Consider the dog days over. In the lead-up to the All-Star break, watching the Raptors started to feel like a chore. Replacing the typical game-day antsiness was a feeling of dread in anticipation of the uneven Raptors’ performance that was sure to come.
A mental breather and a pair of swell-fitting additions have pumped new platelets into the team’s bloodstream. The seeds for a strong stretch run have been planted with a pair of consecutive wins out of the break. Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker have brought with them a new layer of versatility for Dwane Casey to play around with, and that has translated into a renewed level of defensive effort from guys up and down the roster.