An overtime loss in Portland was almost commendable. A loss in Golden State, after a half of contending, was understandable. A loss in Phoenix … well, that one was bad, but it was the end of a long trip. You could forget about it and move on pretty easily. Thursday’s 103-95 home loss against Charlotte, who were on the unfriendly end of a back-to-back, however? The same Hornets that were missing both their starting centre and his primary back up? That was, without any qualifiers, brutal. This must be the adversity that coach Dwane Casey has been promising again and again. “We sucked as a team, and we’ve got to figure it out soon,” Kyle Lowry said succinctly.
It all added up to a frustrating night for the locals who would claw their way back into a game only to see whatever progress they had made disappear as soon as Walker came back. The fact that he played 41 minutes made it a tough night all around for the Raptors. They made a valiant run at this one getting the deficit down to four in the final minute but Walker would not be denied. He scored seven of the Hornets final nine points, assisted on the one bucket he didn’t get and got a big steal off of Kyle Lowry with about 12 seconds remaining that sealed the game. The Raptors will see Walker and the Hornets two more times this year, but the much bigger issue is stopping this four-game losing skid, the longest since the Raptors traded Rudy Gay to Sacramento over a year ago.
“The lack of intensity, lack of focus, lack of will out there was just as baffling to me as to anybody else on this team,” Patterson said, moving on from there to the post-game mood among the players. “Just frustration, disappointment, anger. Everyone’s just frustrated with the way we’re playing right now. It’s not like we’re not trying, that’s the thing. It’s not like we’re giving up.” The Raptors, entering the game, had every reason to feel optimistic about their chances to end a mini-three-game skid. They had returned to the ACC after an extended road trip, with three full days off following their final game in Phoenix. Casey had been upbeat on Wednesday about the homestand. But then came this debacle and even though the Raptors made it close late, they couldn’t seal the deal. “I wouldn’t say disappointing,” Casey said, measuring his words. “You’re disappointed when you don’t have the energy, when you’re flat. Again, I don’t think it’s the guys from lack of trying or working. You hit lulls in the season and we’re in a lull right now.
The Raptors bench contributed 49 points, more than half of the team’s scoring output on the night, while they got next to nothing from three starters – Amir Johnson, Terrence Ross and Landry Fields. Meanwhile, Lowry and Lou Williams combined to shoot 11-for-37. With DeRozan’s return pushed back until sometime next week, Casey hinted at a possible lineup change that could shake up the rotation ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Boston. “I thought the second unit came in and competed,” he said. “For whatever reason, we’re not getting that energy at the start of the game, the start of the third quarter. Those were backbreakers. Whether it’s a lineup change or whatever it is, we’ve got to find an answer for it.”
Henderson Leads Hornets Past Raptors | Charlotte Hornets
Down two at halftime, the Hornets came out of the break on a 14-1 run to take a lead which stretched to as much as 15 with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter. Toronto would battle back to cut the Hornets advantage to 87-84 with just under five minutes remaining in the game. Charlotte would never surrender the lead though as Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker combined for 15 points in the final 4:26 to seal the 103-95 road win for the Hornets.
Raptors Stung by Hornets, 103-95: After Four Straight Losses, It’s Time to Vent | Raptors HQ
While the Raptors defence was terrible in it’s own right, Walker and Henderson were hitting jump shot after jump shot to keep the Raptors an arm-length away all game. The Hornets led this one almost from wire to wire, save a short spurt of brilliance from James Johnson in the second quarter to give the Raptors a 52-50 lead at half time. From that point on, it was the Kemba and Gerald show as the Hornets never looked back after holding the Raptors to 14 points in the third quarter.
Kemba Walker wills the Hornets to their fourth straight win, beats Raptors 103-95 | At The Hive
In what was easily the biggest win of the season for Charlotte, the duo of Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson combined for 60 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists (eight from Kemba), and only two turnovers, both from Henderson. Both players were given the green light to attack at will for a Hornets squad that’s currently decimated by injuries — only nine Charlotte players dressed, with Al Jefferson out as usual and Cody Zeller being a late scratch. And attack they did. I’ve admittedly been critical at times of Henderson’s propensity for over-dribbling and shooting contested, inefficient mid-range jumpers. On Thursday night, he was as good as I’ve ever seen him. He wasn’t settling for his jumper, although it was falling. Instead, he was taking the ball with a purpose to the basket and posting up inferior defenders when the right match-up came.
