Raptors tip off trip on the right foot by posting fourth road win

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Dennis Schroder became the odd-man out as rookie head coach Darko Rajakovic finally made a change to his starting lineup, a move many have been pining and praying for weeks.

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The fact it took 30 games speaks to Rajakovic’s stubbornness or perhaps confidence in his group, despite the mounting losses.

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It also highlight the coach’s lack of options given the roster construction.

Following their horrid loss to the visiting Utah Jazz Saturday night, the Raptors were able to hit the reset button as they regrouped in Washington Wednesday night to begin the first of a three-game trip that will also feature stops in Beantown and Motown.

While Toronto’s 132-102 win was much-needed, it came against a Wizards team with many needs that will not be addressed anytime soon.

When the veteran Schroder entered the game in the opening quarter, he played well and led the Raptors on a run that would swing the night’s momentum.

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Without Schroder in the starting lineup, the primary ball handling fell on the shoulders of Scottie Barnes.

The offence looked different in the absence of pick and roll sets, but the ball did move and shots were being made.

With Schroder out of the starting group, Gary Trent Jr. got the nod, a fitting reward based on his recent stretch.

As for Schroder, he looked good and played with added confidence.

Mind you, his skills are better suited in a reserve role on a good team.

The Raptors aren’t good, but against a bad Wizards team playing the back end of a back-to-back anyone could have slid into the role of facilitator.

Schroder is a pro and he handled what some will view as a demotion with aplomb.

He responded by dishing out eight assists in 15 first-half minutes that would see the Raptors take a 59-50 advantage into the break.

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He attempted only two shots, which speaks to Schroder’s floor game.

Too often this season Schroder has looked to score on many nights when his heaves, especially from distance, wouldn’t drop.

In the first half, the Raptors recorded 22 assists on 24 made baskets with Schroder and Barnes combining to produce 13 dimes.

Trent was on the floor for 16 minutes in the first half.

He gave the Raptors their largest lead when he buried a three-ball, his third on six attempts, with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.

Washington quickly called a timeout as it attempted to regroup from a 71-54 hole.

It would increase to 18 points as the Raptors continued to play solid team basketball.

On one sequence, a Schroder penetration led to a kickout to Pascal Siakam, who swung the ball to O.G. Anunoby, who then buried his look from distance, illustrating Toronto’s selfless play and how the right play was executed.

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After three quarters, the Raptors led 97-81.

Late in the period, Schroder nailed a three-pointer to become the fifth Raptor to make at least one shot from beyond the arc.

There was decidedly more energy on a night when the Raptors, who started slow, were in attack mode.

All five of Toronto’s starters reached double digits in scoring.

What stood out on this night was the ease and efficiency the Raptors showed in sharing the rock led by Siakam’s game-high 11 assists.

With the game completely out of reach, Malachi Flynn, Gradey Dick and Thaddeus Young were given minutes to close out the evening.

FOUL MOOD

A different starting lineup and yet it was an all too familiar start for the Raptors, who were absolutely abysmal on the defensive end.

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Toronto, in fact, was so bad that it resorted to a 2-3 zone when trailing 19-12.

Credit Washington for its shot-making but there was very little on the ball pressure provided by the visitors.

Siakam picked up two fouls with 8:50 left in the opening quarter.

Kyle Kuzma tried to draw a charge about one minute later on a sequence featuring Siakam’s patented spin move on the block.

Kuzma, for all intents and purposes, flopped with the officials correctly allowing the play to continue

With 4:38 left, Siakam was substituted for Schroder with Washington leading 24-16.

Once the Raptors began to dictate a quicker tempo, they took over the game.

Toronto ended the game’s opening 12 minutes by going on a 15-1 run.

Only one turnover would be committed when Barnes was stripped of the ball just inside Washington’s side of midcourt.

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SECOND THOUGHTS

Not only was there a change to the starting group, but a subtle rotational tweak was made.

It was evident when the second quarter began.

On the floor for the Raptors were Siakam, Schroder, Otto Porter Jr., who once played for the Wizards, Chris Boucher and Jalen McDaniels.

No Flynn, no Precious Achiuwa, no reason to change a new nine-man rotational look that was working.

Once the slow start was quickly forgotten, the Raptors played with considerably more energy and intensity, especially on defence.

Keep in mind Washington is not good, but in fairness to the beleaguered Raptors the visitors had more moments of good play than bad.

The Wizards are very much reliant on their jump shot.

During a 10-2 run in the second quarter, Washington was much more aggressive in cutting to the basket and assertive when putting the ball on the floor.

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It wasn’t sustainable.

Following a Barnes three-ball, the Raptors led by 13 points.

The Raptors did not make their first trip to the foul line until there were three minutes left in the second quarter.

Speaking of fouls, Boucher, who played well when he was in the game, picked up three fouls in eight minutes.

Achiuwa entered the game two minutes into the third quarter for Jakob Poeltl and brought a physical, aggressive edge on defence.

He also moved his feet well when defending the perimeter.

Overall, the Raptors were much better on defence, at least compared to the way they’ve looked this season.

A much stiffer test awaits Friday night when the Boston Celtics, the NBA’s best team that is unbeaten at home, play host to the Raptors.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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