10 things I saw from Raptors-Hawks | Getting Benched
Not bothered by the loss and I liked how Casey approached the game. Didn’t play his starters too long, tried a whole bunch of new lineups (gotta get Carroll those reps), and looks to be in playoff preparation mode.
DeMarre Carroll returns in Raptors’ loss to Hawks | Toronto Sun
Wins may not be paramount as the Raptors wind down their regular season, but don’t tell Dwane Casey that.
The Raptors head coach knows how easily bad habits can creep in and he saw one at the beginning of last night’s game as his Raptors eased into the game and made it very clear he doesn’t want to see it again.
“They came out and played like it meant more to them than it did to us,” Casey said of the Hawks who built an early lead and then hung on for the win.
“We played like it was ‘OK, we got the second seed.” Casey said. “You can’t approach games like that. That first quarter was a killer. They got their rhythm, they got their confidence. They set the tone of the game. We played hard enough at the end to get back into it but the way you start is the way you finish.”
Casey is rightfully on hyper alert for any kind of letdown even with the second seed wrapped up. He wants his team going into the playoffs on a high. The first seven minutes of last game was the exact opposite of the high he wants his team in once the second season begins.
Raptors fall to Hawks despite return of DeMarre Carroll | Toronto Star
Carroll, who spent the previous two seasons with the Hawks, seemed to only recently have received word he’d be playing on Thursday. He said playing in Atlanta in front of his family was a nice bonus.
He checked into the game at the start of the second quarter and stole the ball from Hawks guard Dennis Schroder. His shot was off early — he was 2-for-4 from the field and didn’t score his first basket until he hit an elbow three more than four minutes into the fourth quarter — but he was aggressive on defence and wasn’t afraid to throw his body around. He set a particularly hard screen to get open things up for that three-pointer.
“It felt good,” Carroll said. “I got it in, did what I was supposed to do, and that’s be active, do the dirty work. Try to get steals and play good defence.”
“He gave us energy,” Casey said. “He’s on a minute limitation. I thought he came in and gave it to us defensively. Made a big shot, but it’s going to take him time. We don’t expect him to come out and change the world right off the bat.”
Raptors Takeaways: Carroll has positive impact in return vs. Hawks | Sportsnet.ca
The book on the Raptors around the league is to keep them off the free-throw line. Toronto took only seven free-throw attempts in the first half. DeRozan, who normally lives at the line, took just two attempts. When DeRozan has the same amount of free-throw attempts as he has three-point attempts you know something is wrong. DeRozan was just 7-of-24 and finished with 16 points in 33 minutes. The Raptors’ backcourt duo combined for just 32 points on 13 of 39 shooting.
Raps lose to Hawks 95-87 in DeMarre Carroll’s return | Raptors HQ
The Raptors trailed for the majority of the game before making things interesting early in the fourth quarter. Battling back to bring the deficit to three with less than a minute remaining, Teague completed a monster three-point play that proved to be too much for the Raptors to overcome.
It wasn’t one of the Dinos’ prettiest games, however you won’t find too many upset fans over the setback. The Raps are locked into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference and are (luckily) separated from the third-to-sixth seed battle that the Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets find themselves in. Considering Toronto has already locked up home court advantage and the Hawks haven’t, Atlanta simply had more at stake in the affair.
Toronto had won three straight over Atlanta, so you had to figure the Raps were due for a loss against a red-hot squad that’s won 16 of its last 21. Atlanta boasts the second-best defense in the Association since the calendar flipped to 2016, and Mike Budenholzer’s system was on display once again in an impressive performance across the board.
If the Hawks can retain the third seed, these clubs could very likely be seeing much more of each other in the second round of the playoffs should they advance that far (I’m not jinxing it, I swear). The East has significantly improved overall in a season where new contenders have emerged, but that doesn’t mean the Hawks should be overlooked in the postseason. Make no mistake: this is a very dangerous basketball team.
Teague, Korver help Hawks hold off Toronto | Atlanta Journal Constitution
Valanciunas hit a free throw to make it a two-point game in the final minute, but Teague followed with a three-point play — Atlanta’s first field goal since the 6:01 mark — to put the Hawks up 91-86 with 48 seconds left.
“They came out aggressive on both ends,” DeRozan said. “A team that’s fighting for something and a team that we beat three times — I’m pretty sure that they didn’t want to make it a fourth — so they came out ultra-aggressive.”
Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) scores as Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Millsap and Teague each hit a pair of free throws in the last 21 seconds to close out the win.Atlanta, which outscored the Raptors 22-2 on fast-break points, never trailed after Thabo Sefolosha’s 3 made it 13-11 early in the first.
