We knew about mini-training camps, or even summer sessions between usually rival players. Last summer, the Raptors opted for only two stays between players, including one in Andalusia, to build their cohesion before the resumption. And it is bearing fruit since life is good within the Canadian workforce, despite an unflattering record within a franchise in full reconstruction.
The Athletic dedicates a long article to these somewhat special summer jobs to which the Toronto players were subjected, without family or friends and a limited number of coaches at their side. And by the players, it's all the Raptors, from young leaders like Scottie Barnes or RJ Barrett to freshly drafted players, who were present in Spain, then in Miami later in the summer. On the program, basketball obviously, but also shared moments of life to create or strengthen bonds between players.
Summer camp atmosphere…
“ We were having fun, having a good time” says pivot Bruno Fernando. “ We got up and went straight to training. » « Then we went to the beach » continues Ulrich Chomche, last choice of the last Draft visibly exhilarated by this first group experience. “ We were in a very nice hotel, with lots of options and things to do, whether it was playing tennis or paddle boarding.. »
This airy center atmosphere has largely contributed to getting to know each other on a human level, beyond basketball. Like having fun with Davion Mitchell's first octopus tasting, or trying to push Bruce Brown and Bruno Fernando into the water, which they are not very fond of.
“ I didn't think I had many minutes » explains Jamal Shead, who took advantage of Immanuel Quickley's injury to gain playing time. We were ready for whatever the season could bring. This atmosphere here was created this summer. »
“ I have the feeling that we are more united than the teams I was in and where we had good results » adds Davion Mitchell, who arrived this summer in an exchange after three years in Sacramento.
From these few days in facilities which belong to the players' association, in Fuengirola, the affinities were naturally established and continue, as with the workshop partners Ochai Agbaji and Chris Boucher.
“ I believe the offseason shows what mood your teammates like to be in or how they take criticism » continues Davion Mitchell. “ Can you yell at them? These kinds of little things you can do in preparation so that it doesn't affect you during the season. And during this one you already have a familiarity, 'OK he likes this' or 'You can't really yell at him if he makes mistakes'. »
ith Scottie Barnes as GO
With a squad that has been turned upside down in recent months and a flood of injuries, these good vibes have not (yet) been converted into good results. “ But we know that if we hang on to all that, we're close enough to winning games and being one of those teams that is really a drag to play every night. »
With 7 wins for 15 losses, the Raptors are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. But without trying to deliberately swing this season, Toronto knows that the road to a return to the top is long and that we must build along the way. Like Scottie Barnes' assertion as a more vocal leader of late.
On their last day near Marbella, the Swiss Army knife winger established himself as boss of the group, the favorite moment of coach Darko Rajakovic's stay.
“ He addressed the team in a really, really good way. It showed how invested he was in the team, the franchise and his teammates. » « He simply told us that we were a family, that we are together » reveals admiring veteran Garrett Temple. “ That we had to trust and count on each other. And I think he's taken a big step forward in terms of leadership this summer and since the start of the season. » « By the time he finished, all the guys started running at once towards the sea to swim.” continues Darko Rajakovic. “It was a very, very good feeling to see them all together. »
The chemistry is there, all that remains is the victories to be won, especially once the team is finally complete. Until then, the Raptors stick together, like their three victories in the last four meetings.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Rj Barrett | 19 | 34.6 | 46.2 | 35.5 | 69.9 | 0.9 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 23.9 |
| Scottie Barnes | 11 | 34.0 | 46.6 | 29.0 | 71.6 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 22.0 |
| Gradey Dick | 17 | 32.9 | 41.7 | 34.2 | 91.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 18.1 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 22 | 32.7 | 59.4 | 0.0 | 64.9 | 4.1 | 7.6 | 11.8 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 16.0 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 3 | 22.5 | 38.1 | 37.5 | 88.9 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 15.3 |
| Ochai Agbaji | 22 | 31.7 | 53.9 | 48.9 | 70.0 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 12.0 |
| Chris Boucher | 22 | 18.0 | 47.1 | 28.6 | 74.5 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 10.0 |
| Davion Mitchell | 22 | 27.8 | 39.5 | 27.8 | 65.4 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 7.1 |
| Jamison Battle | 21 | 14.0 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 81.8 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 6.0 |
| Ja'kobe Walter | 8 | 17.0 | 33.3 | 20.0 | 50.0 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 5.5 |
| Jonathan Mogbo | 22 | 15.6 | 48.2 | 26.7 | 72.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 5.0 |
| Jamal Shead | 22 | 14.2 | 39.4 | 32.5 | 75.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 4.7 |
| Bruno Fernando | 14 | 8.7 | 51.1 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 3.7 |
| Ulrich Chomche | 1 | 4.5 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Dj Cardboard | 4 | 8.3 | 14.3 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Garrett Temple | 7 | 4.1 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
