10 things I saw from Raptors-76ers (18–1–2017) – The Defeated
It worked against the shitty Nets, but DeMar DeRozan only showing up for the second half was not enough against the suddenly difficult 76ers. DeRozan put on the Superman cape for the fourth quarter by drilling pull-up shots, slashing to the hoop, and even taking some timely charges. But he was atrocious in the first half and both he and the Raptors couldn’t make up for lost time.
Raptors score low in surprising loss to 76ers | Toronto Sun
Toronto loss largely because of a very solid effort by the 76ers who are most certainly no longer a team lacking a defensive identity, but also due to a handful of uncharacteristic mental mistakes the kept this comeback from finishing like many of the others, in the win column.
“When you’re grinding it out in a game like this, you can’t shoot yourself in the foot,” Casey said before listing off this mistakes. “Five second call (on an inbound), out of bounds we throw it to them when a guy’s not looking at you, all those mental mistakes are fatigue mistakes, mistakes you can’t have in a game like this when points are at a premium. All that added up at the end of the game.”
But Casey also made the point that the Raptors had opportunities in this one, the kind of opportunities they normally take advantage of, but failed to on this night.
“We missed a lot of wide open shots, they didn’t do anything necessarily, they’re a good team, they’ve been playing well, no disrespect to them but we missed a lot of wide open shots,” Casey said. “(Terrence) Ross had three wide open threes that we missed.”
Raptors-Sixers Takeaways: A lost opportunity for Toronto – Sportsnet.ca
The narrative to start the night was the return of Jared Sullinger. It was Sullinger’s first game action since the Raptors’ game versus Golden State in Vancouver to start the pre-season. Sullinger missed the first half of the season after having surgery on the fifth metatarsal on his left foot, which at the time was announced as a preventative measure. He was on a 10-15 minute restriction Wednesday because of his long layoff. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey had hoped to get his free agent acquisition some time in the D-League before putting him in a live NBA game. However, with the NBA D-League showcase currently going on and the Raptors thin for bigs, the addition of the power forward was badly needed. Patrick Patterson has now missed four games with a knee injury. Lucas Nogueira missed the game due to concussion protocol.
Game Recap: Resilient Sixers Finally Get Past Raptors, 94-89 | Philadelphia 76ers
“We played great defense,” said Embiid, who finished Wednesday with a game-high 26 points (6-13 fg), nine rebounds, and two blocked shots. “Everybody did their job, and we were aggressive.”
In the hard-fought divisional affair, one that featured six lead changes and 12 ties, the Sixers’ defense reached an emphatic peak in the final eight minutes of regulation. Moments after Embiid re-energized the crowd of 17,233 by delivering a ferocious dunk and 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions, his fellow rookie Dario Saric took over in hair-on-fire fashion.
As much as we wish we could do the following sequence justice with descriptive written words, such an ability does not reside in these parts. Instead, we’ll rely on video footage to do the job.
From there, over the next two and a half minutes, Saric would force a jump ball tie-up, grab two rebounds, and score five points. His toughness and enthusiasm had a contagious effect.
“Sometimes, you have great opportunity to give a team its energy,” said Saric. “[Wednesday] I did that well, and I wanted to be in the game.”
Saric manufactured eight points (3-9 fg) and nine rebounds off the bench.
Game Rap: Raptors 89, 76ers 94 | Toronto Raptors
BATTLE OF A FOURTH
Toronto has become very good at flipping the switch in the fourth quarter in close games lately. Finding a way to win has become a skill for the Raptors, but Dwane Casey hasn’t wanted to make a habit of needing to huge fourth-quarter effort to secure a victory. Wednesday’s contest against the 76ers was a good example why as Toronto found a fourth quarter it couldn’t flip the switch in. Already playing undermanned with Patrick Patterson (sore knee) and Lucas Nogueira (concussion protocol) sitting out, the Raptors lost DeMarre Carroll midway through the third quarter and also had to deal with Jared Sullinger being on a minute restriction. Still, Toronto had a chance, taking a one-point lead with 1:53 remaining on a DeMar DeRozan jumper. DeRozan had a 14-point fourth as he tried to will the Raptors to a win, but Toronto couldn’t overcome Philadelphia’s stifling defence around the basket nor get stops when needed most down the stretch and the Sixers closed out the win at the free throw line.
