Raptors follow up dominant win with even more impressive performance

The Toronto Raptors finally ventured outside the Eastern Conference as the NBA season enters its third week, with a match-up against the surprising San Antonio Spurs, who everyone thought was going to be tanking when they traded all-star Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for a swatch of draft picks in the off-season. But San Antonio was 5-2 heading into Wednesday night’s game, while the Raptors were 4-3.

Still, the Raptors have to look at games against teams like the Spurs — who were missing their two leading scorers in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson — as must-haves, given the competition it looks like they’ll be facing in the East all season.

While Fred VanVleet was out for the second straight game with back tightness, the Raptors did get Otto Porter Jr. back after missing the first five games of the year and all of training camp with hamstring tightness and then games Friday and Monday after the birth of his daughter.

To their credit, the Raptors came out roaring from the tip and followed up what was their most dominating performance on the season in their win over Atlanta on Monday with an even more thorough 143-100 smackdown of the Spurs as the Raptors improved to 5-3 with their second straight win before travelling to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Friday.

Some takeaways:

The Raptors forward came into the game leading the NBA in steals, helped along by the six he had against Atlanta on Monday. Steals aren’t always the most reliable indicator of defensive proficiency as they can often disguise gambling, bad judgement, or other flaws. But in Anunoby’s case they are the flashing neon sign that says: ‘Pay Attention!’

Anunoby had three steals in the first quarter (he finished with five) that each led to a Raptors fast break and score, free-throw attempts, or a blocked shot that led to one more. He did all of this both as an on-ball defender — where he stymies guys with his size and strength before swatting away balls with his massive reach and giant hands — and by playing off the ball and jumping into passing lanes, which is a rare combination.

It’s difficult to make the all-Defensive teams because there aren’t typically many unequivocal statistical arguments for any given season. It tends to be an honour earned over time. In year six Anunoby is on the radar, and if he continues to appear at the top of the tables for steals and deflections it will force people to pay attention. And when they do, Anunoby’s entire defensive package will shine.

Tossing in 18 points on 12 shots helps, too.

With VanVleet out, Barnes had the ball in his hands plenty to start the game, and once again showed why he’s such an interesting option as a point guard, if you can call him that.

Against Atlanta on Monday his usage rate in his explosive first half was 22 per cent — which is not all that high, but higher than the 19 per cent he averaged last season and a trend in the right direction. With all the steals, turnovers and fastbreaks in the early going, there weren’t a lot of half-court possessions to gauge Barnes’ overall impact, but it’s hard to ignore the fact he can make plays with the ball in his hand at his size.

His running lob to a rolling Christian Koloko was one and the chemistry he showed with Chris Boucher in the second quarter, hitting Boucher for an open three and a lay-up in rapid succession were others. His offensive rebound (a nice benefit from your point guard) dribble out and no-look pass for what should have been another Koloko dunk in the third quarter was one more.

It wasn’t all perfect. There was a cross-court pass in the first quarter that went into the fifth row and the final possession of the half where Barnes looked tentative initiating the offence and didn’t assert himself when things broke down was a wasted possession. But overall? The more Barnes has the ball in his hands the better. He finished with 15 points and five assists.

Not surprisingly, there wasn’t much to it. In Porter's first live action since the NBA Finals in June, where he won a title with the Golden State Warriors, he played just 11 minutes and took just two shots, both threes, making one.

No one is worried about that, however. When the Raptors signed him all they were hoping for from the 29-year-old veteran with a spotty injury history was something approaching what he provided the Warriors last season: 63 games at about 22 minutes a night and a long playoff run. If the Raptors get that from him they will be thrilled at the return on their two-year, $12-million off-season investment.

Porter was just getting his feet wet against San Antonio and nothing got broken, so keep it moving. Meanwhile, the Raptors bench was outstanding, led by Chris Boucher who provided 12 points, seven rebounds, a steal, and a block and was plus-18 in his 19 minutes before fourth-quarter garbage time kicked in. He finished with a season-high 17 points.

Siakam put his goals out in the universe when he said he wanted to be considered one of the top-five players in the NBA on media day, but since then he hasn’t said much on the topic, preferring to let his game speak.

And it’s been talking loud and clear.

Siakam notched his second triple-double of the season in 27 minutes — he finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists before sitting down for the fourth quarter of the blowout. The game seems too easy for him at the moment: if the defence presses up, he’s got his shoulder by them on his way to the rim. If they send a second defender, he’s getting off the ball and putting in a smart place in an instant. If the play is static and the Raptors need a shot, he can dip into his mid-range package and get something decent.

But it’s his passing that is separating him right now. As much as Barnes gets the label of point guard when VanVleet is unavailable, the play-making load for this team is being carried by Siakam, who took over the team lead in assists at 7.9 a game. He’s on his way to career highs in points, rebounds, assists and — providing the Raptors keep winning — all-NBA recognition is a certainty, and a first-team honour is on the table.

It’s a big year for the 23-year-old who will be a free agent next summer in a market that is willing to pay premium dollars for elite three-point shooters. I’m not sure that the fifth-year guard will command the kind of money that Tyler Herro got from Miami ($130 million over four years), or Jordan Poole was paid by Golden State ($140 million for four years), but you never know. He’s not their equal as a creator, but Trent Jr. can at least hold his own defensively, relatively at least.

And give Trent Jr. credit for stepping up to the challenge. He popped off for 24 points in 26 minutes against San Antonio and chipped in a couple of steals and assists. He’s shooting 38.7 per cent from three, which is standard for him, but his efficiency from inside the arc is over 50 per cent for the first time in his career. He’s averaging 20 points a game, which would be a career-best, and would get some attention in free agency too: Herro averaged 20.7 points a game last season; Poole just 18.7. Ka-ching.