Cliche or otherwise, a win is a win. Granted, Toronto’s schedule will get tougher and may come back to bite them. A six-game road stretch that takes them to Chicago, LA (to face the Clippers), Denver, Portland, Golden State and Phoenix between December 23 and January 4 looms large at present. But the Raptors have built up such a cushion in the Atlantic Division that it would be all-but-impossible for them to lose first place by the time 2015 rolls around. Heck, at this point, many would wager the division is already wrapped up—and the season is only 25 games old!
“They’re great. On the sideline, I look over, and everybody on the bench is standing up,” Fields said. “It also shows the kind of camaraderie and chemistry we have as a team.” It showed in how thrilled Lowry was for Fields, who joined the team around the same time. They were basically introduced to the local media as Raptors together in Las Vegas, both expected to be key cogs going forward. That happened with Lowry, but not with Fields. And that is part of the reason why this unexpected opportunity, and Fields’ ability to run with it, has pleased Lowry so much. “He’s very personable,” Lowry said of Fields. “We love him. Having a teammate like him, he hasn’t played a lot, then he gets thrown into our starting lineup, and he’s been playing great.” “He’s doing his job,” added Casey. “The energy, he sets the tone, he runs the floor, cutting.” And proving once again, that when opportunity knocks, he is capable of answering.
Landry Fields filling in admirably for injured Raptors’ star DeMar DeRozan | Toronto Star
He is universally respected around the Raptors for being a savvy, smart player who just has a knack for making the right move at the right time. Fields is never going to be an NBA star — and he’s likely to go back to a deep bench role when DeRozan returns — but someone who can sit for months without any disruption and then fill in is worth his weight in gold. That’s not lost on teammates. You could see the excitement and pride when he hit that shot. “They’re great,” said Fields. “I look over, and everybody on the bench is standing up. It also shows the kind of camaraderie and chemistry we have as a team.”
The Evolution of Terrence Ross | BALLnROLL
When asked which offensive skill he’d most like to add to his game, Ross doesn’t miss a beat. “Getting to the free-throw line,” he replies Ross emphatically. When it comes to the off-the-bounce game Ross understands that he’s a work in progress—he’s shown flashes of brilliance, but if he continues to work on his handle and is decisive after the catch he could be a real force. He certainly has the speed and athleticism. This season, due unforeseen circumstances, it has become even more important for Ross to vary his game. The injury to DeMar DeRozan has put pressure on everyone to step up offensively, but especially Ross. In DeRozan’s absence (it’s unclear when he’ll be back) Ross has moved to his more natural position of shooting guard, moving him away from opposing small forwards who are usually taller and heavier than him. Offensively, Ross has stepped up. Before DeRozan’s injury he was averaging 10 points per game, but in the handful of games since, he’s putting up 15 points per game to pick up some of the slack. In a recent game against the Denver Nuggets, Ross even pulled out a nifty hook shot in the lane, a skill he had yet to exhibit on an NBA court: “It’s something I’ve worked on for the past couple years,” he says. “I think tonight is the first time I really tried it in a game.” Going forward Dwane Casey and the Raptors will be expecting Ross to continue expand his game, to try even more new things.
Toronto Raptors Winning With Defense Again | Pro Bball Report
n the 9 games prior to this the Raptors were scoring buckets free and easy averaging over 110 points per game, but they were giving up over 108 points and that hasn’t been Raptors basketball under Coach Casey. “We just have to know that (buckets) aren’t always going to come that easy,” Johnson said. “There are going to be nights when our shooters are not going to be scoring like that and we are going to need others to step up at the other end of the floor. “(Defense) is definitely what we need to do. That is our goal. We have a goal and a standard and we need to accomplish them.” As Casey said after the game on Monday, “We found our defensive mojo” and the Raptors have been winning games they way they have been coached to once again.
A lot has been made about the chemistry of this team. Was it an easy decision as a restricted free agent this summer to return to Toronto? I’ve known Kyle [Lowry] and Chuck [Hayes] since my first year with the Rockets. I have a great relationship with a few other guys on this team who I know from high school and college. Also, it’s a great environment here, from the players all the way on up to management. We’re all on the same page, we enjoy being around one another. And you add to the fact that we’re winning? It makes for an easy decision to return. Of course, we all dream about starting for an NBA team. It wasn’t about looking for more money or taking another team’s offer because I could start. At the end of the day, I was just more comfortable here. This environment was just too perfect to pass up.
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors: Wednesday NBA game preview | Toronto Star
Late start is a bow to the wishes of ESPN, which will broadcast the game nationally in the United States. . . . The extra half hour may benefit the Nets, who lost 95-91 at home against Miami on Tuesday night in a game delayed 29 minutes by a water leak. . . . In 11 meetings last season — four in the regular season, seven in the first round of the playoffs — the Nets PR department did the math and the aggregate score was 1,070-1,070. . . . The Nets are just 10-13, but 4-1 against Atlantic Division rivals. . . . Deron Williams has emerged as the team’s leading scorer, averaging more than 16 points per game.
Raptors look to keep rolling against Nets | canada.com
Toronto, which is trying to win the Atlantic Division for a second straight season, should have some added motivation against the Nets (10-13). The Raptors were eliminated in seven games by Brooklyn in the first round, blowing a 3-2 series lead and losing Game 7 104-103 at the Air Canada Centre. Lowry, who averaged 21.1 points in that series, scored 28 in Game 7 before his jumper in the final seconds was blocked. He was also effective during the regular season, scoring 22.0 points while hitting 13 of 27 treys as the Raptors and Nets split four matchups. Amir Johnson, who had 11 points Monday, was also productive in Game 7, putting up 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. The Nets have won four of six games on the road, but they’re 2-4 in their last six overall after falling 95-91 at home to Miami on Tuesday.
Preview: Nets at Raptors | KSPR
Brooklyn has struggled to find consistency, in large part because injuries have prevented continuity in the lineup. Point guard Deron Williams (16.5 points, 6.7 assists) is the only player who has started each of the past five games. Center Brook Lopez (16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) will miss his sixth straight game with a lower back strain, but Mason Plumlee (6.7 points, 5.6 rebounds) has blossomed in his absence – he had 21 points and nine rebounds against the Heat to miss his third straight double-double by one board.
