The regular season kicks off for the Toronto Raptors at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 25.
The Raptors have some questions about their immediate future regarding some players. But, the current focus is to remain competitive with the core in place.
After Fred VanVleet’s departure in free agency, there was some uncertainty surrounding the team. But, the Raptors finished undefeated in preseason and seem to have some momentum heading into the new season.
The Raptors have also been building up their team chemistry with some new faces on the roster and new head coach Darko Rajakovic. With Halloween next week, Toronto held a team party before their 2023-24 campaign.
Pascal Siakam’s costume was Nino Brown in the 1991 film ‘New Jack City’. Rajakovic went all out as Captain Jack Sparrow from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’:
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Gradey Dick, the No. 13 of the 2023 NBA Draft, dressed up as childhood classic Scooby-Doo and Scottie Barnes showed up as Frozone from ‘The Incredibles’:
Scottie Barnes, meanwhile, went as Frozone. pic.twitter.com/uRXz6CBWgE
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) October 23, 2023
Starting center, Jakob Poeltl’s costume was a unicorn and Chris Boucher wore a customized boxing robe with this signature ‘Slim Duck’ nickname across his back. It seems that all the players got creative and that made for some great costumes.
Toronto had no practice on Monday. This allowed for the team to bond with one another before the regular season commences. Chemistry plays a key role to a team’s success and it seems that the Raptors players are getting along well.
The grind of an 82 game regular season makes it hard for team’s to be able to have free time and spend time with one another. This is why the offseason, training camp, postseason and having events, like parties are important to form that team bond.
Barnes full participant at practice
While the preseason was deemed a success, Toronto faced an injury scare in the finale against the Washington Wizards.
Barnes ended up leaving the game against the Wizards with a right foot sprain.
However, it seems that Raptors fans can breath a sigh of relief after Barnes was a full participant in practice. He called it a tweak and said he would be fine moving forward.
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