The NBA preseason has concluded and the regular season starts today.
The Raptors are running it back with their roster minus Fred VanVleet.
After a disappointing season, Toronto is looking for a bounce-back year.
A 41-41 record earned the Raptors a spot in the Play-In Tournament last season. That’s where they played the Chicago Bulls at home and lost after blowing a 19-point lead.
Patrick Beverley was on the Bulls at the time, playing 26 minutes. However, he only scored 3 points on 1-for-5 from the field and 1-for-4 from 3.
On the “The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone,” Beverley took at shot at the Raptors suggesting the team has a lack of toughness:
“Who’s the dog of that team? I see O.G. Anunoby in a dark alley, I see Pascal Siakam in a dark alley I don’t feel threatened. That’s not disrespect for them.”
A lot has been made about Toronto not picking a direction and Beverley seems to be piling onto it. However, he targets two of Toronto’s top players here in O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
Throughout the Nick Nurse era, the Raptors hung their hat on toughness and defense. Anunoby and Siakam were two guys that were at the forefront of that ideology.
Siakam has solidified himself as a 20 point per game scorer and was selected to the All-NBA twice. Anunoby has earned the reputation as being one of the best 3-and-D wings in the entire league.
Beverley targeting these two high-profile players is in pour taste.
Beverley entered free agency this summer and decided to stay in the East by signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team that now Nurse coaches.
These comments could not have come at a better time as the 76ers play Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Darko Rajakovic believes Scottie Barnes will be the Defensive Player of the Year one day
Another piece to the puzzle for the Raptors is third-year forward Scottie Barnes.
Fans are expecting a breakout season this year and the preseason showed some early indications of that.
New head coach Darko Rajakovic spoke highly of Barnes, believing he will be a future Defensive Player of the Year.
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