10 things I saw from Raptors-76ers (14–12–2016) – The Defeated
Big problem: Philadelphia went to a two-big frontcourt of Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid then proceeded to push the Raptors around. Offensive rebounding kept the 76ers alive and their size in the frontcourt made life hell for the Raptors down low. That frontcourt can’t defend for shit but Brett Brown should use it more often just to see if either of his centers can develop their perimeter game a bit.
10 observations: Dwane Casey adapts on the fly as the Raptors win in Philadelphia – The Athletic
Credit to Dwane Casey for veering away from the playbook and using some untraditional lineups to get the Raptors back into the game in the second quarter. The Raptors were lethargic, save for Kyle Lowry, to start the game, and trailing 35-31 with about seven minutes to go in the second quarter. Casey then opted for lineups with four guards and wings and just one big man — first with Jonas Valanciunas, and then with Patrick Patterson to finish the quarter. The Raptors outscored the 76ers 29-19 to close out the half. They were not even pounded on the glass, as Patterson had a dunk off of an offensive rebound with 29 seconds to go. Without Lucas Nogueira playing (more on that below), six of the Raptors’ best eight available players were guards or wings, with Patterson and Valanciunas the exceptions. Casey acknowledged that, limited the minutes of his two rookies when the game was in doubt, and got his team ahead by the half.
Raptors hold off hard-charging Sixers in Philly | Toronto Sun
DeRozan was spectacular, before being rested in the fourth with the game seemingly in hand, but Lowry, who had hit all six of his three-point attempts the last time he played the Sixers, was his equal. Lowry made five more threes, handed out seven assists without a single turnover and is now shooting just shy of 60% from three over Toronto’s past 10 games, all but one of them victories. The Raptors improved to 18-7 and will play host to Atlanta on Friday. But they weren’t satisfied.
“We’re not good enough to let up, relax. Every team in this league can come back and get you, that’s what was upsetting about a pretty good-going game until the fourth,” Casey said.
For the Sixers, Embiid and Okafor looked like a nice combo offensively, with Okafor going down low and Embiid looking dangerous from all over the floor. They had their way on the boards too, but as expected, defensively, there were issues.
Still, Embiid is an incredible talent. The last five rookies to average at least 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks through their first 15 games? Embiid, Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon. Some company.
“Give them credit, they kept fighting, five or six offensive rebounds in the fourth,” Lowry said. “They kept playing. That’s a well-coached team, hard-playing team.”
DeRozan ensures Raptors resume dominance of ‘rival’ 76ers – Sportsnet.ca
Raptors coach Dwane Casey decided to alter his lineup to start the third quarter, tapping Patrick Patterson in place of Pascal Siakam at power forward. The move provided Toronto with a little more offensive spark, while also throwing a different look at Embiid on the defensive side of the ball. The change paid immediate dividends as the Raptors really seized control of the game during the third quarter. Siakam will likely return to the starting unit on Friday, but the temporary swap is sure to spark discussion amongst the team’s fan base.
Raptors process the Sixers 123-114 – Raptors HQ
Dwane Casey made a notable switch at the beginning of the third quarter, starting Patrick Patterson over Pascal Siakam. We’ll have to wait and see if this was a matchup-driven decision to face the Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor frontcourt or something we might see more of going forward.
For what it’s worth, that particular lineup (the starters with Patterson in place of Siakam) had a net rating of 24.0 (points scored minus points allowed per 100 possessions) in 75 minutes played coming into this one.
The adjustment worked out just fine too, as the Raptors rode a 32-20 third quarter into a 92-74 lead going into the game’s final frame.
It seemed like the blowout would be on from then on out, but the Sixers made a late push and cut the lead to nine with three minutes to go. The Raptors started to put distance between the two teams again, but the Sixers would make yet another run and cut it to as close as five with 19.6 to go in the game.
They would never get closer, however, with the Raptors ultimately winning 123-114. It ended up a more competitive game than it probably should have thanks to some lackluster defense and sloppy play by the Raptors down the stretch. But a win’s a win and the Raptors are now 18-7.