Jeff Teague leads Hawks to 95-87 victory over Raptors | Peachtree Hoops
The home team looked to put things away early in the closing period, scoring the first seven points, but Toronto simply wouldn’t fade, responding with 10 straight on their own volition to bring the Atlanta advantage down to only four. Korver (mercifully) ended that barrage with a crucial three-pointer, but the Raptors kept coming and the Hawks struggled mightily on offense.
The offense produced just two points in more than four minutes of action, and during that time, the dangerous Raptors slashed the margin to just three points. After the two teams traded buckets (and empty possessions, to be fair), Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas made two free throws with 59.6 seconds remaining to bring the lead to just two points (the smallest margin of the half) and it was gut check time for Atlanta.
On cue, Jeff Teague took matters into his own hands, getting to the rim for an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Hawks a five-point cushion with 48 seconds on the clock. From there, it was a game of free throw shooting with a bit of “interesting” officiating sprinkled in.
Raptors-Hawks: Five Observations | Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Hawks were committed to keeping Lowry and DeRozan off the free-throw line. They two are proficient at getting free attempts. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer reminded his team – several times – Thursday morning not to fall for Lowry’s pump fakes behind the 3-point line. Lowry was 2 of 5 from the line and DeRozan was 2 of 2. That’s just seven trips – and Lowry got three attempts on a questionable foul call. In the game between the teams on March 30, the two were 12 of 14 from the line.
A photo posted by DeMarre Carroll (@demarrecarroll1) on
Raptors-Hawks: Quoteboard | Atlanta Journal Constitution
“I think defensively to make it difficult on those two guards (Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan) is always a priority. I thought a lot of different guys guarded them, a lot of different guys hopefully made it difficult on them. Our defense gave us a chance to win a tough game against a very good team. It’s a good win at home. Tim Hardaway coming off the bench, I thought had some big buckets in the second half. Obviously Jeff (Teague) down the stretch was great. Paul (Millsap) and Al (Horford), their activity around the basket, blocking shot. Thabo (Sefolosha) getting the job most of the night on DeRozan. It was a good win. A lot of guys played well.” – Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer’s opening statement
Game Rap: Raptors 87, Hawks 95 | Toronto Raptors
SLUGGISH START
Despite the emotional boost of Carroll’s return, Toronto got off to a very slow start in Atlanta, falling behind 28-20 after one. They had a better effort in the second, outscoring the Hawks 23-19 in the quarter to get within four at the halftime break. Toronto would have better stretches in the second half, but Atlanta played like the team still fighting for something, as they continue to battle with the Boston Celtics and Miami heat for third in the Eastern Conference.
A video posted by raptorsdancepak (@raptorsdancepak) on
Post Game Report Card: Toronto Raptors fall to Hawks | Raptors Cage
Offence: C+
The Raptors struggled to get into an offensive flow early on, ending the first quarter with four turnovers. The rest of the game, Atlanta stifled Toronto’s offence by playing physical, and by clogging the lane. Paul Millsap was a big factor for the Hawks, picking up five blocks.
The only bright spot was that all of the Raptors starters scored in double figures. Norman Powell scored 10 points, proving once again that he is a reliable option on offence. Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 points, but Al Horford would not give him any breathing room in the post, limiting him to only six shots.
Raptors’ DeMarre Carroll Active Against Hawks | Today’s Fastbreak
Even despite some of his struggles, getting Carroll back just in time for the postseason should give the second-seeded Raptors a boost. He brings more versatility to the roster with his three-point shooting and excellent defense, and he can play both on the wing and as a small ball 4.
DeMarre Carroll returns to Raptors lineup Thursday after missing 41 games | ProBasketballTalk
While it will take a little while for Carroll to get back to form (there are four regular season games left), this is exactly what the Raptors needed heading into the playoffs. Carroll is expected to play 15 minutes Thursday.
Toronto’s weakness has been the four spot. The Raptors have started Luis Scola there most of the season, with Patrick Patterson playing behind him. If one of those guys were getting bench minutes as a backup it would be workable, but as starters they are a big hole in the lineup. One Carroll can fill if healthy and able to play a small-ball four. That’s a key reason the Raptors paid him $60 million this past offseason (four-year deal). Carroll is a “3&D” guy who can space the floor on offense and, when healthy, lock up the best wing defender on the other team. He was a force for the Hawks in last year’s playoffs.
The Raptors, even without Carroll, set a franchise record for wins with 52 — but that’s not how their season will be judged. This team hasn’t gotten out of the first round since the Vince Carter/purple jersey era, and fans expect at least that if not a trip to the conference finals.