Sixers knock off Raptors for seventh win in nine games – Philly.com
“Down the stretch, Joel was a special feature in that game,” Nerlens Noel said. “He came in and dominated when it was definitely needed.”
Ersan Ilyasova (18 points), T.J. McConnell (10), and Robert Covington (10) were the Sixers’ other double-digit scorers.
Embiid, Covington, and McConnell all made big plays down the stretch.
Embiid hit a pair of foul shots to knot the score at 86 with 1 minute, 42 seconds left. McConnell gave the Sixers a two-point lead with a layup on the next possession.
McConnell added a pair of foul shots to give the Sixers a 90-86 advantage with 35.2 seconds remaining. Following a Raptors timeout, Covington blocked Kyle Lowry’s three-point attempt with 30.1. The Raptors point guard grabbed the rebound before driving the lane. But the former Villanova and Cardinal Dougherty standout’s layup was blocked by Embiid with 22.9 seconds left.
Powell! #putbackdunk #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/uxZRGiG1IM
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) January 19, 2017
Scorching Sixers Top Toronto – Liberty Ballers
Holy hell, Joel Embiid. A +20 in 26 minutes of a five-point win, Embiid yet again proved to be an offensive focal point the team could lean on in tight times. He continues to get to the line at an astounding rate (league-leading 10.9 free throw attempts per 36 minutes, 14 tonight) and convert at an elite level for his size, up to about 79 percent on the season. But the offense is really the luxury. In my preview today, I called DeMar Derozan one of the toughest tests for Embiid yet, and he was certainly up to the challenge. Robert Covington did an excellent job on him one-on-one, especially in the first half, but it’s hard to stay in front of one of the league’s most slippery, dynamic scorers when you don’t have the confidence that the big guy behind you has you covered. And he sure did, walling off the basket as always, bothering drivers and sticking guards on switches. My goodness, the switches. Kyle Lowry is 6-feet flat!
A look at the DeMarre injury #godspeed #wethenorth https://t.co/b9OLvBCPVc
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) January 19, 2017
The Sixers Sully the Raptors’ Perfect Divisional Record, Win 94-89 – Raptors HQ
The Raptors kept things tight right to the very end thanks to 14 points from DeMar DeRozan in the final frame, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to process the surging 76ers, who have now won five of their last six and seven of their last nine.
Rookie Joel Embiid finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, two assists, a steal, and two blocks to lead the Sixers, while DeRozan finished with 25 for the Raptors, Kyle Lowry chipped in 24, and Jonas Valanciunas put up a big 10-point, 16-rebound double-double.
The Raptors finished the game shooting 39.5% from the floor, 25.0% from long range, and 65.2% from the free throw line and you simply don’t win many games in which you have that kind of shooting split.
DeMar tear drop as the shot clock winds down #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/NDgytO01q9
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) January 19, 2017
76ers-Raptors Best Worst: Embiid, Carroll and dealing with 22 turnovers – Philly.com
Best performance: This was a tough one, just because DeMar DeRozan had a stellar effort in the fourth quarter. The only problem is he didn’t lead his team to victory. Joel Embiid did and that’s why he wins this award. The Sixers center finished with a game-high 26 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocked shots. His lone negative was his four turnovers. However, Embiid graded out at a plus-20. Twelve of his points came in the fourth quarter. After blocking Kyle Lowry’s shot with 22.9 seconds left, he scored the Sixers final four points from the foul line.
