Fan Duel Toronto Raptors

Quick Reaction: Raptors 115 – Knicks 100

The return of Bargnani


New York Knicks100FinalRecap | Box Score115Toronto Raptors
Amir Johnson, PF Shot Chart 33 MIN | 3-6 FG | 2-3 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 3 TO | 8 PTS | +23Played his regular game, which is obviously good. I’m not sure about the nickname, Doctor of Denial, but he did have four big blocks and played good defense tonight. He wasn’t much of a scorer, tonight, but his 6 offensive rebounds hurt the Knicks.

Jonas Valanciunas, C Shot Chart 27 MIN | 1-4 FG | 7-8 FT | 10 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 9 PTS | +18Would have played more if the refs weren’t calling fouls whenever he touched Chandler. He’s rebounding much better, now, including going and getting rebounds he wouldn’t have before. The Raptors defense noticeably weakened when he left the court.He’s still got to curb those turnovers, but another good night for him.

Kyle Lowry, PG Shot Chart 38 MIN | 10-17 FG | 8-10 FT | 8 REB | 11 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 32 PTS | +19Two rebounds shy of a triple double, with 32 points. A very impressive box score for Lowry and he hit some killer shots on the Knicks.The only downside was he let the much slower Beno Udrih into the lane far too much, but that’s nitpicking. If the Raptors are trading him, which they should, he’s certainly raising his value with his play of late.

DeMar DeRozan, SG Shot Chart 36 MIN | 7-18 FG | 6-7 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 20 PTS | +19Missed a lot of shots early, but got on track and had several cuts to the basket near the end where he delivered. A good, but not great night for DeRozan.

Terrence Ross, SG Shot Chart 32 MIN | 8-16 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 23 PTS | +9So this is the shooting touch we heard about when Ross was drafted. Was an astounding 7-11 from three and hit some timely shots that stopped a couple of Knicks runs. Still struggles defensively, at times, but we’re seeing glimpses of the player Raptor fans hoped when he was drafted.

Tyler Hansbrough, PF Shot Chart 15 MIN | 0-0 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 1 PTS | -8Not much of an impact on the boards and got worked on by Amare Stoudemire in the post. One wonders if he’s still hurt, or just struggling because of reduced playing time.

Patrick Patterson, PF Shot Chart 21 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | -3He got killed defensively, but grabbed some boards and hit some shots.

John Salmons, SF Shot Chart 23 MIN | 0-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +7Didn’t score much, but made a difference on the defensive end and passing the ball. Salmons is living up to his reputation for playing well after he’s traded. He’s become the new Alan Anderson, but one who’s not a trigger happy.

Greivis Vasquez, PG Shot Chart 15 MIN | 3-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 11 PTS | -9Horrible in the first half, hit some huge threes in the second half.

Chuck Hayes, PF Shot Chart DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Toronto looking a lot like Sacramento for Hayes. The view from the bench looks the same most places.

Landry Fields, SF Shot Chart DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Curses the day Salmons rode into town. Salmons basically does everything Fields does, but Salmons can shoot. So Fields can rest up for quality time with his girlfriend.

Steve Novak, SF Shot Chart DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Not even Novak can shoot from the bench.

Julyan Stone, SG Shot Chart DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Curses the day Vasquez rode into town. Vasquez can do everything Stone can do, but Vasquez can also play basketball at an NBA level.

Dwane Casey
Didn’t exactly wow anyone with his sets, but didn’t screw up and the rotations weren’t bad.

Three Things We Saw

  1. Did anyone else notice how DeRozan seemed to be FAR more friendly with Shumpert before tipoff than Bargnani?
  2. Maybe someone at the game can tell me, but was a section cheering for Bargnani whenever he scored? It sounded like it to me.
  3. The Knicks defense looked AWFUL, but when you have J.R. Smith and Andrea Bargnani on the same team, that’s probably going to happen. I’ll get into this more tomorrow, but the Knicks over help, are easily taken out by simple plays and don’t seem to have a clue who they need to defend.