10 things I saw from Raptors-Celtics (1–2–2017) – The Defeated
Neutered: Jonas Valanciunas was a beast against the Celtics last time out with 18 and 21. He wasn’t even allowed to get his feet wet in this game. He was immediately whistled for two very questionable calls, then quickly picked up a third in the first half as he was getting out of the way while Al Horford made a pass. That was all she wrote for Jonas as he couldn’t get into the game and looked hesitant all night.
Raptors can’t hold lead, allow Celtics to storm back to win | Toronto Sun
“We just didn’t do things we needed to do,” Lowry said. “We didn’t execute. You let their best player get 44 points, 19 in the fourth, it’s kind of hard to win a game like that.”
Casey saw his team hold the Celtics to just 41.4% shooting and lose, so there was actually defensive improvement in this one.
“We’ve got to keep going, keep fighting, keep scrapping, stay together,” Casey said. “We held this team to 41% shooting percentage, we shot 52, we won the rebounding. A couple of those things went right for us.”
Foul trouble though hurt the Raptors. Already without DeMar DeRozan, who was sitting out for the fifth time in the past six games, the Raptors got limited minutes from both Valanciunas and Powell because of foul trouble.
Powell, in particular, was missed through much of that third quarter when he picked up his fourth foul in the first minutes of the frame and did not return until the fourth.
“I got to do a better job with that,” Powell said of the fouls. “Especially knowing situations. Coming out of halftime and picking up that early foul in the third and then not playing, I think that put a real strain on the rotation.
“It’s a learning experience for me knowing foul and time and situation but I got to play through it and find a way to make up for it,” he said.
Raptors flashing positive signs of defensive grit, effort – Sportsnet.ca
For the first time in six games Sullinger laid it all out there: the wide body that wins rebounding battles; the brick wall screens. He finished the first half with 11 of his 13 points, including a triple from well outside the three-point line.
More encouraging? He believes that he’s not close to proper form. On a Raptors team desperate for frontcourt depth and with the trade deadline looming, progress from Sullinger can only help Raptors president Masai Ujiri in his decision making.
“The stat sheet might say so, but I don’t think so,” Sullinger told reporters in Boston when asked if he’s getting closer to full speed. “I’m still lost out there.”
Raptors run out of answers for Celtics in fourth quarter | Toronto Star
“You’ve just got to trap him, try to get the ball out of his hands,” Lowry said of the diminutive Celtics guard, who leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring. “Tonight he was kind of getting around. We did it some, but he got three open looks in the fourth, wide-open threes. That can’t happen with a guy averaging 10 points in the fourth quarter.”
Lowry was no slouch, either. He finished with 32 points, including 10 in the final quarter, but he missed two big free throws. Patrick Patterson also had a big miss on a potential game-changing three-pointer and the Raptors just weren’t crisp enough, often enough.
“I missed two huge free throws, that sucked,” Lowry said. “We just didn’t do things we needed to do. We didn’t execute. You let their best player get 44 points, 19 in the fourth, it’s kind of hard to win a game like that.”
The Raptors missed 11 free throws combined, shot a miserable 25 per cent from three-point range and looked exhausted at times after the overtime grind of Tuesday night.
“I thought our guys battled, I loved the fight, the scrap,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “We have to continue that, get everybody healthy, (get) guys off the minutes restrictions, and then we’ll go to war.”
Game Rap: Raptors 104, Celtics 109 | Toronto Raptors
MOMENTUM SHIFT
The Raptors led for the first half of the fourth, but a 9-0 run from Isaiah Thomas brought the Celtics from eight down to ahead by one with 4:39 remaining. The run followed a double-technical called on Terry Rozier and DeMarre Carroll after Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown took offence to a standard foul from Kyle Lowry. The teams would trade baskets down the stretch before Thomas scored nine of Boston’s final 11 points to seal the comeback victory for the Celtics. Boston outscored Toronto 32-19 in the quarter as Thomas himself matched the Raptors’ fourth quarter output.
Stevens’ Message Triggers C’s Comeback vs. Raps | Boston Celtics
“Honestly, Brad killed us at halftime,” said Thomas. “He yelled at us, and that was probably the most mad I’ve seen him.”
Added Jae Crowder, “He was pretty upset because we weren’t playing with enough fire, with enough energy. Those guys played last night and came out with more energy than us.”
Stevens’ message didn’t appear to click at first, as Toronto extended its lead to 18 points during the first four minutes of the third quarter. Thomas, however, said the coach’s words resonated “in the back of our heads.
Sure enough, Boston began to display a heightened sense of urgency midway through the third frame. The C’s started attacking the basket with tenacity, and they began to make consistent stops on the other end. The surge continued into the fourth quarter as Boston throttled the Raptors, 32-19, during the final frame, paving the way to a 109-104 win.
“I think (Stevens’ message) changed the game for us,” said Thomas, who logged his second straight 40-point game with a 44-point effort. “We just played harder than them, we got the 50-50 balls and I think that was the deciding factor in the game, especially at the end of the third and fourth quarter.”
Stars, studs and duds: Boston Celtics ‘really wanted this win’ – CSNNE
“You know what’s crazy, is I thought we played better in the first two games,” Stevens said. “I’ll go back and watch film; maybe I’m wrong, but sometimes that’s the way it goes.”
And for a change, it went Boston’s way in what has to fall in line with being one of their best wins of the season.
“It feels like every game is close against them and they always beat us, so it was big for us to not put our heads down and not get discouraged and keep at it,” said Isaiah Thomas. “A lot of guys stepped up.”
