 | Amir Johnson, PF Shot Chart 24 MIN | 4-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | -13 Got his angles all wrong on Blake Griffin every time in post and face-up situations. There were some instances where Griffin just hit some tough shots, but overall Johnson’s defense was ineffective. To put it in perspective, even Austin Daye crossed my mind as an option. |  |
 | Terrence Ross, SF Shot Chart 44 MIN | 16-29 FG | 9-10 FT | 9 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 51 PTS | -4 Phenomenal offensive game – started early with the threes and shone in that late third quarter where he kept the Raptors in the game hitting threes, rocking the rim with put-back jams, and even some nice floaters. The perfect isn’t coming from this observer, though, thought his defense on Jam. Crawford was a little lackadaisical and he didn’t do a good job of staying with Redick on the screens. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C Shot Chart 34 MIN | 5-9 FG | 7-8 FT | 12 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 17 PTS | -4 The usual. A strong statistical game marred by periods of complete inactivity on defense (like the second quarter). Took some questionable shots against Jordan in face-up situations, but overall, played to his strengths which is trying really hard on the defensive boards. I’ve said it a few times now, but this guy is undergoing significant learnings this year and these experiences will only make him better |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG Shot Chart 39 MIN | 2-10 FG | 6-9 FT | 4 REB | 12 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 11 PTS | 0 Missed a bunch of floaters, took some long jumpers that missed and that’s enough to make the offensive shooting look poor. Leaving that aside, played distributor really well against a very athletic Clipper defense that can cover ground with the best of them. My complaint with him is in transition, where he didn’t track back fast enough allowing the Clippers free fast-break opportunities. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG Shot Chart 21 MIN | 2-6 FG | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | -8 Quick general non-game specific comment on him: 1) He takes too many long jumpers, has flaws in his game, and 2) he’s an All-Star this season. Some people need to get it in their head that those two can’t mutually exclusive possibilities. His shooting touch wasn’t there early which is when he tried to take it inside and got to the line. Unfortunately, sprained his ankle in the second and didn’t come back in the second half. Big blow. |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF Shot Chart 16 MIN | 2-3 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | +3 Not involved in the offense enough for me. I thought he could’ve been used against Griffin to an offensive advantage, and perhaps even defensively, but we never saw that matchup materialize. |  |
 | Chuck Hayes, PF Shot Chart 13 MIN | 0-1 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -7 Somehow managed to find himself with the ball with the shot-clock running down a few times, which is never good. Couldn’t defend without falling and got the hook in favor of Valanciunas on account of the size-matchup versus Jordan. | |
 | John Salmons, SF Shot Chart 19 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -14 When he’s not hitting his shots (he wasn’t), isn’t effective on defense (couldn’t stop Redick, Crawford, or even Barnes), and isn’t distributing (wasn’t), then he’s not having a good game. He did not have a good game. |  |
 | Steve Novak, SF Shot Chart 8 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +5 Got in the game, probably because DeRozan wasn’t available. |  |
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG Shot Chart 20 MIN | 3-6 FG | 2-3 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 8 PTS | +2 Every time he shoots, I cringe. He was 1-4 on floaters (I think) and that’s his strength. On defense, poor as usual but that can be forgiven if he produced enough offensively, which he didn’t. | |
 | Dwane Casey I thought a zone would’ve been in order today, but didn’t see enough of it. Other than that, no complaints really. Went with what was working, and it’s not his fault we have a serious problem in terms of depth at the big positions. | |
Four Things We Saw
- I really wish Ross had hit that last FT to pass Vince and set the Raptors record. As it is, he ties Vince at 51.
- Jamal Crawford was unconscious in the first half, Casey tried putting Salmons, Ross, and even Lowry on him at times but nothing worked. The Clippers did very well to handle any Raptors pressure in the back court to get open looks.
- The Raptors transition defense was very poor – final stat is only 12-7 for the Clippers, but that’s not counting times the Clippers were able to push the ball to create advantage situations, get good post position early, and end up scoring. I thought our guards were very poor at tracking back all game.
- More on Ross – he’s the reason this was even a game in the fourth quarter. His third quarter performance – 13 points, 6-9 shooting was a thing of beauty and included a bit of everything. The Clippers had built up a 12 point lead and with DeRozan out, this game was about to be over, but Ross stepped in.
