Party’s over sunshine, the real Raptors are back.
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 | Amir Johnson, PF 21 MIN | 2-2 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 5 PTS | -15No idea why he didn’t play more in our “small” lineup when we were getting killed with Hansbrough and Patterson on the boards. Not that it would’ve mattered much I suppose since he has zero burst in his step and moves like a whaleship anchored at port. As a fan starved of seeing the pick ‘n roll, and also since it’s common sense to run that play given we have a guard like Vasquez, I’m perplexed why he isn’t involved more in the offense. |  | |||||||
 | Terrence Ross, SF 22 MIN | 3-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | -14He gets very few touches when he’s playing with Williams and Vasquez, and is strictly a bystander parked at the three-point line with a unique view of the court. It’s a shame too, because he drove the ball twice in the first quarter and got good results out of it. Didn’t see any of that from that point forward, and his defense, much like almost everyone else is horrible. |  | |||||||
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 22 MIN | 3-9 FG | 4-4 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | -16Benched for the entire fourth quarter. I don’t get why he wasn’t a staple of our offense tonight instead of Lou Williams jacking up long twos. He started off well but, as has been the case throughout the season, Dwane Casey abandoned him in favor of exotic lineups that can’t stop anyone on defense, and are streaky on offense. Valanciunas’ misuse is quickly becoming the story that won’t go away. I mean, it’s not like we were playing Golden State where he wasn’t a good fit, we’re playing a depleted Hornets squad. |  | |||||||
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 36 MIN | 7-22 FG | 6-7 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 24 PTS | -15The lack of structure in the Raptors offense is emboldening people into making poor decisions. Now that Lowry’s being overplayed and carrying a burden of responsibility that ideally should be shared by the team, his shot is suffering and he’s looking poor. Teams are also now ready for his drives and have come to terms with the individualistic nature of the Raptors offense, and Casey hasn’t quite adjusted. His defense, though, has been excruciatingly poor all season and that continued tonight against Walker who lit him up. |  | |||||||
 | Landry Fields, SG 10 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -21So many zeroes in that box score. Couldnt’ stop Henderson, hell, couldn’t even slow him down. |  | |||||||
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 19 MIN | 4-4 FG | 0-1 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | +11Good second quarter stint where he even hit a three, grabbed some rebounds, but when he was tried again in the third quarter the energy in the Raptors offense wasn’t there and his shortcomings as an offensive player were in full view. To be fair to him, he’s the last guy you want playing center in a small-ball lineup, but Casey insists it’s a fantastic idea despite evidence to the contrary. |  | |||||||
 | James Johnson, PF 23 MIN | 3-5 FG | 1-3 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | +12The only guy who played any sort of defense, though even he couldn’t stop Henderson when it counted. By that time, Henderson was red hot, so I forgive him that. I thought Casey should’ve moved Johnson on him a long time ago, since he really was the only wing threat the Hornets have. Had a nice dunk. | | |||||||
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 29 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | +5What a waste. Nobody runs plays for him or passes him the ball, especially when he’s playing with three guards for some reason. His off-the-ball movement in tight spaces, which was a great strength last season, is completed thwarted by our selfish guards who aren’t even looking to pass inside unless the play starts with an interior post-up. The way Casey’s used him on defense – asking him to rebound against bigger frontlines in smaller lineups – is criminal. |  | |||||||
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 30 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 11 PTS | +13Good offensive punch off the bench, but I’ll bust out a line I used to use on Jose Calderon: he gave it all right back on D. Maybe if he kept his mouth shut after made baskets or didn’t moan at the refs after every missed one, he’d be more aware defensively. The lack of two-man big/small action we run when we have a guy of his passing ability and size on the court mystifies me. | | |||||||
 | Louis Williams, SG 28 MIN | 4-15 FG | 7-8 FT | 4 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 15 PTS | 0Terrible shot-selection and what angers me more is that it all seems to be part of Casey’s plan – he wants Williams shooting contested long-twos, even when we’re chasing the game. I won’t even talk about his defense, let’s just say he looks a little better than Vasquez because he gambles more, but it’s not by. |  | |||||||
 | Dwane Casey His #1 rated offense is about to go down the toilet now that teams have figured out how Williams, Vasquez, and Lowry operate. It’s Casey’s turn to adjust and tweak, and probably introduce more team-oriented plays, and right now he’s got no answers. Trying more of the same isn’t going to work, because Williams has already come back down to earth and Lowry is winded. He hasn’t been able to get the most out of Valanciunas, which is a huge problem and there’s no end in sight there. | | |||||||
Five Things We Saw
- The Raptors officially lost this game in the third when the Hornets made a big run right out of the gate and Casey responded with a delusional lineup of Hasnbrough, Patterson, and doesn’t even matter who else. We got crushed on the boards 14-6 and the Hornets assumed control.
- The Raptors had to game plan for two people: Kemba Walker and Gerland Henderson. They did neither. At the very least, I would’ve liked to see Ross check Walker so he couldn’t get his step back away with such ease. The thought never even crossed Casey’s mind.
- I’m so tired of hearing people talk about “Dwane Casey always preaching defense”. Well, if he’s preaching it and it’s not happening on the floor, maybe there’s a problem. Either he’s not really serious about it or his players aren’t able to execute. This idea that we can somehow drop down to help after the guards are beat, and then make three perimeter rotations is not holding up. We’re not a team composed of good defensive players, and now that we don’t have a defensive system to fall back on, the players are getting exposed.
- Poor Valanciunas – the guy is being put in some very, very difficult situations by his teammates. I can’t count how many times he’s come four feet to meet a guard, with chaos ensuing. There’s no interior rotation being made so offensive rebounds and dump-offs for layups have become the norm. I realize we can’t stop penetration up top at all times, but if we’re that leaky, maybe we need to shore up what’s underneath. Right now, we have ZERO interior defense and no shot blocking from our bigs. Our leading shot blocker is James Johnson and his blocks are of this variety. This needs to be addressed.
- I don’t get the point of playing Lowry, Vasquez, and Williams all together. Does Casey think we’re going to out-gun teams who now know EXACTLY what’s coming at them? Does he not get the rebounding implications of this lineup? Especially when our leading rebounder is on the bench? I thought he was a defensive coach that believes in defensive solidarity getting you back into games, not gun-slinging? I’m confused. And out.
