TORONTO – RJ Barrett’s face dropped when he realized he was going to be headed again out on the highway.
Barrett had spent most of December travelling with the New York Knicks and was traded, together with Immanuel Quickley, to the Raptors on Saturday, flying straight from Indianapolis to Toronto. They debuted within the purple and black on Monday, solely to embark on a six-game highway journey the following day protecting Barrett and Quickley on the highway for one more two weeks.
“Man, I believed I didn’t have to try this once more,” stated Barrett, who’s from Mississauga, Ont., when he realized he wasn’t going to have an opportunity to settle into his new downtown Toronto house. “These are powerful, man. These should not simple in any respect.
“However you keep along with the group, and as we’re figuring issues out, this is able to be a very good check for us. I’m excited to see how we do on this journey.”
The Raptors flew to Memphis on Tuesday and can play the Grizzlies the following evening. They start a four-game swing in California on Friday with a cease in Sacramento earlier than heading south with a cease in Golden State on Sunday after which back-to-back video games in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers on Jan. 9 and the Clippers on Jan. 10.
The Raptors finish the journey in Utah on Jan. 12 earlier than returning to Toronto and the pleasant confines of Scotiabank Enviornment on Jan. 15 to host the Boston Celtics.
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Quickley stated that the lengthy time period on the highway together with his new teammates will possible assist with the membership’s on-court product.
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“A number of time on the airplane, quite a lot of time at dinner and issues like that, on the highway,” stated Quickley after Toronto’s 124-121 win over Cleveland on Monday. “Simply making an attempt to get to know these guys off the court docket, on the court docket, realizing the place they need the ball and issues like that.
“I believe the highway advantages so much for that.”
Though head coach Darko Rajakovic has stated all season that the Raptors are counting on a wide range of gamers to step up and be a frontrunner, there’s little doubt that all-star Pascal Siakam holds quite a lot of sway in Toronto’s locker room. He stated that this journey presents a chance to combine Barrett and Quickley.
“On the highway might be the most effective time to get to know one another,” he stated. “You get to hang around. I believe we have now group dinners and issues like that that’s gonna occur.
“I believe the extra we get aware of one another and being in powerful environments on the highway it brings folks collectively, for certain.”
Rajakovic stated he nonetheless has to tinker with the beginning rotation to see who of his gamers click on now that Barrett and Quickley have arrived and OG Anunoby, Valuable Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn have been despatched to New York.
“It’s going to be recreation to recreation,” stated Rajakovic. “We’re going to attempt actually to develop the chemistry between the gamers and actually get to see which lineups work finest, who’s complementing who.
“We’re studying so much about this group proper now.”
Rajakovic had settled right into a constant beginning lineup for the primary quarter of the season, with Siakam, Anunoby, Dennis Schroder, Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes his go-tos, barring harm, with Gary Trent Jr. coming off the bench. Earlier than Anunoby was traded, he started to attempt Trent as a starter with Schroder a reserve.
Each codecs usually noticed a nine-man rotation with Achiuwa, Flynn, and Chris Boucher of Montreal, often subbing on, though different gamers like rookie Gradey Dick additionally generally noticed the court docket.
“I would not have my set thoughts on if (the rotation) going to be eight, 9, or ten,” stated Rajakovic. “I need guys to be prepared, and I believe it’s going to be from evening to nighttime.
“We’re going to have moments the place guys are available and play for 3, 4, 5 minutes, they usually could be taking part in off the bench, they could be taking part in 20 plus minutes.”
Rajakovic — and former Toronto head coach Nick Nurse earlier than him — often employed wings-based play with the give attention to the lengthy athleticism of Siakam, Anunoby, and Barnes — and earlier than them Kawhi Leonard.
However on Monday in opposition to the Cavaliers there have been stretches when Toronto had three guards on the ground with Schroder, Trent and Quickley all taking part in on the identical time.
“On this league you can’t have sufficient taking pictures and ball dealing with and ability,” stated Rajakovic. “The best way the league is altering it’s increasingly more ability so it’s positively an enormous plus and having these guys on the market taking part in collectively, I believe it’s good for us.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 2, 2024.
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