Terrence Ross leads Raptors over Bucks | Toronto Sun
To the credit of Ross, the third-year swingman responded with his best effort in ages. In the first half alone, he drove into the paint for a layup, made a great pass with the shot clock winding down and threw down his first dunk in weeks, a monster one-hander that got the crowd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center buzzing, and hit a three. While his defence still left much to be desired, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the Raptors will take his revitalized offensive game. “Everybody goes through it. You’ve got to play through it, if you don’t, it will never go away,” Ross said of his slump. Ross showed something, by stepping up, but every ying has a yang, and the reaction to this action was someone had to drop out of the rotation. The wheel landed on James Johnson, one of the team’s best defenders and a solid player all season. Casey said there just weren’t enough minutes to go around. Casey made it clear that the Ross move was not final, that it was more to get Ross going.
Benching sparks Ross in Raptors’ odd win over Bucks | TSN
With less than a minute remaining and the Raptors trying to hold off the charging Bucks, Ross was back in the spotlight. He didn’t start but thanks to a strong showing in response to his benching – his best in weeks – the 23-year-old closed the game for a struggling DeRozan. Amir Johnson saved a broken possession with some crafty ball handling, finding Patrick Patterson, who swung it to Ross in the corner. Ross put the ball on the floor, something he did with regularity on this night, pulled up and drained a 14-footer. Moments later, after Brandon Knight cut Toronto’s lead back down to one, Lowry found Ross leaking out for the slam dunk in transition. It would turn out to be the dagger. “He played with a lot of confidence, relaxed,” Dwane Casey said of Ross following a 92-89 win. “I thought he came in in the first half and got us jump-started off the bench. I don’t know if it’s a permanent thing but I liked the way he came in and played, especially on the defensive end.”
Raptors Eke Out Win Over the Milwaukee Bucks 92-89 | Raptors HQ
The defence was at least average tonight, as the Raps managed to out-rebound the Bucks and keep them off the offensive glass. In addition, the defensive rotations were there, albeit against a Milwaukee team that doesn’t exactly have a prolific offence. It was fitting that tonight Terrence Ross, who has been playing at the equivalent of a dumpster fire recently, hit the dagger late on a baseline jumper further continuing the enigmatic saga that is Terrence Ross’ 2014-15 season. By far the decision on his future will be the toughest facing Raptors’ GM Masai Ujiri into the off-season.
Raptors 92, Bucks 89 – Bucks lose sixth straight against Raptors | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“It’s a loss,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “We wanted to protect home, and we had a great opportunity to do that. We let one get away from us in the sense that we had a chance to tie it without playing our best. They’re one of the top teams in the East.” Trailing by nine coming out of halftime, 53-44, the Bucks couldn’t quite get over the hump in the third quarter. They trailed, 68-62, when Kidd was whistled for a technical foul for jawing at the officials just prior to the end of the period.
Exhausted Toronto Raptors squeak by Milwaukee Bucks | Raptors Cage
Another interesting development in the game was the healthy scratch of James Johnson. While the Raptors made a significant lineup change by starting Greivis Vasquez and moving struggling young guard Terrence Ross to the second unit, it’s still baffling that the Raptors’ best wing defender by a mile and a legitimate slasher in Johnson received the coach DNP. Of course there is the history of clashes between Casey and Johnson and character concerns in his other NBA stops, but saying the two are related is purely speculation at this point, Stay tuned.
Toronto Raptors 92 – Milwaukee Bucks 89: nobody deserves to win | Raptors Rapture
Kyle’s jumpers weren’t falling; he’s made 1 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc in the last 3 games. His chances of being a coaches’ selection to the All-Star Game are circling the drain. DD had lots of open looks, but clanked all 9 shots he tried, and was yanked midway through Q4. Greivis Vasquez, starting in Ross’ spot, had a modest 10 points, but only 3 assists. The Raptors had but 20 helpers on the night, which is what happens when your scorers aren’t making splashes. The Raps pulled down 20 offensive boards, and we hope it will be some time before those numbers match again. We want assists, not O-boards.
T-Ross Redemption Shot, 2Pat Secure, & Typical Lowry – Raps @ Bucks | Mediocre No More
People are in cahoots over the absence of James Johnson, and I certainly for one don’t understand the move. It very well may be as simple as Casey just wanting to play other guys and trying something different, but it strikes me as odd because JJ is our best defender by miles and defense is what we stink at currently. If we lost this game, there’s a good chance Raptors fans go and try to egg Casey’s house. Conspiracy theory: to further prove a point, after choosing to not put in Johnson to guard Tyreke Evans last night, Casey metaphorically stuck out his middle finger to everyone by not playing Johnson at all tonight. Maybe he also didn’t like Johnson’s technical yesterday. Maybe I’m over thinking. Probably.
Five thoughts on what the Raptors can do to improve in the second half | TSN
This is my biggest issue right now. Somewhere along the path from Oct 1 to now this group has taken some shortcuts and it’s showing now. Seems like this club only plays at optimal level when it feels challenged. The ‘Backs to the Wall’ mentality they display is terrific, I just don’t see it as their daily makeup yet. I look at the best teams and they sustain sound habits and demand the optimum from themselves for long periods. This group can do it. Commitment time.
James Johnson Sits, Raptors Defeat Bucks 92-89 | Pro Bball Report
“Pat Patterson was a man on the boards,” Casey said. “His energy on the boards was the difference.” Patterson tied his career-high of 13 rebounds with 10 in the second half as the Raptors dominated the glass by grabbing 20 offensive rebounds and out dueling the Bucks 54-43 on the boards. The Raptors needed those offensive rebounds to escape Milwaukee with the win. They shot 40 percent from the field as a team and DeMar DeRozan legs were gone in his first back-to-back game since returning from injury. He shot 0-9 from the field for 0 points. Lowry also couldn’t find the mark, going 8-25 to score 18 points, but Lowry had his fingerprints all over this game with 5 boards, a steal, a block and charges drawn. Lowry was a force.
Terrence Ross has been leaving practice first | RealGM
Skip to 18:05 ..according to The FAN’s Megan Robinson
I can haz yo linkz??! rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
