Slick ball-movement, hard-nosed defence, pick-and-roll precision, and two squads from opposing conferences going toe-to-toe in an all-out battle of attrition. — The Bulls-Suns game was awesome!
As for Saturday Night’s Main Event, otherwise known as the Raps falling flat in Texas, I’ll let Jerry and Kramer chime in:
A hideous performance, indeed. The unimaginable was almost even attempted by yours truly, as thoughts of switching over to the Leafs’ game were inching ever so closer. But then again, this humbling defeat held enough torture for one night.
To be fair, both teams came out excruciatingly sloppy. A grand total of 50 turnovers were committed, evenly split. But only the Raps prolonged their bad habits to the point of no return. So much promise was brought forth with an impeccable brand of basketball just one day prior down in Atlanta, only for that momentum to experience a letdown for the ages up in Space City.
The overall intrigue coming into this clash held plenty of compelling subplots:
- The salivating thoughts of AJ and JV exploiting Houston’s Howard-less interior.
- In the wake of Lou Williams’ sudden ankle injury, a chance for Terrence Ross to get back on track.
- How would Toronto contain James Harden?
Well, let’s break em’ down:
WARNING: In case you did make that Leafs switch, then proceeded to wake up at 2pm to the hangover this contest caused, all that vested interest transformed into heaping pile of false hope.
The tables were turned on that exploitation. As a 54-32 advantage in the paint came to the Rockets’ aid. Not to mention a 52-39 edge in the board department. Even more alarming when taking into consideration that both squads shot so poorly. Houston’s finishing act of 41.7 percent from the field only masks their first-half woes of 32 and 36 in respective quarters.
When 17 of those 25 giveaways take place in the first half, it only magnifies the lack of emphasis Toronto owns when establishing an early inside presence.
I’ve been critical of Sweet Lou in the past, but if the weekend is any indication, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this club is going to rely heavily on his secondary scoring for the stretch run. An 11-1 record when the 6th-man nominee leads the way has broken the seams of any small sample sizes.
However, tough love is still required when one is taking ill-advised fall-away floaters that eliminate any chance of positional rebounding. Half the time, Williams symbolizes the identity of this team: live by jumper, die by the jumper.
Which brings us to Terrence Ross.
As well as the assumption that all parties involved can now agree that his bench role should officially be considered full-time.
The decline is evident:
- 38 percent from the field over his last ten games, 15 percent over his last five.
- 8 free-throws over that same ten. For those who shun the notion that Ross needs not to venture the charity stripe, I’m assuming you’re content was his one-dimensional existence? He’s capable of so much more.
- But it’s not just the numbers, as they don’t tell the entire tale. The body language presents an overwhelmingly negative vibe. Timid through the offensive set, and jittery ball-handling to boot.
- The fact that a trade was not made is now in the rearview mirror. I get it, the future is set up to make a splash. But not only has that starting spot been taken away, the list of teammates leapfrogging the youngster in the rotation is growing.
- This overall team effort is an improper evaluating meter, but remnants of those characteristics were present once again in Houston.
- There’s still time to justify Ujiri having T-Ross’ back, but it’s dwindling.
- This is not to beat a dead horse. This is simply a call to action.
James Johnson: Making The Best of Bad Situation
The lone bright spot throughout this 32.5 percent team-shooting debacle. Not to mention the 24 points triggered off of turnovers. JJ has firmly made a statement that he belongs with the first unit. Book it for the rest of the season. Last night’s career-high 27 points and four apiece in the thefts and rejections department, is just the latest contribution.
Kudos can be handed out once again on the defensive end. Holding Harden to 4 points in the first half should be considered a monumental effort. In case you need a refresher course on why the Beard should be feared: Ranked 1st in PPG, 1st in FTA, 1st in Win Shares, 1st in VORP, 3rd in SPG, and 11th in APG.
An outburst was a given no matter who was on patrol. The fact that the Raps were miraculously within striking distance when his 16-point kibosh occurred in the third quarter just twists the overall dagger that much deeper. Ross gets a pardon on Harden’s patented step-back maneuver.
Switching back to offence, and dating back to the insertion to the starting lineup on February 8th, JJ is flirting with a 71 percent shooting resume.
The highest regard should go to his versatility. That drum needs to be beaten on an endless instrumental track. Cutting to the rim, physicality in the paint, finishing the break, and displaying that Raptors team-mentality even on nights when there is a lack of attention-to-detail elsewhere.
In Closing:
This matchup was not about winning. At this point in the season, considering a top-4 playoff spot is all but a guarantee, all this fan base should be focused on is the quest for a consistent effort on a nightly basis. Players may be analytical robots on paper, which are immensely important in terms of evaluation, but an 82-game grind gives the benefit of the doubt to taking nights off.
But to raise the “second night of a back-to-back” flag after such such an extended layoff, that excuse holds very shallow water.
I’m of the belief that a deep postseason run is in this squad’s future. On the other hand, if the discrepancy between future efforts is anything resembling this drastic of a drop-off, a Brooklyn-deja-vu will be challenging the Raps to a staring contest.
As for Patrick Beverly. K-Low mastered that routine all the way back at Villanova. He should know better.
Get mad, rage, do whatever you need to do to release that anger. A 37-18 record still resides, and the panic room remains closed. For now.
This always helps me, and as of this moment, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jd5kZezZFY
