The Raptors drop Game 1 to the Wizards after getting out-rebounded, out-hustled, and out-coached.
 | Tyler Hansbrough, PF 13 MIN | 1-2 FG | 2-2 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -6 +/-Got the start and executed good pick ‘n roll play, was active on the glass, but then had a stretch of five straight possessions which saw him bumble on offense and get torched by Pierce (yes, he was guarding Pierce). That was a momentum-shifting sequence. |  |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 22 MIN | 3-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -12 +/-Covered Wall, which he did a fairly decent job off, even got an effort block on Beal after he got beat. Other than that, complete write-off especially from three, where he had clean looks and couldn’t convert. When you get the run he’s getting, you have to contribute offensively. The guy also doesn’t block out on the weak side and doesn’t check runs to the rim. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 24 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -1 +/-Stinker. Was pushed and shoved by Nene and Gortat, who both have serious center-mass which Valanciunas doesn’t. Offensively, don’t think I saw more than a play called for him, which meant that he was non-existent on defense and intimidated on defense. Didn’t even make up for his poor game by playing help defense. Could not deal with Seraphin either, who stepped out on him and JV was unable to cope. Benched in OT despite the Raptors getting slaughtered on the glass. |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 33 MIN | 2-10 FG | 3-4 FT | 8 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 7 PTS | -9 +/-Let’s get it straight. He’s getting paid for his shot-making and he’s not making shots. The high rebound number is nice, but that’s not what his primary responsibility is. He turned the corner well to start but his energy levels dropped as the game got deeper, and I wonder whether Dwane Casey upping his minutes to 35 per game to end the season had something to do with it. His gambling on defense was out of control, and those six fouls are a testament to that. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 43 MIN | 6-20 FG | 3-5 FT | 11 REB | 6 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 15 PTS | -2 +/-Positive start when he attacked Pierce and got to the rim, and I thought he would ride that wave and maybe have a 14-16 FTA type game, but he stuck to the perimeter trying to get shots off in tight spaces and defenders nearby. Washington threw him quite a few different looks, and he didn’t do a great job of reading what on offer, and either took a poor shot or passed it off. |  |
 | Amir Johnson, PF 34 MIN | 8-12 FG | 2-3 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 18 PTS | -1 +/-Very good pick ‘n roll play off the bench, with Lowry, Vasquez, and Williams. Was a consistent threat on offense, and attracted a lot of attention on his rolls. Like Valanciunas, didn’t fare well against the Washington bigs, especially he was playing the 5 against Gortat. Overall, though, solid work. |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 32 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | -5 +/-Spaced the floor well and hitting those two early threes helped. The Raptors were at their most cohesive on offense when Patterson was out there taking people off the bounce and hitting his shots. Watching him guard Nene in the paint was just pure unfair. | |
 | Greivis Vasquez, PG 31 MIN | 4-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | 0 +/-Not as cavalier as I thought he’d be, very pass-focused and responsible, and along with Lou Williams, ignited that fourth quarter run. Hit that massive shot to tie the game, and looked like one of few players who was ready for this occasion from the start. Defensively, even got a couple stops on Wall and didn’t get burned. Solid game.
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 | Louis Williams, SG 32 MIN | 4-16 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | +1 +/-Full credit for bringing the Raptors back into it in the fourth with some amazing shot-making. That’s not a formula for success in the playoffs, though. That’s relying on a hot-hand to get you through against an organized defense that will concede the occasional hot-streak in favor of controlling the rest of your game. When the same was needed in OT, he missed. |  |
 | James Johnson, PF DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | +/-Poor bastard. |  |
 | Dwane Casey Lost control of this game in the second quarter when Wittman moved Pierce to the four against Hansbrough and Washington grabbed the lead. Didn’t respond with James Johnson as he should have. Other than that, it’s the same-old, same-old, too many isolation sequences and predictable offense. Give him credit for putting Hansbrough in who had good start. Overall though, the lasting memory here will be screwing up Pierce on defense, and being underprepared for Washington’s bigs who dominated the glass as Casey watched. | |
Five Things We Saw
- The James Johnson thing. It was so obvious that we needed him to guard Pierce, that it became comical on Twitter. Pierce ended up being the leading scorer in this game and the guy most suited to guard him never saw the light of day.
- When things get rough for the Wizards, they can always iso John Wall who can drive, completely throw off our defense positioning (including rebounding), and he can throw something off the glass. If he makes it, great. If he doesn’t, the Washington bigs have gotten themselves into a good rebounding position.
- The first game is always a feel-out game, and if the Raptors learned something it’s that they need to have a better plan for boxing out and managing Gortat and Nene, because the two are actually making a point of exploiting us on the boards. Let’s see how Casey responds in Game 2, a start might be to put those two in more pick ‘n roll situations so they’re not in great defensive rebounding position every time and we can get a sniff of the offensive boards. On the defensive glass, the Raptors don’t rebound from the weak side and get beaten on tap-outs every time.
- The Raptors shot 6/29 from three and had 92 FGs. That’s basically 1 out of every 3 shots was a three. When something wasn’t working, perhaps you needed to go inside? That never happened and the official were never pressured to call anything for the Raptors. Washington was only called for 18 fouls in this game.
- Rebounds: Wizards 61, Raptors 52
Points in the Paint: Wizards 52, Raptors 44
Second Chance Points: Wizards 20, Raptors 14
Fastbreak Points: Wizards 13, Raptors 6
