 | Amir Johnson, PF 32 MIN | 4-8 FG | 3-4 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +7 +/-Started game with energy again, but there are still signs he is suffering from injury. OBryant got a wide open bucket when Amir went to help hedge on an outside scorer. Not sure if it was all on Amir or JV forgot to switch, but since everyone thinks I never see him clearly I thought I’d add it under Amir. (see note in 5 things regarding my penchant for Amir). Made some crucial “intangible” plays I dote over like blocking shots at the rim, knocking away passes and getting key rebounds (including 5 offensive boards) |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 19 MIN | 5-8 FG | 1-1 FT | 13 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 11 PTS | 0 +/-Started game with energy especially on the glass. Had a huge block against the Greek Freak late 1Q. I felt coming in he had a real advantage in size and skill up front and he delivered right out of the gate witha huge first quarter: 8 points, 7 rebounds (3 offensive) plus a steal and a block. Had a double-double before the half. Curiously he played only 6 minutes in the second half. Not sure why. |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 36 MIN | 8-25 FG | 1-4 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 18 PTS | +5 +/-Began game with defensive intensity, but continued to have problems with his shot falling. You could just see in his eyes this game was not going to be played with anything other than intensity from start to finish. He went up for rebounds against the trees and defended opponents much taller and won most of the battles! While he missed a bunch of shots he still made some critical shots at key points. He gets the game ball for willing his Raptors to the win and working in tandem with Amir and PPat to make sure the defense remained focused for 48 minutes. | |
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 31 MIN | 4-10 FG | 1-3 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | -2 +/-Fun just to see Gravy actually get under K-Mart’s skin, lol. He loves the opportunity to start and didn’t make the silly passes or turnovers he does when he comes off the bench. BUT.. he still makes lapses defensively like not blocking out his opponent and led to easy scores for the Bucks. Still wondering if Masai wants to keep him or this is just some sort of exercise to showcase him so they can make a trade for missing pieces. I guess time will tell. Start of 2H my eyes bugged out over his aggressive defense in combination with Amir and Lowry as they forced a shot clock expiry by Bucks. On a whole his presence didn’t hurt the final outcome or allow any of the Buck’s back court to go off so it’s a win-win. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 26 MIN | 0-9 FG | 0-1 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | +6 +/-Shot not falling early. As much as he has led team in scoring all 3-games back it still feels like he is getting back his legs. Mind you having the Greek freak guard you can’t be easy given his go go gadget arms and length. Not sure why he was taking 3 point shots since his shot wasn’t falling, but I guess it worked to space the court. |  |
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 19 MIN | 1-2 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | 0 +/-I know all the negatives he isn’t tall enough for his position, he can’t hit an outside shot, but it’s hard not to appreciate the energy he brings every game and the effort. Had a big block 1Q |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 26 MIN | 3-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 13 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | -1 +/-Keep hearing how he isn’t contributing like last year by the announcers, but if they aren’t going to pass him the ball how the heck is he suppose to score? 0-0 in 1Q. He was active defensively and big on the boards. Had a beautiful pass to Amir for an easy put in. Literally put the team on his back on the boards garnering 13 rebounds. |  |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 23 MIN | 7-12 FG | 0-2 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 16 PTS | 0 +/-First time playing as a reserve: the very first play went to him and he took the ball inside and scored. Don’t know about anyone else but seeing him jam that dunk would’ve been enough for me to forget I ever had issues scoring! Also he made several drives into the paint resulting in great passes to his team mates (one sent Amir to line & i think the other was to JV) and he was hot from outside. In his first 11 minutes on the court he hit 50% of his 3’s (2-4), had 10 points, 2 rebounds and an assist. Took a foul against Mayo late second half, but it stood out because he was AGGRESSIVELY defending him. With seconds remaining on the clock he received the pass from Patterson that allowed him to go in and put Raptors up by 3 points. Then Lowry found him on a leak out that once again put them up 3. Great confidence builder for the youngster. | |
 | Louis Williams, SG 28 MIN | 4-12 FG | 5-5 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 4 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 15 PTS | 0 +/-Lowry seemed more focused to start the game, but Williams was the one who was forcing passes giving up 2 turnovers in 1Q. Like a lot of games Lou Williams is one of those players who can have a terrible half and follow it up with a much improved second half. He was cold in the 1H today but hit two 3’s in the 3Q to break out of his funk. |  |
 | James Johnson, PF DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | +/-Curiously didn’t play at all in 1Q. Player order off bench: Williams, Patterson, Hansbrough, Ross. Made me wonder if JJ is hurt or back in Casey’s dog house. Maybe they felt his unnecessary Technical Foul cost them the game vs. New Orleans! |  |
 | Dwane Casey I wondered about him keeping James Johnson out of the game and then thought maybe this is his way for punishing JJ’s lackluster effort vs. New Orleans and silly Technical that altered the momentum and zebra’s whistle late. Given the problems these 2 had in their first stint I have to say I understand him showing JJ there is no wiggle room because he isn’t a rookie or youngster anymore. Given this was a back to back I have to acquiesce to my peers in regards to his lineups and minutes. With 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter JV had yet to see the court and neither had James Johnson. | |
Five Things We Saw
- Raps shot over 55% in the first quarter but gave up the ball 7 times via silly turnovers. By the end of the half the field goal percent had dropped to 52.6%, but they only had one additional turnover and had held the Bucks to 39.5% while building a 9-point lead.
- My note to Terrence Ross:Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then. John Wooden
- For those of you who constantly comment I’m blind to Amir Johnson please take a look back to the posts where I called for Paul Millsap to be targeted to come to Toronto long before he left Utah. What you should know is I feel Amir Johnson remains our best defender up front (for now) and is a solid team vet with 10 years experience that is useful in helping to develop Valanciunas and Patterson.That’s not to say I would be adverse (or would Amir I’d bet) to coming off the bench, but in the absence of a quality defender available at Power Forward with intangibles he is who I bank on.
Moving forward I don’t see Millsap leaving Atlanta but in his absence there will be two players available this summer for Ujiri to target: LaMarcus Aldridge is likely a pipe dream (but worth the pursuit) and a name not on the tips of everyone’s tongues who would be awesome is Draymond Green from Golden State who does it all: passes, rebounds, hits threes and defends. If Ujiri could get Green it would give Toronto the option of starting James Johnson or upgrade at the SF and bring Ross, Patterson and both Johnsons off the bench!
- While the third quarter was ugly with neither team scoring 20 (Bucks 18 vs. Raps: 15) and they forced 7 Bucks turnovers.I’ll take this type of lock down defense because the Raptors need to work on consistently bringing their best defensive effort for the second half of the season and rebuild the effort that saw them excel last season and early this season.
- Likely no one wants to hear it, but you have to marvel at Jason Kidd whose team was playing poorly behind the strong Raptor defense. Immediately after he picked up the Tech all of sudden the Raptors were getting called for every touch foul and the whistles got put away on the Raptors offensive end. In one specific intense a Buck was literally holding Williams arm while he shot but no whistle came, cut to the other end where a touch foul led to a basket and a whistle.That said, the Raptors have to control their own fate and not allow any outside influence to factor in the outcome. AND, I’ll reiterate an oft point of contention for me when it comes to Casey: just once I want to see him pull a Kidd and take a tech for his team so the zebra’s do us the same favor! We could have used it in Portland and in Chicago just to name a few.
