The Toronto Raptors finally — finally! A week is a long time! — are about to play a second preseason contest. It will be good to wash out the taste of a good stomping received from Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new-look Miami Heat. And the Raptors are facing an opponent with as much interest as a bottom-dwelling team can muster: the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here are the players most worthy of watching:
1. Collin Murray-Boyles
Murray-Boyles is becoming popular around the league as a Most Improved candidate after his enormous playoff performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. He looks athletic and bursty, and the Raptors will need him to actually drive more, initiate more, and do more on offence. He had a few moments against the Heat, but the Raptors surely have to be wanting more after a six-point performance on 10 shots. He was moving well, and even took a triple, but the Raptors need Murray-Boyles to be more involved and more central to their offensive output. Especially when Leonard is out.
Given that Leonard will likely be out again today (more on that in a moment), expect Murray-Boyles to handle more, shoot more, and initiate more against the Clippers.
2. Malachi Smith
The Raptors just signed Malachi Smith to a two-way contract, and he’s an absolute flamethrower shooter. He didn’t show any of that in Toronto’s first preseason contest, shooting 0-of-4 from deep. But he played 31 minutes, which actually led the team. His defence was up-and-down, and he showed a touch more handling than I expected.
But the shot has to be there if he has any chance of contributing to the big club. There are other wings ahead of him on the depth chart, and if he’s going to supplant them even for a few nights on the season, he has to bring huge volume and accuracy from deep. Expect him to look to bounce back after a poor showing against Miami. He should have the minutes against the Clippers.
3. Jamal Shead
Shead was a huge breakout players for the Raptors last season. He improved in virtually every way imaginable. His passing became legitimately elite. His defence grew sharp, sharp teeth after being mostly theoretical in his rookie season. He was one of Toronto’s winningest players, with the best per-36 on/off differential among rotation players in both the regular season and playoffs. He was about as good as a bench guard can get.
But the scoring remained limited. If Shead is going to be more than a culture leader, a tempo setter, and a bench stabilizer, he has to find more consistent ways to score. He can make more floaters, turn his floaters into layups, or become a 3-point shooter. But it has to be something. He didn’t show those improvements against Miami. Look for him to continue showcasing scoring improvement as Toronto’s preseason marches on.
4 (bonus). Kawhi Leonard
Sure, Leonard is almost definitely not playing. He didn’t play in the first preseason contest against the Heat as he ramps back up to game shape, so it’s doubtful he’s yet ready. And this is the Clippers, meaning he almost definitely won’t play given the … circumstances. It may be in Toronto, but Leonard and the Clippers just had a messy breakup. About as messy as it comes. Will he attend the game? Will he show any expression at all? He’s worth watching just for the drama.
