Here are notes, quotes and observations from Toronto’s 117-116 loss to Boston in overtime:
- Valanciunas was averaging 14.1 points, 9.2 points and 1.5 blocks while shooting 62.1% from the field over his past 11 games. He continued his strong play with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds tonight.
- Dwane Casey admitted to me before the game that Toronto has a rule about when the team can pass Jonas Valanciunas the ball: “Now with Kyle (Lowry) being out the ball is going to go to him more. We are going to need some more of his scoring punch. With Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan) in, naturally he’s like the third option behind those two. We have to do a better job of getting him the ball. But also, he has to meet us halfway and continue to get deep post position. Guys have been giving it to him in the post once he’s in deep. We have a rule: if he gets pushed out to the logo than we don’t give it to him. It’s a rule of ours, and it makes him work to get in deep and get deep post position.”
- Tyler Hansbrough got the surprise start and posted great numbers in the first quarter with 10 points, three rebounds, a block and a steal. He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and was given a standing ovation when he fouled out late in the game.
- Brad Stevens had some kind words about the Raptors before the game: “Kyle (Lowry) has had a great year, but they’ve had great wins without him. Kyle has obviously secured a spot as one of the best point guards in the East. He killed us in both games that we played earlier this year. But, they are a very dangerous team even without him. (Greivis) Vasquez has had a great year. Lou Williams is has been a terrific pickup as far as scoring the ball and I’m sure they feel that way, especially now with Lowry out. They were missing (DeMar) DeRozan for a big chunk of the season, too. Their depth is good. If Amir Johnson doesn’t play, Patrick Patterson is a really good four for them. You’ve got (Chuck) Hayes. You’ve got (Tyler) Hansbrough. You’ve got those guys just sitting over there. I think that is one of the things that made them really take a step up the past few years is that they go to the bench and they are just athletic, strong and tough. They can play the way they want to play.”
- Kelly Olynyk and Sherman Hamilton caught up quickly before the game.
- Greivis Vasquez had a plus/minus of -23 at one point in the second half.
- Lou Williams told me about the crushing end to the game: “I’ve been around so long that you know not to get too excited. It was cool to make a shot, but you realize you still have to guard. I didn’t really get too high on that (made three). I’ve been around this game so long and I’ve had many situations like tonight. There’s some that have gone my way and some that haven’t. Unfortunately tonight it went the other way.”
- DeMar DeRozan on final play of the game: “I was just trying to put pressure on Isaiah (Thomas). Lou (Williams) made a good plan on the ball. He lost the ball and it went straight to (Marcus) Smart and he got it up and in. James (Johnson) came over and tried to get a block. It was only two seconds and they went damn near the full court.”
- Brad Stevens on final play: “He had a full head of steam. It’s 2.6 seconds left. We had the ball at the end of regulation with like seven seconds. It was a little too much to do that. I’ve never seen him do that before. That was a play we put in for other guys that aren’t here. We’ve never run it since this new group has been together so they just went right off the board and did it.”
- Evan Turner on final play: “It was crazy! He called the timeout and already had another play drawn up. That is what the crazy thing was about it. So obviously what we were looking for originally wasn’t open. By the time I got to the timeout, he grabbed the board and everything was drawn up. He was a step ahead.”
- DeRozan on getting touches often during games: “That’s what you dream of when you’re a kid. You want to be in those situations. You just need to be calm. I know the ball will come to me in a lot of important situations and my whole thing this year is to be ready. Don’t ever play rushed. Just take whatever the defence gives me.”
- Jonas Valanciunas had a huge pile of baby gifts for his newborn son sitting next to his locker.
