 | L. Scola 24 MIN | 3-5 FG | 3-5 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 9 PTS | -9 +/- Hit an early three and picked up a charge on Amir on the break. Other than those two gems, was invisible on D and useless on O. If you’re of the opine that JV is too slow for the game, then you must feel 10 times that about Scola? My biggest fear in the post-season is that he gets significant playing time against a team that’s got a four that’s hell-bent on destroying him. |  | |||||||
 | J. Valanciunas 21 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-1 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -1 +/- Limited minutes despite being very effective. No idea why people are hating on him, he scored in the post, he scored outside, and he rebounded. What more do we want from this guy? Just because he looks awkward doing what he does, doesn’t make him ineffective. In that second half where we were launching jumpers with reckless abandon, maybe JV would’ve been a more stable option. |  | |||||||
 | C. Joseph 32 MIN | 4-16 FG | 0-3 3FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | -19 +/- Got the nod as Lowry rested. Generally when he’s aggressive on the perimeter it works out, not today since their guards are quick enough to turn the corner, especially against Scola or JV. Probably would’ve been better off just hanging back and letting them shoot from deep. |  | |||||||
 | D. DeRozan 36 MIN | 6-16 FG | 1-3 3FG | 8-9 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 21 PTS | -11 +/- I like how people change their opinion on his looming max-contract on a shot-by-shot basis. The guy couldn’t completely carry the team to a win. Is that really surprising? The guy needs shooters around him so when he drives the defense can’t just start sawing his arm off trying to get a steal. No Lowry and Patterson meant more Wright and another guy who can’t shoot, so don’t be surprised when he’s shooting a low percentage and taking questionable shots. Got a little too easily bothered Turner and Bradley. |  | |||||||
 | N. Powell 12 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -3 +/- He started the game but then Casey decided to stick with Delon Wright and his ball-handling/quarterbacking over Powell’s gun-slinging. |  | |||||||
 | J. Johnson 7 MIN | 1-3 FG | 1-2 3FG | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | +0 +/- Totally forgot about him until he hit that three in the fourth quarter. I’d figure he’s versatile enough and cuts hard to get more minutes but Casey just didn’t feel comfortable giving any of Ross’s or Thompson’s minutes to him because of the lack of outside shooting. Guy looked pretty nonplussed. |  | |||||||
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 | J. Thompson 24 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-1 FT | 10 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | -4 +/- Active game again, and no complaints from my end. He’s as advertised and seems to fit in well on both ends. Wish he had a mid-range jumper, though. |  | |||||||
 | T. Ross 36 MIN | 5-18 FG | 1-6 3FG | 2-3 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | -10 +/- Hot first half but then couldn’t hit much in the second half. Thought he should’ve come in earlier in the third so his momentum could carry, and when he wasn’t on the court it became very congested for DeRozan. Still, the approach to the game is good, he just needs another season of attacking the way he’s attacking right now and the shot-making will improve. | | |||||||
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 | B. Biyombo 27 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-2 FT | 13 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -12 +/- Missed a couple chances to score, but was significant on the rebounds. In this game, though, JV was the guy to play more since it wasn’t rebounding that was our main problem, but scoring. | | |||||||
 | D. Wright 20 MIN | 3-10 FG | 0-1 3FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | +4 +/- There’s an invisible wall for him right near the shoulders which he’s not confident/quick enough to penetrate. Did OK in running the sets in stretches, but his outside shot is so bad that it limits what he can do overall. This was a meaningless game, really, so it’s good to see him get some run. |  | |||||||
 | Dwane Casey No idea why he benched JV. Johnson should’ve played a little more, since he actually drives and finishes. Couldn’t quite get creative enough to generate offense with two outside shooters missing, and what we saw a whole lot of one-on-one with no end product. |  | |||||||
Four Things We Saw
- Raptors shot 35%. That’s the danger of having a half-decent defensive team zero in on DeMar DeRozan. Didn’t help we didn’t have any shooting, but forget all that, we need Lowry or else we’re toast.
- Cory Joseph, James Johnson, Luis Scola, and Delon Wright were not shown any respect (and rightfully so) when it came to perimeter shooting. They were sagging off of them to swipe at JV, hack DeRozan, and it worked. Would’ve liked to see JJ more because he’s the only one who can cut and finish.
- The positive here is that Lowry was rested, and we’ve been wanting that for quite some time. The rest of the season isn’t so much about winning games, but making sure everyone’s right heading in, so this loss isn’t bothering me too much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jlqkn-4h0
