Jotted down some thoughts form the pre-season game. I totally may have forgotten a player entirely because I’m still on a drunken high from this morning’s demolition.
The Raptors blew out the Clippers (box) in Vancouver with Mike Bibby on hand. Thought that deserved a bit of a mention. Kyle Lowry had an easy 26 points and was easily the best player on either side, and though I don’t judge offense much in pre-season, other than DeMar DeRozan, things looked fluid and more teamworky than last year. Defensively, the Raptors were the more active team 1 through 5, and though there were some WTF moments, overall, you had to have been pleased that was a recognition that defense is not an optional part of the game.
Here are some player thoughts while we get the Quick Reaction machine back up and running (hey, it’s our preseason too).
Good news if you were totally down on Terrence Ross, because he resembled a basketball player for the first time in almost a calendar year. He no longer seemed to be suffering from Paul Pierce-inflicted PTSD and was active on defense without being irresponsible, hit some pull-up jumpers, and even got a block on Jamal Crawford.
DeMar DeRozan looked like he’d been playing against Drew League opposition all summer. Nothing he tried really came of and it’s best to pretend this game never happened, because if any judgements were to be made from this outing (which we obviously shouldn’t make), it would be firmly in the category of ‘more of the same’.
Luis Scola brought the old-man and averaged 48 fakes and hesitations per move, and it was fun to watch. We also saw him hedge out on the perimeter against guards after which he tried to make his way back to the paint like an injured dairy cow. My favorite part of Scola’s game had to be the move he pulled off on Josh Smith. Because Josh Smith sucks.
Bismack Biyombo had a pretty nice help defense block, and followed it up by shocking the world with a baseline turnaround which met nothing but net. This caused the game to stop, the children were sent home, and the Pope was summoned to deliver a feverish sermon about Nazareth or something. I like Biyombo in the same way I liked Primoz Brezec.
Kyle Lowry looked slim. He’s an afro short of looking like Jazzy Jeff and tonight he spent four quarters growing it. The quickness he’s gained was evident, he seemed nimbler, and this isn’t the weight loss crowding my judgement. That extra quarter step that he’ll gain this year will do a lot for him on his drives and defense, both of which looked good.
Cory Joseph loves to dribble, he likes to dribble, dribble, and dribble some more. The good news is that there’s usually some product at the end of all that and he’s not just TJ Fording. The guy loves to use the same screen two or even three times on the same possession, almost playing a game of hide-and-seek with his defender. Him and Scola/Biyombo seemed to know what they were trying to go about.
DeMarre Carroll is certainly more than just a three-point shooter on offense. He had a couple very nice drives after Lowry hit him with passes on the move, and his defense was his defense, no complaints there. Didn’t play too much but in what he did show, you got the feeling he’ll fit right in because as a coach, you don’t have to do much for a guy like him to fit right in.
Jonas Valanciunas held his own against DeAndre Jordan on the glass, and finished a couple pick ‘n rolls after catching passes that weren’t exactly easy. His shots still look UAF but they keep going in. His offensive game is far less awkward than what it appears as, so when his shots go in, instead of the reaction being one of relief and thankfulness to the rim, it should really be, ‘never a doubt’.
Patrick Patterson did OK. Hit a jumper, was active on the glass even against Griffin/Jordan, and played closer to the rim than what he did last season.
Bruno Caboclo looked pretty shocked that he was getting some run, and ran around like a oversized deer, even getting a block on some shitty Clipper bench player named Lance Stephenson. He had him in his pocket all evening by just giving him space and keeping a hand up. Overall, it was fun watching Bruno and if you ever feel bad that he might not make it in this league, rest assured that he’s got a job waiting as the Raptors next mascot. And what a mascot he would be.
Norman Powell played a bit, hit a jumper, and Ronald Roberts had a spin move which he got fouled on.
You’ll probably see a lot more of Delon Wright, Norman Powell, and Roberts tomorrow in San Jose against.Golden State. Oh wait, that game isn’t even broadcast.
