It’s Advanced Scout here. Every Sunday, we at All U Can Heat will scout the Miami Heat’s opponents and look at the schedule for the next week. We’ll talk about the most intriguing plot, the most difficult game, and the news surrounding the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dec. 6, Wednesday, against the Toronto Raptors
Advanced Statistics for the Toronto Raptors
DRTG: 112. 1 NET: -0.7 ORTG: 11.4
Top Headline: Gradey Dick, a struggling guard, is sent to the G-League
Gradey Dick, a former top basketball player for Kansas, is finding it difficult to acclimate to the NBA.
The Raptors selected the guard in this year’s draft, but he hasn’t lived up to the hype thus far. The 6-foot-6 shooter was relegated to the Raptors 905, the franchise’s G League affiliate, after he failed to score points in 15 games with the NBA squad. In his most recent game with the 905, Dick did, however, show potential. In 38 minutes, he scored 21 points and made seven of 14 field goals. The franchise anticipates that, like previous Raptors Pascal Siakam and guard Fred VanVleet, he will continue to hone his abilities in the development league before emerging as a major player.
Hardest Opponent: Scottie Barnes
As they work through their short- and long-term goals, the Raptors are in a state of uncertainty. Even though their championship-winning squad still had Siakam and OG Anunoby, they lost VanVleet in free agency. But third-year forward Scottie Barnes may hold the secret to their success going ahead, as his maturation and improvement will be critical in determining the team’s course. Darko Rajaković, the new coach, has given Barnes the offensive key. In terms of points (19.6), rebounds (9.1), and assists (5.5), he is averaging career highs. His ability to score near the rim and make passes from any area on the court makes him a formidable opponent at 6-foot-9.
Although the Raptors shoot poorly from outside the arc (33.8%, which is the 28th-worst percentage in the league), any NBA opponent may have a breakout performance on any given night.
The Raptors’ core players have not suffered any injuries, and the depth of the squad has not been called into question. But Javon Freeman-Liberty might have the key to ending all of their problems. The sole bright spot in the 905’s otherwise dismal season has been this 24-year-old guard, who signed a two-way contract with Toronto this season. The Raptors should not be surprised by that, as Freeman-Liberty wowed them with a strong Summer League performance and went on to be Toronto’s best two-way player throughout the preseason.
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