"The Raptors remain committed to Dick, perhaps due to his age (2.5 years younger than Battle), perhaps due to his potential, perhaps due to his draft location (lottery for Dick versus undrafted for Battle). It's fair to wonder if Battle, even if he doesn't fulfill the ideal requirements to upgrade from specialist to rotation member, should take Dick's rotation spot anyway."
"The Raptors make a run in the third quarter. They force some turnovers and finally get some defensive stops. A zone defence appears for stretches. AJ Lawson is a sparkplug. Dick forces some misses and gets a reverse layup to fall. It's working so Rajakovic rides the hot group and Battle loses his Jodie Meeks Memorial Minute at the end of the third. In garbage time, he is eclipsed by the appearance of Kyle Lowry, in perhaps his final on-court minutes in Scotiabank Arena."
Kyle Lowry was honored amid chants as the Raptors trailed and nearly suffered a blowout. Both Battle and Dick have played well together, producing a plus-14 net rating, but the rotation will not accommodate both long-term. The coaching staff appears committed to Dick, possibly because of his youth, potential and draft status, prompting questions about Battle's role. A third-quarter run featured improved defense, a zone package, and sparks from AJ Lawson and Dick, but Battle saw his minutes reduced. The wing rotation remains unsettled with Barrett, Ingram, Walter, Martin and Lawson all factoring in.
Read at Raptors Republic
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