10 things: Raptors simply outclassed by Celtics in frustrating loss

Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors’ 116-110 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday:

1. The Raptors competed and played well for extended stretches, but were simply outclassed in the third quarter. Boston dominated out of the break, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and even Marcus Smart making momentum-shifting shots to put the Celtics ahead. A desperate push at the end from the Raptors made it close, but it was clear who the better team was, and the gap is clear.

Still, there is no appetite for any moral victories when the bottom line is that the Raptors should have come away with the actual result. It was a Celtics team without their starting frontcourt and their Sixth Man, playing on the road in the second night of a back-to-back, and the Raptors were still a level below. That’s not just frustrating to take the loss, but rather humbling as well.

2. Boston’s third-quarter push is the mark of a great team. Toronto outplayed them in the first half, but never really generated meaningful separation as the Celtics made some key hustle plays to win loose balls and hit timely threes. Their push came in the third with Tatum popping free as a screener, which made it tough for the Raptors to double him, while Brown and Smart stepped up with daggers.

The Raptors didn’t handle the pressure well after losing the lead, and allowed their poor execution on the offensive end to bleed over to their defence, which is an important lesson to learn. The Raptors found their rhythm again in the fourth but that stretch determined the entire game, as there was a visceral feeling that the Celtics were simply superior. Boston’s bench celebrated and rallied with each basket even when they were trailing, while the occasional Raptors baskets only felt like temporary relief. 

3. Fred VanVleet is playing well below his capabilities and the Raptors will remain stuck in neutral until he finds himself again. VanVleet made the right reads early on, taking the open shots available to him as the Celtics dropped back on defence to protect the paint, but his pull-up jumpers and floaters simply wouldn’t connect. The Raptors also tried the approach of getting him into his pet play, where VanVleet would cut to the corner around a screen after inbounding the ball for a wide-open look in the corner, and even that wouldn’t drop for him.

VanVleet was heavily pass-first in the second half but there were still times when he had to shoot it, such as a drive and kick look in the corner that he missed, or a momentum-shifting three that he tried which also came short. If he has nothing else, the one aspect VanVleet provides is his shooting, and he was outdone by Marcus Smart of all people. 

4. Despite his obvious struggles, Raptors coach Nick Nurse still wasn’t willing to turn to another option and rode with VanVleet for 38 minutes. On one hand, it’s understandable given all that VanVleet has done over the years to earn Nurse’s respect, and it’s not as if any of the three reserve point guards have any pedigree whatsoever, but it’s still an obvious pattern that is gnawing at fans that VanVleet plays no matter what.

There is a clear need for a third guard to fill out the rotation and to give a different look to the group, and that’s on the front office to address. Ironically, one such candidate was Malcolm Brogdon, who said before the season that he received interest from both teams, but ultimately chose to request a move to Boston since they were closer to contention. It’s another reminder of the gap between the two sides. 

5. One solution could be to swap out some of VanVleet’s minutes for Gary Trent Jr., who finished the night with 20 points on 10 shots. Trent Jr. doesn’t offer the same playmaking or the timely swipes on defence, but he can replicate some of scoring at the top of the floor. Ideally, the Raptors get that type of scoring from both guards, but regardless if one is struggling, while the other is hot, the minutes and usage don’t correspond. Again, this is where a third guard is needed.

The Raptors have shifted the bulk of playmaking duties to their wing players, but someone still has to ultimately knock down shots when they draw doubles. Trent Jr. has shown a strong chemistry in the two-man game with Pascal Siakam at the top of the floor. But then again, with Trent Jr.’s recent demotion to the bench, it’s fair to question if there is even a long-term fit for him here, let alone taking minutes away from a core piece.

6. Boston was without their entire starting frontcourt and yet their centres still vastly outplayed what the Raptors had to offer. Christian Kokolo started the game well and used his length to contest shots and rebounds, but was clearly overwhelmed in the third quarter as Boston made their push. Thad Young and Chris Boucher were pesky on the glass but couldn’t convert easy chances around the hoop. Meanwhile, Boston countered with a very crafty shift from Blake Griffin who got the entire bench on their feet with a throwback dunk, and Luke Kornet, who was repeatedly left open for dunks despite him being the biggest man in the building. It’s not even as if the Celtics are all that stocked up top, yet their reserves easily outclassed the Raptors at a position that has remained vacant since Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka moved on three seasons ago. 

7. Siakam was still able to thrive against some very tough defenders, and ultimately matched Tatum for offensive production which is hardly an easy feat when Tatum is a leading MVP candidate. Siakam was persistent in the paint, taking advantage of Boston’s lack of shot-blocking for 13 trips to the line, while also collecting seven assists. There were stretches in the second half where the Raptors were asking Siakam to create everything which allowed Boston to converge on him and pressure him into misses, but on the whole Siakam was excellent and finished close to a triple-double. Siakam has shown all year that he can be the No. 1 option, but if he’s in the Tatum role, who is his Jaylen Brown?

8. Scottie Barnes played another strong game and even led the charge in the fourth quarter. Barnes was good in a supporting role, picking the right moments to flash to open gaps when the defence converged in the paint to relieve pressure, knocked in a corner three, and was aggressive while remaining patient in the paint against Derrick White and Grant Williams. Defensively, Barnes mostly made Tatum take tough shots in the first half, but great scorers still find ways to get theirs no matter what. This is the type of role that Barnes can comfortably fill for the Raptors, and there should be no complaints when he continues to bring this type of energy and connectivity. He will continue to refine details like being more measured on closeouts while still containing the drive, or improving his jumper to be more of a threat off-ball. There’s nothing that he did in this game that couldn’t be repeatedly against most opponents.

9. O.G. Anunoby’s defence really stood out at times against some of the best scorers in the league. Brown did eventually shake free, but Anunoby held him to 22 points on 22 shots, while also making help rotations to make other stops. Anunoby was the key to the Raptors’ best stretch of the game in the second quarter, where he jumped passing lines for breakaway dunks while toggling between Boston’s premier scorers. Anunoby’s offence, however, was a letdown. He couldn’t capitalize on catch-and-shoot threes (which is a trend to watch; Anunoby is shooting fewer threes than he has in four season and is shooting below league average) and had the ball slip out of his hands at some truly untimely moments. 

10. Perhaps all the frustration at the Raptors is simply a product of misplaced expectations. The Raptors had a promising season last year and finished strong despite multiple injuries to top players, which combined with their youth painted the picture of a franchise that was ready to make a jump. But with a quarter of the season in the rearview, it's hard to be as brightly optimistic while ignoring the reality of the situation. Siakam and Anunoby are fine, but the Raptors are simply trying to get Barnes, VanVleet, and Trent Jr. to return to the levels they showed last season, with no actual reinforcements of note. Toronto's offseason additions were Koloko, who shows promise but is overmatched as a starting center, and Otto Porter Jr., who is injury prone and is a bench piece at best. There is still no viable center on the roster, nor is there a third guard to spell the starters. If there truly are ambitions to take the next step, it will require help from the front office.