 | Amir Johnson, PF 32 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-1 FT | 12 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | +17I can’t extol enough on the picks and screens he sets. Sure he’s playing with half a leg(s) but pound for pound I’d still take him over any big every time because he does all the little things that don’t show up in the box score. He only had 2 points and 5 boards at the half however he should’ve had several assists but for JV taking his eye off the ball or missing easy dunks once Amir passed him the ball. Bottom line it wasn’t his best outing, but I’ll still put my money on him come playoff time to be a difference maker.With his Momma in the house you just knew he’d have a better 2nd half. His energy on the boards seemed to also inspire JV and ultimately forced the hand of the refs to make some calls. |  |
 | James Johnson, PF 21 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | +10Besides Lowry had the best energy on the court to start the game, unfortunately he got hit with early foul trouble which sent him to the bench early. At the half Griffin, Reddick and Crawford had accounted for 35 of the Clippers 49-points. I wonder how much lower that number would’ve been had he remained in the game. Wasn’t as much of a factor in this game as he usually is, but his lack of minutes likely will pay dividends in Denver tomorrow |  |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 37 MIN | 5-15 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | +21Started game 1 of 7 and didn’t do a very good job covering JJ Reddick or Jamal Crawford. This is the same team he scored 51 against last season. Had a big block on CP3 from behind to make sure the team entered the half tied. Came out of the locker with a different energy as I assume Casey read him the riot act and scored two quick buckets as well as a sweet assist.Much better 2nd half. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 34 MIN | 8-13 FG | 6-8 FT | 11 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 22 PTS | +11Started the game with energy though I caught him seemingly flitting in and out of focus during the first half. Several occasions all he had to do was box out Jordan, Big Baby or Griffin and he would’ve had an easy put-back. So, while he had 10 points and 5 boards at the half I felt he could’ve easily already had a double-double. He started the 2H with the laser focus I was desiring leading to a quick 6 points. Played a very solid game! |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 36 MIN | 9-17 FG | 4-5 FT | 3 REB | 7 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 25 PTS | +6The baby-face assassin was the master on the court, scoring when needed, brilliant passes (check out the bullet to JV at 3:25 of 2Q). He had 3 steals in the first half alone. I’m in awe of his ability to read the game knowing exactly what is required. Several times he split double teams and also very noticeable in this game was his ability to change speed either cutting to the basket or to pass out to a waiting open teammate on the perimeter (Patterson/Ross) |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 24 MIN | 4-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +5Okay, so anyone who follows my musings knows I’m a big Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson fan which was born of their compete level and team play. Having said that my affinity for Patrick Patterson is growing every game. He played Griffin (with Lowry) perfectly in the funnel defense on a break away which led to a BG miss and a quick outlet pass up court sending JV to the line. Annoyed me JV couldn’t power up over Farmar, but he got free throws at least.When it wasn’t Lowry it was Patterson scoring at critical times in the game to stall the Clippers momentum. Gotta say I was hoping he’d return the favor to Griffin (who broke his nose last season) |  |
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 5 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -11The good, the bad and the ugly! Good: he always brings energy Bad: couldn’t seem to stop anyone or out rebound anyone today Ugly: if you’re going to foul someone with the clock expiring and a foul to give DO IT BEFORE THEY GO INTO SHOOTING MOTION (his foul on Griffin was just head shaking) |  |
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 22 MIN | 5-12 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 16 PTS | -3As soon as Vasquez entered the game the Raptors lost their lead. He had one bone head play (that stood out) in 2Q where he and Amir Johnson ran floor with Amir set for an easy lob dunk, instead he chose to push into two defenders and missed. Worse it led to Amir getting nailed by the defender.The thing is, as maddening as I find his decision making and poor defense when I checked his stats at the half he already had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Go figure! The minute he entered the 2H JJ Reddick scored four consecutive points on him which once again had me scratching my head. Then he hit two big time 3 pointers to give the Raptors a 13-point lead. So, how do you rate a player who is doing what you want offensively, but single handedly is allowing the other team to stay in the game? Suffice to say I’m torn, but without his offensive output this game could’ve had a different result. | |
 | Louis Williams, SG 29 MIN | 2-9 FG | 3-3 FT | 0 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +4He’s gonna have games where he wins it for us and games where he can’t hit the broad side of a barn. The first half he was 0-4 from the field (0-3 from three with at least two wide open looks). In fact he didn’t score until there was just 5-minutes remaining in the 4th quarter and like the true shooter he is hit back to back shots. | |
 | Dwane Casey I laughed at Casey literally SCREAMING at the players on court to get them playing defense. As much as he appears to be pretty laid back I’d bet the players have a desire to please him like you would a father figure, so the fact they picked up their defensive effort shortly after he got more intense than usual on the sidelines has me crediting him for not allowing his team to just work themselves into the game.I liked that he sent Lou Williams to the line to take the technical foul shot because a shooter always does better seeing the ball go through the net.Also called a great time out after the Jordan dunk (which came on the heels of a bad no-call under the basket) just to remind his troops to stay focused defensively. | |
Five Things We Saw
- I HATE THE CLIPPERS! Did I mention I hate this team the most in the NBA? I believe they are over rated and don’t buy the hype. I wanted this win so badly I can’t even express how much. Looking back at last season it was the game at home versus the Clippers where Griffin broke Patterson’s nose but somehow got foul shots for doing it. In the same game Hedo “I like to party” Turkoglu stepped under DeRozan (purposely?) which caused him to miss 2-games with a sprained ankle. I’M SO HAPPY WE BEAT THEM
- Raptors are NUMBER ONE on the road in scoring with 106.9 per game. AND 13-0 when holding teams under 100 points.
- I think Charles Barkley needs to talk to Big Baby Davis about Weight Watchers: WHOA he’s big!
- Blake Griffin looks afraid to go into the paint; I counted four consecutive plays in the first quarter he stopped short as soon as a big came over to contest. Just to prove my point: the Raptors were 22-8 scoring in the paint in the first half, 32-16 by the end of the 3rd quarter and finished the game 40-28.
Just like I think LAC is over rated, my personal opinion is, so is Blake Griffin. I mean seriously I’d put Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki, ZBo and even Pau Gasol ahead of him at the power forward position with Draymond Green a better 2-way player at the position. Meanwhile he’s the leading vote getter out west for the All-Star game. - At game end you could audibly hear “Lets go Raptors!” from the crowd. To that end, Kyle Lowry is fourth in All-Star voting so make sure to get your daily votes in, so he can START the All-Star game, he’s earned it!
