Hard-fought losses have become a recurring theme for the Raptors over the past week.
Toronto has lost four of its last five but aside from a confounding road loss to Detroit, it hasn't been for a lack of effort. Outside of that anomaly of a night at Little Caesars Arena, the Raptors suffered a four-point loss to the Suns, owners of the league's best record, defeated the defending champion Bucks, lost by five points to the Heat and lost by four points to a Mavericks team that has won 10 of its last 11.
MORE: Raptors run out of steam vs. Mavericks
Factor in injuries sustained by Khem Birch and Gary Trent Jr. and it makes sense that the shorthanded Raptors have been coming up … short.
In Wednesday night's loss to the Mavs, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse went with a seven-man rotation, with Fred VanVleet (42), OG Anunoby (43) and Pascal Siakam (44) each seeing over 40 minutes of playing time. VanVleet, who leads the league in minutes per game, has now played in 40 or more minutes in each of the last five games, Siakam isn't far behind, stringing together four consecutive games with 40 or more minutes.
MORE: VanVleet, Siakam move up in latest All-Star returns
As Sportsnet's Chris Black pointed out, it's a very big ask of the Raptors two All-Star candidates at the midway point of the season.
Most Consecutive Games Played - 40 Mins Plus
— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) January 20, 2022
NBA This Season
Fred VanVleet (TOR) 5*
Pascal Siakam (TOR) 4*
Miles Bridges (CHO) 4
Saddiq Bey (DET) 4
*active streak
After the loss in Dallas, Nurse was asked about his short rotation, and per TSN's Josh Lewenberg, Nurse felt some of the questions came with unwarranted negativity.
Nick Nurse, frustrated with tonight's line of post-game questioning: "Our guys played a really good game. I don't know why I'm sensing so much negativity here from everybody but our guys played their guts out tonight against a team that's 10-1 in their last 11."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 20, 2022
There is, of course, the concern that the heavy minutes to key players could be wearing them down by clutch time but there is the conflicting argument that the team would be unable to keep the game close if Nurse were to make amendments to his rotation. VanVleet, who shot 4-for-20 from the field and 3-for-15 from 3-point range in Dallas, declined to attribute his inefficiency to fatigue.
VanVleet was asked if fatigue played a part in his off shooting night: "You guys watched the game, I'll let you make of that what you will. I'm definitely not gonna make any excuses. I've gotta be better. I think if I make a couple more shots we probably sneak out with a win"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 20, 2022
Recent results show that at this juncture of the season, having such a short rotation is far from sustainable, placing Nurse in a tough place until Birch and Trent return to the lineup.
On Wednesday, Precious Achiuwa, Scottie Barnes, Chris Boucher and Justin Champagnie were the only other players to see time, while Dalano Banton, Malachi Flynn, Svi Mykhailiuk and Yuta Watanabe each picked up DNP-CDs.
As pointed out by Lewenberg, the four that failed to get in have combined to shoot 5-for-35 from the field in the month of January. Factor in the extended absence of Goran Dragic, who has taken an indefinite leave from the team, and the upcoming trade deadline takes on even more importance for this Raptors franchise.
With a record of 21-21, the Raptors are well in position to earn a spot in the 2022 Play-In Tournament. Regardless of whether or not the postseason is a chief goal for the franchise this year, the team will need answers to lighten the workload of its franchise players.
Whether it's getting healthy, working the trade market or seeking a buyout, this recent stretch is a reminder that moves must be made.
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