Charlotte Hornets Recap: Hornets Take Down Raptors 103-95 | Swarm and Sting
The Hornets seem to have bucked their trend of blowing fourth quarter leads, for the time being. Charlotte would pull away late to defeat Toronto 103-95 . Toronto cut the Hornets lead to 4 points with only 42 seconds remaining, but a Kemba Walker three-pointer would serve as the dagger Charlotte needed to close out the win. Walker was spectacular once again. He finished with 29 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. With the way he is playing he might start garnering consideration for a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
Post Game Report Card: Walker and Henderson rout Raptors | Raptors Cage
The defense is becoming a glaring issue for the Raptors and it was yet again evidenced tonight. The Hornets, without go-to scorers Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson, had no difficulty getting baskets in every possible fashion against Toronto’s porous defense (allowing a league high 114.2 points per 100 possessions). Open looks, easy drives and minimal rim/paint protection were commonplace and the Raptors had no solution for the electric Kemba Walker and sharpshooting Gerald Henderson, who combined for an impressive 60 points. Dribble penetration was just too easy for the Hornets. Charlotte torched Toronto in the opening half, especially in the first quarter with 31 points, posting a 45.8 FG %. The Raptors had another poor outing in the third quarter and just couldn’t stop the duo of Walker and Henderson. Charlotte scored on 47.7% shooting on the night which is unacceptable considering the extent of their injuries.
Raptors lose to Charlotte.. Again | Raptors Watch
The third quarter was disastrous as Charlotte opened up the second half with a 14-0 charge and held the Raptors to zero field goals until Kyle Lowry broke the drought with just over six minutes to go in the frame. Lou Williams somewhat salvaged some pride for the Raptors in the quarter by hitting three free throws after drawing a foul on Gary Neal at the buzzer. That play gave the Raptors some life and ignited them to an 8-0 run. They were always in the rear view mirror though, despite facing a depleted Hornets’ roster playing without Al Jefferson, Lance Stephenson, and Cody Zeller.
Kelly: Underwhelming effort dooms Raptors in loss to Hornets | The Globe and Mail
Most turning points in a season only become clear in hindsight. We’re in the middle of an obvious one right now. The Raptors have gotten used to beating on inferior Eastern Conference talent. This was the first time this season they found themselves seriously wanting in that regard. As such, it may be time to begin a serious reappraisal of priorities. As in, why has getting Lowry into the All-Star Game as a starter suddenly become a national statement of purpose? Toronto Mayor John Tory’s all over it on Twitter. Ditto the premier. Even the prime minister has shoe-horned “Lowry: Why haven’t I heard of this guy before?” into his briefing notes between “Oil: We’re screwed on that front” and “Terrorism: Still happening.” Lowry certainly deserves to go to the NBA’s pointless mid-season showcase as a starting guard. So does Chicago’s Jimmy Butler. Neither is likely to make it.
Toronto Raptors: It’s Time For A Reality Gut-Check | Hoops Habit
A three-game losing streak hardly calls for the panic button, but the fall from grace on defense is an alarming one. On DeRozan’s last night in uniform, the Raps sat at a cozy ninth overall in points allowed per possession, only to witness the monumental drop to 22nd with last season’s All-Star on the shelf. But this not an exact science, defensive mishaps are far from the result of one player’s absence. Not to mention the fact that one wouldn’t mistake DeRozan for Scottie Pippen‘s stunt-double anytime soon. What the Compton, Calif., native brings is stability. The trickle-down effect cannot be overlooked. Isolations in the post will aid the game’s pace, pumping the brakes when needed. Overuse (by default) of role players taking on bigger personalities with fall back into their rightful place. Terrence Ross, prepare yourself for conflicting court time in the weeks ahead. On the contrary, and perhaps most of all, this team is on the verge of reclaiming its identity. With the East about to embark on a wild ride, the timing is perfect. Still, action without No.10 persists, and there is no time like the present for a reality gut-check.
Toronto Raptors getting more exposure south of the border | Eh Game – Yahoo Sports
ESPN will ditch the Knicks-Brooklyn game on Feb. 6 in favour of a Clippers-Raptors game. In addition, it will show the Raptors game against Chicago on March 25, tossing a Clippers-Knicks game into the dumper. Even taking into account the Knicks woeful record, and their current 13-game losing streak, this move says a lot. American networks aren’t keen on showing Canadian teams in any sport, mainly because they lose the ratings generated by the hometown audience. Since Canadian viewers aren’t counted in the ratings, there’s a potential loss of at least half the audience. And the Knicks, being in the largest TV market in the U.S., bring with them built-in ratings. Add in Americans’ general indifference to all things foreign and ESPN’s decision to show a Canadian team makes a bold statement. In other words, the Raptors can truly say that ESPN likes them, really likes them.
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