Raptors Takeaways: VanVleet, Barnes shine in OT win over Knicks
Posted Jan 17, 2023 11:15:00 AM.
The Toronto Raptors have no option: if they have hopes of being anything other than a play-in team – and even that – they need to be good on the road and they need to do it soon.
They needed to do it against the New York Knicks, who are sixth in the East, on Monday, Jan. 16. They found a way in a very challenging, competitive matchup at Madison Square Garden, emerging with an essential 123-121 win in overtime.
Some takeaways:
Raptors find some energy
There were some interesting comments from Raptors head coach Nick Nurse on Sunday as the Raptors practised prior to leaving for their Martin Luther King Day matinee, the first of three road games this week for the Raptors, opening a stretch of 10-of-12 away from home.
In speaking about how his team has allowed its offensive struggles to feed into their defence at times, Nurse said: “we have a bunch of accountability factors that we look at and take into consideration [when examining effort and energy] but even some of those you can score very high on and not have the greatest energy in the world. I think the energy vibe is certainly off, no doubt about it.”
It’s one of the comments that could mean anything, honestly. Is his team sulking? Sniping? Ready to pack it in? Or just frustrated with losing and missing loads of shots all season long, and of course, one can lead to the other.
RAPS WIN! pic.twitter.com/rS3LMBtj6M
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 16, 2023
The Raptors didn’t seem to have any energy or effort problems against the Knicks. They battled defensively, fought on the glass, and shared the ball well.
I’m of the opinion that the math is too daunting for the Raptors – in 11th place and 4.5 games behind the sixth-place Knicks even after the win — to have a realistic chance of anything but a spot in the play-in tournament.
If 46 wins is the number required, Toronto (20-24) would have to go 26-12 from here, and do that while playing 23 of 38 on the road. But efforts like they had Monday are why it’s hard to write the Raptors off entirely.
Fred VanVleet vs. the Knicks' $100 million man
It hasn’t been the best season or the best stretch of basketball for Fred VanVleet.
That the Raptors veteran point guard and 2021-22 all-star has been struggling to find his shooting stroke (a career-low 32.5 per cent from three) is hardly news, and between a balky back and a few bouts with the flu, he’s missed eight games.
He was questionable for Monday's game with back soreness after working through a tough game on both ends in the Raptors' loss to Atlanta on Saturday, where VanVleet was 1-of-9 from the floor and struggled defensively against Hawks guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
In that context, VanVleet’s match-up with the Knicks J'alen Brunson was fascinating. The two guards are of a similar size and acumen, though Brunson has always been a better finisher (70.3 from inside three feet for his career, compared to VanVleet (.551).
BIG BUCKET
⭐️ VOTE O.G. FOR ALL-STAR : https://t.co/KDXDiFuHwj ⭐️ https://t.co/BmDegUs3t1 pic.twitter.com/xw26Epm87u
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 16, 2023
Brunson signed this past summer with the Knicks for $104 million over four years, while VanVleet, coming off a career year and with a chance to test free agency next summer, wasn’t in a hurry to sign an extension with the Raptors, who could only offer three years and $89 million or four years and $114 million.
VanVleet told ESPN.com recently that he believed he’s outplayed the value of the extension he can earn on his current deal (which is limited to a 20 per cent raise) — and at his best he probably has. But Brunson – two years younger than VanVleet — is showing what kind of value a smaller guard provide for $26 million a year, with a season that could well find him making his all-star debut.
However, VanVleet won the day on Monday. He finished with 33 points and eight assists and was instrumental as the Raptors came back from down 10 with nine minutes left and hit a massive three with two minutes left to keep it going.
.@FredVanVleet with the 30 PIECE
