It is a bad time for James Johnson, however. He has not topped 10 minutes in any game since the Raptors’ lineup change eight games ago, and has not played at all in two of those games. He went from being routinely praised for his all-around play to being a well-paid hype man on the Raptors bench. It is so bizarre, in fact, that Raptors fans have taken to inquiring as to what Johnson could have done to anger Casey and get himself exiled. It is an understandable, since Casey and Johnson clashed during the forward’s first stint in Toronto, hastening his exit from the organization. So, let’s clear this up: He did nothing. There is no conspiracy. He is not playing precisely because of that lineup change, which, on the surface, should not have affected him.
While the outside shooting was the story, Hayes had an understated impact in the game, frustrating the mercurial Cousins, his old practice foil. Hayes even blocked shots from both Cousins and Gay, his second and third rejections of the season and generally frustrated his former teammate, who had nine turnovers and just 13 points and four rebounds. Canadian Kings rookie Nik Stauskas, who had eight points in his first game at home, had said pre-game of Cousins: “I don’t think there’s anyone in the world that can stop him.” But Hayes proved up to the task against a player who traditionally steamrolls Toronto (23 points, 12 rebounds a game in seven career meetings, about what he has averaged against the entire league this season). “Chuck Hayes has barely even played and, all of a sudden, when his name gets called, he goes out there and does his job,” marvelled Vasquez.
Seven Raptors scored in double figures and seven knocked down at lease one triple, as the team shot 50 per cent from long distance, picking up their fifth win in six games following a worrisome 2-7 stretch to begin the new year. “It was great for us, especially back on an upswing, winning some games,” Williams said. “The whole locker room is playing well and everybody’s contributing, it’s huge for us. I think it was big for us.” This was their most convincing victory over that stretch. Despite the Kings’ 16-28 record and recent slide – losers of seven in a row – they haven’t been an easy out for the Raptors over the years. Cousins came into his eighth career meeting with Toronto averaging 22.9 points against them – his highest versus any opponent.
Raptors step up and take down Kings: Griffin | Toronto Star
An x-factor for the Kings was supposed to be the presence in the paint of aggressive big-man DeMarcus Cousins, who had missed the first clash in Sacramento with an illness. But a combination of starter Jonas Valanciunas and seldom-used Chuck Hayes coaxed Cousins into foul trouble in the third quarter and his presence was largely nullified; he was responsible for nine turnovers. “I thought Chuck Hayes did a great job on him,” Casey said. “He kind of got into his head a little bit. Jonas did a good job of getting him in foul trouble, but Chuck, defensively, got him off his spot, wouldn’t let him get down. DeMarcus couldn’t attack him and that was huge for us.” The Raptors have won four games in a row for the first time since six straight in December, at a time just after they got used to playing without DeMar DeRozan. Now it seems they are used to having him back and are handily winning the games they should be winning. DeRozan chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds and six assists as the Raptors are 6-3 since his return.
Game Rap: Raptors 119 Kings 102 | Toronto Raptors
Three-point shooting. After struggling from beyond the arc in recent games, the Raptors exploded against the Kings, connecting on 17 of their 34 attempts from deep. The Raptors went 8-for-10 from three in the third as they outscored Sacramento 39-22 in the quarter. Greivis Vasquez was 4-for-5 from downtown, scoring 18 points (7-for-9 field goals) against his former team. Lou Williams, who was brilliant off the bench for the Raptors with 27 points in 26 minutes, also added four 3-point field goals.
Observations From Toronto’s Locker Room After Beating Sacramento 119-102 | Hoops Addict
Dwane Casey on the third quarter: “I thought the defence set the tempo for our offence. Physicality. It was like we were almost afraid to touch (DeMarcus Cousins) in the first half. Once we got into him physically and started putting our hands on him, touching him, and blitzing Rudy (Gay) a little bit more, that’s when our offence got clicking and got going in transition.”
Kelly: Toronto fans can exhale, Raptors are cruising again | The Globe and Mail
When Sacramento’s Rudy Gay was introduced, the crowd mumbled indifferently. This isn’t just wrong – it’s unjust. All season long, the team has been feting marginal former Raptors like astronauts just returned from a mission to Mars. Few of them mattered. By comparison, Gay may be the most important ex-Raptor in team history. His greatest act on behalf of the franchise? Leaving. He should get a yearly ticker-tape parade – to which he is never invited. Later – once they’d realized he’d sneaked back into the building – the crowd began to viciously boo him. Oh, Toronto. You’re as changeable as a New York weather forecast, and just as frequently wrong. Save your boos for Andrea Bargnani. They’re his last reminder that he’s still in the NBA.
