MIAMI — Over the last decade or so, the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat have played so many ugly games that they could have produced enough raw material to build a subdivision of brick houses.
It dates back to at least their Eastern Conference semifinal from 2015-16, when a team surpassed 100 points just three times. Three games in that series went to overtime, and two still ended up with the winner in the 90s. Here are a few point totals that have won games for one of the teams against the other since then: 96, 96, 96, 90, 84 (the Raptors shot 6 for 42 from 3 in that game, scoring 76 points), 98. In the last 30 games between the teams, there have been 15 instances in which a team has failed to get to triple digits. In the age of teams attempting 40 3s per game and getting in more than 100 possessions, that is beyond notable.
The Heat’s zone defence is part of the reason the teams have been able to bring back scores from the 1990s. As Blake Murphy of Sportsnet pointed out, the Heat came into Friday’s 121-111 win over the Raptors playing zone on 13 percent of their defensive possessions. The Cleveland Cavaliers were second — at 6.9 percent.
“Sometimes, (a zone defence) makes players overthink what they need to do,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. “I want our guys to play free. I want our guys to move the ball to find an open man and shoot the ball with confidence.”
The biggest part of confidence is a history of success, as much as the Raptors try to instill it in lesser shooters. With that in mind, the Raptors drafted Ja’Kobe Walter and signed Jamison Battle as an undrafted free agent this summer. Both players actively hunt their shots, a necessity against paint-packing defences. With Scottie Barnes, a burly playmaking forward who makes more of his passes from the post or on the perimeter rather than on drives from the paint, the Raptors need some guys who can let go of 3s without compunction.
“I think we have more-than-capable shooters on this team,” Battle said after a career-high 24 points Wednesday in New Orleans. “I think it’s just a confidence thing where when we’re hitting shots, we’re (taking more) shots. We’re going to put those shots up regardless just because they’re open shots. We work on those every day, and there’s no reason for us not to take those ones, especially if they’re open.”
Against the Heat, Battle and Walter took seven of the Raptors’ 29 attempts, far too few for the team. That they combined to hit just one hurt, too, but at least Battle, in particular, was out there looking to take them.
For many years, the Raptors searched for prospects they would need to turn into consistent shooters. It worked with Norman Powell and OG Anunoby, but those were the only high-level success stories. Pascal Siakam went from a non-shooter to an average one, which is a substantial accomplishment.
The Raptors haven’t given up on such players, taking three virtual non-shooters — forward Jonathan Mogbo, point guard Jamal Shead and centre Ulrich Chomche — in the second round in June’s draft.
They have increased devoting some resources to proven shooters, or at least players projected to become one. Gradey Dick was considered the best shooter in the draft in 2023, and the Raptors took him 13th. Walter isn’t quite that, but he has a repeatable shooting stroke that suggests it should be a strength.
And though the Raptors didn’t use a pick on Battle, they did waive two-way centre Branden Carlson, whom the Oklahoma City Thunder later signed, to find a roster spot for him in training camp. Battle is 23 and spent five years in the NCAA. He was a fine-but-unspectacular shooter until his final collegiate year, when he shot 43.3 percent from deep with Ohio State.
It is not a huge risk to use a two-way spot on a player. But Battle is an older prospect with apparent defensive limitations and ordinary length and athleticism. The Raptors of the past might have avoided him completely. With finding players who complement Barnes a priority, the trend cannot be a coincidence.
Walter and Battle know how to use their ability to fool defences, which is important for shooters. Walter, making his second consecutive start, attacked a close out early on and cut on the weak side after Battle had gotten into the paint on an out-of-bounds play. Shortly after, Battle cut against the grain of the zone, faking that he was going to go out to the arc, and got open, picking up two free throws. Earlier, Battle used a pump fake to outwait his defender, sidestepping for an open look.
Generally, though, the Raptors want those players taking reasonably contested 3s. Battle is further along that track than Walter, not surprising since Walter is just 20 and only six games into his pro career. He is already showing some excellent defence, which should allow Raptors fans to dream on what he might look like a few years from now.
“He is a player that we believe in,” Rajaković said. “He has a great future in this organization.”
Notes
• The Raptors lost the plot of this game in the third quarter with some low-force offence. Admittedly, Bam Adebayo patrolling the middle had something to do with it. I liked RJ Barrett’s drive after a timeout during that stretch, as it was an example of the gumption with which the Raptors needed to play. Overall, though, there was just too much indecision and trying to make the perfect pass.
The Heat’s zone had something to do with that, for sure. Just not a crisp, confident performance against a team that always plays to its identity.
• So much for the math advantage the Raptors had in New Orleans: They took 25 fewer 3s than the Heat, made 10 fewer and committed 10 more turnovers.
• The degree of difficulty on this entry pass from Barnes to Jakob Poeltl was reminiscent of a Simone Biles vault. Adebayo knew it was coming, and Barnes made the read quickly enough to still get the ball to its target. He threw another awesome pass to Mogbo through the zone.
SCOTTIE DIME TO J-MO 👀 pic.twitter.com/MhHTEKXJXA
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 30, 2024
Barnes ended up with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, his first triple-double of the year, but also had five turnovers. He could have had more, too. It was an uneven performance against a very good defensive team.
• Barnes needs to avoid picking up technical fouls for arguing 50/50 calls in the first quarter, and Rajaković needs to avoid using a challenge on them.
• Chris Boucher’s shot selection: still a work in progress. Rajaković lit into the forward at the next timeout, but then patted him on the behind.
• An inbound violation. That is such a Raptors-Heat thing.
• Before the Raptors’ four-game road trip that concluded in Miami, Rajaković said Bruce Brown was in a reconditioning program following his offseason arthroscopic knee surgery. He didn’t end up making his season debut on the trip.
I asked the coach about that before the game, and he said Brown has suffered no setbacks but the team just wants to be as prudent as possible as he returns to action. Issues with the knee lingered last season, and the Raptors are taking no chances.
(Photo of RJ Barrett going up for a shot over Heat forward Haywood Highsmith: Jim Rassol / Imagn Images)
