This time of year, you can understand how it’s hard for Raptors players to get up for every game. Their schedule is packed with lesser opponents, the stakes of their seeding are relatively low, and they’ve been able to win with mere bursts of energy on the defensive end.
Still, there are certain players that have more motivation than others. Young players like Delon Wright and Jakob Poetl have the constant burden of proving themselves. New acquisitions like P.J. Tucker are trying to build a brand, working themselves and everyone around them into a defensive lather.