Raptors 101, Pacers 94 (OT), | Quick Reaction | Boxscore
As the second quarter was winding down, I had already written my opening; or so I thought:
What a game! An all-out display of heart, hustle, a never-say-die attitude, and a crowd that erupted at every turn — Baylor vs. Yale was awesome! Not to mention Little Rock’s “upset” over Purdue. As for Toronto’s visit to Indiana: well, how much time do you have?
Little did I know that a rewrite was in the works. Let’s try that again:
What a second half! Not so much in the aesthetically pleasing department but more in terms of two teams scrapping to the bitter end while trying to overcome their overall struggles. And that’s not me wearing glass-half-full shades — I was ready to attack the moment the Raps’ abysmal 32 percent from the field gave me a full-blown first-half migraine. The Pacers 36 percent over that same span didn’t inspire much of a March Madness kind of entertainment value, either.
Which reminds me:
I certainly can’t knock anyone who decided to make the NCAA Tourney their Thursday night priority. Nor would I take issue with anybody who took the night off to enjoy a few pints (or an incredible amount) of Green beer. But if you fell into one of those categories, you missed out on a potential sneak preview of what Round 1 of the playoffs has in store.
It’s the possible matchup that’s been lost in the “fear of Chicago” shuffle. Even though often times over the course of the year it’s been hovering around a level of probability.
Side note: Judging by what I’ve come across, the majority of this fan base remains terrified of the Bulls ending up as the East’s seventh seed. So much so that if this playoff series does take place, many will be booking a first-round exit before it even begins. We haven’t witnessed a second-round appearance since 2001, but will we be truly satisfied with this club just getting there?
Sure, it’s the next step, but the ceiling of this squad is far greater than that. The Raps will have to face stiffer competition than Chicago to reach that level anyway so why not face one of their demons off the bat? This franchise won’t go anywhere until they own a “Bully” mentality — what better way is there to make it official?
On the other hand, I’m not naive to the fact that beating Chicago will likely take every ounce of talent and strategy the Raps can muster.
Still, I say bring it on. For those who see things differently, the fact that the Raptors would meet Indiana if the Playoffs started today must be music to your ears. But don’t get me wrong, if that occurs, I’ll be all-in with the rest of you. As despite the bumpy ride, Thursday offered more than a few glimpses of just how much fun that battle could be.
The only place to start is with the one who made the most noise:
The Relentless Machine
When word hit that Valanciunas would again be sitting out, thoughts of JV taking advantage of the Pacers less-than-intimidating frontline went with it — though Jordan Hill and Myles Turner did put forth a valiant effort in defeat. But just as I should’ve known better when it comes to the Raps getting their act together as games progress, the notion of what Biyombo could accomplish should have provided immediate reassurance.
Much like the majority of onlookers, I’ve been singing Bismack’s much-deserved praises throughout the year. I just didn’t foresee him making such a STATEMENT!
His fine print went as follows: A new franchise record of 25 boards, nine of which were made on the offensive glass (a career-high). And to top it off, another career-high of 16 points, a team-leading +17 rating, and two timely and transition-starting blocks thrown in for good measure.
It’s fitting that he surpassed the now-former holder of the rebound record (24), Donyell Marshall, who also holds the Raptors’ 3-point record (12): The Underrated helped bring back a fellow member of the club into the spotlight.
Another (but quicker this time) side note: Shoutouts to Reggie Evans and Chris Bosh who sit tied for third on the list with 22. I think we all can agree that Evans was a fan-favorite, but the mixed reviews on Bosh are rather puzzling. Personally, I wasn’t drawn to CB4’s personality, but to think of his on-the-court contributions as anything other than being “Mount Rushmore Worthy” is foolish.
Back to Bismack: One might argue that Biyombo grabbed so many boards by default considering the Raps missed so many shots. One might also suggest there’s a direct correlation between Lowry and DeRozan going a combined 17 for 48 (35%) and Biyombo’s mere presence on the floor at the same time.
Well, I get that the opposition isn’t going to respect his offensive game and that K-Low and DeMar are going to overcompensate by shooting more. But if you’re in that camp, you’re missing the positives. Most of which could truly flourish if (insert broken record) PP was moved into the same unit. Not necessarily become a starter, though at this point an experiment is in order; I’m talking about the extended minutes unit.
PP’s 33 minutes, and relatively silent night (except for his thunderous drive to the rim in the fourth quarter which helped seal the deal) throws those views back in my face but one game doesn’t equal what could become formidable with a consistent opportunity.
Biyombo wouldn’t have gotten half of his chances on the glass if his motor wasn’t running 24/7. He gives new meaning to the expression “Business Never Personal” with his no-nonsense approach yet completely selfless mindset. If there’s any chance to retain a possession, you better believe Bismack’s getting dirty. Not to mention what his sheer presence in the paint provides: It allows the perimeter defense to be more opportunistic and then thrive off of the transition chances he creates. And if you watched the Raps’ perimeter defense last night, it’s sorely lacking in conventional wisdom.
Did I mention his pick and roll awareness showed vast improvement? Even with Lowry showing visible frustration over his butter fingers when attempting to hit him in stride close to the basket. Let’s just say his contract situation has only seen the beginning of its drama. Though if there’s a list of players out there that seemingly value their place of employment over the dollar signs attached, Bismack would top it.
Speaking of contracts and dollar signs, this game had a few more headliners:
- Plenty was made about how well the team played in Milwaukee without the services of DeRozan and what it should mean for the future of his club. DeMar fired back at his critics in a way they weren’t expecting: ON DEFENSE! When Norman Powell got the starting nod, one quickly realized DD would then have the unenviable task of checking Paul George. Normally, I would think throwing him to the wolves would only benefit the long-term. But he aced the test with flying colors with consistent ball pressure, disrupting passing lanes, and agitating George to the point where any semblance of a groove was nowhere to be found.
- The Lowry-George Hill matchup was entertaining. Chippy fouls, one-upmanship, and a battle of composure. It’s one of the many aspects of Lowry’s evolution process when he thrives after struggling, especially in key moments down the stretch. Does that make up for eight turnovers? Kind of, but not exactly. The Raps made 14 overall and when you’re to blame for more than half of them against a team that ranks 3rd in points off of said turnovers, you should be held accountable.
- Casey joined an “exclusive” club following the win with his now 200-179 record as Raptors’ Head Coach. He joins Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, Rick Carlisle, and the man on the opposing bench, Frank Vogel as the only current coaches with 200 wins with their current teams. The hate on Casey has seemingly died down as the season has progressed, or at least been put on hold, but does it speak to Casey becoming an upper-echelon Coach or does it simply represent the cutthroat nature of the NBA and the lifespan of its coaches?
- The awareness of this team on both ends still leaves plenty to be desired. T.O. was burned twice for open threes on inbound plays. Once at the end of the first half, the other late in the fourth quarter. Help defense was once again happening in areas of the floor that didn’t exactly require it while communication was almost non-existent leaving noticeable blind spots. As for DeRozan’s final shot in regulation, creativity wasn’t exactly screaming at the top of its lungs. Time was of the essence, I get it, but could T-Ross have been hit on a cross-court pass for a wide open look? That’s debatable, yet worthy of discussion.
No matter which way you let this game marinate, the Raps are back at tonight for yet another highly intriguing Friday matchup. March Madness in the afternoon, Celtics in the evening. A perfect combination.
