 | Amir Johnson, PF 28 MIN | 9-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 19 PTS | -2Played very well as far as I’m concerned; would be an A+ but he took that three; I can’t forgive those. I really don’t have much to say about Amir other than I appreciate how he just shows up and does his job. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 28 MIN | 6-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 14 PTS | -1014 points off 8 shots is not bad, but 4 rebounds, not so much. With Gay, and his 19 shots, exiled out west, I assumed we’d see JV call for the ball a bit more, but it didn’t happen. I’m just floating this out there strictly for discussion, but how untouchable is JV, really? |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 32 MIN | 4-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 11 PTS | -4Zero trips to the line and brutal shooting from the field, but the near triple-double should be rewarded. Was a step off, but maybe I’m just seeing something that wasn’t there. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 30 MIN | 6-16 FG | 7-7 FT | 0 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 19 PTS | -70 rebounds…I mean, he didn’t even grab 1 or 2 accidental ones like Bargnani used to. Led the team in scoring, but needed 16 shots to get 19 points. You do have to appreciate how he saw the floor and got others involved though. | |
 | Terrence Ross, SG 38 MIN | 4-13 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 14 PTS | -6Can we agree that Ross isn’t the long term solution for replacing Gay in the starting lineup? I’d much rather Fields, if for nothing else than Ross would provide a spark off the bench that Fields lacks. |  |
 | Landry Fields, SF 19 MIN | 1-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -13Zero, dude lacks spark. Rebounds well, but god, man, do something. Play with some passion, man. |  |
 | Steve Novak, SF 28 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -154 shots in 28 minutes. Yes the Spurs play defense like champs, but 4 shots in 28 minutes? You had the likes of Baynes, Bonner and Diaw covering you; it’s not like they were up on you like Bruce Bowen. | |
 | Austin Daye, SF 14 MIN | 1-5 FG | 2-3 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | +6I had forgotten Daye was on this team. | |
 | Dwight Buycks, PG 18 MIN | 4-9 FG | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | -3All his production came in garbage time during the last 6 minutes of the game with most of the Spurs icing themselves down on the bench. | |
 | Julyan Stone, SG 4 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -11Yea… | |
 | Dwane Casey I’m too tired. |  |
Three Things We Saw
- This was one of those games that you just put behind you. The Raptors were too short-staffed to maintain the excellent 1st quarter, that frankly, happened to catch the Spurs off guard and forced them to quickly pull up their pants, adjust, neutralize, and counter rather than slowly execute while keeping the Raptors in the rear-view.
- I realize the bench was short, but they had contributed 9 points up until the 4th quarter, with another 13 coming in the last 5.5 minutes of the game (3 of those came in the last second when Daye felt the need to get to the rack, hit the layup and stick the AND1 as time expired). Fortunately once the new guys get here, and Casey has something to work with, this wont be the case anymore. Hopefully, how do I know?
- The Raptors really had no chance; these two teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum AND the Raptors were short handed. All four of the new guys could have contributed and helped to a degree, but the end result would have been the same.
