10 things I saw from Raptors-Knicks (15–1–2017) – The Defeated
Healthy DeMarre: This is peak Carroll post knee surgery. Carroll is averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field and 41 from deep to go along with the highest plus-minus on the team over his last four games while logging time at both forward positions. Tonight he was brilliant: heady cuts to the basket, moving to open spots for 3, everything the Raptors thought they were getting.
Nearly impossible to slow down Raptors with Kyle Lowry surrounded by 3-point shooters – The Athletic
Against the Knicks, Ross had 12 points, all in that second quarter, Powell had 21 points, Carroll had 20 and Lowry had 16. Those four players combined for all eight of the Raptors’ 3-pointers. They all shoot at least 37 per cent from 3-point range. It is the type of modern lineup, especially with a big man who can block shots, set screens, roll to the basket and pass — Lucas Nogueira — that can put up points in a hurry. The Raptors had 42 points in that second quarter.
It has just been a hard lineup to use much of this season, as the Raptors have a log jam at the wing. While Lowry plus pretty much any group of reserves tends to obliterate opponents, Ross and Powell, for example, have logged just 180 minutes together. It makes sense, as DeMar DeRozan plays more than 35 minutes per game, and the Raptors have been feeding minutes to Carroll to try to get him back in his rhythm — with good reason. Still, when those two players share the floor, the Raptors score 124.9 points per 100 possessions, the most for any pair of players on the team.
Of course, the Raptors have found that they can score with pretty much any lineup on the floor. It is the defence that is the issue, when there is an issue.
“I think the defensive end is where we do it first,” Lowry said. “Once we do it on the defensive end and get out and go, (the offence) works.”
To that end, it was the third quarter that was the most pleasing to Casey. The Knicks scored just eight points, and appeared to give up on an endless number of possessions. The Raptors started the quarter on a 25-2, and the Knicks looked disinterested or unwilling at stopping the run on multiple occasions.
Raptors Post-Game: Dwane Casey – January 15, 2017 – YouTube
Raptors take easy win over Knicks | Toronto Sun
DeRozan started with five straight misses, but was otherwise fine. Lowry and Ross (breaking out of a 5-for-29 outside shooting slump with four triples) joined him and Jonas Valanciunas dominated on the boards from the outset. Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose started strongly for the Knicks, but faded as the dreadful visitors lost for the 10th time in the past 12 games. Valanciunas had 16 rebounds and the Raptors outscored the Knicks 66-30 in the paint.
That young, final group of Knicks Hornacek referred to — noticeably missing the veteran big names — began the fourth on a big run to cut the nearly 40-point deficit way down and make the final score appear a lot closer than this one actually was. Still, The chasm was way too large to cross and the Raptors didn’t even need to bother reinserting most of the starters, concluding this four-game homestand with three victories following last Sunday’s loss against Houston.
“It’s definitely great,” DeRozan said of being able to get some rest. “When you count as many games in the fourth quarter that I’ve sat out, I think it’s beneficial for guys to get rest and (others to get) reps. The younger guys are gonna play a little bit, so it’s definitely good.
“We’re not putting ourselves in predicaments where we’ve got to fight extremely hard just to get back in the game, with a run late like we did last year. We’re taking advantage of the third and fourth quarters to come out even more aggressive, and it’s paying off.”
Raptors blow out Knicks with big second, third quarters | Toronto Star
“We’ve got some good pieces that fit, they know where each other are, (there is) the continuity from over the years, the playing with each other, knowing each other, all that stuff adds together,” Casey said after the Raptors routed the New York Knicks 116-101 at the Air Canada Centre in a game that wasn’t nearly as close at the score would indicate.
“And they’re playing with a tremendous amount of confidence on the offensive end.”
What the Raptors did to the Knicks in the middle two quarters Sunday was astonishing and it made it look as if New York simply gave up.
Toronto scored 42 points in the second quarter alone — taking a 15-point lead at the half — and then began the third quarter on a stunning 25-2 run over 10 minutes. The lead bloomed to 38 at one point, turning the entire fourth quarter into garbage time.
“I think we started to get more physical after the first quarter,” guard Kyle Lowry said. “We just kept going and being more physical. The bigs did a good job of rebounding. We got out and were able to run.”
Raptors Post-Game: Kyle Lowry – January 15, 2017 – YouTube
Carroll finding his rhythm with Raptors – Video – TSN
DeMarre Carroll is playing some of the best basketball of his Raptors’ career and now that the team is adjusting to his presence, it’s paying dividends on the court. The NBA on TSN panel has more and discusses the assertive play of Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross.
Game Rap: Raptors 116, Knicks 101 | Toronto Raptors
FINISHING IT OUT
Although the Knicks would cut into the Raptors lead to open the fourth with an all-reserves lineup on the floor for the Raptors, the final quarter was all but a formality. DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas all rested for the final 12 minutes as Norman Powell led the team in scoring with 12 pints in the quarter. The Knicks played their reserves for the entire fourth as well.
