Defeat by one point against the Bulls, four last night against the Rockets…
If the Raptors (7v-22d) had started their current series of seven losses in a row with a spanking received from the Thunder (-37), they have since suffered defeats of one or a few possessions.
The observation is therefore not complicated to make: the Raptors have difficulty finishing. The Toronto team also has the worst record in the league when the gap is less than 3 points: 2 wins for 6 losses.
“ We were stagnant until the end of the match. They were looking to play in isolation rather than playing our style, rotating the ball, cutting to the circle and moving. There is a lot to learn from this match, especially for our young people on how to finish a match “, Darko Rajakovic said after the defeat against the Nets.
An end to the match marked by this very complicated “stepback” – failed – 3-pointer for Scottie Barnes in front of Nic Claxton two minutes from the end. This shot, with 14 seconds left on the possession, would have tied the game. A daring gesture from the Raptors leader whose 3-point skill is at 29% this season.
Slow down to play the right systems
“ We want to make sure we have a good shot. We are trying to find a (Good) matchup, to execute. And often, to execute, you have to slow down and not be in a hurry. I think that's how it happens “, recalled as a good veteran, Kelly Olynyk.
He was probably not more convinced by the following shot, still against the Nets, from Gradey Dick in transition. A rushed shot from behind the arc blocked by Dorian Finney-Smith…
A team geared towards fast play, would the Raptors have difficulty being effective on the half court in hot moments?
“ It's natural: in the last five or six minutes, the game slows down, there is more execution. The physical dimension goes up a notch. It's not so easy to maintain this same pace. So the execution must be of a high level », demanded Darko Rajakovic, who also lacks players capable of making the difference in the final moments.
“ We have to have a certain number of systems that allow us to get a good shot. Otherwise, the teams will change in defense and we will stagnate. We then take a bad shot. This is what we try to avoid […] rather than playing and realizing, 'Oh, we couldn't (find a good shot), now there's three seconds left on the possession.' Sometimes we still fall into the trap », regretted Kelly Olynyk.
