Raptors’ growing pains continue in road loss to Timberwolves

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Ideally, Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji would be coming off the bench playing with energy and providing the Raptors with a spark.

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Dick is the better shooter, Agbaji the superior defender.

If the Raptors were somehow able to combine the two into one player they’d have a potential all-star in the makings.

In terms of reality, each has been forced to start in the wake of injuries to the team’s incumbents.

These are not ideal times for the Raptors, who played their first road game of the young season Saturday night against the host Minnesota Timberwolves.

Signs of encouragement are always preferred when providing glimpses of what might one day become a relevant Raptors team.

The Kansas connection of Dick and Agbaji was quite good, especially in the opening half when the combo combined to score 23 of Toronto’s 44 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

Each was aggressive, fearless and playing with confidence, which only bodes well.

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When additional shooters can somehow be acquired or developed, one can see a world where Scottie Barnes is more facilitator than scorer when his jumper is off, even when injured point guard Immanuel Quickley returns from his opening-night setback.

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Speaking of setback, the Raptors succumbed to the T’Wolves, 112-101.

Barnes remains a force when guarded by smaller defenders, and his court vision is second to none.

A three-point play by Dick four minutes into the third quarter drew the Raptors within single digits.

He was the game’s first player to score 20 points.

At least Barnes drilled his first three-point shot of the young season, but he was sloppy with the ball as was the Raptors, who have yet to address that glaring area.

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Another positive for those looking any signs of positivity highlighted Toronto’s compete level.

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The downside is that the Raptors were forced to dig itself out of deficits.

Late in the fourth quarter, a three by Agbaji turned a double-digit disadvantage into a manageable hole.

Solid defence led to a Barnes dunk, but then came a corner three and a break-away basket by the home side as the T’Wolves won their home opener.

Dick netted a career-high 25 points in the loss.

FIRST OFF

The excuse of playing the back end of back-to-back games and forced to check late into their five-star hotel is the stuff of sheer nonsense.

What played out in the first quarter amounted to an under-manned and talent-thin roster going up against a T’Wolves team hoping to make that step from last season that saw Minny advance to the Western Conference final.

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Too many jump shots heaved, very few makes, an inability to attack the paint and bad defence all led to the Raptors being down 32-18 after 12 minutes.

For some reason, Barnes thinks he’s a three-point shooter when everyone knows he’s not.

He showed moments last season when he could hit three-balls.

In Toronto’s first two games, both at home, Barnes went 0-for-2 in each game.

He went 0-for-2 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter against the T’Wolves.

Toronto would turn the ball over five times, while making six baskets.

A total of eight three-point shots were attempted, but only two would be made.

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In fairness, Toronto was much more competitive in the second quarter on the strength of its defence.

RELIVING FUTILITY

The Raptors were utterly humiliated when they ventured into the Target Center for an April tip last season at a time when Toronto’s roster was decimated and so depleted it was forced to start veteran Garrett Temple.

The veteran’s professionalism and leadership will never be questioned, but he’s not a starter, and when forced into the starting lineup it only highlights roster depravity.

Minnesota would dismantle the Raptors to the tune of 133-85, the most lopsided loss in club history.

Another starter for the Raptors was Jalen McDaniels, a complete free-agent flop who was mercifully traded this off-season.

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Fast forward to Saturday night’s meeting, the first and only time Toronto will visit the Twin Cities.

In terms of rotational players being available, only Dick remains from last year’s debacle.

The second-year player made his third straight at shooting guard with RJ Barrett (shoulder) unavailable.

Earlier in the day, the Raptors upgraded Barrett’s status to questionable.

Barrett injured his shoulder to his non-shooting arm (right) in Toronto’s pre-season opener.

The one blessing to Barrett’s setback involves Dick, who has been allowed to play extended minutes and put up shots.

He scored Toronto’s first basket on a three-point make, one of the very few shots that dropped for the Raptors, who had a tough time trying to deal with Rudy Gobert, the Stifle Tower.

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It was quite clear from the jump that the Raptors were not playing a roster-challenged team in the Philadelphia Sixers, Toronto’s opponent Friday night.

Size was an issue in the Raptors’ 30-point embarrassment to Cleveland on opening night and it resurfaced in Minneapolis.

When facing a team in Philly minus big man Joel Embiid, the Raptors flourished.

In the T’Wolves, the Raptors were able to get their first look at Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, each acquired in the off-season blockbuster trade with New York that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks.

When matched up against Jakob Poeltl on the perimeter, Randle easily took Poeltl off the dribble and got to the rim with impunity.

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