Why Toronto Raptors’ NBA Cup run will end against the Knicks

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What was once viewed as a defining stretch has suddenly turned into a major cause for concern.

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It had been felt that Toronto’s extended homestand would help build momentum, but it abruptly has crashed.

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Losing has a way of exposing issues that tend to get overlooked when wins are piling up, adversity often testing the character of a team.

Those are the obvious areas that surface in times of duress.

Dig deeper and one quickly will discover the problems that are plaguing the Raptors were pretty much front and centre the moment this group was first assembled.

There were concerns about the team’s lack of size — which has played out — concerns about a lack of shooting, the quality of a bench and how a group would integrate with Brandon Ingram on board and how the team’s most accomplished scorer would impact games.

Arguably the biggest concern was defence.

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During a four-game losing streak fresh on the heels of the Raptors winning the season opener in Atlanta, opponents lit up Toronto with alarming frequency, four losses that came against teams with legitimate bigs.

A nine-game win streak would follow, but red flags immediately were raised because most of Toronto’s opposition were marginally good to the margins of putrid.

This latest stretch has seen Toronto lose five of six, including three in a row at a time when the Raptors should have been feasting at home.

Added NBA Attention

Toronto’s five-game homestand wraps up Tuesday night in an awkwardly scheduled 8:30 p.m. tip against the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.

Say what you will about the NBA’s in-season tournament, which is in its third year of existence, but extra eyeballs have been attracted and the added attention placed on the Raptors doesn’t hurt.

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Not since Scottie Barnes’ rookie season have the Raptors been involved in a game of consequence like the one the team will experience Tuesday.

There’s no playoff berth at stake, no post-season seeding on the line, but Tuesday’s tip is big nonetheless.

Prior to the Raptors-Knicks matchup, the Orlando Magic will play host to the Miami Heat in the other Eastern quarterfinal.

In the West, Phoenix will be in Oklahoma City while San Antonio will travel to L.A. to face the Lakers, who won the inaugural NBA Cup.

The four quarterfinal winners will convene in Las Vegas for the Dec. 13 semifinal with the final to be played on Dec. 16.

The Raptors haven’t done well against the Knicks, be it at home or on the road.

Defensive Deficiencies

When the Raptors recently were in the Big Apple, the Knicks scored 41 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 24 points en route to a 116-94 win.

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A night earlier, the Raptors lost in overtime to the host Charlotte Hornets, a setback that helped trigger this recent losing stretch.

In a home loss to the Lakers, the Raptors scored 40 points in the third quarter.

In a home loss to the Hornets, the Raptors scored 42 points in the opening half en route to scoring a total of 86 — both season lows — in an eventual 15-point loss.

In a home loss to the Boston Celtics, the Raptors yielded 77 first-half points.

While many are lamenting the injury absence of RJ Barrett, no one is about to argue Barrett is a defensive stopper.

Even with Lakers star Luka Doncic unavailable as he left for his native Slovenia to witness the birth of his second child, LeBron James was available and it was James who assisted on the buzzer-beating jumper.

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The Hornets appear to have the Raptors’ number, given Charlotte’s size, physicality and ability to shoot the basketball.

The Celtics entered Sunday’s team on a roll and they left on an even stronger roll.

Toronto’s lone win during this homestand came against an undermanned Portland team, indicative of the kind of competition the Raptors faced during their nine-game win streak.

Unless size is added, shooting and an improved defensive disposition, it’s hard to envision this group making meaningful strides.

Top-six slot

No one thought the Raptors would be hard-pressed to qualify for the play-in tournament knowing the bar was set much higher.

If all things fell into place, a top-six slot was more than realistic.

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When everything turned in favour of the Raptors, they climbed as high as second in a weak Eastern Conference.

It was unrealistic to think such a lofty perch would be sustained.

Reality has struck and the reality is the Raptors, when they are playing well at both ends and are both physically and mentally engaged, are capable of competing for a top-six seed and potentially for home court.

The Knicks should be the measuring stick because the franchise needs to take that step and appear in the NBA final.

Detroit has been building in recent years and the Pistons’ play this season hasn’t caught many by surprise, at least it shouldn’t.

Boston has been surprising, but everyone knew Orlando and Miami would compete.

The surprise has been Cleveland, which has twice lost to the Raptors, and Philly remains a wild card.

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The Raptors are in the mix, but they do remain a work in progress.

What they must answer is whether internal improvement will get them over the hump or whether a trade is the best option to pursue.

In theory, a win Tuesday is possible knowing the Knicks are 3-6 on the road this season.

In reality, the Knicks are better and will have former Raptors wing OG Anunoby in the lineup after he missed Toronto’s visit to Manhattan.

Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have become known as “Wingstop.’’

Throw in Josh Hart and you begin to see why toughness is crucial, an area the Raptors are lacking and will have to somehow fill.

Toronto’s Cup run has been entertaining, but chances are it will end Tuesday.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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