Things to Watch for During the Final Stretch | Raptors Today – March 18, 2024

Things to Watch for During the Final Stretch | Raptors Today – March 18, 2024

Talking Raptors basketball with the Principal Paul Jones and shef Javon Shepard um we got to give context to this season as we come through these final few games exactly what are we looking at or for for this Toronto Raptors group with the playin tournament kind of set aside because of the stretch

Of losses that the Raptors have been on recently now we’re looking at this group and we’re saying what Jonesy what are you looking for who are you looking at when you look at what the actually have left to Showcase en Court I’m looking for development yep uh I’m looking for

Improvement in close game situations you want to be in those close yeah yeah be in them and and so you can experience that from a team perspective um continuing in terms of growth for what you know darko’s philosophy is and sharing the ball moving the ball and

Then as on an individual basis I’m looking at a guy like there’s so many guys to look at as we talked about in the last segment individ ually they’re trying to show themselves they’re trying to show that they fit in but I’m looking at one of the Main Stays going forward

And that’s Emanuel quickly mhm he came from New York he had one role in New York which was basically take your sweats off get in the game bring me energy and heat up yeah he’s got that down he’s come to Toronto now and they’ve tapped him on the shoulder and

Says okay now you’re going to handle the ball we know you can do that but we want everybody else involved you are going to be the lead guard you you have those scoring microwave skills but we need you to help other people too we need you to

Be a guy that can set the table and can run a team and and I think he’s doing really really well in that new role uh especially now that they’re depleted and and he’s near the top of the Scouting Report almost every night so I I’ll be

Watching him and his continued growth I I love the way he plays he just he plays with an enthusiasm um you know he plays hard uh he he tries to involve everybody he’s got a positive main FR uh mind frame and like when he came here as a Kentucky guy

I thought he was kind of like a Tyrese Maxi light yeah yeah that’s his old running made at Kentucky right and and I I think we’re seeing a lot of that and when he gets as Javon said in the last segment the Cavalry back and gets all

His guys back I he he’s going to take a jump what’s the thing though what’s his thing what’s the one skill set or area is it just the the identifying open guys or running this off I think it’s a decision- making there’s no question question about his skill level and his

Physical ability I think it’s as I said earlier being put in situations where he is forced to make the right decision um in a very short time frame CHF who’s your guy yeah I think you know that the first five is going to figure itself out right the the development piece there I

Think the the front office and the coaching staff they’re going to take care of that naturally uh for me the the big thing is that bottom that second five that second unit and really getting those guys are going to get minutes right now they’re getting a lot of those

Minutes right now but who’s going to step up and take advantage of the opportunity in front of them because somebody steps up and takes advantage of that opportunity you learn a lot about them in tough times tough situations and then they’ll be able to perform later on

And I think for me War’s been he can be that person I want to see more from him McDaniels has had opportunity I think aaji he’s they’ve been trying to force the issue there but I think in limited minutes Jordan’s been the one that has really shown okay I I can score the

Basketball I can compete at this level physical enough now it’s for him to really understand I’m not just a shooter I’m not just a scorer I’m actually 69 I got a good body I’m a big time athlete can I add the other pieces to that when

He steps on the court can I impose myself other teams have got to feel me whether I’m scoring the basketball or not but in terms of mentality I think he out of all the guys that are getting minutes right now getting the opportunity right now has shown to have

The flash like he can turn that switch on I just want to see him now okay take that next step now speaking from a character standpoint too I have a soft spot in my heart I love the kid Jordan War I I just think

He’s he’s a great kid I know his dad I just know the way he grew up what he stands for um and and I think you want those kind of people on your bench you know he can play and you got a good character person too okay so what about

The defense because I think that’s the one thing for him that I think coach Darko would really like to see take that’s what’s really held him back back in the last over the last couple of years right just locking and having that Focus defensively but that also comes

With maturity right that also comes with now you’re with a young team a young coaching staff that wants to help these guys develop so you’re sitting down you’re going to be watching a lot of film it’s on you to take that next step right that’s going to keep you on the

Floor when the rest of the guys are back but again when you look at god-given Talent we’re talking about some there’s no reason he can’t no 68 69 long arms you know strong he can guard he should be able to guard multiple positions so he’s just got to make that that choice

That decision now to lock in okay let me learn the NBA defense but also I have the tools let me apply them let me utilize them because offensively he has it he has all the tools you want on the offensive side thanks for watching the Toronto rappers YouTube channel check

Out our latest video And subscribe for more in a crowd wide open three here come the that was great

Akil Augustine, Paul Jones, and Jevohn Shepherd are in studio today to look ahead to the final 14 games of the season, and to share their thoughts on specific things they want to see.

0:00 Introduction
0:30 What Jonesy Wants to See
1:05 Immanuel Quickley
2:41 Jevohn’s Thoughts
3:05 Jordan Nwora
5:15 Thanks for watching!
—————————————————
WATCH more episodes of Raptors Today: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOfGdce15qw9iGIpjI5LKubiiCuiZxouw&si=YnT4t0BNnG_9YvSG

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​FOLLOW the Toronto Raptors on:

X – https://twitter.com/Raptors
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TorontoRaptors/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/raptors/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@raptors

#Raptors #TorontoRaptors #NBA #RaptorsToday