Superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, out since two games into the season, will likely miss at least the team’s four games this week, starting Monday at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
asserted
Leonard → miss → Grizzlies
Leonard is at least back in town after getting treatment on his left knee in Los Angeles.
asserted
Leonard → get → Angeles
But he has not yet progressed to getting back on the court.
asserted
he → progress → court
“He’s doing well.
asserted
He → do → ?
He’s still not participating in the team activities and on the court, but his body reacted well to the treatment, and he’s (making) good progress now,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said Sunday after practice.
asserted
Rajakovic → participate → practice
The Raptors managed to scratch out a win Friday in Milwaukee minus top two players Leonard and Scottie Barnes and starting point guard Immanuel Quickley.
asserted
Raptors → manage → players
Barnes (adductor) and Quickley (hamstring) could only participate in part of practice Sunday, but will be listed as questionable for Monday.
uncertain
Barnes → participate → Monday
If either can’t go, they could return on Wednesday against Boston.
uncertain
they → go → Boston
Poeltl on the rebound
One of the most positive recent Raptors developments has been the return to usefulness of starting centre Jakob Poeltl.
asserted
One → start → Poeltl
After looking nearly unplayable and extremely ineffective in several games early in the season, the big man bounced back with what was to that point his best game of the year in a loss against Orlando.
asserted
what → look → Orlando
Then after missing a pair of games due to shoulder bursitis, Poeltl was decent (which was still better than when he was playing poorly) against Denver in a blowout loss before turning in a brilliant performance in the win in Milwaukee.
asserted
he → miss → Milwaukee
That game was perhaps the first time Poeltl, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds (including a crucial one late) and a block in a season-high 31 minutes, looked like the player the Raptors rewarded with an extension a couple of years ago.
asserted
Raptors → have → years
They’ll need much more of that moving forward, including Monday against 7-foot-3, 305 pound Toronto native Zach Edey, the NBA’s heaviest player.
asserted
They → need → Edey
“When Jak has a lot of pop, a lot of energy, like he had in a couple of those games, especially in last game, he’s huge for us,” Rajakovic said.
asserted
Rajakovic → have → us
“He does so many things well, offensively and defensively, and he connects us and he covers for a lot of stuff … that are not going to (show up) in a box score.
asserted
that → do → score
He’s our only true five (the only player taller than 6-foot-9, in fact other than injured two-way centre Nate Bittle, who has progressed to doing some on-court work), Then has a size and presence in the paint as well,” Rajakovic said.
asserted
Rajakovic → ’ → paint
Poeltl will be crucial against Memphis’s size, then against a large Boston team that has both Raptor-killer Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson in a centre rotation, followed potentially by Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers and then Karl-Anthony Towns.
asserted
that → have → Embiid
Building on big night
Alijah Martin’s shocking 27-point game in Milwaukee will just be the start of his contributions to the Raptors, the second-year guard hopes.
asserted
guard → build → Raptors
He’s just now starting to feel like the player who was one of the best in the NBA G League last year after recovering from summer knee surgery.
asserted
who → start → surgery
“It was around training camp where I felt like I was ready, and then I think I checked in in New York, preseason game, and I was like, ‘Yeah, my knee ain’t there yet,’” Martin explained Sunday.
asserted
Martin → feel → York
“Just been attacking every day, staying up, getting it back to where it was, and then luckily I just had a moment like that last game.
asserted
I → attack → game
So just keep building,” he said.
asserted
he → keep → ?
Martin said he’s a hard worker and stayed ready for his chance.
asserted
he → say → chance
He added he was thrilled by how happy his teammates were for him.
asserted
teammates → add → him
“It meant the world, man.
asserted
It → mean → world
Those guys, I grew up watching them,” Martin said.
asserted
Martin → grow → them
“They’ve been in the league for a while, so just getting respect from them means a lot.
asserted
getting → get → lot
Obviously, they’re my guys.
asserted
they → ’re → ?
We spend every day together, so when it’s their turn to you know throw some love on me, I love it.”
asserted
I → spend → it
Jamison Battle, another Raptor who has risen to the occasion at times when called upon, appreciated Martin seizing the moment.
asserted
Martin → rise → moment
I mean, that’s what he does.
asserted
he → mean → what
He’s persistent.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
I think that’s the word he likes to use,” Battle said.
asserted
Battle → think → ?
“He’s ready whenever the opportunity is called on …
asserted
opportunity → ’ → ?
What he did a couple days ago, I mean, that’s super special, but it’s nothing that’s surprising, right?
asserted
that → mean → What
Because he puts in the time, he puts in the work.
asserted
he → put → work
Obviously, he had a tough summer with injury and whatnot, but I think it’s not surprising to any of us.
asserted
it → have → us
And I think he’s going to continue to build off of it and do what he does.”
asserted
he → think → what
The Aporia
