10 things: Raptors show hints of potential in choppy Summer League showing

Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors' 90-84 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas Summer League play.

One — Sloppy: Even for Summer League standards, this was a choppy game. It featured no rhythm whatsoever and was riddled with mistakes in the absence of order. In such settings, it's hard to parse out any firm conclusions, especially since most players won't ever see time in the NBA nor would they play in such prominent roles. That being said, the Raptors played hard, played together as a group, and tried to generate offence from their defence, which is their identity regardless of the setting.

Two — Chippy: It was a physical battle between lottery picks Scottie Barnes and Jonathan Kuminga, who are both towering athletes that aren't afraid to mix it up. Kuminga and Barnes seemed to relish going at one another, with Kuminga having the slight edge in how he was able to impact the game. Barnes started strong with a corner three off a rare passing sequence by the Raptors, but he fell behind the rhythm of the game for extended stretches, while Kuminga relished every opportunity to force the issue, which largely highlights the difference between the two talented forwards. Barnes initiated more in the second half, where he was able to handle it, beat Kuminga's full-court pressure with his smooth handle before getting in the lane to draw fouls.

Three — Cheeky: The best move of the night by a Raptors player was made by Barnes. Having already beaten Kuminga off the dribble on previous possessions, Barnes once again took it strong off the drive, but instead of charging to the bucket as he would normally do against smaller defenders, he stopped on a dime just outside the paint, used a shoulder fake to freeze the defender, then faded away for a smooth jumper. Barnes then let out a primal yell after the shot as he sprinted back on defence, which seems to be part of his approach where he's charismatic and bubbly off the floor, while being mean and snarling on it.

Four — Improved: The first impression with Dalano Banton in Summer League has been shaky on account of his turnovers and erratic play, but he showed why he was picked in the second half of the game. Banton settled into the flow and his activity level was high between his 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He is jumpy and floppy at times, but being 6-foot-9 and lively affords you the margin to make mistakes. He was consistent in how he pushed it up the floor, made the right reads quickly, and played on the right side of chaotic in the second half. To be clear, he is very raw in terms of his shooting, his efficiency, and his physique, but the general makeup of what the Raptors like is in him.

Five — Tough: It was anything but the dominant display that Malachi Flynn put on in the first game. Flynn was rushed and hurried by his former 905 teammate and overall defensive pest Gary Payton II, who afforded him very little time on the ball and pushed him into a handful of airballs. Flynn was never in control of the offence, which bled into the entire team struggling as a whole. In his defence, he is often the only player capable of getting a shot consistently on this roster, but 19 field-goal attempts against just one assist is unacceptable for a point guard at any level.

Six — Active: Ish Wainright clearly takes pride on the defensive end. He set the tone in the first quarter, getting his hands on a number of deflections, took a charge, and after Kuminga showed a flash of displeasure for being pressured in the backcourt, Wainright couldn't resist a wry smile. Wainright's football background is clear in both his Lego-shaped torso, and also in his physicality on the ball. He wrestles players the way a P.J. Tucker would, and that's likely his path to sticking in the league if he pushes the envelope while still being on the right side of the whistle while knocking down the corner three consistently.

Seven — Physical: Precious Achiuwa made his debut with the Raptors as the centrepiece of the Kyle Lowry trade with Miami, and he was as advertised. Achiuwa was a force in the paint, collecting 11 rebounds including five on the offensive end, and he showed a willingness to defend, which was all known from his limited time as a rookie. What was intriguing were two flashes, first where he stepped out behind the line for a pick-and-pop three, and the second where he ripped down the rebound and beat three defenders down the floor before taking it to the rim. It's hard work being undersized at centre, but Achiuwa makes up for it with speed, fearlessness, and an inexhaustible motor.

Eight — Practice: One subplot to watch is how Achiuwa and Flynn combine in the pick-and-roll, since it will likely be a staple play for the second unit. Flynn loves to use his quickness to either pull-up for three, stop at the elbow, or dart to the rim, while Achiuwa is a solid screen setter who is always working to get on the glass and is a lob threat. They didn't combine very often tonight, but getting them some chemistry should be an area of focus in the last two games and for the remainder of the offseason.

Nine — Tireless: Next to Banton, the most erratic player has been Freddie Gillespie, who hasn't carried over the momentum from his promising showing at the end of last season. Gillespie was 1-for-9 in the first game against New York while being outworked by the more athletic opposing centre, and he was again disappointing in this game. The one thing with Gillespie is that he will show great effort and is always willing to challenge at the basket. In one noteworthy sequence, he was caught on a switch and forced to lunge out at a three-point shooter, but managed to get all the way down to the baseline as the Warriors zipped it around and Gillespie made the stop at the rim. It's not easy to do all that at his size.

Ten — Reality: It was very honest of head coach Patrick Mutombo to openly say that they're not looking to run many set plays on offence, because that does seem rather obvious from the rest. What the Raptors are looking for are players who show complete dedication on defence, and who can get up and down the floor in transition. This strategy does lead to a roster that will be lucky to reach average on offence, but at least they're true to their identity as a defensively-minded team.

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