As the Raptors were owning the Hawks on route to their first 50-win season ever, I drew the short straw (or so I thought) to cover the 905 as Blake is wrestling gators in Florida. Seeing as this was the first time I’ve ever watched a D-League game, I was expecting to say “I could play with these guys” a lot. Obviously I didn’t, and actually enjoyed watching Bruno and Suggs hold it down for the 905.
The Raptors 905 controlled the tempo, flow, and spirit (??? …I have no idea why I said spirit, but I’m keeping it right here) of the game from the tip, and save a horrible 6-minute stretch out of half-time where their 12-point half-time lead turned into a 3-point deficit, they were able to finish the quarter on a 21-9 run that easily carried them to a 108-92 win in Detroit.
A game after a career high 31 points by Caboclo, Bruno followed it up with a solid line of 27pts 11 rebs 2ast 1st 3blk. This was coupled with energetic defense (man and help), disruption in the passing lanes, and a few amazing two-man game moments with Suggs who is my new man-crush; dude reminds me of the greatest college player in the history of the NCAA: Lawrence Moten.
Game notes (I only concentrated on Bruno…because…):
1st Quarter
- Bruno makes the extra pass for better looks on three straight possessions
- Bruno active on defense; dropping down to help on weakside, closes out three point shooter, moving around screens
- Bruno bucket from above the elbow
- Bruno with a transition three like he’s steph curry; no, sorry, he just looked natural popping in transition like that
- Bruno didn’t close out his man in transition, and dude got to the rack; missed cause he’s terrible at basketballing so no harm
- Bruno comes back from a poor defensive stand, and And-1’s the layup
- could have forced a corner three, but made the right pass (that end in anything, but that’s not his fault)
- played suffocating on-the-ball defense on some dude, forced him left, stayed with him the whole way, and blocked him at the basket
- Bruno takes his man off the dribble (right to left), and banks in a floatery-fadey runner
- Raptors end the 1st on 16-2 run, up 10: 26-16
2nd Quarter
- Bruno vocal on defense, calls for switch off a low screen
- Really like how Bruno relocates after feeding the entry pass into the post; opens up space for dude to operate…just good fundamental play
- Fights through screen, with his long-ass arms flailing and disrupts dudes thought of putting up an ill-advised jumper
- Bruno always running to the corners on the break, and always ready to let it fly (attention, footwork, and body positioning)
- Dropped a bit on defense (weakside), and anticipated enough to force dude into an airball layup from 3 feet
- Bruno makes dope rotation to help on defense; takes a shot to the face for his troubles, but forces dude to miss his first attempt
- 51-39 at the half; 905 play solid D to end the half
3rd Quarter
- Bullies Dahntay Jones below the rim and hits the turn around hook
- Very aggressive offensively; hit or miss
- Bruno playing with the ball in the corner, leads to a forced shot as the 24-second clock expires
- Bruno is a tough cover for the Drive; he’s long, quick, and very aggressive off the dribble
- Brutal start to the second half for the 905, came out flat and uninspired (Bhullar played a part in that; utterly unable to play any transition defense)
- Bruno doesn’t hesitate on the catch and shoot from behind the arc #bucket
- Just as quickly as the 905 lost that lead, they turn-around a 6-point deficit into a 6-point lead
- Gives up the corner three for a better shot to Suggs (who nails it)
- 76-67; 905 reverse a poor start to the half that saw them fall back 6 to a 9-point lead heading into the 4th
4th Quarter
- Bruno picking up Dahntay on defense, and really makes him work for the bullshit foul call; clean defense and great block
- Bruno with the drive and kick to Suggs for the three once he drew Suggs defender
- Bruno doesn’t hesitate and pops a three, putting the 905 up 20 (97-77), and officially icing the game…I need to turn this off and catch the end of the Raptor game
Berry lobs it up to Kyser 🐰 #WeTheNorth
A video posted by Raptors 905 (@raptors905) on
Final Thoughts
- Dahntay Jones is still alive and had a career night (NBA or NBDL) with 45 points; crazy he’s not sitting on the end of someone’s bench in the NBA…you’re telling me he couldnt contribute on the Sixers or Lakers? Shiiiiiiiiii
- Sim Bhullar is the opposite of athletic, and not aggressive enough on the low block for a dude his size (couldn’t take advantage of the fact that he’s twice the size of the guy covering him); not even close. One huge thing he doesn’t do, is in the low-post: when he kicks out to the perimeter, he doesn’t re-establish low post position for the feedback; gotta jam on that, big boy. From the limited minutes I saw today, I’d be surprised if he gets back to the NBA.
- Really dig Suggs game; he’s got a bit of the old-school style that Harden (he’s obviously not Harden) flexes. I like him a lot; and am rooting for him to make the NBA
