Raptors rub one out against the Magic despite playing horribly.
 | Amir Johnson, PF 22 MIN | 6-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 12 PTS | -5Trash game. On his heels all night and slow-footed on rotations, both interior and ones on the perimeter covering Channing Frye. Maybe the Raptors were better off giving him the night off because he hurt them out there. Got benched thankfully. Did run the hi-lo on this play with JV which the Raptors should do much more of. |  | |||||||
 | Terrence Ross, SF 28 MIN | 4-8 FG | 5-5 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 17 PTS | -2Hit his threes including a huge one in the fourth, but just not enough for me. Defensively missing for long stretches, wasn’t able to contain Fournier, and seems to be drifting on offense, not attacking and only waiting to be setup. There needs to be a target set for him in terms of getting to the line, because he’s way too passive and isn’t slashing enough. It may sound harsh given his offensive game, but I really expect a little more in areas other than shooting from him. |  | |||||||
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 20 MIN | 1-5 FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 4 PTS | -9Basic rules to follow: don’t bring the ball down. Ever. Don’t switch off on defensive boards. Expect a pass when you’re open in the paint. Read the scouting report for the guy you’re guarding. He was absolutely awful on defense against Vujevic and in help situations. The only saving grace was a couple in-traffic rebounds, but even that was offset by missing chippies. |  | |||||||
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 36 MIN | 8-16 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 7 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 19 PTS | +1Turned it on when it counted, again. I felt like, if he wanted, he could’ve scored when he wished but chose to pick his spots against Ridnour and Payton. The latter’s length caused some slight issues, but his hard drive forward, stopping on a dime, and then pivoting for a pass or shot is quite unstoppable. His charges are becoming invaluable, and without him nipping those Orlando runs, this could’ve been an insurmountable lead heading into the fourth. | | |||||||
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 33 MIN | 4-15 FG | 8-9 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 16 PTS | -3Too many low-percentage jumpers and was in the refs’ face too much about them. He did keep the offense ticking in the first half but the refs soon caught on to the fact that he was, first and foremost, looking for the foul. Got absolutely eaten alive by Tobias Harris, who he was too light for on both ends. Did hit two big FTs late in the game and one thing you have to admire is that he’s zoned in for 48. He may not do the right thing every time, but I do appreciate him trying to push through when adversity hits instead of drifting off. |  | |||||||
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 18 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +9Was brought in for Valanciunas after his early struggles but didn’t exactly make much of a difference. Not his type of game, what with the Magic running the break every chance, working outside-in and swinging the ball on the perimeter. He did try to take out Vucevic which I appreciate. |  | |||||||
 | James Johnson, PF 22 MIN | 2-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | +13Another strong game off the bench, missed a couple gimmes, but set good picks, passed up tempting looks which were undoubtedly bad shots, and supplied some measure of perimeter defense against the Orlando bigs who were running rampant against Johnson and Valanciunas. Great defense against Harris on the final play. This guy is a revelation. |  | |||||||
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 29 MIN | 4-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 12 PTS | +9Hit a couple big shots, especially the one early in the fourth that signalled the Raptors comeback. It’s encouraging to see his shot return, but much like the rest of the team, his defense was inadequate. Gambling for steals in post-up situations with no help behind you is a very bad idea. Still, though, him and James Johnson were the most effective Raptors frontcourt combo for the game, so there’s that. Missed a FT late, but made up for it with a blockout on Vujevic on the last Magic possession. |  | |||||||
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 16 MIN | 1-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 4 PTS | +4Horrible shot selection, that three with 21 ticks left on final possession of the quarter has to be the dumbest thing he’s ever done. Defensively, he didn’t just try. I can’t count how many times he gave up on the screen ‘n roll. The Magic guard were just way too nimble for him. |  | |||||||
 | Louis Williams, SG 16 MIN | 5-8 FG | 3-4 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 14 PTS | +3Awesome. Huge lift off the bench in that late third, early fourth. The jumpers were going in on the pull-up fades, hit a huge three-pointer, and most of all for me, quelled the Orlando wing threat by playing the passing lanes, getting a steal, and disrupting their flow. What a trade! | | |||||||
 | Dwane Casey Couldn’t get the team to wake up for this one, which pisses me off. Didn’t really plan for Frye, because he was getting wide open looks, and probably should’ve switched to the smaller Johnson/Patterson front court earlier. But at least he did switch. I don’t know whether the Raptors coverage was a coaching or execution issue, but I do know that he didn’t have the team up for this game. |  | |||||||
Five Things We Saw
- Three-point defense was not there. Magic shot 48%, Frye had clean looks all night, and not until the fourth quarter were the adjustments made. This is dangerous living, and even with JV and Amir in there, the effort should’ve been better. I found too many players were switched off to start the game which scares me.
- Lou Williams and James Johnson are providing a major boost off the bench. The later is active and playing intelligent basketball, and the former is finding his offense just when the Raptors need him. The Magic were running on made FGs in the first half and absolutely ramming it down the channels and the Raptors were struggling to cope. Johnson and Patterson helped cope with that in the second half.That all-bench lineup Casey plays isn’t looking too shabby, despite defying common logic.
- The Raptors bench outscored the Magic 36-14 – they bailed the starters out. DeRozan was being blanketed by Harris, JV was just off, Johnson was non-existent, meaning guys like Patterson became even more critical.
- Once again, taking care of the ball with only 12 turnovers offset the lack of assists (only 16) and overcame the often one-on-one play. This isn’t a recipe to succeed, but at least it’s holding us over while we find our feet in this early season.
- Ugly win, probably didn’t deserve it since Magic won three quarters. But hey, I’ll take it. We’re 7-1, heading into a statement game at home against the Bulls who have Derrick Rose back. That too, on TNT. Bring it on.
