 | Amir Johnson, PF 26 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | +8 +/-Amir Johnson took a beating from Al Jefferson. Big Al did his best to regularly establish position and to aggressively back down Amir on a regular basis. Amir hardly yielded any ground and held his own until a held defender was able to come. Constant battling on the boards, the regular moment of injury concern (looked to hurt his arm late in first on a jumpball against Jefferson), and overall good help defense…the standard Amir game we have come to know and love. |  | |||||||
 | Terrence Ross, SF 32 MIN | 3-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | +3 +/-Ross shows streaks of usefulness, and then he does something like airball a wide open three pointer with two minutes remaining in the first half. I never know what to make of Ross, and regularly buy and sell my T-Ross stock. Currently I’m selling…but I don’t think anyone outside of Ujiri is buying it at the moment.But that breakaway dunk midway through the third quarter…followed by a perfect three from the top…and six assists on the game…anyone have stock they want to sell for cheap? |  | |||||||
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 23 MIN | 2-3 FG | 5-5 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +6 +/-It makes me sick the number of times that Valanciunas gets looked off when he has established position in the post. What makes it worse is that he is so often only utilized when he moves further out on the baseline where the pass is easier to make. This allows Jonas to do his patented, and ineffective, “quick” drive towards the lane. Jonas hit his only field goal attempt of the first quarter, and all five of his free throw attempts. Love a big man who can get those free points.Loved that Jonas didn’t back down when Kidd-Gilchrist started talking trash early in the second half, leading to both getting charged with a technical. |  | |||||||
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 38 MIN | 9-22 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 25 PTS | -11 +/-Lowry showed noticeable rust early after a three game layoff and made a few sloppy turnovers, but it was nice to have him back. 22 points on 20 shots isn’t going to cut it. At least he bodychecked Lance… | | |||||||
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 39 MIN | 14-26 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 30 PTS | -4 +/-Great shooting from DeMar. After hitting just three of his nine first quarter shots, DeRozan found his rhythm in the second half and dominated the game offensively, while also chipping in a five assists. You can argue with his shot selection, but when he is cooking offensively it is something to behold. | | |||||||
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 5 MIN | 2-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | -2 +/-Hansbrough has an ugly but helpful game. He is a plus defender, tries to attack the boards after every shot, is willing to scrap and fight with any opponent, and is the type of player you love to play with and hate to play against. If Hansbrough ever writes an autobiography it simply has to be titled “Ugly, but Relatively Effective: The Hansbrough Story”. |  | |||||||
 | James Johnson, PF 17 MIN | 2-6 FG | 2-4 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | -17 +/-Does James Johnson have the best Euro-step in the NBA today, or the best Euro-step in the history of the game? I almost giggle every time that James drives the lane. So much fun to watch him move. | | |||||||
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 27 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -11 +/-Does anyone know why Patrick Patterson missed the game? Wait, what…he led the bench with 27 minutes played? Overall, Patterson played decent defense, hauled in 5 rebounds, and managed 2 assists, but missed all three of his shots on the night. With so few shooters on the team, and Lou Williams clearly struggling, the Raptors could have used a more assertive Pat Pat tonight. |  | |||||||
 | Chuck Hayes, C 3 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -4 +/-Played just three minutes, and had zeros everywhere outside of his 1 assist…and yet, he remains Charles Hayes. |  | |||||||
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 14 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -7 +/-Vasquez seemed to struggle with his return to the bench. His shot wasn’t falling, he wasn’t moving the ball well, and his defense was…it was his usual defense. When Greivis and Lou both struggle on the same night, the Raptors bench play is virtually nonexistent. |  | |||||||
 | Louis Williams, SG 16 MIN | 1-9 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -6 +/-That wasn’t pretty. Wiliams missed his first six shots before finally hitting a runner early in the fourth quarter. It would be his only made shot on the night. 4 points on 9 shots tonight, compared to 26 points on 8 shots versus the Cavs. |  | |||||||
 | Dwane Casey Casey called a timeout with roughly three minutes remaining in the first half. The result? A spinning, fading, isolating shot by DeMar DeRozan. It’s moments like these that drive me crazy about Casey. He should be able to draw up something more creative during a timeout. After all, that is the point of a timeout!!!! Did Casey forget his clipboard in the lockeroom? | | |||||||
Five Things We Saw
- After a few months of experimenting with the starting lineup both due to Casey’s preference (Vasquez in for Ross, James Johnson in for Vasquez, Patterson in for Amir, etc.) and due to injury, the Raptors returned to their opening night starters by starting Terrence Ross as the team’s small forward. Although Ross has been struggling this season, this is the starting lineup that carried Toronto last year and early in this season. With just 20 games remaining, this is likely the starting lineup the Raptors will have moving forward.
- I know he gets a lot of criticism due to his ugly, but improving, jump shot, but I would have Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on my team any day of the week. He does so many little things that help his team, and shows what appears to be a very high basketball IQ.
- After returning from commercial break during the second quarter, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was being played through the arena. I assume that this was intended as a clever insult towards Canada, and not as an attempt to energize the crowd. Well played Charlotte…well played.
- I’m worried that I hallucinated this, but Toronto ran an actual play to end the first half. Lowry drove the lane due to a screen set by Sir Charles Hayes. When Jefferson stepped up to defend the penetration, Amir was able to create an open passing lane for Lowry by driving baseline. But serious…other people saw it right? It wasn’t just me…right?
- Joey Crawford loves him some technical fouls!!!