Raptors Post-Game: DeMar DeRozan – January 15, 2017 – YouTube
How It Happened:
After a competitive first quarter in Toronto, the Raptors unleashed a 42-point second period and then outscored New York 27-8 in the third frame. The league’s No. 1 team in offensive rating shined on Sunday afternoon by shooting 52.2 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent behind the arc while only committing 6 turnovers in the first 3 quarters. For the Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis was sidelined once again and his replacement in the starting lineup left the game early in the first quarter. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 23 points, DeMarre Carroll posted 20, and Jonas Valanciunas snagged 16 boards.
Raptors trash the Knicks, 116-101 – Raptors HQ
For the Raptors, the win was business as usual. They should have won, and they did, because they are by far the better team, with much more to play for. Even if the Knicks made the playoffs, which is doubtful at this point, do they really have championship aspirations? Hopefully not, though Rose did call his squad a super team over the summer. The Raptors aren’t particularly super, but they are the only team that might be able to mess with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even that might be a stretch.
DeMarre Carroll is finding his place with the Raptors, after a lacklustre start to the season. He missed most of his first year in Toronto, and finding fit does take time. Now, instead of looking to him as a dynamite three-point shooter, he gets more varied touches from his point guards, mixing up long-bombs with cuts to the hoop. He finished with 20 points and two steals on 54 percent shooting.
Raptors Post-Game: Norman Powell – January 15, 2017 – YouTube
New York Knicks vs Toronto Raptors Recap, Highlights, Final Score, More – Empire Writes Back
The starting lineup had their way against the Knicks starting lineup, who were without Kristaps Porzingis once again. They then lost his replacement, Lance Thomas, two minutes into the game after he was elbowed in the head by Jonas Valanciunas as he did not return.
It probably would not have mattered too much, as the whole starting unit got crushed. The best plus/minus ratio in the starting five, outside of Thomas, was -22 for Courtney Lee. The Knicks hit a low in the third quarter when they scored only eight points and the Raptors really extended their lead.
The Knicks had a strong first quarter, as they trailed by only one point going into the second quarter. But the Raptors would blow them out in the next two quarters, outscoring the Knicks by 33 points.
Rob Perez on Twitter: “#KnicksTape https://t.co/SPqjhKUxIU”
#KnicksTape https://t.co/SPqjhKUxIU
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 15, 2017
Hornacek threatens changes as Knicks get utterly humiliated | New York Post
“Forget the third quarter, the entire game,’’ Rose said. “We let them score 69 points in one half. How do you expect to win? Everybody has to analyze what’s going on. It’s the first time [for me] being in this.’’
Raptors Republic on Instagram: “Defence led to this #steal #wethenorth”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPT-AaqgENq/
Home Court: What Sullinger’s road back to the Raptors could look like – Video – TSN
Home Court host Meghan McPeak & co-hosts Duane Watson & Josh Lewenberg discuss Jared Sullinger being cleared for practice and what his transition back might entail including a possible stint with the Raptors 905.
Raptors continue to prove why they’re the anti-Knicks – Sportsnet.ca
The Raptors are now 8-2 against Jackson’s Knicks over the past three years and have won six straight against New York. And their advantage is building, as the effort spent to invest patience in growing a culture is beginning to bear fruit.
“The way the team is run, top to bottom, is really good. They’re good at being organized,” said second-year Raptors guard Norm Powell, who had 21 points off the bench on Sunday. “Everybody knows their roles to keep the wheels turning. I just like the feeling of it. Everyone’s really close, it’s a family-type vibe from coach Casey all the way down the line to Bruno [Caboclo] … and I think that’s what makes this team so good.
“It not only helps people like me, who are young, but the knowledge spreads and keeps you together. You see teams that are up and down, organizations that are still trying to rebuild and things like that and this team is really close and that helps [the young guys] learn. The flow of it is amazing.”
The Knicks — and a lot of NBA teams — can only wish for such an endorsement. This season was supposed to mark the turnaround after Jackson was at least patient enough to allow the Knicks to linger near the basement long enough to draft Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall in the summer of 2015. The big Latvian has tremendous promise but missed Sunday’s game with a tender Achilles (the Raptors were without Patrick Patterson, out with a sore knee) and the Knicks don’t have nearly enough young talent around him, with none on the horizon.
Patrick Patterson on Instagram: “@dwill_25 never forget.. #madornaw”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPTl7vvgYsk/
Home Court: Which Raptors prospect should you be excited about? – Video – TSN
Home Court host Meghan McPeak & co-hosts Duane Watson & Josh Lewenberg discuss their poll question which asks fans to vote on which Raptors prospect they are most excited about.
Raptors Republic on Instagram: “Lol Knicks #wethenorth”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPT0JqTgv-M/
Court Squeaks: Raptors mid-season awards – Video – TSN
Josh Lewenberg and Matthew Scianitti reflect on the first half of the Raptors season and deliver their picks for best player, best game and much more.
Home Court: Assessing the Raptors’ D-League program in its 2nd year – Video – TSN
Home Court host Meghan McPeak & co-hosts Duane Watson & Josh Lewenberg are joined by Raptors 905 General Manager & Raptors Director of Player Personnel Dan Tolzman to discuss how he thinks the D-League program is working.
Did I miss something? Send me any Raptors-related article/video to rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
