Quick Reaction: Raptors 122, Sixers 95

You have to ask, and I’m just asking, does Sullinger start when he comes back? If the rest of the guys are hitting the three at their current clip, wouldn’t we want to have shot-blocking and speed over rebounding in the lineup. It’s a good problem to have.

People’s opinion of this guy pendulum between Danny Green and Hedo Turkoglu, and tonight he was closer to Green. Looks more comfortable in his skin, and against a team like the Sixers where there isn’t really a strong wing to guard, this amounts to a night off for him.

Is it just me or are you actually, like, confident when he’s facing up, faking twice, and driving left for a left-handed finish? My theory is that the hair has neutralized the aerodynamics, making him more self-aware, prescient, and possibly immortal. I don’t even feel vulnerable when he’s guarding an athletic center who plays near the three-point line, somehow I feel JV just knows what to do.

He could’ve had 82 tonight if he wanted to. He was getting past the first and second defenders with ease, pulling up whenever he wanted to, making the defense look like they were on a 7-second delay.

Is there a better post-up shooting guard in the league? The way he gathers and turns into the lane with both hands after a post-up is a signal of intent: I’m going up strong and have enough strength and stability to absorb contact, so if you’re going to foul me, foul hard.

Let there not be said that there is any hesitation in Patterson’s threes, which is exactly what we want. When he was gathering himself to take that shot at the end of the first, I’m not saying I knew it was going in, but I knew it had a higher than average chance of going in.

The product of healthy internal competition. Ross’s three remains one of the prettiest shots in the NBA, and when he hits it with consistency and sprinkles it with defense, he’s given you all you can ask for. How many bargain contracts will Ujiri win for the Raptors? You know how they say GMs are scared to deal with Ujiri? Hell, I’d say players should be afraid to deal with him too.

Came in, bought a bus ticket back to Mississauga, and is now safely back on the GO bus.

He had a chance to go up strong after a pick ‘n roll, but instead waited to get fouled. I don’t even understand that. Good stuff overall in a game where nothing was asked of anyone.

“The Big Shnitzel”.

Shout-out to Robert Gray who sent that nickname idea via email.

Was the most excited about the free pizza tonight.

What’s happened to his defense? He gave up dribble penetration on every other possession in the first half by either going up on the screen, or just falling for the simplest of fakes. Don’t get me wrong, he’ll be fine when it’s all said and done, but I wish there was another dimension to his offensive game.

There’s a rumour that during practice Dwane Casey wears a Norman Powell jersey just to motivate Ross. If that’s the only function Powell serves, I’m fine with it. Also, you think if we offer him a 3-year $8M/yr extension he’d take it?

Some days you just gotta show up. This was one of those days.