It’s as if the Raptors have been playing an extended game of human whack-a-mole since the NBA regular season began.
Hammer down bad interior defence here and bad shooting pops up over there.
Pound it down and suspect bench play pokes its head up.
Slam it below the surface and a lack of rebounding peeks up.
One thing after another after another, a never-ending and frustrating challenge.
But now, following 10 games worth of often futile efforts to tamp down trouble spots night after night and with a record that has them among the dregs of the league, their season may be ready to turn for the good.