Wow, Friday’s game in Houston was a disaster for the Raptors. They got completely outplayed and outworked, resulting in a 135-106 loss. It’s unacceptable to lack fight and effort like that. Only four players showed up for the game, with Barnes being the standout performer. He went head-to-head with Alperen Sengun and carried the team for stretches. If it wasn’t for Barnes, Houston could have led by 50 points. Quickley had a great game on offense, but his defense was poor. Young had a steady performance off the bench, while Trent continued to enhance his trade value. Nwora had a quieter night, but still showed flashes. Schroder had a bad game, with only one assist and five missed three-pointers. Dick, although struggling with his shooting, is doing more than expected with his all-around game.
JAKOB POELTL: STRUGGLING TO STOP SKILLED CENTRES
Despite hopes that Jakob Poeltl would help improve the Raptors’ defence, his performances have been disappointing. He has looked lost on the court, and this was evident in his recent game against Alperen Sengun, who completely dominated him. Poeltl has also fouled out in just 20 minutes against Sengun and in 23 minutes against Domantas Sabonis. Although he is billed as an antidote to skilled centres, he has not been able to stop them.
BRUCE BROWN: PLAYMAKING SKILLS OVERUSED
Bruce Brown had his worst game as a Raptor, with the team relying too heavily on his playmaking skills instead of letting him play to his strengths. Although he still contributed in other areas, he struggled to score points, particularly in the paint where he went 1-for-7. This could be attributed to Fred VanVleet’s weakness in finishing inside.
JALEN MCDANIELS: STRUGGLING TO EXPAND HIS GAME
Jalen McDaniels had a poor game after showing promise in his previous outing. The team seemed to be trying to expand his game by letting him set up the offence, but this is not his area of expertise, as indicated by his four turnovers, some of which were puzzling. Although he hit another three-pointer, he may not be ready for significant playing time.
