Toronto Raptors Face “Must-Win” Games to Break Losing Streak

The Toronto Raptors are in a precarious position early in the NBA season, according to forward Pascal Siakam. After winning their season opener, the Raptors have suffered three consecutive losses and are now faced with the challenge of winning against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday and the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday in order to avoid extending their losing streak.

Siakam emphasized the importance of these upcoming games, stating, “Obviously we’re 1-3, so these are must-win games for us, we’ve got to win these games. We just got to go out there and give everything that we have to win, that should be the only real concern.”

The Raptors have endured heartbreaking losses in two of their three recent defeats. They squandered a 17-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls, ultimately losing 104-103 in overtime. Furthermore, they were on the receiving end of a late 11-4 run by the previously winless Portland Trail Blazers, resulting in a 99-91 loss.

Siakam emphasized the need for the team to address its issues collectively, stating, “I think obviously there were a couple of games where I felt like we played well enough to win, but we didn’t rebound well enough. We had possessions where we played good defense but failed to secure the rebound, giving our opponents second and even third opportunities. So it’s kind of tough to win that way. Additionally, we didn’t shoot the ball well from three-point range on Monday. In this league, if you don’t shoot well, it’s going to be hard to win, and if you couple that with poor rebounding, it becomes even harder. So I think we’ve got to fix those things.”

One of the Raptors’ most glaring issues has been their halfcourt offense and defensive rebounding. Head coach Darko Rajakovic stressed the need for better pace in initiating and executing plays in the halfcourt. Currently, the Raptors rank last in the NBA in scoring, averaging only 99.5 points per game, the only team below 101. However, on the defensive end, they are fourth in points allowed, surrendering an average of 102.8 points per game.

Coach Rajakovic acknowledged the team’s defensive success but expressed the need for improved offense to alleviate their struggles. He stated, “We need our defense to be even better considering our offensive struggles. It’s still early in the year, and we’re watching a lot of film to identify areas for improvement. In today’s practice, we worked on both offense and defense.”

The Raptors’ deficiency in defensive rebounding has impeded their overall performance. In three out of their four games, they have allowed opponents to secure 13 or more offensive rebounds, a subpar statistic. To exemplify this issue, they gave up nine offensive rebounds in their recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Coach Rajakovic remains optimistic, focusing on the positives and emphasizing the team’s ability to rectify their mistakes. He pointed out the team’s lapses in rebounding and stated, “There were instances where our players were focusing on the rim instead of positioning themselves for the rebound when the opponent took three-point shots. If they miss, we have a chance to secure the ball. So it’s something that we’ve got to do a better job of. The players had a discussion about it today, and I believe in our team’s pride and resilience. I think they will respond appropriately.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Oct. 31, 2023.