Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry wasn’t merely being polite when he argued against discounting the Raptors’ chances in the 2019-20 season. Even as he acknowledged the impact of the departure of Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard, he noted that disaster doesn’t necessarily follow. To buttress his contention, he turned to another sport; in Major League Baseball, he pointed out, the Nationals earned a trip to the World Series despite the loss of erstwhile cornerstone Bryce Harper. “I wouldn’t count these guys out just yet,” he said.
Gentry is on the mark, of course, in full understanding that the Raptors benefit from a stable organization with an experienced hand at the helm. Having gone through practically the same situation as an executive of the Nuggets at the start of the decade, president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri used the same blueprint to pivot to a starless future. Again eschewing a reboot, he doubled up on existing assets; he inked veteran All-Star Kyle Lowry to a one-year deal and foundational piece Pascal Siakam to a rookie-scale extension. At the same time, he banked on the motivations of Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol to perform throughout a contract year.
To be sure, doing right on paper doesn’t always translate to tangible results. Yesterday, though, the Raptors showed enough to lend substance to Gentry’s pronouncement. They certainly played ungracious hosts to upend his Pelicans. True, they took advantage of top overall pick Zion Williamson’s sidelining due to injury. And, true, they needed to scramble in the crunch and hang tough in overtime to prevail. Then again, there can be no discounting the message they sent on the very night they received their championship rings: The Larry O’Brien Trophy is on their mantel, and those who aim to wrest it from them will meet their best.
Admittedly, one game does not a season make. Nonetheless, the Raptors made clear to all and sundry that they will be prepared every time out. They were far from sharp yesterday; they shot a poor 40.8% from the field all told, with Lowry and Gasol going four of 15 and two of nine, respectively. With the outcome on the line, however, they delivered; Siakam and VanVleet had 34 points apiece, with Ibaka and the comebacking OG Anunoby providing ample support and combining for 24. Time will tell if they can sustain their effort. For now, though, they should be happy to have proven Gentry right.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
