Ja'Kobe Walter continues to emerge as a valuable piece for the Raptors

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shields the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday in Phoenix. Photo by Rick Scuteri /The Associated PressArticle contentIn the Valley of the Sun, the Raptors were burned, exposed and embarrassed.

Sign In or Create an Accountor View more offersArticle contentSo much was expected from the Raptors, who played so well in Denver until the Nuggets made the winning plays in the final minute, and yet so little was produced against the host Phoenix Suns.

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Article contentDisappointments such as the one that played out Sunday night are a part of NBA life, but not this late in the regular season and not with the Raptors trying to hold on to a top-six seed in the East.

Article contentArticle contentAll the fight, intensity, urgency and desperation they brought to the floor two nights earlier were nowhere to be found.

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Article contentMissing in action was Brandon Ingram, who, hands down, had his worst game as a Raptor.

Article contentPhoenix blitzed the Raptors right from the hop and save for the occasional Raptors run the Suns were never threatened.

Article contentIt was so one-sided that the Raptors at least got an opportunity to give embattled Gradey Dick an extended run.

Article contentJonathan Mogbo even got minutes, while the Raptors tried to get Ingram going knowing the game was so out of reach before the white flag was officially raised.

Article contentWhat a letdown, what a beatdown, what a way to drop to 1-2 on a five-game trip in the aftermath of a pathetic120-98 loss.

Article contentThe following are three takeaways on a night the Raptors trailed by as many as 30 in the third quarter as the Raptors explored all options, including playing Scottie Barnes at centre, a night when Devin Booker lived up to his all-star status, a night when no Toronto starter played in the final quarter.

Article contentArticle content 1. Walter’s Energy InvaluableArticle contentDown on the scoreboard with many players having their heads down, it was Ja’Kobe Walter who provided that much-needed jolt for the Raptors.

Article contentWhen the Raptors went on a 12-0 run in the second quarter, it was Walter draining threes and drawing offensive fouls.

Article contentHe was arguably the game’s best player during that stretch.

Article contentEarlier, Jamal Shead picked up three fouls in roughly the same amount of minutes.

Article contentHis frustration led to a technical.

Article contentWhen he re-entered, Shead and Immanuel Quickley were on the floor together in a two point guard look.

Article contentAs for Walter, the Raptors weren’t doing enough to get the second-year wing looks at the basket.

Article contentWhile Walter has looked good, the Raptors need to expand his game, which, for now, is limited as a spot-up shooter.

Article contentHad it not been for Walter’s 11 first-half points on 4-for-4 shooting, the Raptors would have been blown out.

Article contentIngram, who attempted four shots in the first half Friday night, went 1-for-7 in Sunday’s opening 24 minutes, a stretch that saw him commit four turnovers.

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Article contentIngram was a minus-25 in the opening half.

Article contentMuch like they did in Denver to begin the second half, the Raptors featured Ingram on the opening possession.

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Article content 2. Inexcusable StartArticle contentThe Raptors were simply horrible and ill prepared to begin the game, which should raise all kinds of red flags with the post-season right around the corner.

Article contentThey dropped a two-possession game two nights earlier in Denver when the Raptors led by nine points heading into the fourth quarter and one would have thought Toronto would be intent on bouncing back against Phoenix.

Article contentInstead, they fell behind 8-0 three minutes into the game, forcing head coach Darko Rajakovic into calling a timeout.

Article contentNot good, to say the least, when the Raptors should have begun the game with force right from the jump.

Article contentClearly, the Raptors took the undermanned Suns for granted, which is another bad sign for this group as the regular season winds down.

Article contentArticle contentEither way you cut it, the Raptors’ cavalier attitude was unacceptable.

Article contentDefensive breakdowns, a function of a lack of communication, which was a carryover from Denver, had the Raptors in a double-digit hole.

Article contentNo energy, no sense of urgency, no excuses for the way the Raptors began the night.

Article contentIt was simply unacceptable.

Article contentEqually unacceptable were the zero shot attempts from Jakob Poeltl in eight minutes.

Article contentThe big man had zero rebounds before he took a seat on the bench.

Article contentSo disjointed were the Raptors that the visitors trailed by as many as 17 points.

Article contentWhen a team fails to match its opponent’s level of desperation and intensity it speaks to complacency and entitlement.

Article contentPredictably, the Raptors made a run, but their high level of play was required when the game tipped off.

Article contentAt the break, the Raptors were trailing 66-48 as the Suns made 11 of their 19 three-pointers.

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