#toronto-raptors

#toronto-raptors

Ginger Baker was a brilliant drummer and, if reports are to be believed, something of a mess of a man. He blended rhythms like a fusion restaurant and was one of the best drummers in the world in the 1960s, even joining former bandmate Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton in supergroup Cream. He once slashed at Bruce with a knife during a show. He was a brilliant drummer and a troubled man.

That may not have happened, as hoped, but the Raptors put Mount Olympus on notice, surely earning the respect of the West - we are no fluke now. However, Toronto has seen last night's story play out many times. An underdog Toronto team keeps fighting, gets close to pulling an upset, and then gets its heart stolen and stomped. What seemed like a game that would go into overtime ended in regulation as Rui Hachimura cashed the buzzer-beating corner 3.

When Toronto was awarded an NBA franchise in 1994 and it chose the team name, "Raptors," the initial public reaction included plenty of mockery. But kids like dinosaurs, and Jurassic Park had just been released in 1993, so the jerseys sold well. The kitsch factor perhaps overshadowed the silliness of a name that truly had nothing to do with the city of Toronto.

But over their last three games it's come plummeting back to earth in a big way. Having averaged 100 points even over that stretch as Brandon Ingram's miraculous shot-making has dried up and in the absence of RJ Barrett, Toronto dropped its second straight - after of course winning nine consecutive previously - in a 116-94 wire-to-wire loss to the New Yorks Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Things looked pretty bleak after a modest 2-4 start in October, raising doubts about their winning prospects. However, they flipped the script dramatically, starting November with three straight wins before a tough loss to the 76ers on November 8. That setback was followed by nine consecutive victories, which definitely put the Raptors on the NBA map as a team to watch -though for some, it only deepened questions about whether Toronto is a true contender.

Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett have been stellar in their roles to start the year. Both have been efficient and a critical part of the team's early-season success. Poeltlis shooting a mind-boggling 73.3% from the field and helps initiate the offense with rock-solid screens. Barretthas continued to thrive as a crucial offensive option in the team pecking order, putting up almost 20 points (19.4) per game on quality efficiency.

I personally learned that lesson right after buying my first car. Before you ask, it was nothing serious - the only injury suffered was to my ego. I had hardly driven since getting my licence, so a midnight cruise after bringing the car home felt right. The longer I drove around the empty neighbourhood streets, the more comfortable (overconfident) I felt, and the more pressure my foot applied on the accelerator.

In most games against lower competition this season, Toronto has not let games slip away, this is a team that has beaten the teams they should beat and that should continue tonight as well. On paper this game looks like it should be a blowout in Toronto's favor, but Washington does have some microwave scorers that can keep things close if Toronto takes their foot off the gas.

This time, Joel Embiid was out and Poetl was back, and the intensity and pace of the game reignited an old rivalry. In the third, IQ splashed a 3-ball on his former Kentucky teammate and top-three league scorer Tyrese Maxey. This came after IQ ran a high pick-and-roll with Scottie, got downhill with a full head of steam, pitched the ball to Poeltl, and relocated. Maxey lost sight of him and was way too late to close out.