Is the Raptors’ pace of play an issue? | Sportsnet.ca
As the team struggles to find its footing early in games—the Raptors own the league’s worst first-quarter offence—increased pace has come up as a potential panacea. “I think we felt that we were not playing the style of basketball that we knew we could play at both ends,” an unhappy DeMar DeRozan said after Friday’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. “We had to pick it up and get some stops, try and get out in transition and change the tempo of the game to our pace.” What “their pace” is, however, remains an enormous question mark. The Raptors ranked 19th in the NBA in pace through games played Monday, averaging 97.99 possessions per 48 minutes. That’s not inflated by opponents, as their competition has averaged almost exactly a league-average pace. Individual teams don’t show a strong ability to impact a single game’s pace, but—Tuesday’s game against the defending champions excepted—the Raptors have done well to slow things down a modest degree.
Raptors fall apart in the fourth quarter against Jazz | Toronto Sun
With only Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan around from the group that closed out games a year ago it was suggested that this is merely a product of a lack of familiarity and something that can be fixed over time. Casey grudgingly gave the suggestion a little merit. “It’s some of that but it’s no excuse,” he said. “A lot of it is guys in new positions, especially end-of-game execution and some of the plays there. But it’s no excuse. We’re professionals, we ought to understand what our jobs are in certain situations and we’ve got to know to do that.” DeMarre Carroll is one of those new guys coming in and learning both the way the Raptors attempt to close out games and the people they do it with. He is confident the problems they are having now are fixable. “At times I do think we get stagnant on offence,” Carroll said. “Instead of playing the way that got us the lead we get stagnant a little bit. We have to understand that when we do have a lead we got to step on their throats. We can’t just sit back and let them come and attack us, but I think we can fix it.”
Raptors fade again in loss to Jazz | Toronto Star
In what’s becoming a disturbing trend, the Raptors got off to a sluggish start, surrendering a 14-0 first-quarter run to the Jazz. Part of it could have been pure fatigue after arriving here from California at about 2:45 a.m. local time, and getting used to the altitude, but it’s been a troubling occurrence most of the season. “Believe me, I have every number there is known to man about the woes in the first quarter,” said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. “We’re aware of it, we talk about it, we’re trying to correct it, and it’s still our Achilles’ heel right now.” But because it’s so early in the season — and because the same starters have done a good job in the third quarter most nights — Casey isn’t considering any significant changes. “All we can do is address it,” the coach said. “If we don’t get a better start, the only alternative is to change the starting lineup. I don’t know if we’re at that point yet.”
Game Rap: Raptors 89, Jazz 93 | Toronto Raptors
After giving up a 10-point fourth quarter lead against the Sacramento Kings, the Raptors put up a valiant effort against the defending champion Golden State Warriors before battling the Utah Jazz until the final seconds. It’s difficult to go west and win on the road. Giving away fourth-quarter leads makes those losses sting even more.
Raptors offense falters late (again) in 93-89 loss to Jazz | Raptors HQ
As he did the previous two games, Kyle Lowry kept the team afloat tonight with a solid third quarter. Once again, though, clock mismanagement and bad decisions returned in the fourth as DeMar DeRozan isolated the hell out of the ball down the stretch. After two points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first three quarters, he was 5-of-10 in the fourth. It wasn’t bad, but it stagnated everyone else, leaving the team in a position not unlike those Los Angeles Lakers teams of the mid-aughts — four players leeching off Kobe Bryant, standing around and hoping for the occasional pass.
Toronto Raptors choke again, drop 3rd straight to Utah Jazz | Raptors Cage
The Raptors slow start continued in Utah as they struggled to simply make their shots. They were getting good looks, but with their tired legs – weren’t able to knock them down. Dwane Casey tried going to his bench unit for a spark but the struggles continue for Patrick Patterson who’s still out there searching for his jump-shot. The Raps were most effective tonight utilizing the drive and kick to find the open man but as mentioned weren’t able to get shots to drop. The Raps offence on the stat sheet was led by Scola and Lowry, but when it came to the fourth quarter it was all DeMar. When the Jazz took the lead, the Raptors seemed to forget everything that allowed them to be in the position they’re in by abandoning team basketball and reverting to iso-ball. The Raptors finished shooting just 42% from the field. Can’t blame Casey for this one. Terrible, terrible shot selection did them in.