Sully making a difference in the paint #bigboy #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/tWdyrU5M8n
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) January 19, 2017
Raptors fall to Sixers in Sullinger’s return | Toronto Star
“Honestly, tonight welost that game,” Kyle Lowry said after the Raptors shot 40 per cent from the floor while missing 18 of 24 three-pointers and eight of 23 free throws. “I give them credit — they played hard, with passion — but we lost that game.”
Limited to short stretches as he returns from October surgery to implant a screw in his left foot, Sullinger provided eight points and three rebounds during his first game since the pre-season, but his arrival means much more than that.
He is a four-year veteran who knows how to play, and showed flashes in his first-half run. He set a handful of hard, effective screens, carved out space in the low post with a body that’s made for banging, and gave a quick glimpse of what might be still to come.
“I was able to keep up with the game,” Sullinger said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to keep up, especially how hard and how fast the Sixers play, but I was able to keep up with the game.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPbgwcCgeBL/
Embiid a beast in 76ers’ win over Raps – Video – TSN
Embiid a beast in 76ers’ win over Raps
Joel Embiib finished with 20-plus points for the 10th straight game he’s played in and the 76ers won their fifth straight with him in the lineup. Jack Armstrong and Matt Devlin discuss The Process’ impact against the Raptors and look at Jared Sullinger’s season-debut.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPanxLqhyc-/
Raptors Mid-Season Report Card: DeRozan, Lowry are top of the class – Sportsnet.ca
KYLE LOWRY
Grade: A+While it’s unlikely to result in a third-straight starting spot in next month’s all-star game, Lowry is enjoying the best season of his career. His numbers are up across the board— scoring 22.1 ppg, dishing out 7.2 assists, and grabbing five rebounds per game. But what’s stuck out most is his shooting numbers, which are astronomically higher than ever before— 48 per cent from the field and 44 per cent from beyond the arc. He truly opened eyes with one of the hottest shooting streaks in the NBA this season: Between Nov. 25 and Jan.1 he averaged 4.4 made threes per game- on 8.1 attempts- and shot a ridiclous 54.5% from deep and is a leader on depth
According to basketball-reference, he currently has 7.2 win shares in forty games— that’s more than he registered two seasons ago, and he’s done it in thirty fewer games. All told, Lowry has been a superstar on both ends of the floor for the Raptors.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPbSGZlgKW8/
2016-17 Midseason Report Card: Toronto Raptors – NBA.com
There might be an opportunity for Raptors general manager to “go for it” before the trade deadline by exchanging depth for an upgrade at power forward that would increase his team’s chances at beating the Cavs. This might be the Raptors’ best chance at competing for a championship with Lowry (30) and DeRozan (27).
Whether or not they make a trade, there will be a question of how sustainable their offense will be in the playoffs. In each of the last two postseasons, the Raptors’ offense has taken a big step backward as opponents have focused their attention on the two All-Star guards.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPa5hx9AXVW/
An early look at summer salary-cap situations: The East – Yahoo!
Limited from a cap perspective, the Raptors will be focused on the free agency of Kyle Lowry and Patrick Patterson.
Losing both players would only give the Raptors $10 million in cap space, with the team taking a big step back.
The Raptors once again will have two first-round picks in June.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPbLUtKjGiT/
D-League event is a Showcase for Stackhouse, too | Toronto Sun
As a blue-chip prospect who would play 18 years in the NBA after leaving North Carolina, Stackhouse never had to experience life in the minor leagues, but he has proven a quick study, impressing Raptors brass after taking over for Jesse Mermuys. Mermuys left his post as 905 head coach prior to the season for an assistant job on Luke Walton’s bench with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Casey was an assistant coach during the end of Stackhouse’s time as a player in Dallas and said he didn’t see a future in coaching coming down the line for the former star.
“Not really. I didn’t know. I wouldn’t think at that time of Jerry being a coach, but he was always an intelligent player, student of the game,” Casey told Postmedia earlier this week.
“It’s a totally different animal than playing, and it’s totally different adjusting to that role, going from a player to a coaching role. He’s done a good job with it and we’re glad he’s with our organization.”
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