Toronto Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas needs to learn from Chuck Hayes | National Post
If the Raptors are to hit their ceiling as a franchise, they need Valanciunas, a potentially excellent two-way big man, to be able to defend the Gasols and Randolphs of the world. There are not many of those players, but good teams — the teams you play in the playoffs — tend to have one. It can be argued, with some merit, that Valanciunas needs those minutes now, even if it costs the Raptors a win. It is impossible to say what the right move, long term, is. But at least Valanciunas is paying attention. “He plays really good defence. He’s an experienced player. He has the timing,” said Valanciunas, who was a team-worst minus-12 in his 22 minutes of play despite some positive moments. “As you have the touch in the shooting, he has the feeling on the defensive end.”
“No matter the start, it’s all about the finish,” Kyle Lowry said of Toronto’s blistering early-season 9-2 record. Lowry added 18 points while Lou Williams finished with 13 and Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points. Marc Gasol had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who were missing five players. Zach Randolph added 18 points and a game-high 18 boards, who boast the NBA’s best record (10-2). “I am really proud of our guys, they gutted it out, played for each other, and encouraged each other,” said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. The Grizzlies were missing Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Kosta Koufos, Jon Leuer and Beno Udrih. The five were treated in hospital for dehydration, and flew back to Memphis on a special charter flight.
Raptors beat Memphis Grizzlies in battle of NBA conference leaders | Toronto Sun
With 10 minutes remaining in the game and the Grizzlies’ lead down to four, Dwane Casey countered the return to the floor by Gasol with his move of the night — bringing in Hayes. From that point on the Grizzlies’ twin towers found the going extra tough, scoring just nine points between them. And, truth be told, that was too much as far as Hayes was concerned. He played textbook defence on Gasol on one possession only to see him hit a turnaround fade-away jumper from 11 feet. The next time down, he pushed him out a little farther, this time all the way to 19 feet and Gasol did the same thing. “I was about to kick the scorer’s table when he made that (second) shot,” Hayes said. “I’m happy I kept my cool.” Hayes said it was all a matter of know-how and experience that made this particular night such a successful one for him and the Raptors. “I’ve played against those guys a while,” he said of Gasol and Randolph. “I’m familiar with their tendencies. I do my best and interpret it to my teammates, give them a heads-up. Be ready as if they need me to go.
Raptors Play Catch Up Again with Vince and the Grizzlies, Win 96-92 | Raptors HQ
As the Raptors’ offense cranked up, as Kyle Lowry made big plays (he had 18 points) and DeMar DeRozan kept the team in it (he went for 22 points), as Vince got to tearfully appreciate the Toronto faithful, it was Hayes’ presence that moved the Raptors. He slowed the two-man wrecking crew of Gasol and Randolph. It’s been these kinds of unlikely performances that have been the story for this team so far in this young season; the depth of the roster finding ways to win. “I was bummed because they said they made four field goes in the fourth and two of them came on me,” Hayes said. “I was kind of irritated by that.” At least Chuck is keeping a level head.
Raptors’ Lowry always plays tough against Grizzlies | Toronto Sun
Memphis coach Dave Joerger on the snowstorm before the game: “The weather is awesome. I’m from Minnesota, so I get it.” Joerger also had kind words for the Raptors. “They play the way I think good teams play. They take care of the basketball, they’ll guard you, they rebound very physically and they get to the free throw line,” he said. “Everybody knows their role, they’ve got a good starting five. They’re very solid all the way through and what I think that’s going to lead to through their season is they are not going to have that big hit where you lose four games out of five.”
Raptors earn intense victory over Grizzlies | Toronto Star
And they did it when Casey dusted off the 31-year-old Hayes and his Old Man Strength. Hayes hadn’t played a second in three of Toronto’s last four games — his role is mainly going to be mop-up all season — but he was out there grinding against Gasol and Randolph down the stretch. His stats were hardly startling — one rebound and no points in 10 minutes — but his contribution was off the charts. “He’s an old vet and you’ve got to have those kind of guys on your roster, on your bench, ready and willing to accept his role,” said Casey. “He knows who he is, he’s one of the better big men defenders in the league, he’s got a low centre of gravity and he does a great job. He was our MVP coming in and slowing down Gasol and putting a stop to him.”
Raptors Proving They’re for Real and Other Takeaways from Wednesday’s NBA Action | Bleacher Report
Memphis got out to a six-point halftime lead, riding a physical second quarter from Zach Randolph. Toronto trailed by six heading into the fourth, but that’s when Terrence Ross caught fire. The third-year forward poured in 14 points in the period, and Kyle Lowry drilled a tough step-back to ice the game with eight ticks remaining. Though Memphis was missing several players (including Tony Allen and Courtney Lee) because of a bug making its way through the team, this was a major statement win for the Raps. Marc Gasol piled up 22 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, and Randolph contributed 18 points and 18 boards. The Grizzlies didn’t give this one away by any stretch. Toronto took it. In big-picture terms, the Raptors’ win should eliminate any lingering concerns about their staying power. There was a sense that Toronto hadn’t done enough over the summer to improve its prospects, and with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers getting stronger, there was reason to believe Toronto would fall short of the franchise-best 48 wins it amassed in 2013-14.