Utah Jazz 93 Toronto Raptors 89 Game Recap: Woah, Canada! | SLC Dunk
Yes, the Raptors were staying alive early because of Luis Scola. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry weren’t killing the Jazz, it was Luis. It was close at halftime, only three points down, but the Raptors did a marvelous job closing the first half. At one point down 10, they turned on the jets like a playoff team is supposed to and held significant control during long stretches. Things didn’t look good in the third either, as the Jazz offense stalled. Alec Burks was having a poor first half. Joe Ingles *kinda* had a stealth benching. And Lowry and DeRozan started getting to the line. If Utah was going to win tonight they would have to do it after being down after three quarters. So far this season that ‘comeback’ victory had eluded the Jazz. But it was the offense that won out. How do I mean? Well, the team did score 34 points in the fourth quarter. That’s not nothing. Yes, DeRozan had a poster jam on Rudy Gobert — but this team was really locked in during the fourth quarter. Gordon Hayward started to make some shots. Alec Burks started to make some shots. They both remembered that Derrick Favors was on the team, and got him the ball and he produced.
The Raptors really like him. Casey said he loves Wright’s versatility, his defense, his ability to run the offense and his maturity — all attributes that made him a star at Utah. But Casey’s depth chart has room for only two playmakers, and it’s a numbers game for Wright. “He just needs experience,” Casey said. “He needs to keep living. Right now, he’s playing behind an all-star point guard, but he has all that you need to be an excellent NBA player. He’s got great instincts, he’s got size and he has the defensive ability. He’s just got to stay ready.” Most teams send rookies who aren’t commanding playing time down to the D-League to get them repetition and experience. But the Raptors are keeping Wright because they feel he will develop faster with the big club. They also need to keep a third point guard, in case Lowry or Joseph should suffer injury.
The Roundup—Jazz 93, Raptors 89 | Utah Jazz
After going ice cold in the third quarter, the Jazz caught fire from the field in the fourth. Hayward converted a three-point play and drilled two 3-pointers. Burke hit a three. Burks made three straight shots after going 0-for-6 from the field to start the game. Hood hit two free throws and then sank a runner in the lane. The result was an 82-79 Jazz lead with 4:54 left in the game (their first lead since late in the second quarter).
NBA: Kyle Lowry actually offensively fouled Andre Iguodala twice | ProBasketballTalk
With the shot clock and game clock practically synced, Toronto attempted to score while trailing by one. Kyle Lowry screened Andre Iguodala, and officials called Lowry for a debatable offensive foul. That was the right call, according to the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report. In fact, the league ruled Lowry should have first been called for fouling Iguodala a few seconds earlier.
Raptors’ Terrence Ross Key in Dynamic Duo of Future? | Raptors Rapture
I am still a strong believer in looking to our guards as our future. When looking at starting shooting guards in the league you think of Klay Thompson, James Harden, Dwyane Wade and after that there is a significant talent drop. Ross and DeRozan as individuals may not be in the same tier as the mentioned but together they are possibly the most dynamic duo on the wings when it comes to pure athleticism and above the rim scoring. Together or even separately, the Raptors tandem will be able to keep most defenses alert when it comes to defending the lanes. Despite some of Terrence Ross’ shortcomings and lack thereof development, he complements DeRozan perfectly. While DeMar can get to the rim and draw fouls almost on a whim, Ross provides the outside touch and defensive chops that his wing mate does not. Dynamic? Unquestionable. Duo? Separated by lineups but represent the same. Only time will tell if Ross can live up to his massive extension. For right now all Raptors fans can hope for is a successful recovery, continued development and perhaps another 51 point game.
Toronto Raptors’ 905ers battle to get back to the 416 | Toronto Star
He’s averaging 9.5 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 24 minutes per night, minutes that weren’t available to him with the Raptors, who are in the middle of a five-game West-coast road swing this week. Nogueira’s point, referencing the previous day’s interview, is to say that he’s not happy to be here, not happy that he’s missing the Raptors trip. He means it in the best possible way. “Honestly, it feels strange. I feel strange, I’m not going to lie to you,” he said. “I like to tell the truth and say whatever I want and I feel strange because I played as a pro for a long time (his pro career started in Spain in 2009, his NBA journey started in 2013) and now I’m going to use the D-League to work on (my game). I’m going to try to do the best I can and see if I have a chance to play on the first team again.” These aren’t the words of a malcontent, or of a player on an NBA contract playing in a league that’s beneath him. As honest as Nogueira is, he’s doing the right things.
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