Let’s do the math here: The Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets combined for 57 fouls, 47 turnovers and nearly 150 minutes of pre-season basketball, with 34 different players seeing the floor.
It was not “art,” as the gone-but-not forgotten Serge Ibaka might say, but it was a game and the Raptors won 112-109 to improve to 2-0 in exhibition play – both wins in Charlotte against the Hornets.
The Raptors’ final exhibition game is Friday in Tampa against the Miami Heat before starting off the regular season Dec.23 against the San Antonio Spurs. That’s all to look forward to, but for now, we have takeaways:
1. Will this season see the return of a “bench mob” for Toronto?
If you are a projected non-starter with the Raptors, this could be the season for you, in a throwback kind of way.
Three seasons ago, then-Raptors assistant coach Nick Nurse would keep the second and third unit for what was effectively a second practice after Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Ibaka and the veterans were showered and on their way home from the first practice. It proved a pivotal moment for the franchise as then-head coach Dwane Casey used Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet as the foundation pieces of what became known as the “bench mob” – an up-tempo group that ran opposition’s second units off the floor and was a huge factor in the Raptors’ team-record 59-win season.
That formula went out the window in 2018-19 when Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol joined the club and the rotation became more top heavy, although those shiny rings seem to suggest that worked out well. Last season, injuries made settling on a steady rotation impossible. But with a deep bench, a compressed 72-game season, a short training camp and a brief off-season, Nurse has signalled he’s open to going back to a somewhat set second unit.
“I think you’re into kind of a loading conditioning thing where you’re not gonna go too far with too many guys quite yet,” he said, explaining why he didn’t plan to lean too heavily on his starters over the course of three exhibition games or even beyond. “I would say that this is probably gonna lean towards a little bit deeper rotations to start the year. I just don’t see going out there in Game 1 and pushing anybody way up in minutes right away. I guess that is a shift in thought process, but that’s just what we’re under.”
It doesn’t hurt that this Raptors team is shaping up as exceptionally deep. Even with Lowry staying home in Tampa and Patrick McCaw ramping up slowly after off-season knee surgery, it seemed like there was always another body Nurse could turn to. The challenge for him will be figuring out who among a wide swath of choices he will slot into regular roles beyond the fairly obvious top six or seven rotation players. That said, guys have to perform.
“It’s always good to have competition, I think,” he said. “Again, you’ve been hearing me talk for a couple of days about wanting to try to find some guys you can kind of count on each night but I didn’t quite feel that from Matt [Thomas] and Chris [Boucher] and Terence [Davis] in the first half, they didn’t have very good stints.”
Nurse has opened the door for steady roles off the bench, but he’s not giving those minutes away.
2. Flynn looks like a lock to become regular-season contributor
Staying with that theme, rookie Malachi Flynn (17 points on 12 shots) impressed again and is looking like a lock to gain steady minutes as the point guard for the second unit and, who knows, maybe slide up the lineup to play alongside VanVleet and Lowry in small-ball groups.
For the second straight game, the Raptors’ play perked up when he took control of the offence. In short order in the second quarter he hustled back to disrupt an otherwise wide-open Charlotte triple in transition; tossed a perfect lob to a cutting OG Anunoby for a dunk; knocked down a wide-open three; and blew past the entire Hornets roster for a lay-up.
What will be interesting is who might get the other wing minutes.
Davis would have been presumed to have a leg-up there, but he looked just okay in the first pre-season game and was downright shaky on Monday night with a couple of quick turnovers and a hurriedness to his game early on. Thomas was brilliant in the first game but a non-factor (1-of-5) in the second. But also looking for minutes will be DeAndre’ Bembry and Paul Watson, while Norm Powell will get minutes with that group, too. It’s going to get crowded and likely very competitive.
Davis (14 points, three assists) found his legs in the second half, flashing the elite athletic burst that sets him apart while making some nice passes for his teammates and stepping into shots with some confidence and showing some chemistry with Flynn. Meanwhile Bembry showed great promise as an active cutter and high energy defender. Nurse will be spoiled for choice.
3. Opportunity is there for Boucher – he just has to seize it
Upfront it will likely be Chris Boucher’s opportunity to lose. The Montreal native was rewarded with a two-year $13.5-million deal in the off-season (with no guarantee on the second year, however) and will be expected to play as an up-tempo five with a unit that will likely play small and very fast.