DeRozan, Raptors stretch streak to four vs. Sixers | Toronto Star
Lowry helped blow the game open in his Philadelphia homecoming. Lowry made a three-pointer in the fourth that stretched the lead to 99-80 and triggered some applause for the all-star, who was raised in the area.
Lowry dedicated the win to his mother on her birthday.
“I got as many points as her age,” he said, laughing.
DeRozan and Lowry helped squash the Sixers’ modest two-game win streak. Long one of the NBA’s worst teams, the Sixers haven’t won three straight since they took four in a row from Dec. 29, 2013 to Jan. 4, 2014.
Robert Covington led the Sixers with 26 points, while Okafor added 17.
Game Rap: Raptors 123, Sixers 114 | Toronto Raptors
UNDERRATED RAPTORS PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME
Patrick Patterson had another huge game off the bench. Although his numbers were modest, with nine points, five rebounds and an assist, the impact he had in his 28 minutes of action was huge. The Raptors were a +16 with Patterson on the floor, and his 12 minutes in the third quarter were crucial as the team built up its lead heading into the fourth. As the Sixers came roaring back late, the Raptors needed every bit of the lead it had built to protect the victory.
Recap: Raptors 123, 76ers 114 – Liberty Ballers
Embiid was held to his lowest scoring output of the season, scoring nine points on just six shot attempts. He also notched six rebounds to go along with a season-high five assists and two blocks in 27 minutes. Okafor played well, scoring 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. Robert Covington led the way, finishing with a season-high 26 points and 12 rebounds while making 10 of his 20 shots and three of his seven three-point attempts on his 26th birthday. Gerald Henderson went 6-for-7 from the field and added 12 points, while Dario Saric and Nik Stauskas combined to go 0-for-5 for four points in 31 minutes between the two.
Philadelphia 76ers: Things We Learned in Loss to Raptors – The Sixer Sense
In the end, the Sixers were brought down by a few major things. One is the incapability to contain players like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry (who combined for 51 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists), and the other was the foul situation. The Sixers finished the game with 27 team fouls, and the Raptors scored 31 points in the game off of free-throws, where the Sixers had just 19 made free-throws.
Of course, the Sixers had turnover issues as always in this game, closing the evening with 14 turnovers.
Towards the end of the game, it looked as if the Sixers might actually be able to pull some sort of miracle off as they were starting to streak and close the lead, but in the end the Sixers were unable to keep momentum going late in the fourth.
You know that rival GMs are looking at this team and thinking it’s a bit stacked. You’ve got three wings who all should play in Carroll, Ross and Powell (yesterday’s item goes into it a little bit), you’ve got two bigs in Valanciunas and Nogueira who are going well and a kid in Poeltl who has shown some promise and other GMs are going to see a glut there and likely make a call to see if anything’s possible.
Now, I don’t think Masai is going to do anything because (a) it’s not his style and (b) he’s got a good team that’s verging on very good and to even tinker now would be counter-productive.
But he and Jeff Weltman have put together a roster that’s deep and talented and has players with varying contractual obligations that is going to be hugely attractive to other general managers.
He’s got guys making no money (Powell, Nogueira), basically average money (Valanciunas, Ross and Carroll) and mixing and matching will unquestionable elicit some interesting proposals
Doing something makes no sense, though. To over-react now to the spectre of Cleveland is silly, there’s far too much time to go in the season; there isn’t a crying need anywhere on the roster at the moment and the prospect of both Jared Sulligner and Delon Wright getting back somewhere near the middle of the season is also alluring.
The Raptors are in a very, very good place in the league, other GMs will assuredly look longingly at the bits that might be pried away and Ujiri has to put his phone away and not bother to listen now that the market is truly open.
Raptors ‘pie’ finds sweet spot with Ross, Carroll, Powell producing | Toronto Star
It’s impossible, given the presence of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Cory Joseph, to use a six-man rotation through three backcourt positions and give each enough minutes to have a true impact on any single game.