Raptors 96, Grizzlies 92. The New Flu Game. | 3 Shades of Blue
Wing defense. A guy like Terrence Ross is one of those players who, especially when the Grizzlies are so shorthanded, could wind up going career-night against the Beale Street Bullies (TM with apologies to the Flyers). Well, he didn’t, but he and Derozan combined for 16-of-36, and Derozan’s 21 was huge in keeping the Raptors in it when the Grizzlies built leads of 6-8 a time or two. Derozan’s length made it hard for the Grizzlies-an ace like TA can play several inches up to guard a guy with a two-mile wingspan, but for QPon/Carter/even Conley a time or two, it’s tough to contest with any effectiveness. Could Derozan be trying to show John Hollinger the error of his ways ?
Report Card: Grizzlies vs. Raptors | Player Performance Rankings | Grizzly Bear Blues
I am learning as I do more and more grades that the A+ is reserved for amazing games that should be remembered. I think this is one of the single best coaching performances that the Memphis Grizzlies organization has seen since Hubie Brown roamed the sidelines. Being down five key rotation players against what is possibly the best team in the Eastern Conference and competing is an amazing feat. He blended the starters with the rookies and gave Tayshaun Prince ample opportunities to be successful. It would have been a much deserved Grizz win if not for fatigue and Kyle Lowry’s massive stones.
Post Game: Toronto Raptors edge out Memphis Grizzlies | Raptors Cage
It can be successfully argued that Memphis has the most dominant frontcourt in the entire NBA. With James Johnson sitting out due to injury, the Raps were left shorthanded in stopping the bigs from scoring. While Mike Conley and vetern Tayshaun Prince had solid offensive performances of their own, it was the Raptors’ signature ability to close which stole the game from the River City. Hayes and Amir Johnson successfully congested the paint and limited their opponent’s opportunities around the rim. The only complaint here is continuity. This team needs to apply their fourth-quarter defensive mentality to all 48 minutes- it’ll save us all the stress of a valiant comeback.
Raptors 96 – Grizzlies 92: TRoss finds the range | Raptors Rapture
While this game showed how far Jonas Valanciunas still has to learn about playing against the NBA’s best, our team also demonstrated its resilience, and our coach his flexibility. The psychological value of this win can’t be overstated. After the second-half bellyflop against the Bulls, the Raps needed this victory – and got it.
Grizzlies fall in Toronto as Vince Carter gets honored | Beale Street Bears
First off, the Grizzlies were undermanned, playing with only 10 players due to five players being out with a stomach virus. The most notable of those players was Courtney Lee, who has been the catalyst to this team’s early success. Had the Grizzlies had his three-point shooting, his defense, and his 15 points, they probably would have won this game really easily. Secondly, the Raptors are a really good team. They improve to 9-2 overall and 7-1 at home. Winning in the Air Canada Centre isn’t easy for any team in the NBA, and so the Grizzlies can take great comfort in knowing that a lot of teams are going to lose in that building this season. What this really means, is that this is a game that they weren’t supposed to win.
Observations From Toronto’s Locker Room After Beating Memphis 96-92 | Hoops Addict
DeMar DeRozan was fired up after the win and was yelling while walking up the tunnel and into the locker room. What was he saying? I couldn’t really make out exactly what he was yelling. All I could decipher was a bunch of excited smack talk about beating one of the NBA’s top teams so far this season.
Vince Carter tears up, fans cheer during Raptors video tribute | Toronto Sun
Forget thawing, a near decade of animosity vanished in a flash, as the video of Carter’s high-flying Raptors days was met with a standing ovation from the ACC crowd, along with loud cheers. Carter, looking surprised, mouthed “wow” and had to dab away tears from his eyes with his shirt. Fittingly, once Carter checked into the game, he was booed every time he touched the ball, marking a return to normalcy. “It was an amazing feeling to relive it as it was happening. As each play was happening, I could remember it like yesterday,” Carter said afterward, calling his tears “an honest reaction.” “I couldn’t write it any better. I’m extremely thankful.”
Lewenberg: Turning the page, Raptors celebrate Carter’s legacy | TSN
Moments after the montage began, the sellout crowd – still filing in at the time – rose to their feet. If there were boos they were drowned out by an overwhelmingly positive ovation. Carter stood and watched from the visiting bench. He used his warm-up shirt to wipe the tears running down his face as he pointed to his heart and waved to the fans in appreciation. “It was a great feeling,” said the 37-year-old, who played in 403 games over six and a half seasons with the Raptors. “I couldn’t write it any better. I’m extremely thankful for it.” “They asked me earlier how you would feel, how you would react and you can’t prepare for that, whether that was a surprise or you knew it was coming. It’s just an amazing feeling, amazing just to be in the moment and to see it, and to kind of relive it as it was happening. You see all the stuff and you see all the people that you played with and as each play was happening, I can remember all that stuff as if it was yesterday. It was awesome.” Toronto’s current players were among those standing for Carter.
Kelly: Vince Carter is not a bad guy, but by the end he was a bad Raptor | The Globe and Mail
No matter how much revisionism we exercise on this subject, the basic fact is that Carter gave up on this team. He engineered the fallout with management. Three years on, he was still the knucklehead who decided to fly to his college graduation ahead of the biggest game of his career. He was an undeniably great performer, and a so-so teammate. Even in his athletic dotage, he retains that odd combination of genuine charm and spasmodic denialism. He’ll tell you he takes the blame, but nothing’s ever really been his fault. It’s a very human trait, one that’s amplified in professional athletes. What makes it weird is Toronto’s tortured insistence on wrenching some sort of dramatic reconciliation out of this guy. “Tell us you didn’t mean it, Vince.” It smacks of desperation.
Is Kyle Lowry an MVP Candidate? | RealGM
Getting into late November the best player on one of the best teams in the league record wise…
