Fan Duel Toronto Raptors

Quick Reaction: Raptors 96, Grizzlies 92

Grit and grind? We'll show you grit and grind!


Memphis Grizzlies92Final

Recap | Box Score

96Toronto Raptors
Amir Johnson, PF 34 MIN | 4-6 FG | 0-1 FT | 9 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -2The guy just brings his lunchpail and goes to work, no matter the opponent. His issues – along with Jonas – on keeping the Memphis bigs off the glass can’t be excused, but he provided his usual brand of up-tempo basketball and made his presence felt. He impressed me most on the pick and roll, where he made smart passes when necessary and made the slow-footed Z-Bo pay when he didn’t close out in time.

Terrence Ross, SF 34 MIN | 6-14 FG | 1-1 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 16 PTS | -3Was a complete non-factor for the first 3 quarters, but exploded in the fourth, almost single-handedly getting the Raptors back in the game after going on his own 8-0 run. That brings his grade up a couple notches, but I can’t get over the fact that Tayshaun Prince basically “son”-ned him on both ends for most of the game.

Jonas Valanciunas, C 22 MIN | 4-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -12Interesting game for Jonas in that he seemed absolutely content to bang in the blocks on the offensive end – and did so quite well, besides missing a bunny in traffic – but on the defensive side of the ball, he seemed passive, particularly after the shot goes up. Against a team like Memphis, we need Jonas to really have a nose for the ball in order to keep the rebounding numbers somewhat even. Tonight, that didn’t happen, which is why Chuck Hayes finished the game.

Kyle Lowry, PG 37 MIN | 7-16 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 18 PTS | -5I’ve run out of superlatives for this guy. No matter which way the game is turning, he plays his signature hard-nosed style of basketball, makes the right plays, gets in the middle of every play (one contest against Z-Bo in the fourth was particularly brazen), and hits a dagger with 8 seconds left, of course. When he’s out there, you never feel like this team is out of it.

DeMar DeRozan, SG 38 MIN | 10-22 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 21 PTS | +3A quiet, effective game from DeMar, which is not something I thought I’d ever type about him a year ago. He seems to be making better and better decisions with the ball each game, and attacked the rim with aplomb once his shot stopped falling in the second half. The refs did him ZERO favours tonight, either. He must have loved the fact that Tony Allen wasn’t out there, but for my money, this was one of his more impressive performances against a really tough opponent.

Tyler Hansbrough, PF 7 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +3Surprisingly effective defensively against Marc Gasol in the minutes he played, but he was – rightfully – replaced by Chuck Hayes on the bench unit in the fourth quarter. On nights like this where the opposing players simply have him outmatched size and skill wise, he’s going to struggle, and he was a non-factor for the most part.

Patrick Patterson, PF 21 MIN | 2-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | +10Hit his open looks in the first half, where he was the primary offensive weapon against his slower-footed Memphis check. His man defence has always been impressive, and he got a few stops one-on-one against Marc Gasol that he had no business getting.

Chuck Hayes, C 10 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +8Entered the game in the fourth, and the Raptors immediately went on a run that brought them back into the game. Coincidence? I think not. Took a huge charge late in the game with the Raps struggling to hold onto their lead. The guy is who he is, but he always seems to find a way to impact the game in a positive way.

Greivis Vasquez, PG 14 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | +6Made some questionable decisions with the basketball at times – you can’t just run under the hoop and expect your pass to make it back out to the 3 point line – and had his issues with Carter defensively. Patterson and Williams picked him up offensively, but this wasn’t his night.

Louis Williams, SG 18 MIN | 4-8 FG | 3-3 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 13 PTS | +11He’s DeMar, with the size dial turned down and the circus shot dial turned up to maximum. VERY impressive tonight offensively – got a chance to handle the ball in the second quarter and did a good job speeding up the Raptor offense, which had been a problem for them all game. Hit some shots he had no business making, and got fouled when he had no business getting fouled. He’s a great weapon to have off the bench, and tonight, he was a difference maker.

Landry Fields, SG 5 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | +1Came in in the first half as an ostensible James Johnson replacement. Touched the ball once, promptly lost it, and we didn’t see him again.

Dwane Casey
Struggled somewhat in getting the game turned around to the Raptors’ tempo, but he made a key substitution late – getting Hayes into the game – and stuck with it, which is not an easy thing to do. Made his usual smart decisions on timeouts, and managed the rotation reasonably well with Johnson out, minimizing the damage Fields could cause.

Four Things We Saw

  1. This game felt like a heavyweight fight the Raptors were never really in – until they were. The first 3 quarters were characterized by slow-tempo basketball and a huge rebounding advantage by the Grizz, with only a few shooting runs keeping the Raptors in it. In the fourth, though, the tempo picked up, the crowd got into it, and the game completely turned around.
  2. The refs really swallowed their whistles tonight, didn’t they? Going into the fourth, the Raptors had just 8 free throws, and ended with 13 total for the game. I don’t think it affected the outcome at all, but it gave the game a really gritty feel, which helped make it seem like it was the Grizzlies’ to lose. When Mark Gasol got hit in the eye and the home crowd thought he flopped, I half expected a riot.
  3. I’m trying to stay diplomatic in the whole Vince argument, but the tribute the team did to him tonight was really classy and not as over-the-top as I expected. I’d imagine the over-the-top one will come at some other point.
  4. Yes, Memphis was missing a couple key guys, but this was a statement win – a comeback against the team with the best record in the league – made all the more impressive by the fact that it was Memphis who took the heavy punches for the first few quarters. When you can beat good teams playing THEIR style, you know you’ve got something. A great win that this team should be proud to hang their hat on, and unquestionably their most impressive of the season.