It feels like the 87th meeting between the Toronto Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks this season. In reality, it’s the fourth, but it feels like more. Especially given that these two teams played on Saturday
and then Monday again, with no games in between.
Before the game, Darko Rajakovic said he liked playing teams again and again in a short amount of time. To him, it kind of mimics what the playoffs are like, having to prepare to play the same team over and over. Plus, for a team like his that doesn’t have much playoff experience, anything that mimics that setting is welcome.
There were things Darko wanted his team to take into Monday’s matchup that they did on Saturday, and a few things that he wanted them to leave behind. Their poor defensive play in the first three quarters was probably the biggest thing, given they allowed the Hawks over 70 points in the first half of Saturday’s game. They turned everything around in the fourth, leading to a solid win, and that final quarter contained most of what Darko wanted to repeat on Monday.
Clearly, that was still fresh on their mind as they started the game on Monday, immediately playing better defence than their showing on Saturday. Someone impressive on the defensive end so far this season? Brandon Ingram, who was infamously NOT known as a defence guy when he was traded to the Raptors, to the point that it was a hesitation for many fans in believing in the deal. Ingram has developed on the defensive end enough that he’s s threat in the paint, something the Raptors need from him as he’s so important on the offensive end.
After the game, Darko Rajakovic told the media that Ingram was shocked at the defensive intensity he saw the Raptors’ Summer League team display. From there, Darko explained that Ingram realized he needed to step it up when it came to his own defensive intensity. According to Darko, Ingram is a “team guy,” he just wants to win, and he wants to contribute in any way he needs to, to be the player his team needs him to be. For this team, they need him to be a defensive threat, so he became one.
As we established on Saturday, the Hawks famously don’t really play much defence themselves, so the Raptors were able to take control and keep it. I’d make a “maybe that’s why Trae Young wants out” quip, but he’s the kinda the worst for it, which is why I don’t want him near the Raptors in trade talks.
Unfortunately, because the Raptors seem to love a clutch game situation this season, the score got closer as the fourth quarter started. Thankfully, Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Scottie were able to hold the team steady offensively, and the team continued to play good enough defence to hold off Atlanta. It was a wire-to-wire victory for Toronto, ending the game up 118-100 over the Hawks.
With this win, the Raptors officially sweep the season series against the Atlanta Hawks, having won all four games against them this season.
It was definitely a team effort, with no player reaching 20 points in scoring, and their three-point shooting staying at 32.4%. It was a great game for Collin Murray-Boyles and Gradey Dick, the rookie who has been impressive when he’s been given a shot, and the third-year player, Gradey Dick, who has been struggling as of late but had a great showing. CMB scored 17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 stocks, and Dick scored 11 points off the bench.
Murray-Boyles said after the game that the one thing that has gotten easier in his half a season in the NBA is the ability to follow the game plan his coaches lay out for him. He likes to play with energy and isn’t afraid to mess up if he’s out there playing his hardest, in his words. He added that he prepared extensively to be able to be as physical as he has been as a rookie – a rarity with guys coming fresh from college basketball.
Barnes gave a nod to the team’s bench, saying, “They are a huge part of [the Raptors’] success, we have a next man up mentality.”
This is the first time the Raptors have won three games in a row since their nine-game winning streak in November. They head out on a mini road trip this week, playing Charlotte and then Boston, before coming back to play Philadelphia in back-to-back home games. If they keep up the offence and defensive energy they displayed in the last five quarters of basketball, they could extend this current streak a bit more.
