 | J. Thompson22 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-1 3FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | — +/-His low maintenance offensive game makes him an easy fit in most sets, and most shots are good shots, meaning offensive efficiency. I would say he needs to do more of it on the offensive end, but in reality, he’s doing his job. The defense against Zach Randolph was actually decent in the time Thompson spent on the floor. All things said and done, for a late-season addition that doesn’t seem to get any regularity in his usage, I’ve been impressed with JT’s flexibility in the rotation. |  | |||||||
 | J. Valanciunas36 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 3FG | 9-10 FT | 14 REB | 0 AST | 3 STL | 7 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | — +/-Unbelievable job on the glass for JV, but had no real rhythm or fluidity on offense. I actually thought JV would excel against a team like Memphis given their slower pace and grind-it-out type of play inside, but that wasn’t the case, at least in the first half. I’d like to see JV race down the floor more often, and get deeper post position to put pressure on the defense (after all, this guy’s supposed to be an offensive upgrade from Biyombo and he still has to prove that he can be that consistently in my opinion). Clutch free throws though, and huge rebounds down the stretch. | | |||||||
 | K. Lowry36 MIN | 7-17 FG | 4-10 3FG | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 22 PTS | — +/-The lousy shooting was slightly better tonight, but still not close to mid-season Lowry standards. Hit some timely shots in the third quarter comeback and in the fourth, but the 5 turnovers need to be cut down. Not much more to say, other than I have no doubt the real Lowry will be back if and once fully healthy (hopefully in time for the playoffs). |  | |||||||
 | D. DeRozan36 MIN | 8-17 FG | 1-2 3FG | 10-11 FT | 6 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 27 PTS | — +/-A few questionable shots and could’ve probably been the beneficiary of a few more calls, but DeMar’s been a LOT better against solid defenders this year (who he’s struggled against in past years). At the end of the day, the free throw line is still DeMar’s bread and butter, but when the jumper is falling, DeMar will be dangerous come playoff time as well. |  | |||||||
 | N. Powell31 MIN | 4-4 FG | 2-2 3FG | 4-4 FT | 4 REB | 5 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 14 PTS | — +/-Once again, very very impressive. Probably the only thing I didn’t like in his game tonight was the 4 turnovers. Great energy as usual, defensive intensity was there, and provided the increasingly improving 3-point stroke. I think I’m officially comfortable with the thought of this guy playing decent chunks of playoff minutes. The guy can flat out play, and it’s becoming something we all expect on a nightly basis. | | |||||||
 | P. Patterson26 MIN | 1-9 FG | 0-3 3FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | — +/-Patman’s been shooting much better of late, especially from 3, but tonight was a different story. I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again. If Patterson isn’t hitting 3’s, it makes our offense much less potent that it can be. He still played solid defense in the second half as we’ve come to expect from him, but got completely outplayed by the Memphis bench in the first half. |  | |||||||
 | T. Ross18 MIN | 4-7 FG | 4-6 3FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | — +/-We’ve seen the offense develop off the dribble for Ross, but the catch-and-shoot game is obviously still his game. Hit some huge 3’s in the fourth, but needs to be find more ways to get open by playing more effectively off the ball for the entire game. Though the three-point stroke in the fourth was genius, the defense against the Memphis bench wings was atrocious for most of the game. |  | |||||||
 | B. Biyombo12 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | — +/-Uncharacteristically quiet game for Bismack, who could only muster up a rebound and a block. In his limited time on the floor, Biyombo was completely outplayed on the glass by the Memphis bench bigs (some of whom I legitimately did not know until today). Could have avoided a couple of ticky tack fouls as well. |  | |||||||
 | C. Joseph23 MIN | 1-6 FG | 1-4 3FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | — +/-Not the typical game from CoJo, going 1/6 from the field. Cory needs to be more active distributing the ball on the pick-and-roll with the big guys, especially JV, who needs to roll hard to the cup. He also needs to settle down and take open shots when they come to him; noticed a few times where he hesitated and could’ve easily stroked a mid-range jumper. This will help the keep the defense honest as well, and open up opportunities for other bench shooters like TRoss and Patterson. | | |||||||
 | Dwane Casey Turnovers are hard to put on a coach, but somehow, it felt that the team was generally disorganized in the first half – that needs to be better. With the back-to-back in San Antonio tomorrow, it really makes me wonder whether Casey even wanted to rest anyone today coming in, or if tomorrow is a potential rest game for some of the starters. In any case, he couldn’t seem to find an answer for Memphis’ bench. I liked that he bought some time to get DeMar some rest in the fourth, and also love the way he trusts Norman Powell. Defensive game plan in the second half and particularly in the final minutes was stellar. | | |||||||
THREE THINGS WE SAW
- Bench play (or lack thereof): If this was a game bench against bench, it would’ve been an absolute blowout. After Memphis suited up a record-setting 28th player this season, you would think nothing would come of this game. And yet, Memphis outscored Toronto’s bench 52-19. Toronto’s not the only team Memphis has done this to, but the first half struggles were real.
- Turnovers: This one was as ugly as they come (18 turnovers). Not surprising given the opponent, but ball security has been an issue for the Raps in the playoffs in the past, so today was a warning sign to me. It starts with the point guards, and the wings have to be conscious as well. Difficult passes and general sloppiness absolutely have to be avoided. But hey, being +13 from the line (made FTs) certainly helps.
- Tale of Two Halves: After being outscored by 12 in the second quarter and heading into the break down 8, the Raptors turned things around in the second half, especially on the defensive end. Memphis was held to under 25 points in each of the final 2 frames and the Raps outscored them by 12 overall. Memphis, despite their injuries have remained in the 5th seed in the western conference for some time now, thanks to some solid bench play, which really hurt the Raptors in the first half.
