Scottie Barnes bounced back following back-to-back games when he looked so lost and so disengaged, not surprisingly back-to-back Toronto losses.
He wasn’t the only one to rebound on a night the Raptors once again they’re more than capable of dealing with the Heat.
For the second time in eight days, a visit to South Beach served as the perfect tonic for the Raptors, who entered Tueday night following a home loss to Boston and a very disheartening defeat in Brooklyn where Barnes posted one of his worst games of his career.
Mind you, Miami has not playing well.
Given the recent plight of the Raptors, no one is going to complain, even though Miami did lose for the eighth time in its past nine games.
Barnes had a tough few possessions to begin the night, but once he settled in he was in attack mode, abusing the Heat on mismatches near the rim and getting to the foul line by displaying an assertive and aggressive mindset.
His most forceful foray to the hole was punctuated with a left-handed flush.
The following are three takeaways on a night the Raptors improved to 18-13 following their 112-91 win over the host Heat.
1. An Eye on Masai
A familiar face had a bird’s eye view of the action at Kaseya Center.
As best as anyone can recall, Tuesday marked the first time Masai Ujiri had a chance to check in on the team he essentially built.
Ujiri and the franchise parted company in June.
He would soon be appointed as a United Nations sustainable goals development advocate.
His place in Raptors lore and Toronto sports history was cemented when Ujiri helped build the 2019 championship roster capped off by the trade for Kawhi Leonard.
His time was running out in recent years and it could be argued a divorce should have taken place two years ago.
Regardless, he was the one individual many associated with the Raptors, which isn’t good because fans spend money to see players and not listen to executives promote whatever personal or political agenda they embrace.
Bobby Webster is now in charge and he’ll have to make some roster moves to address some obvious deficiencies, which Ujiri helped create.
Ujiri also got to watch Norm Powell as a member of the Miami Heat.
Powell was acquired by Ujiri in Toronto, a good deal, and later dealt to Portland for Gary Trent Jr., a not-so good deal.
Ujiri’s main backer at MLSE was Larry Tanenbaum, who huddled with his former employee at halftime Tuesday night.
Had it not been for Tanenbaum’s influence and infatuation with Ujiri the move to part ways would have been done much earlier, one suspects
2. Centre of Attention
Not surprisingly, Jakob Poeltl wasn’t available in South Beach after Toronto’s starting centre managed to play only seven minutes in Sunday’s loss to the host Brooklyn Nets.
When he’s able to come back at full strength is anyone’s guess as Poeltl continues to deal with a lower back issue.
Toronto’s lone big is Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is by no means a big when it comes to rim protection and rebounding.
When it comes to floor spacing and attacking the rim, the baller known as Mamu is more than capable.
Size is desperately required.
The G League showcase has wrapped up, while NBA teams can begin signing players to 10-day deals on Jan. 5.
The league’s trade deadline is Feb. 5.
With RJ Barrett (knee) also unavailable, the Raptors were shorthanded against a Miami team that continues to play without its offensive stalwart in Tyler Herro.
There’s no shortage of wings on the Raptors roster to fill in for Barrett.
The issue has been no one has stepped up.
Ochai Agbaji has started of late, but he hasn’t exactly been impressive.
3. Woe is the O
People wonder the Raptors’ offence has all but vanquished.
In a make or miss league the simple answer to the question is shot making.
The roster is limited when it comes to players creating their own shots.
When open looks hit iron or result in air balls, the options become extremely limited.
Toronto’s best offence begins on defence.
When stops are made, the team’s transition game gets triggered.
Tuesday night, Toronto took a 16-3 lead when Miami went stone cold from the field.
The Raptors then went stone cold, but they did manage to take a 21-16 lead after the opening 12 minutes.
There’s no post play to speak of and when Brandon Ingram and Barnes aren’t filling the net, the margin for error is reduced to nothing.
Sunday in Brooklyn, the Raptors scored 18 points in the opening quarter and finished the game by scoring only 16 in the fourth period en route to a season-low 81 in a single game.
In the second quarter, Toronto managed 21 points.
At least the Raptors were playing an equally deficient offensive team in the Heat.
Toronto exploded for 30 points in the second quarter in taking a 51-44 lead at the break.
At the same time it was hard to overlook the 13 straight missed threes and a meagre six free throw attempts.
As bad as the Raptors were offensively, the Heat was even worse.
In the third quarter, the Raptors were very good in scoring 31 points to bump their game total to 82.
In other words, through three periods the Raptors eclipsed the 81 points they posted in the loss to the Nets.
Up Next
Toronto’s three-game trip wraps up Boxing Day night in Washington; when the Wizards and Raptors first hooked up on Nov. 21, Toronto ran Washington off the Scotiabank Arena court in a 140-110 beatdown; the Wizards own the dubious distinction of being the NBA’s worst team having won but two games at home.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com