Allen Graves Dominated his Summer League Debut (Film Breakdown)

From Louis’ piece:

“The Raptors finally got out in transition in end the first half with a lineup that featured all of Hepburn, Bradley, and Graves. The defensive-minded group forced oodles more turnovers and actually converted on the run, building a double-digit lead. It wasn’t pretty, but it was Raptors basketball.

Which also meant that a couple triples in the second half gave the Celtics the lead with relative ease. Hepburn fought Toronto back into the game with enormous effort, again drawing charges chasing around screens. Graves gathered more steals, more transition buckets. It wasn’t enough. Ultimately, the Raptors’ bench couldn’t hang in the game, and their starters couldn’t score enough to build an insurmountable lead.

Graves did had a letdown at the end of the game, as he failed to hustle back into the final play of regulation and ultimate gave up a triple to Boston to tie. He made up for it in overtime, as he grabbed two offensive rebounds to give Toronto a variety of chances to tie the game. They could not.

The Raptors made sure they supported their Summer League team. Among other attendees, leaders Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Darko Rajakovic were in the building watching their would-be teammates brick their shots and strip the ball from the Celtics. There were plenty of other teammates in attendance, too. That may not cause the continuity in identity between the big club and lesser squads like the Summer League roster, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Barnes spoke on the broadcast briefly about the theory of adding Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors. He mentioned “taking candy from a baby.”

When it came to the Celtics, the Summer League squad had the same idea in mind. The Raptors had plenty of blocks and steals, and Graves — the most important member of the squad with Murray-Boyles in street clothes — performed well. Sure, they lost. That’s just about the least important element of the night. It’s only been one Summer League game, but Graves looks more than ready. On a night of identity continuity, he, too, showed he can be a perfect cog of continuity in identity and fit when he joins the Raptors for his rookie season.”