Reaction: Pacers 94, Raptors 102 – Nando De Colo Shines

Physically outmatched against West and it showed in the second half. Resorted to reaching from behind and got a few steals, even pumped up some points on offense. A bit surprised the Raptors don’t run more for him closer to the rim and choose to treat him like a scavenger.

The confidence is flowing, that much is true. Ran Stephenson ragged though screens all night, and I don’t blame him for taking some of those “questionable” shots – he was hot and has a right to. Defensively, shaky in one-on-one settings against George, especially in the second half.

Outplayed Hibbert for 90% of this game, the other 10% was when Hibbert gained position on him to score some inside. His finishing in the vicinity of the rim, as has been deliberated here of late, is outstanding, even in traffic. Got hard-fought offensive rebounds, moved very well without the ball when the Pacer bigs were pressing up top, and even hit a couple face-up Js, one late in the fourth.

Here’s my gripe with this guy: when the Raptors were up 8 in the early part of the third, this guy took a couple very questionable shots that were converted to points by the Pacers, which eventually brought them all the way back. I can’t tolerate that sort of recklessness from a “steady” point guard. I give you that he hit a huge three in the fourth, but man, he walks a tight rope.

Poor shooting night, but had a great first half where his passing was in full view, especially in finding people when he’s close to the baseline or under the rim. Hit a couple clutch jumpers in the fourth which answered some probing Pacer questions. It was good to see the Raptors pull this off without leaning on him too much.

Throw it down, big man. Throw it down. On a recent pod, Andrew suggested that he won’t be part of the playoff rotation. It’s games like these which show why he will. Against a physical team like the Pacers, hustle and grit have a higher exchange rate than finesse and style, and so did Tyler deliver.

Solid minutes against the much bigger Hibbert, displayed a shot-put like release when the ball was dumped to him, and on occasion took Hibbert to the rim like he was a toddler. Clogged the paint well, and I’ll forgive some of that slow-footed defense on account of giving his best.

I’ve never seen a veteran make so many non-veteran plays. Way too vertical on defense, needlessly fouling George to spark the dormant wing into action, and playing in a sense of daze that you simply don’t expect from a vet like him.

Huge second quarter performance where he upped the tempo, which is what the Pacers hate. The ball-handling against George Hill was supreme, and gave the latter a taste of his own medicine. When the Raptors were in a second-half lull, Casey called on him again and he delivered again, including a huge clutch three which tied the game in the fourth. He even drew this reaction from Lowry.

Great call on yanking Salmons, who just wasn’t with it. The trust in Nando paid off as well, and he managed Valanciunas’ minutes extremely well. Putting Hibbert in pick ‘n roll situations with Jonas was smart, and so was making Stephenson play defense by having him run around screens against Ross.