The Raptors dropped the ball against the Magic.
 | Luis Scola, PF 21 MIN | 3-11 FG | 1-1 3FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 7 PTS | +3 +/-Too many field-goal attempts but he also made some crafty passes and was the only non-Joseph player to show up on offense in the first half. Strong game despite the 3-of-11. |  |
 | DeMarre Carroll, SF 36 MIN | 3-13 FG | 1-5 3FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -15 +/-An uncharacteristically poor shooting night included a handful of odd cuts where he seemed to miscommunication with teammates. I counted at least two turnovers where Carroll and another player cut into the same space – not sure whose fault that is, but it happened. He fumbled a few passes, too. Bad night for JYD 2.0. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 23 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 3FG | 2-3 FT | 14 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | +10 +/-A pretty terrific performance if the early foul trouble is ignored. Set a franchise record for rebounds in a quarter with 11 in the third, Tough one missing the potential go-ahead bucket, but great that he got the chance. |  |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 32 MIN | 6-16 FG | 3-7 3FG | 2-3 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 17 PTS | -2 +/-Shot the ball poorly, especially in the first half. Got going some later in the game but didn’t seem himself much. Never a good night when your lead guard has more turnovers than assists. |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 41 MIN | 7-15 FG | 0-1 3FG | 9-12 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 23 PTS | +3 +/-Man, there’s so much to unpack here. The Magic knew everything that was coming, snuffing out first-half post-ups and readying for late-game isolations. He got to the line a ton because that’s what he does, and he made some great passes that didn’t lead to assists. Does he get the blame for the late play-calling? I don’t think that’s fair. |  |
 | Anthony Bennett, PF 6 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-2 3FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -8 +/-Showed some nice defensive effort in his brief time, including a great stand against Tobias Harris. Not sure two threes have been missed with such resounding thuds, though. |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 22 MIN | 0-6 FG | 0-4 3FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | +4 +/-It’s an off night, I guess, but it’s his second off night in the last three games. He got after it on defense in response to his shots not dropping, but he’s a tough guy to grade favorably when his shot isn’t dropping. Worse, when his confidence is apparently low, so he not only misses open looks but starts passing them up, too. | |
 | Bismack Biyombo, PF 16 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-1 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -12 +/-Pressed into extra first-half run because of Valanciunas’ foul trouble, and I think it’s telling that Casey tried super-small lineups in response. I’m a Biyombo fan, but this wasn’t his night, as he was only the second-best alliterative-named shot-blocker with no hands in this game. | |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 15 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -6 +/-Pass. |  |
 | Cory Joseph, PG 29 MIN | 7-9 FG | 0-1 3FG | 5-6 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 19 PTS | -2 +/-One point shy of his career high, he was pretty much the only offense the Raptors had in the first half. His defense was solid as usual, too. The zero assists is a bit of an issue, but nobody was knocking down shots. |  |
 | Dwane Casey Didn’t disagree with his sub patterns at all and respect him going to the closing unit pretty early. There were also at least four plays I circled as nice designs in my game notes. But damn, this late-game play-calling is now a multi-year issue. It’s obvious, predictable, and most of all, ineffective. Also, what’s with the slow starts? | |
Five Things We Saw
- That final offensive play. Woof.
- The slow starts are becoming a concern. Early turnovers, stagnant offensive sets. The first is the only quarter in which the Raptors are being outscored, and they’re being outscored by 12.8 points per-100 possessions.
- Evan Fournier had a generally poor night but made some incredible shots late. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap when a guy makes degree-of-difficulty buckets.
- This Magic team is a lot of fun. Sorry to focus on them for two “things we saw,” but they are. Payton, Gordon, Hezonja, Oladipo. All treats to watch.
- What’s there to say? They shot 34.9 percent and 5-of-23 from long-range. Not even their prodigious foul-drawing or lock-down defense can cover over that. It was an ugly one.
