RAPTORS BLOG: Three stars for November and Dillon Brooks admiration

Article content

— They love him in Memphis, so don’t expect a repatriation anytime soon, but how good would Dillon Brooks look as a Raptor. He’s a dog, and you need that type of player to compete. The Raptors aren’t really ready to compete yet, in terms of winning playoff rounds (hell, if they can’t get healthy, the play-in might be a stretch), but Brooks, like Fred VanVleet, is as tough and competitive as it gets in the NBA.

Article content

Brooks doesn’t need to be inspired, but fellow Scarborough native Jamaal Magloire wound him up anyway, which Brooks talked about post-game. Other than his shot selection, Brooks is an ideal player. He gets after it. Last game he was all over Gary Trent Jr. This time it was VanVleet. The Grizzlies could use more defender like him.

“Fred’s an amazing player. He’s a go getter attitude. He sticks with it even if he’s not touching the ball, he can still find a way to score,” Brooks said.

“He’s a tough cover. I was tired today. … I love the challenge. I guard the best all the time. … He knows the game so well. So he was a tough cover. I was trying to figure out a way to limit his touches, trying to get out of his rhythm, and give us a chance to win.”

Article content

VanVleet noted Wednesday that the Raptors “kicked their ass” in Memphis last week, with VanVleet having a great game, so he knew they’d be after him. He admitted it was Brooks’s night and that he has respect for him.

Memphis, much like the Raptors quite often, singled out one player they simply weren’t going to let beat them. They were willing to let the other Raptors do the job and they couldn’t, unlike what happened against Golden State when players not named Stephen Curry stepped up to beat the Raptors.

— It was good to see Chris Boucher make the most of his chance after being benched for 1.5 games. Boucher made an impact with his energy and aggressiveness. He had a monster dunk, a tough and-one layup and could have won a 50/50 call that was ruled a block on a Memphis drive.

Article content

“Yeah Chris did OK today,” Nurse said.

“Yeah he did, a couple of nice drives to the rim.”A

Not the loftiest of praise, but a compliment nonetheless. Boucher needs to keep earning Nurse’s trust again, especially with Yuta Watanabe back and making an impact (as well as Nurse’s support of Svi Mykhailiuk. He sees something there I don’t).

— Didn’t expect a double media availability day for Watanabe, but credit to him for making a big impact. (And for his statement that if they playoffence like that, they’ll have a lot of long nights).

— Memphis allows an NBA-worst 50% shooting on mid-range shots and the Raptors hit 9-of-17.

On all other shots Toronto went 24-of-69 (35%, including 20.6% on three-pointers.

VanVleet is 10th in the NBA in drives per game and seventh in assists created per drives. VanVleet’s only averaging 4.8 points off drives though, which is well down the leaderboard.

THREE STARS

1 Jaren Jackson Jr.

2 Desmond Bane

3 Pascal Siakam

THREE STARS FOR NOVEMBER

Fred VanVleet 13 points

Pascal Siakam 8

Gary Trent Jr. 6

Scottie Barnes 4

OG Anunoby 3

Precious Achiuwa 3

Chris Boucher 1

THREE STARS FOR THE SEASON

Fred VanVleet 21 points

Scottie Barnes 14

Pascal Siakam 8

OG Anunoby 10

Gary Trent Jr.

Precious Achiuwa 3

Dalano Banton 2

Chris Boucher 1