P. Siakam: B+
Not a huge night in the box score, but looked good, particularly early on when he was active in the post – dishing dimes and pulling up for floaters. Love how comfortable he looks down-low with each passing game. To me, there’s no question his ceiling is higher than Biyombo’s – and that’s coming from Bismack’s #1 fan.
Move the rock. #RTZ https://t.co/EG8OcLzVAk
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 1, 2016
D. Carroll: A
What a sharp contrast to how he looked at the beginning of the season. He went from being the elephant in the room to actually becoming the legitimate two-way player we saw in Atlanta. Rest him on every back-to-back from now until the end of time.
J. Valanciunas: B-
Struggled dealing with Gasol in the post despite playing sound defense (Gasol is good enough to hit tough contested shots inside and taking fadeaways with a 7-footer in his face), and was finding it difficult to tread water defensively when Gasol sucked him out on the perimeter and the Grizzlies were able to get him switched off.
K. Lowry: A+
Really, really efficient night from the field. Carried the team on his back throughout the game, particularly in the first quarter where the team looked lackadaisical.
In addition to his dribble-penetration which enables him to pull up for high percentage looks, the Lowry transition-three remains one of my favourite things in basketball.
D. DeRozan: A
Tony Allen – as is status quo – kept him in check for large stretches throughout the game. But this is not the same DeMar we’ve seen over the years. He’s more efficient now, can score at will, and it’s apparent now that he can hit the three if he really wants to – just opts not to.
Turnovers are ugly, but hey, we’ll live with that given how great he’s become at getting others involved. Assist totals have been up for a while now, especially since that game in Houston. Thanks, James Harden, for being a good influence on our boy.
P. Patterson: A
Looks way more confident with his shot lately, and was a team high +17.
T. Ross: C
Didn’t move the needle much, but was part of the Lowry+bench unit that made a run in the 2nd quarter. Other than that, neither here nor there.
L. Nogueira: C-
Like Jonas, struggled guarding Gasol despite playing good D – that is until Gasol took him outside. In the first half, Bebe lost the Spaniard behind the arc defensively and Casey threw a fit.
Nice job rolling to the rim on a couple occassions.
C. Joseph: A-
His efficiency from three was a big boost which enabled the Raptors to pull away. His play in the 2nd half in particular was fantastic.
N. Powell: Incomplete
I hope he at least had a good TSN stream of the TFC game.
Dwane Casey: A-
Not much to note here. He seemed to realize that JV and Bebe were both liabilities when Marc Gasol was on the floor, and went small to close the game, which I thought was the correct decision. Patterson and Carroll in the frount-court brought more to the table on both ends of the floor and were comfortable switching from 2-5.
Things We Saw
- The depleted Grizzlies looked very Embiid-less-76ersish throughout stretches of the game, and the Raptors’ lackadaisical start hindered them from pulling away early. Only player who showed up was Kyle Lowry, and it wasn’t until the Lowry + bench unit manifested itself where the Raptors start turning the tables. Didn’t help: Grizz shooting near 50% in the first half and the Raptors committing 8 turnovers.
- It was a miracle I put this together, given that I had a set of eyes on the TFC game. The only thing I’ll note is this: switching from the TFC game to the Raptors game was like leaving a rave to attend a morgue.
- This is not the last we’ll see of Vince Carter. Emotions will be kept in a glass cage for another year.
