Sports

Raptors return viewed as all-around win …. even if it is pre-season

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It was precisely 584 days between Raptors video games on the Scotiabank Enviornment and the truth that the return was a kind of meaningless pre-season sport couldn’t dampen the passion of the introduced crowd of 8,016.

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They have been handled to an entertaining, if at occasions erratic show of basketball, which was about proper given the stage of the pre-season and maybe a little bit pleasure over enjoying in entrance of a house crowd for the primary time in over one-and-a-half years.

Just a few acquainted Raptors have been again enjoying at house for the primary time because the 2019-20 season, although even that group was lacking injured Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher.

However led by the very acquainted OG Anunoby, who led all scorers with 21, the Raptors had a victorious return to their previous stomping grounds with a 123-107 win.

All eyes, as they need to be, have been on fourth-overall choose Scottie Barnes as essentially the most pure hype-man the staff has had because the Junkyard Canine himself made his Toronto debut.

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Barnes, as he has been in follow since coaching camp began, was a bundle of power and enthusiasm, maybe even over-celebrating a second or two given it’s nonetheless solely pre-season.

However you received’t hear anybody in Toronto complaining about it.

The 6-foot-9 rookie can do no unsuitable proper now, even when he’s nonetheless studying the NBA. His enthusiasm is infectious and his potential is limitless and that’s greater than sufficient for a fanbase trying to latch onto one other future Raptors star within the making.

Barnes completed the evening with 13 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in 25 minutes.

Head coach Nick Nurse talked earlier than the sport about placing Barnes ready to convey the ball up and deal with it as a lot as potential. He desires to reap the benefits of Barnes’ athleticism and courtroom imaginative and prescient and all the opposite pluses a man along with his prolonged dimensions offers.

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The Sixers didn’t play Joel Embiid on this one, offering extra time for an virtually given-up-on Andre Drummond, who got here to the Sixers on a minimal deal. Drummond completed with 19 factors and 14 rebounds

CHAINS OFF… WELL MOSTLY

Goran Dragic knew the reply to what he appreciated most about this season of lessened protocols and extra of a return to the norm. “Freedom,” he mentioned. “That’s one thing that was actually onerous final yr, particularly with the testing and masks and simply basically. We needed to do it due to the pandemic, I perceive that, however this yr, hopefully, it’s going to be a little bit bit totally different, however we nonetheless should be cautious. It’s nonetheless on the market. We have to obey the foundations and I’m simply trying ahead to simply enjoying, to see followers within the stands once more.”

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OG Anunoby mentioned the entire really feel is totally different, first being again house in acquainted environment after which with lots of the extra restrictive protocols lifted.

“Everybody’s extra comfy now,” Anunoby mentioned. “Nobody’s fearful of the danger. I imply we’re nonetheless scared nevertheless it’s totally different now, we’re all vaccinated, making an attempt to be protected. Extra again to regular.”

Final season the gamers needed to rise up early to be able to check and have the unfavourable assessments returned earlier than they took the courtroom. That’s not obligatory with the vaccination charges in most people and inside the staff itself.

It means coaches are not have to decide on between relaxation and follow.

76ers guard Danny Inexperienced mentioned the testing, whereas obligatory, wasn’t simply an inconvenience at occasions, it could play havoc along with his sleep.

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“Having to get up early (to check) after which return to sleep,” Inexperienced mentioned of his greatest inconvenience. “A number of us wish to sleep in a little bit longer or get our full hours of sleep. So it messes with you a little bit bit.”

We apologize, however this video has didn’t load.

ON THE INJURED FRONT

Centre/energy ahead Chris Boucher appears to be like like he’s going to be a spectator for concerning the subsequent month as he rehabs his dislocated center finger on his left hand.

Boucher injured the finger in follow on Thursday and had surgical procedure over the weekend to place the finger again in correct alignment.

Nurse figures Boucher will want three weeks to a month earlier than he begins serious about a return to the courtroom.

Capturing guard Gary Trent Jr. is coping with some left quad soreness and whereas he might have performed Monday, Nurse most well-liked to have him get a pair extra practices in earlier than he performed an precise sport.

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WAITING ON THAT RING

It’s been practically two years since Danny Inexperienced helped the Raptors win an NBA title and he’s nonetheless ready on his ring.

As a member of the Lakers two seasons in the past, Inexperienced’s lone Toronto go to wound up getting pushed again to the bubble portion of the schedule after the pandemic shut the league down.

Final season as a member of the 76ers, he might have had it offered in Tampa however Inexperienced most well-liked to attend and do it earlier than the house crowd in Toronto.

He was right here once more final evening however with capability capped at 10,000, Inexperienced and the Raptors once more made the choice to carry off till the 76ers first regular-season go to on Dec. 28 at which level it’s potential capability might be expanded.

“I imply, we’ve waited this lengthy,” Inexperienced mentioned following the Sixers’ morning shootaround. “A pair extra months received’t be too dangerous.”

When it was prompt to Inexperienced that this should be some unofficial report for persistence with a hoop ceremony, Inexperienced responded in his greatest self-deprecating approach, “Not less than I’m within the books for one thing.”

mganter@postmedia.com

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