Questionable roster, questionable coaching, Raptors return home reeling

Darko Rajakovic's meltdown in Memphis underscores mounting frustration.

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Published Dec 27, 2024  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, right, talks with guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. Photo by Brandon Dill /AP

The team gets blown out, while its head coach blows a gasket.

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To say the Raptors had a bad night in Memphis would be to state the obvious.

What isn’t so obvious and what is clearly so troublesome is how to address a defensive deficiency that has lingered far too long with far too little inroads being produced.

When an interior anchor in Jakob Poeltl is unavailable, a calamity awaits.

When a big playing against his hometown team for the first time in Zach Edey is presented with little resistance from the opposition, a huge outing from the rookie becomes an inevitability.

When 43 points are yielded to begin the game, when 43 points are surrendered to begin the second half, coaching comes into question.

A questionable roster doesn’t help, hamstrung even further in the wake of injuries.

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Does one cut the Raptors some slack in a season dubbed a rebuild, does one point to the mounting losses and the benefits of accruing additional lottery balls or does one simply raise the red flag of a stretch that has gone completely off the rails.

Resoundingly uncompetitive in back-to-back blowouts to the host New York Knicks and Grizzlies, the fun has disappeared, not to mention the entertainment value attached to Raptors viewing.

There’s been no tangible improvements, no reason for optimism, no telling how worse a nine-game losing streak will get as the reeling Raptors return home for a Sunday night date against the Atlanta Hawks.

Bad enough when the Raptors blew a lead at home to the equally woeful Brooklyn Nets, a loss considered the low point to Toronto’s season.

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Along comes Thursday’s tip in Memphis on throwback night when the Grizzlies honoured their Vancouver roots and rock bottom is reached.

Embarrassing, unacceptable, the list of adjectives is endless as are the many areas the Raptors must somehow clean up.

Scottie Barnes has turned into a shell of himself.

For now, it can be summed up as injury related following his recent mishap involving a sprained ankle.

Poeltl’s absence is only magnified when nights such as Thursday unfold.

Some young and hard-working pieces were also missing, but the absences do not in any way explain the team’s utter defensive abomination.

It would be overly harsh to say the Raptors quit, but capitulation was palpable in the fourth quarter.

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Two minutes into the period and head coach Darko Rajakovic had seen enough.

Until Thursday, his epic post-game rant during his rookie season following a road loss to the L.A. Lakers stood as his defining moment.

Compared to Thursday, the Rajakovic rant paled in comparison.

The second-year head coach has made a point of going to bat for Barnes, the franchise’s anointed face.

Twice, the head coach has struck out.

Symbolically, his rant in L.A. and the ejection in Memphis served to protect Barnes and by extension the team.

Lost in the outbursts is the simple fact Rajakovic is a young coach who has allowed his emotions to get the better of him.

One can easily justify each instance.

In L.A., the Lakers were the beneficiaries of the whistle in the fateful fourth.

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In Memphis, his epic meltdown was the result of a team that couldn’t defend, while coming to the defence of his embattled star player.

Whether it’s Rajakovic, Tom Thibodeau or any other defensive-minded head coach, it’s unlikely anyone is going to suddenly turn Gradey Dick into a lock-down defender.

Offensively, RJ Barrett has shown he can score or serve as playmaker, but he’s never been known for his defence and likely will never be known for his defence.

Without Poeltl, the Raptors went with Kelly Olynyk at centre.

The size mismatch became apparent.

Toronto’s transition defence has been a sore spot all season.

Toronto’s penchant for fouling has been a sore spot all season.

The Raptors return home riding a nine-game losing streak, tied for the NBA’s second-longest skid of the season behind Washington’s 16-game stretch of futility.

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Historically, the 155 points yielded to the Grizzlies were the most the Raptors have given up, three more than the previous record 152 points allowed back in 1998 against the host L.A. Clippers.

Toronto’s nine-game losing streak matches the ninth longest in club history.

Edey makes his Toronto debut on Feb. 5.

In his first-career game against the Raptors, the kid came of age, netting 21 points, hauling down 16 rebounds, recording two blocks and two assists, while going 9-for-15 from the field, which included a 1-for-5 night from distance.

He had zero turnovers.

He played 27 minutes and 17 seconds and emerged with a plus-29 rating.

The only Raptors player not to have a negative rating attached to his boxscore was Bruno Fernando.

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It must be noted the backup big didn’t even see the floor, which begs the question why he didn’t play and why he’s likely to get waived in the near future.

The Grizzlies recorded 24 offensive rebounds, resulting in 109 attempts from the field and 33 second-chance points scored.

Memphis enjoyed a staggering plus-23 edge on the glass.

For once, the Raptors won the turnover battle, but were no match when it came to fast-break points on a night when points were aplenty.

The Grizzlies scored 78 first-half points, 77 in the second half.

No visible adjustments could be gleaned, no one willing or capable of stopping the ball, not many getting back in transition.

It’s no wonder Rajakovic lost his mind knowing the Raptors have lost their way.

How they respond against the Hawks will tell a lot about this team or perhaps even further expose this roster.

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