"We're gonna miss IQ. We're gonna miss RJ. But, this type of game, motivation, focus, and attention to detail is going to be very important today."
"There's a lot of energy. There's a lot of excitement on the team. Guys are so motivated. I love to play games like this. I feel pumped up. We're ready to go out there and compete."
"The start of the game is gonna be very important. A lot of times, it starts with us taking care of the ball."
"So, we gotta be sharp from the jump tonight and we can't allow the same (kind of) start."
Health and player availability significantly affect NBA teams due to increased pace and court coverage. Injuries forced the Raptors to start a new backcourt, with Ochai Agbaji replacing Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead starting at point guard. Coach Darko emphasized missing IQ and RJ and stressed motivation, focus, and attention to detail, plus the importance of taking care of the ball to avoid slow starts. The Raptors overcame an early Brandon Ingram turnover and detonated for 39 first-quarter points. The Knicks' deficient defense allowed transition opportunities and a faster style, while Ingram scored 17 points on seven shots in the first 12 minutes.
Read at Raptors Republic
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]