The Raptors don’t have much margin for error at center right now, and that’s exactly why Tuesday night mattered.
After waiving Trey Jemison III, who had been on a two-way contract, Toronto looks like it could enter the regular season with Jakob Poeltl as its only true center. That leaves the front line thin, and it puts a spotlight on one of the most obvious areas of concern: finishing possessions with rebounds.
Rim protection matters too, especially with the perimeter defenders Toronto can throw around along with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles’ ability to protect the basket. But on this roster, the glass feels like the bigger issue.
Against the Knicks, though, the Raptors offered a reminder that effort can still travel a long way.
With Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup for his long-awaited return, Toronto looked closer to what it can be at full strength. New York was short-handed on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Raptors’ work on the boards still stood out. Poeltl only grabbed five rebounds, yet the rest of the group combined for 46, and Toronto was active and aggressive all night long on both ends.
That kind of buy-in showed up in the little things. Whenever a shot went up, the Raptors around the rim were quick to seal off bodies and hold inside position.
The box-outs were sharp, and the hustle followed. If there wasn’t a clean path to the rebound, they tipped it to a teammate.
Rookie Allen Graves, seeing his first preseason action, was one of the clearest examples of a player going full tilt to create extra possessions.
Toronto’s length also helped. The Raptors have a crop of long forwards who can swipe, tip, or simply disrupt a rebound before it’s secured, and that showed in how often they were able to keep plays alive or limit New York’s second chances.
Collin Murray-Boyles deserves a heavy share of the credit here, too. He finished with nine of Toronto’s 51 total rebounds and used his physicality, strength, skill, and positioning to make life difficult for the Knicks whenever he was on the floor.
None of this means the concern is gone. A team built on hustle and length won’t win every battle on the glass, and there will be nights when bigger teams like the Celtics and Rockets punish Toronto for its lack of size.
But Tuesday’s showing was a good sign. With Leonard back and the roster competing the way it did, the Raptors looked capable of holding their own on the boards, even with a center rotation this thin.
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Raptors Rotation Questions Just Got Louder Ahead Of Opening Night
The Raptors final preseason tune-up against the Knicks offered a little of everything Toronto has been sorting through before opening night, from encouraging flashes to the same lineup questions that have followed the team all month. Scottie Barnes stood out with 23 points and 4 blocks, giving Toronto the kind of all-around impact it wants from its top players, while Jamison Battle chipped in 10 points off the bench and kept his case for a larger role alive.
Still, the 122-120 loss also put some of the rotation uncertainties back in view. Jakob Poeltl had a rough defensive night against Karl-Anthony Towns, and Dalano Banton never found his shot, leaving the Raptors with more to think about as they narrow things down for the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Keeps Fueling A Raptors Debate That Really Matters
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The issue, as always, is the middle of the game. Barnes looked more passive in the second and third quarters before turning assertive again when it mattered most, and that uneven rhythm is at the heart of the debate around him. Toronto does not just need flashes of aggression from its best young player. It needs that pressure applied more consistently, because when Barnes keeps his foot on the gas, the Raptors look like a team with a much higher ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Fringe Players Get One Last Shot To Change The Roster
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Isaac Bonga Graves missed the previous game because of a groin injury, but he could see more floor time here if he is available. The real competition, though, is for the two open two-way contract slots, with Tyreke Evans, Namari Burnett and Jamarion Sharp all in the mix. Sharp, in particular, should get a chance to show what he can offer at center, and the Raptors still have some sorting out to do before the preseason closes. [Read more 🡒]