DeMar DeRozan returns as the Raptors beat the Sixers after labouring for a large part of the game.
 | Amir Johnson, PF 32 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 16 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +11 +/-Out-hustled by Noels at times and looked tired in stretches, which is the norm for him. Philly’s energetic forward kept him on his toes, and he coped well enough, though I still think he’s a minus on D too often this year. His movement after setting screens was intelligent and could’ve gotten him a lot more FGs if only the guards recognized that Johnson is a pretty damn good finisher. |  |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 18 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +8 +/-He’s like the guy who comes into a small tight space, lays down a serious level 9 fart, and backs out slowly. No defense, no offense, no energy, no intelligence, so what’s really left? I’m not advocating him getting benched, I think he just needs to be even on defense. Right now there’s a defensive and offensive cost that the team pays when he’s on the court, and that can’t happen. Got benched early after some very, very poor defense. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 21 MIN | 4-8 FG | 4-6 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +4 +/-His approach to most situations he found himself in was correct, and that’s a big leap from early in the season where he looked unsure of what to do every time he caught the ball. As is customary, had good offensive possessions, some which left short, most he finished. Could’ve done better on the boards but the guy lacks a second and third jump on those rebounds, and Philly bigs were like pogo sticks tonight. |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 34 MIN | 6-15 FG | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 12 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 18 PTS | +20 +/-He’s making uncharacteristic plays. Like going for a 2-for-1 and leaving only a one second differential on the clock, thus essentially giving Philly the last shot of the quarter. Against a Philly defense you should be able to get what you want if you be patient, and that’s the last thing Lowry was. He needs to dial it back a little because there’s no need to play at a 90mph pace all the time. Taking pull-up threes and quick shots only serve Philly because it just gives them one less defensive possession to play on a back-to-back. Did hit some huge shots in the fourth to put Philly away. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 29 MIN | 9-14 FG | 2-4 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 20 PTS | +18 +/-Paced himself well, picked his spots, and was big in the early third quarter when the Raptors looked like having a repeat of Detroit. He looked far more integrated and comfortable for a guy who hasn’t played in a month and a half, and that’s got to be a pretty big positive. Very happy to have him back. |  |
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 16 MIN | 2-3 FG | 2-4 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +9 +/-Played a bit until Casey realized that Noels was too tall for him. He also got bumped on the head which looked like a bit of a concussion, but he was OK. It’s not that the pace of the game didn’t suit him, it’s that he’s not very good at providing help defense and the Raptors need to help on practically every possession which puts Hansbrough in vulnerable positions too often. | |
 | James Johnson, PF 15 MIN | 2-2 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 5 PTS | +2 +/-Saw his minutes go down with DeRozan back, so it’s good that his rate of production isn’t dependent on how many minutes he plays. Had a great cut to dunk the ball, played good help defense whenever MCW drove, and was his usual consistent self. I can’t believe he’s the most fundamentally sound Raptor. |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 28 MIN | 2-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +8 +/-Continues to bomb away from three and scramble on defense with nothing specific ever being called for him. To his credit, his effort level has been fantastic and he’s simply following the instruction from the coach. I really feel we’re seeing about 60% of what he has to offer on offense. |  |
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 24 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | +4 +/-The word YOLO is used a lot to describe his offense, which I’d agree with for the most part. Defensively, his energy closely resembles the guy at the party who passed out on your coach after over-estimating his ability to handle a water bong. Such poor defense that I have trouble looking past that. |  |
 | Louis Williams, SG 24 MIN | 6-12 FG | 3-4 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 19 PTS | -4 +/-Had one of his ‘on’ games which included a 4-point play. Honestly, his approach to every single game has been the same. The grade only reflects how many of his one-on-one shots went in. | |
 | Dwane Casey Managed DeRozan’s minutes well and ultimately that was a huge part of the reason we won. Did good to bench the unproductive Ross, and hand those minutes to DeRozan. I was a bit surprised we didn’t test Philly’s three-point shooting more and play more zone since they’re the worst in the league at shooting the three. Didn’t ignore JV, so that’s good. Overall, no major complaints, but he needs to do better to get the team up for these games. | |
Six Things We Saw
- 17 turnovers by the Raps, many unforced. This is a problem that you can get away with against the weaker sisters, but will be the reason you’ll lose the big games. I’m not advocating a more conservative brand of basketball, just that we don’t try to make Hail Mary plays when there’s no need for them.
- This game became a problem in the second quarter when Philly shot 50% (a miracle for them) and were +11. The killed us 20-6 in points in the paint, and the Raptors obliged them with 5 turnovers and only 4 assists.
- DeRozan’s presence on the court tends to give everyone some confidence because they can go to a guy who’ll just milk the clock and get a relatively high percentage shot of. We’re not relying on Lowry, Vasquez, or Wiliams as much, because all those guys have been maxed out over the last six weeks.
- I think we need to do a level-set for Ross. Let’s just ask him to do two things and nothing more: 1) park on the wing and wait for a pass to hit a three, and 2) play even defense. Not 3-and-D defense, just don’t be a negative. I’ll settle for that because his three-point shooting is actually valuable, but we can’t even afford to keep him on the court due to his D.
- This was a closer game than what the final score reads because of Toronto’s late run, with Philly being within six in the fourth. The Raptors, on account of their defense and suspect shot-selection allowed Philly to stick around, which doesn’t fill you with confidence for Atlanta. Against Philly, you can get any shot you want as long as you’re patient and have even a moderately good playbook. Against Atlanta, it’ll be 10 times as difficult.
- High tension to end the game. With the score at 98 and 18 seconds left, the pizza was a basket away until Kyle Lowry lost the ball. Philly scored and the Raptors got it back with 12 seconds left, and you’d think they’d just run it out. Then, Philly fouled and Lowry got two pizza-winning FTs, thus staving off starvation for another day. Not today, starvation, not today.
