The Raptors’ porous defense is unable to contain the Memphis Grizzlies’ offense

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On a throwback night that brought back memories of Vancouver and Toronto going toe-to-toe on the NBA stage, two Canadians stood out in a Boxing Day matchup with the host Grizzlies and visiting Raptors.

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For Toronto, it was RJ Barrett who stepped up. For Memphis, it was Toronto native Zach Edey who disproved all the naysayers who were convinced his methodical game wouldn’t translate at the pro level.

Barrett flirted with a triple-double, while Edey’s double-double helped pace the Grizzlies to their 155-126 victory. So many points scored and yet the Raptors never held the lead.

Edey’s night was lessened in the wake of Toronto big man Jakob Poeltl (groin) being unavailable.

When Memphis picked up the pace, the Raptors were overwhelmed in the back by as many as 19 points.

When Toronto defended, it competed, but this night was all about offense with Barrett and Edey emerging among the game’s very best.

For the Raptors, it was their ninth straight loss as their road record dropped to 1-14

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They can’t win without Poeltl’s presence, they don’t have a chance when Scottie Barnes continues to shoot the basketball so poorly, and they have absolutely no shot when their defense is so sloppy.

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Edey was transformed into a modern-day Wilt Chamberlain when he knew a television audience at home had tuned in to watch him play against his hometown team for the first time.

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had enough of the game’s referee, his emotions and frustration boiling over two minutes into the fourth quarter when he was ejected. Getting kicked out, he took one for the team.

Rajakovic at least showed fight, but he went way over the line and was rightly sent off.

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