Powell, the second-year player, is often the odd-man out, but Ross and Carroll both understand that if they don’t perform consistently then someone else is able to step in.
Ross has been a revelation for most of the season. He’s always possessed astonishing athleticism and has been a good three-point shooter, even if he was mired in periods of wild inconsistency. He’s been fine the entire season and the confidence he has in himself, and the confidence shown by Casey and his teammates, has to have eased his mind.
“We give everyone on our team freedom to do what they do best, and if they work on stuff they can do it,” Lowry said of Ross. “No one ever cares who is successful at any point.
“I think he, right now, is just playing at a high level and he is just continuing to grow. He’s comfortable in the situation he is in. He’s not worried about getting a contract. He’s under contract for three years. I just think all that plays a part in him just being him.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOBLlO7lolY/
TRoss has matured so much as a player. – /r/torontoraptors
I’ve followed the raptors on and off and caught games when I could living outside of Canada, but I’ve noticed TRoss this year has really looked different to me, not only in his composure, I mean he obviously always had the raw talent, but I remember all the off-court shenanigans and social media stuff gave me the impression that he was still learning to mature and wasn’t quite a pro yet, and I think the consensus at the time was nobody was sure if he’d be able to put it all together. Seeing him as a play this year I’m so happy we stuck with him. This team has matured as a group.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOA6-nEhQLf/
Free Association: Should the Raptors trade Terrence Ross? – Sportsnet.ca
JD makes the case why the Toronto Raptors should trade Terrence Ross to get Norman Powell more playing time.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOBZWlqA1_V/
How Lowry became a ‘self-made’ three-point shooter – Article – TSN
“It’s unbelievable,” said the Raptors coach. “I’ve been with Dale Ellis in Seattle, Hersey Hawkins, Ray Allen and the stretch he’s on ranks right up there with those guys, the way he’s shooting the ball with confidence and the way it’s coming off his hand. Great shooters like that, they know, they feel that rhythm that they’re in and he’s in that same rhythm.
“Kyle’s done a tremendous job of working on his three-point game and making himself a great three-point shooter. Not a good three-point shooter, a great three-point shooter. He’s self-made. In high school and college you wouldn’t have said the same thing about him. So it’s something that’s a great example for young kids to say, ‘Hey, you can add something to your game,’ and he’s definitely added that to his game.”
At some point he’ll cool down. That’s the reality with tough, variant shots like the three-ball, and Lowry knows it. For now, he’s just enjoying that feeling. Whether he’s drilling a late-game dagger with a hand in his face, spotting up from 30-feet, completing a four-point play or simply getting reps in after practice, he’s earned that feeling.
“It’s like that runner’s high they talk about,” he explained. “I have never caught the runner’s high. I don’t know what people are talking about, but I think it’s that. That high that no matter what you shoot you feel like it’s going to go in. Even if you miss it, it should have went in. If you shoot an air ball you feel like the rim moved.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOA2f2xFX22/
Kyle Lowry loves reconnecting with alma mater | Toronto Sun
Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Sixers, Lowry reflected on the moment.
“Yeah it was fun, it was great to be a part of a great program and to get recognized for something I did for my country, winning a gold medal for the United States,” said Lowry, clad in a shirt that read: Just a Kid from North Philly.
“Then being able to get a chance to watch the No. 1 team in the country play, it was a little bit of a fancy gathering,” he said, smiling.
The Wildcats beat Temple for the team’s 17th straight victory. Lowry has been paying attention via an app on his phone.
“I don’t watch every game, but every time they play, I know what’s going on,” he said.
When Postmedia caught up with Lowry in the crowd not long after Villanova had won its first championship back in the spring, the point guard was ecstatic. He remains close to the program and head coach Jay Wright. The duo took over Yahoo’s top basketball podcast several months ago for an engaging hour, reminiscing on Lowry’s early days at the school and what has happened since.
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