Caboclo shows major progress & more Raptors 905 takeways from Year One | Sportsnet.ca
As the 905 ascended this season, so did Raptors 2014 first-rounder Bruno Caboclo.
For the season, the 6-foot-9 Brazilian averaged 14.7 points per game on 40.3 per cent shooting, but from the beginning of that 18-9 stretch he put up 15.7 points per on an improved 43.9 per cent from the field, that included a fabulous final month of March where he averaged 18.4 points on 44.7 per cent, and saw him come up with 27-, 29- and 31-point performances.
Coming into the season, the 905 was mostly viewed as a Caboclo development house, and if you still adhere to that train of thought, those stats are definite proof that some improvement has been made.
Looking deeper, Caboclo’s shot selection also vastly improved from the beginning of the season to the end, something that’s been chalked up to the 20-year-old maturing over the course of the year.
“I remember at the beginning of the season his frustration and you could tell he was visibly upset during the game,” Mermuys said. “And then I remember— it was definitely in the second half of the season— I got upset after he took two bad shots in a row, we sat him down and I looked over and he was sitting there like a pro. There was no emotion, there was no frustration. He looked like a guy who was just engaged in the game, waiting for his turn to go back in. And that was a huge moment for us to see that growth, that maturity to see that he was able to take that criticism. …
Jonas Valanciunas learning to protect ‘like a true big man’ | The Globe and Mail
The 7-foot, 255-pound centre had a defensive stance that was too upright. Opposing players were barrelling toward him or running doughnuts around him at speeds he couldn’t handle, and he had to be pulled off the floor late in fourth quarters. He wasn’t the dominant rim protector fans were demanding from a fifth overall draft pick.
But that has changed for Valanciunas in his fourth NBA season. The 23-year-old Lithuanian has improved his pick-and-roll defence, thanks to better conditioning and technique, help from new defensive-minded teammate Bismack Biyombo and changes to Toronto’s schemes. As a result, Valanciunas has been able to stay on the floor more and achieve some career stats.
“Everyone wants a guy to be a five-year pro from Day 1 and it doesn’t happen in this league,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. “He took his lumps the first few years, but now his experience has helped him. He’s now seen every team in the NBA and knows what players can do what.”
James Johnson Watch Week 24: This is almost the end | Raptors HQ
Did James Johnson Play?
Ostensibly, the answer is yes. Johnson did get into one game out of three this week for a total just shy of 17 minutes. (If you took the under last week, good on you.) This specific situation says two things. First, Johnson started in the Spurs game that saw the Raptors rest both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Obviously, the team needed live bodies — as evidenced by Toronto giving healthy minutes to Delon Wright and Jason Thompson. Second, Johnson was invisible in his 16 minutes and 52 seconds. He scored two points (on free throws), grabbed a rebound, and missed all five shots he took.
Whatever Rubicon we’ve been in the process of crossing with Johnson, it appears we’ve made it to the other side.
Pacers focus on beating Raptors, not possible playoff meeting | Indy Star
Paul George said he thinks the Raptors will not be coy about Friday’s game. George expects DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, the Raptors’ leading scorers, to be in uniform for the game. The opposite happened in the Pacers’ previous two games, as Cleveland’s LeBron James and New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis sat out to rest.
“This is a veteran group and this team has been together a while now,” George said of the Raptors, who have been eliminated in the first round the past two years. “They’re not going to let up and they have had some trouble in the playoffs. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be smart for them to change what they’re doing. They want to get out of this first round and make it to the second round. The only way of doing that is continuing to play well now heading into the playoffs.”
The Pacers don’t have the luxury of choosing rest – at least not yet.
George said he would consider resting his battered body if the Pacers win Friday and clinch their playoff spot. He said that would be an additional motivation for Friday’s game.
“If we can lock up a playoff spot, and get not only myself but a couple other of these guys off their feet and give them that extra day of rest, I think that’s most important,” he said.
Raptors-Indiana Pacers: Friday game preview | Toronto Star
NBA Preview – Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors – Apr 08, 2016 | CBSSports.com
They’ll attempt to clinch a berth against another Eastern Conference power which may also decide to give its stars a breather Friday night when they visit the Toronto Raptors.
Indiana’s magic number for securing a spot in the postseason is down to one with four games to play after Chicago lost to Miami on Thursday. The Pacers (42-36) are one-half game ahead of Detroit for seventh place in the East and reaching the playoffs seems a near-certainty with their final three contests against also-rans Brooklyn, New York and Milwaukee.
Even a date in Toronto in a possible playoff preview may not be as daunting if the Raptors (52-26) opt to rest or limit the minutes of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.
Did I miss something? Send me any Raptors-related article/video: rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
