Raptors ramp up their intensity to close out NBA pre-season

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As final tune-up tips go, there were enough stretches in Friday night’s 116-112 win over the hometown Brooklyn Nets to suggest the Raptors are well-prepared for the grind that awaits when the ball gets tossed for real on opening night next Wednesday and a home date against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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At no point during the Raptors’ five-game exhibition schedule were they able to field a healthy roster.

Much will be made of Friday night’s opening lineup, but the ensuing days and injury news will dictate the starting five, whatever bench head coach Darko Rajakovic deploys, what roles are designated and what minutes are doled out to start theregular season.

The two main takeaways from Toronto’s trip to Brooklyn involved Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, two players who happen to be the team’s most indispensable.

For what he does in the post, the way he’s capable of controlling the glass, his soft hands and ability to finish at the rim, the third key cog is Jakob Poeltl.

Depending on the health status of RJ Barrett, who missed his fourth pre-season game in a row following a shoulder setback in the opener, the potential to have four legitimate pieces on the court at least provides some hope.

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Wins will be elusive this season, but the Raptors do have the makings of being an entertaining team. How many wins are achieved will ultimately hinge on their ability to make three-point shots and defend, especially when shots aren’t dropping.

For the record, the Raptors closed out the pre-season with a 3-2 record.

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BARNES BURNER

The night began with Barnes matched up against Ben Simmons, players whose career trajectories have taken some dramatic turns.

Simmons was part of the Sixers’ much-ballyhooed process that turned into a profound disappointment. He played his way out of Philly and it’s anyone’s guess what kind of presence Simmons will have on a Nets team that is decidedly young and inexperienced.

He has the size, can handle the ball, can play in the post when sufficiently motivated and can definitely defend multiple positions. However, Simmons’ biggest flaw is the lack of a jump shot.

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A close second is a lack of motivation.

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Barnes wasn’t taken first overall, but he does have a much higher ceiling than Simmons.

When Simmons went first overall in 2016, future NBA champions in Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray would be taken after the point guard whom many viewed as a potential hoops pioneer because of his size and ability to initiate an offence.

Observers are still waiting and will likely continue to wait on someone who seems destined for the ranks of underachiever.

He finished with just four points in 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, Barnes’ intensity was palpable in playing 26 minutes, scoring 21 points.

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The 2016 draft also featured Poeltl being selected ninth overall by the Raptors. Poeltl started at centre for the Raptors on Friday at the Barclays Center.

His return from a finger injury sustained in early March during a rare win has gone somewhat unnoticed, but when he’s been on the floor this pre-season, it was hard not notice his presence.

One overlooked aspect to Poeltl’s game is his ability to put the ball on the floor when the paint isn’t clogged. His bunnies close to the basket last season became his primary scoring option.

But if he can use the dribble as he did against the Nets on some possessions, it will allow the Raptors to expand their offence.

POINT DIFFERENTIAL

With Quickley back in the starting lineup, the Raptors had the luxury of dressing three point guards.

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Times have definitely changed from last season when the Raptors had no competent point guard when Quickley was unavailable.

When Ochai Agbaji, who started Friday night, picked up his third foul four minutes into the evening, it was Davion Mitchell coming off the bench. Mitchell has looked competent running an offence when minutes are provided.

Later, it was Jamal Shead’s turn to get some minutes.

The drop-off from Quickley to the likes of Mitchell and Shead is quite steep, but the latter two have shown an ability to be serviceable, which is all the Raptors can ask.

Mind you, when the regular season rolls around next Wednesday, the ball with be in Barnes’ hand when Quickley isn’t the primary ball handler.

Neither Michell nor Shead committed a turnover in the first half, 24 minutes of decent basketball that would see the Raptors take a 53-50 lead into the break.

Collectively, the Raptors went 11-for-36 from distance, including Agbaji going 1-for-6.

Toronto was a plus-six in the first-half turnover battle, a big reason why the Nets were held to 20 second-quarter points.

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