Whicker: Raptors short on bodies, long on heart as they derail Lakers

Trail Blazers beat Grizzlies in play-in, earn first-round series with the Lakers How athletes protesting the national anthem has evolved over 17 years Trail Blazers, Grizzlies advance to NBA play-in game; Suns, Spurs see playoff dreams dashed After Siakam blocked a layup attempt by LeBron James, rookie Terence Davis II of Ole Miss swished a 3-pointer that put the Raptors up 12 with 3:50 left.Davis was undrafted. Siakam went 27th in the first round. Powell was a second-round pick. Last year the Raptors were the first NBA champs who didn’t have a lottery pick on their roster.This year they picked up Stanley Johnson, of Mater Dei and Arizona, who went eighth in his draft class. He played three minutes on Sunday, bringing his season total to 14.“It’s been fun,” Siakam said. “Anytime you get to shoot more, it’s good, and we still have that chemistry. Guys might have left, but most of these guys have been around for years, and we know each other and we’ve practiced together.”In this game, they flat outworked the Lakers, but there was strategy, too. Coach Nick Nurse ordered double-teams on Anthony Davis early. Whether that’s the reason Davis devolved into a long shooter in this game isn’t clear, but the offense dehydrated in a second half in which the Lakers shot 32 percent.Green didn’t get early looks and went 0-for-5. LeBron James probably deferred too much and had five field goals.“They’re the fastest team in the league,” coach Frank Vogel said of Toronto, “and when you don’t execute offensively, they take advantage of it.”Related Articles AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with PackersWhether the 2019 world champions have become a perennial, dropping blooms in the spring and then regenerating in the fall, will be decided as we go.But the Raptors again are a nightmare sight for the NBA personnel directors who somehow didn’t draft them, and they showed the Lakers, even some Lakers who should have known better, that portfolios don’t win every game.“We wanted to attack them,” said Norman Powell, who spent four years at UCLA and is now a five-year man in Toronto, waiting and working. “We wanted to make sure they knew this was going to be a hard night for them. There are a lot of guys in the league that are like the guys you saw tonight, just waiting for an opportunity. I’ve been in that spot. You’ve got some of the best players in America sitting behind some of the other best players in America.”Siakam played through a tough shooting night and had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and his two run-outs off missed shots blunted the Lakers’ comeback at the end. VanVleet, the undrafted and nerveless guard, was brilliant with 23 points and 10 assists.Boucher is a 6-foot-10 sliver from Montreal who played on Oregon’s Final Four team and was the G-League Player of the Year in 2019. He scored 18 with three blocks, and the Lakers’ famed rim-protectors could not control him. Lakers, Clippers schedules set for first round of NBA playoffs The Clippers took Leonard’s strength and skill away from Toronto, but the seeds he planted are still there. His relentlessness and stoicism helped the Raptors cast aside years of playoff derailment.“I think we all learned a lot from him,” Siakam said. “He never seems to get rattled. I’ve added that to my game, too. When I miss a couple of shots, Freddie will get in my ear and tell me to keep shooting them, and I play with more confidence. I’m trying to be more of a leader, too. We still have some leaders, and I’m trying to be more vocal.”On Monday night the Raptors play Leonard and the Clippers, with the added subplot of Paul George’s possible L.A. debut.“We don’t get no break,” Siakam said, smiling as he moved toward the door, wearing the team colors of a pick-me-up bouquet. Lakers practice early hoping to answer all questions PreviousLos Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsToronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet (23) scores against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) works for a rebound next to Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, scores against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots over Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel talks to Anthony Davis during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) scores against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, left, blocks a shot from Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, rear, is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, center, drives past Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors’ OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Lakers’ LeBron James dribbles between Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, and Marc Gasol during the first half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)NextShow Caption1 of 14Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)ExpandLOS ANGELES — Pascal Siakam was wearing a printed, flowery shirt that evoked images of the Panama City rainforest.“Nice shirt, P,” called out Fred VanVleet, his Toronto Raptors’ teammate. “No, don’t button it. Not when you got that 130.”As in $130 million, which was Siakam’s recent four-year contract extension.His team is 7-2, without Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. His team broke the Lakers’ seven-game win streak Sunday night, 113-104, without Leonard, Green and the injured Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. Instead, mystery guests like Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came to the fore and thrashed the Lakers by 18 points in the second half. That made the Lakers 7-2, too. Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error