Kyle Lowry saves Raptors from fourth quarter collapse.
Amir Johnson, PF 25 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -1Good passes, fits into the offence, knows his role defensively. Look, he’s not going to lead your fantasy team to victory but he’s a great piece. | |||||||||
Terrence Ross, SF 29 MIN | 4-11 FG | 3-3 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | -3Some bad shots, a forgettable first quarter but his shooting distracted Suns defenders. Ross made questionable decisions when collapsing on defence, but was passable. | |||||||||
Jonas Valanciunas, C 32 MIN | 10-11 FG | 7-8 FT | 11 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 27 PTS | +10Phoenix doesn’t have a daunting frontcourt, but it is important to see JV dominate a game he should. Casey gave him the hook at the end for reasons that escape me, but just a solid performance from the kid. | |||||||||
Kyle Lowry, PG 38 MIN | 6-16 FG | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 8 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 14 PTS | +1Lowry, as it turns out, is very good. The shooting percentage isn’t great, but some of those were forced chucks near the end of shot clocks. His defence left something to be desired, given the ease in which Bledsoe got to the rim. It would take much more than a quick reaction to dig into, but I think a large reason the Raptors have a 27-0 record at home when holding a lead going into the fourth quarter is Lowry. He just doesn’t allow the Raptors to lose. | |||||||||
DeMar DeRozan, SG 37 MIN | 7-20 FG | 9-13 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 23 PTS | +9Not a great line, but he did what he needed to. His ability to get to the line can’t be overlooked; the Suns are and were lethal in transition. DeMar stopped the clock and allowed the D to get set. His defence was good and Goran couldn’t get away with his typical shenanigans. Add a couple more made field goals and no one is complaining. | |||||||||
James Johnson, PF 4 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | 0Limited minutes because he’s still nursing that ankle sprain. Don’t sleep on how annoying an injury like that can be, either. It’s a positive to see him playing at all. | |||||||||
Patrick Patterson, PF 24 MIN | 0-0 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +14The scoring wasn’t there, but it didn’t need to be. His passing and rebounding are solid compliments off the bench, and just the threat of his shooting opens things up. | |||||||||
Chuck Hayes, C 9 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | -10Hayes is still riding high off of that Grizzlies performance but got a bit too much run tonight. Suns aren’t a good match-up for him and he played too much in the fourth. | |||||||||
Greivis Vasquez, PG 16 MIN | 1-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -5Vasquez wasn’t out there in the closing line up and the regression is real. If we’re willing to put a lot of stock into a 12-2 record, we also need to concede that Vasquez is out of sorts. | |||||||||
Louis Williams, SG 26 MIN | 6-12 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 17 PTS | +5Lou usurped Vasquez in the crunch-time rotation tonight and he deserved it. Williams had it going in the first half, including a great hesitation dribble (or “hezzy,” as some would call it) that shook the help defender. I could do without the pump-fake, step-back threes with upwards of 15 seconds on the shot clock but that’s just Lou. | |||||||||
Dwane Casey Not sure why he allowed Vasquez and Hayes to linger on the court for so long in the fourth. This isn’t news: the Suns guard rotation is excellent and fast. Vasquez and Hayes are neither of those and should the Raptors have dropped this one, it would fall on Casey’s shoulders. I’m also not a fan of benching Jonas when he’s been a major factor on either end. |
Three Things We Saw
- Respect for Milos Raonic coming out to the game despite getting off a flight three hours prior. (And a much better interview than Eugenie Bouchard’s.)
- A Lou Williams behind-the-back pass for a Chuck Hayes floater got Bruno fired up. Bruno knows. (I previously said Vasquez, but it was Williams. Vasquez tried a similar play right after.)
- Not a unique thought, but the Suns letting Channing Frye go was a mistake. Anthony Tolliver ain’t no Frye.