Raptors Run Wild on Kings in the Second Half, Cruise to 119-102 Win | Raptors HQ
While the leading scorer for the Raps tonight was the streak shooting Lou Williams (27 points on 7-for-16 shooting, including four 3s), it was the former Kings who displayed the most fire against their old team. Greivis Vasquez in particular seemed jazzed to drop points on Sacramento. He went off for 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting (including 4-of-5 from three) and chipped in six assists. His big men counterparts, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes, also contributed. Patterson had 11 points (on 4-of-8 shooting, with three 3s) including a spirit killing alley-op finish from Lou in the second half. Hayes, meanwhile, only player 13 minutes but he did the job he was supposed to do: frustrate DeMarcus Cousins. To that end, with the big man finishing with only 13 points and four rebounds (to go with nine turnovers), mission accomplished. Hayes even blocked DMC to further cement the drubbing. “Chuck does so much for us, man. People don’t see it because he doesn’t score,” said Vasquez afterwards. “He’s one of those leaders that you don’t really see, but he’s a big time piece for our team.”
Road Reaction Show: Raptors 119, Kings 102 | Cowbell Kingdom
The Sacramento Kings (16-27) fall in Toronto to the Raptors (31-15) at the Air Canada Centre by a final of 119-102. Sacramento has now lost seven straight and are 5-15 under new head coach Tyrone Corbin. Rudy Gay led the way with 22 points. Ben McLemore added 17, but the Kings couldn’t defend the arc and the Raptors made them pay dearly.
Raptors Valanciunas Posterized Kings Cousins In 119-102 Win | Pro Bball Report
The Raptors were trailing the Sacramento Kings 66-64 midway through the third quarter on Wednesday night in Toronto when Jonas Valanciunas tipped a rebound off the glass that missed and fell between himself and DeMarcus Cousins. Valanciunas ripped the ball away from Cousins and powered up through his opponent’s arms to slam the ball home and tie the game. The referee called the contract leaving the earth-bound Cousins frustrated and posterized. Valanciunas completed the three-point play, Cousins went to the bench with his fourth personal foul and the Raptors outscored the Kings 26-10 over the rest of the quarter to blow this game wide open. “That’s my job to be active, to rebound,” Valanciunas said. “I have nothing against (Cousins), but it’s good to bring something to the table.”
Dwane Casey On The Difficulties Adding DeMar DeRozan Back Into The Mix | Hoops Addict
Dwane Casey loves having DeMar DeRozan back, but he admitted adding him back to the mix has caused issues with playing rotations and managing minutes. [Listen to Audio]
Why the Toronto Raptors are struggling in 2015 | SI.com
This is just one reason why Toronto’s rebounding deficiencies need be considered in context. Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson are not the most effective rebounding frontline. Yet their defensive activity — necessary given how many perimeter players slip through — also pulls them out of position and forces Toronto’s rotating guards to compete with opposing bigs on the glass. One opening begets another. Breakdowns happen. Even the stingiest teams in the league will make their coaching staff hoarse from yelling. When a team’s perimeter defenders allow opponents to get into the lane so consistently, however, it tends to yield high-percentage shots, fouls from late rotations, and offensive rebounds as described above. It is not a coincidence that the Raptors rank in the bottom third of the league by each of these relevant metrics, and in terms of the shot attempts per game surrendered in the restricted area.
Terrence Ross: Toronto Raptors SF Fitting In Off the Bench | Raptors Rapture
While he hasn’t reached the level of an elite NBA bench player yet, after five games as a non-starter, Ross is showing potential. He may still be able to salvage his spot on the Raptors roster by becoming the 3-and-D weapon from the bench he couldn’t figure out how to become as a starter. Ross has all the physical tools necessary to play solid, impactful basketball, he just needs to make sure his mind is in the right place. He must accept his new role and do everything he can to be the best bench player he can be.
Sources: Raptors ‘absolutely not’ trading benched Terrence Ross | Sporting News
Report: Terrence Ross riding bench in Toronto but will not be traded | ProBasketballTalk
Amir Johnson dating Lou Williams’ 2nd Girlfriend’s twin sister | RealGM
The evidence is compelling
Raptors’ Amir Johnson Buys $2.3M Las Vegas Home | Realtor.com
Johnson bought the 7,077-square-foot mansion in July for $2.3 million. Records indicate that the house went up for sale in 2013 for $5.2 million, so Johnson paid less than half the original asking price.
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