If the uneven Raptors performances of the last two weeks were warning tremors, Sunday’s 117-106 loss to the Clippers was the earthquake that forcefully shook the confident foundation of the team and its fans.
Oddly enough, the opening stretch of the game contrasted the Raptors’ recent starts entirely. Jonas Valanciunas did that thing where he demolishes DeAndre Jordan at every turn, dropping Toronto’s first eight points, and 12 total before picking up his second foul just over seven minutes in. At the time of that foul, JV’s efforts (along with those of OG Anunoby and Kyle Lowry) had his team sitting on a cozy 27-11 cushion.