Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors' 114-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
1. The Raptors asserted their dominance over the Lakers from the jump, leading 19-2: The advantage would eventually balloon to comical proportions with Toronto up 30-6 at one point, and the Raptors were basically in cruise control for the rest of the way. The Raptors didn't even play particularly well for prolonged stretches as the total lack of resistance almost neutralized their intensity, but the Lakers were too dysfunctional and too inferior to really ever make a comeback push. Hopefully, the Raptors can repeat this same script when they host this unhappy cohort in Toronto later in the week.
2. Scottie Barnes was ready for the bright lights: Barnes had the Raptors' first six points, and was a perfect 6-for-6 to start, while adding in another three to put him at 15 points in the first quarter. Barnes had a clear size advantage in the post, especially on a night where the Lakers started LeBron James at centre, and the Raptors rookie feasted on the coverage by getting to the rim at will. The Lakers eventually shifted to a zone, which slowed the Raptors to some degree, and James became more willing to actually try on defence, which did limit Barnes the rest of the way. However, he finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to continue his run of showcase performances since the All-Star break.
3. Barnes went head-to-head with James early in the game: The 20-year-old caught a pass on the wing and was about to go into his move, when he recognized the moment that was before him. He was matched up with one of the greatest players of all time, someone who has literally dominated the game since Barnes was a baby. Barnes went into his move, James matched him for strength and kept him to the edge of the paint, but the rookie still won the battle by putting up a hook shot over James that swished from 15 feet.
4. Pascal Siakam got whatever he wanted: This is an annual tradition, as Siakam's last trip to the Staples Center saw him score 39 points in what was also Kyle Lowry's last time putting on a Raptors uniform. The year prior, Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds in a thrilling road win in 2019. The Lakers had better rosters in their previous meetings, but they had nobody to cover Siakam, and they especially don't have those defenders on the team right now. Siakam got into the post repeatedly and got a clean shot each time, whether it was with his signature spin move, or simply by shooting over a shorter player. It also helped that the Lakers were too lazy to send help until midway through the fourth quarter, but it hardly mattered.
5. The Raptors crushed the Lakers with their size advantage: The Lakers started James at centre with three guards and Stanley Johnson, who is a hard worker and charismatic but is ultimately a relic of the Tampa Bay Raptors. An injury to Dwight Howard also meant that the Lakers didn't have a centre off the bench either, while the Raptors had four six-foot-nine forwards at their disposal. The obvious play was to attack the glass and stack bodies in the lane to contest, and that's exactly how the Raptors operated. The Lakers were outrebounded 19-9 on the offensive glass, and shot only 18-for-37 in the restricted area.
6. James was on tilt the whole game, and not in a good way: His numbers were pristine and he could clearly score at will, but he exuded frustration for the entire game. In the first half, James slammed the ball three times and screamed at his teammates after the Raptors collected an offensive rebound. Then in the third quarter, James ripped Barnes to the ground going for a loose ball, then whipped the ball as hard as he could against a helpless rookie to save possession. Throughout the game, James refused to get back in transition especially after the Lakers squandered open looks, and he topped it off by elbowing Siakam in the face with under a minute left on a play that somehow wasn't reviewed by the officials, who instead sent the Lakers star to the line. The Lakers might be beyond saving, but they still need a captain.
7. In James' defence, the Lakers made comical errors all night: First, they fell down 30-6 and never climbed out of the hole. They also started off 0-for-16 from three, with most of the misses being wild airballs or hard bricks. There was also a general lack of discipline, such as a 26-per-cent shooter in Talen Horton-Tucker opting to pull up from 30 feet out with plenty of time on the clock. Their turnovers were also comical, with James either pelting fans in the stands, or Russell Westbrook fumbling guaranteed layups. Even with a bit of competence, the Lakers could have caught up to the Raptors in the fourth quarter, but they insisted on making silly errors that only added to the frustrations within the team.
8. Nick Nurse made some uncharacteristic choices with his lineups: He is usually so careful and consistent in staggering his starters so that at least one of Siakam, Fred VanVleet, or Barnes is out there at all times to give purpose and structure to the offence. Except, he had all three on the bench at once in the first half, leaving Gary Trent Jr. as the only shot creator in a lineup that was otherwise just forwards who can't create. It didn't burn them since the Lakers are incompetent, but that's where the Raptors lost their momentum. Nurse went back to this lineup in the second half, but also recognized the need to bring his starters back early to calm the waters. At that point, their offence had stagnated.
9. Trent Jr. overcame a slow start to finish with 28 points" Trent Jr. struggled to generate clean looks while leading the second unit, which is a trend that dates back to last season, and went into halftime shooting just 1-for-7. His play picked up in the second half, with Trent Jr. showing more of a renewed focus on getting downhill, which helped him find more efficient looks. He scored an and-one off a slick post move, got into the lane for a teardrop, worked the two-man game with Barnes to find space for a midrange jumper, was pesky on the offensive glass, and he was sent to the line a career-high 13 times on the night. Trent Jr.'s performances have swung wildly of late, but when he's on the Raptors almost always win.
10. VanVleet played 40 minutes but he was clearly limited: His aggressiveness didn't nearly match his pedigree as an All-Star, and he shot just 3-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-12 on threes. VanVleet didn't have any zip to his drives, which has been a common theme since the break as his knee remains an ongoing issue. It was most apparent in the fourth quarter when VanVleet was attacking 34-year-old Wayne Ellington, who should not have been able to stay in front, except all the point guard could muster were two blocked threes since he couldn't create separation. It's a major concern that he still remains so hampered despite the time off.
