Quick Reaction: Pistons 114, Raptors 111

Good finishing around the rim and had a big defensive rebound in traffic late, but all that had me almost forget that the rest of his game was sprinkled with missed defensive assignments, and a general slowness in reacting to what’s happening in the paint. He covers it up by picking up a charge here and there, but let’s be real here: this position needs to be upgraded pronto.

He always has a purpose in what he’s trying to do on the court. He cuts hard, he posts up with intent, he slashes well, and he doesn’t shirk his defensive duties, which included a bunch of in-traffic rebounds tonight. If only Casey was dynamic enough to use him sooner on the hot-hand (Jennings) to contain the immediate threat rather than stick to the matchup as he had drawn up before the game started.

Started off hitting a couple threes, after which the offense dried out mostly because he can’t create his own shot. His response wasn’t to drive, get to the rim and settle down his nerves, but to jack up even deeper threes which missed, and eventually earned him a spot on the bench. On defense, he was asked to check Jennings who twisted him inside out, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got a groin injury.

One of the best games of his life. Period. Beast to start the game and converted on everything after getting great positioning on both ends. Post-up, turnaround, face-up, everything was working. As you would expect after having a strong first half, his touches decreased as the game went along. The Raptors essentially chose to suppress their best offensive player of the half in favor of a lot of YOLO. The guy went 2/2 in the fourth quarter yet practically everyone else took more shots. From the 8 minute mark of the 3Q until the final buzzer, Valanciunas attempted just 2 FGs. Damn. Little known fact: he’s got a PER of 20.3 this season.

Had 10 assists early in the game but gave it all back by trying ridiculous alley-oop and high risk passes. Got burned by Jennings all too frequently, and turned the ball over with the game on the line, right after missing on the possession before. Terrible leadership by example from Lowry, a game to forget with 7 turnovers, of which 5 were easily avoidable. That’s the game right there.

Poor bastard. He went 1-7 and 0-5 from three. Casey has ruined this guy and he’s now strictly a three-point shooter that can’t do much else on offense. Somebody run a pick ‘n pop with this guy, he’s practically begging for it.

He was deployed as a small forward for like 7 minutes in this game which I found a little odd. Given that SF is not his natural position, I’d say he fared OK.

Should’ve played a lot more in a game where we struggled to control the boards. Actually, I have no idea why he was even brought in late in the game. Shits and giggles?

The 7-9 FG were very welcome because they seem to bail out poor Raptors possessions, but man, does he ever give it back on D? I can’t find too much fault in his game because all those “no, no, no, yessss” shots he takes all went in, so we’re all good.

Hot in the first half, cold in the second. That’s how he rolls. He hit two end-of-quarter shots which were nice, but quite literally 80% of the plays he’s involved in don’t have a head or a tail. It’s all #freestyling and I hate it.

What a joke. The lineup of JJ, Patterson, and JV that was so good in the last game was nowhere to be found. He can’t get this team to play a single sound defensive possession, let alone sustain it for a full game. I have no idea why he can’t just play inside-out throughout the game rather than rely on his guards so heavily. His misuse of Patrick Patterson’s talent is criminal, he was way too late to try different schemes on Jennings, and I’m now convinced that Jonas Valanciunas is succeeding despite Casey, not because of him.