“I feel like we’re younger, we can play fast. Even during training camp you could see that we’re trying to play fast,” he said. “Even though we’re learning, the ball moves around, we’ve got good shooters — Matt, TD, Malachi.
“It’s really a great group of guys that want to work hard and the pace is different and it gives you a different dynamic than with the starters. I think, for us, it’s just a matter of keeping the lead or increasing the lead and just play hard. I think in basketball most of the time when you come off the bench that’s what you’re supposed to do: Bring energy and play hard and I think we’ve got a good group of guys that can do that.”
One challenge for Boucher will be staying on the floor. He’s been an eager foul-giver through his first two seasons in Toronto – averaging 5.3 per 36 minutes. He picked up three quick ones in 14 minutes and was scoreless with two turnovers – although he did nab eight rebounds. The hope is Boucher will be more than just an energy player with a steady role.
“I think it’s my third year here, so you can see that a lot of things are coming naturally. Knowing the plays. Knowing the sets. What we’re doing on defence. You kind of become like a leader off the bench,” Boucher said before the game. “It helps a lot. I think, you know, trying to keep building on the last two years. I think I’ve gotten better every year. And the front office gave me a contract, and they believe in me. It definitely helps with my confidence, and it also makes me want to do more just to show that it wasn’t a lost cause.”
4. So far, Bembry is living up to his reputation
If there was one Raptor who did himself a favour on Monday night it was Bembry, who arrived as a free agent from Atlanta with a reputation as a versatile defender with some ball skills and showed in a number of configurations that he is determined to carve out a role.
The Raptors were +17 in his 16 minutes, as he seemed to be in the right place at the right time to keep plays moving on offence or snuff them out on defence.
“He was great man; he was great. He was kind of in the Pat McCaw role today,” said VanVleet, who was brilliant in putting up 23 points in 22 minutes on 9-of-12 shooting, with four assists and three steals. “Just taking the pressure off. Those guys were picking up full court, and he was a scorer in college. I remember him coming out same [draft] class and DeAndre has some great ball skills — he can put on the floor, he can shoot. And he can play make and so there’s a rhythm, I think. I’ve been studying his game, I think he knows my game. And so we just had a natural rhythm out there, and I was able to find him and he found me.
“But just having an extra guy on there who can bring it up and initiate the offence and get us off the ball sometimes is great, alongside his defensive pressure. His length, his rebounding. I thought he was really, really, really, good tonight, and hopefully you know we can build on that going forward.”
Bembry is eager to keep it rolling: “I’ve always brought the edge to the game and just a hunger. I think that’s the start of it,” he said. “And then I can guard one through three, I can play one through three, I can get in the paint, make some plays in the paint. Obviously, still get better shooting, I can shoot some threes sometimes as well. So I’m just all over the place and I think these guys just enjoy me flying around like that and I think it just helps us.”
5. Ball still has question marks around him, but his game-changing passing is undeniable
Flynn hasn’t been the only impressive rookie point guard on the floor in Charlotte.
The Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball third overall and are hoping the rail-thin six-foot-eight, 19-year-old can eventually provide one of the NBA’s blandest franchises with an identity beyond Michael Jordan’s less-than-stellar track record as an owner.
Based on early returns, it might not take all that long. There will be question marks about his shooting and if his up-bringing as an Insta-famous youngest brother of one of basketball’s most unconventional families will somehow impede his professional progress, but there is no question of one thing: the kid can absolutely pass the ball and plays with a kind of fluid ease that just flows into everyone on the floor with him.
“My first impressions were he’s pretty good, right?” Nurse said, offering his scouting report. “He’s certainly got a feel for the game and a unique passing element to his game that forces transition. He really zips it up ahead, even when there’s not something there, a lot of the times, it’s going ahead because that’s kind of his mentality. That puts your defence under a little duress getting back.”
He seemed to get the ball in position for his teammates to score every time he touched it and that he only had two assists in 20 minutes might reflect more on the Hornets than him. It seems only a matter of time before he ends up starting and squeezing whatever juice there might be out of a pretty dry team.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
