going.

Siakam gave the Suns some matchup issues as well as he attacked Ayton and scored 17 points in the first half, but otherwise the only thing going for the Raptors was that they weren’t fouling — the Suns didn’t shoot a free throw in the first two quarters while Toronto was eight-of-eight. Toronto also benefitted from 10 Phoenix turnovers.

The Suns pushed their lead to 14 early in the third quarter as they opened the second half on a 20-6 run where they seemed to be able to access the Raptors’ paint untouched and get to the rim even more easily. The Raptors finally stiffened that point as they responded with a 16-6 run of their own to pull within four before the Suns took an 83-77 lead into the fourth quarter.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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