With two minutes left, the Raptors star strangely missed two free throws, allowing Thomas to scoot the other way for a bucket that put the Celtics ahead by one. After a tough break in an end of shot clock situation, Boston gave up a bucket to Norman Powell, but Thomas — who should not have been left so wide open — drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer. Patrick Patterson missed a triple on the ensuing Toronto possession, Marcus Smart came down with an offensive rebound amid several Raptors big men, and Thomas sealed the win with four free throws, which gave him 44 points for the game, including 19 in the fourth quarter.
Both teams were missing key regulars due to injuries. The Celtics did not have Avery Bradley or Kelly Olynyk. The Raptors held out All-Star DeMar DeRozan, which did not seem to bother them until the second half, when Boston turned up the defense and only Lowry responded like someone who had dealt with that type of pressure before.
The Celtics earned this win. The Raptors did not want to give it away. It’s a shame the great basketball could not carry on.
Smart won the ensuing tip and the Celtics held on. It’s wise to start there — not with Thomas’ continued assault on fourth quarters — because the Celtics saved themselves by regaining their edge after halftime.
“Honestly, I mean, (head coach) Brad (Stevens) killed us at halftime,” Thomas said. “He yelled at us. It was probably the most mad I’ve seen him.”
“He was hot because this was a very important game,” explained veteran Gerald Green, who also spoke up. “That’s all we could talk about was how important this game was. I know this is a team we’ll need to see down the (road in the) season, and we play them one more time and can tie the (regular-season) series.”
The regular-season series could matter for seeding down the road, but the Celtics also wanted the win for peace of mind. Though Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and DeMar DeRozan all missed the game — these teams will look substantially different when healthy — Thomas suggested topping the Raptors held meaning for his club’s psyche.
“It feels like every game is close against them and they always beat us,” Thomas said, “so it was big for us to not put our heads down and not get discouraged and keep at it. We played a hell of an end to the third and fourth quarter tonight. A lot of guys stepped up.”
“I remember when Valanciunas said we were trying to get to second and they were going for first,” Thomas said (video of his quote can be found above) after scoring 44 points in a 109-104 victory against Toronto. “So it’s the other way around now. They’re trying to chase for second. Now we’re going for first. So words come back to bite you if you can’t back it up.”
With the win, Thomas’ Celtics pulled ahead of the Raptors by 1.5 games for second place in the Eastern Conference. Boston still trails the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers by 2.5 games, but can send head coach Brad Stevens to the All-Star Game with one more win this weekend against either the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers.
“That would be amazing. To come from where (the Celtics were) when he first got here, to a few years later to coaching in the All-Star Game, like, I don’t think anybody thought it would happen that fast,” Thomas said. “Hopefully we can get it. I mean, we have to take care of these next few games. And hopefully we can get our coaching staff in it.”
Raptors collapse down stretch, lose to Celtics 109-104 – Raptors HQ
An all-too-common problem for Toronto surfaced once again. As Thomas piled up buckets, the Raptors couldn’t find a one-on-one solution for him. Kyle Lowry, in fairness, was a little preoccupied providing the only offense Toronto could cobble together late. Still, he couldn’t stay with Thomas either on or off the ball. Neither could Cory Joseph. Neither could Norman Powell when he was mercifully given the assignment in the final few minutes.
This is what Thomas does. The box score said he missed four of his 10 fourth quarter shots, but that seems like an alt-fact. The dude was even hitting 28-foot throwaway shots after getting intentionally fouled in the final minute.
In order to counteract Thomas’ wizardry, you have to expose him as the defensive liability he is. Usually the Raptors are able to do that. In previous match-ups, Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have taken turns backing him down in the post or leaving him stapled to a screener. When there’s nowhere for Thomas to hide, you have a prayer of matching him shot for shot.
DeRozan wasn’t available to work 1-2 pick-and-rolls with Lowry on Wednesday night. Because Lowry is the best guard in the conference, he was almost able to outgun Thomas on his own. But Marcus Smart’s defense is oppressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IURsGt6MRfg
Five thoughts on Raps’ loss and more – Article – TSN
RAPTORS LOSE IN BOSTON: I know the Raptors lost and blew an 18-point lead – that’s disappointing. But I choose to look at the bright side right now. I loved how they battled and competed the entire game as well as in the second half and overtime against the Pelicans in Toronto the night before. Bottom line, if they play and defend with the intensity and purpose they showed the last two nights with greater regularity they will be just fine.
The Night Kyle Lowry Almost Did the Sam Cassell Dance – The Ringer
As plainly as I can put it, you should start loving Kyle Lowry, right now, before you find yourself out here lonely, looking foolish. The above video is Exhibit A. Exhibit B is this string of tweets from TSN Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg following a home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in early December, after which Lowry and DeMar DeRozan read each other for reasons pertaining to shot selection, right on down to choice of headwear. Scarcely have a backcourt duo’s cheeks seemed more pinchable.
This angle is even more impressive #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/mlhxZV69l3
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) February 2, 2017
Raptors need backups to get their backs up | Toronto Star
DeMarre Carroll was 18-for-67 in eight games, Terrence Ross has run hot and cold, with 21- and 17-point games interspersed with nights of six, four and seven.
Get the picture?
“We all know our role, we know that Kyle and DeMar get the bulk of the offence,” Patterson said. “We fill as is . . . We know what we have to do. And we’ve got to do better. We’ve got to do a lot better.”
No matter what Lowry and DeRozan do — and they have earned their status as the engines that drive the team — they need help.
“I think we’re a little out of sync. Some of our role players are starting, playing big minutes because of injuries,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said this week. “Now their chemistry is off a little bit. The reasons and excuses are not important, but that is (the case).
“I don’t know if it’s a lack of effort. It’s a lack of chemistry more than anything else, if that makes sense. They’re off. Their plus-minus has been down for the last couple of weeks. And I would say that it would be attributed to their lack of chemistry.”
Casey not impressed with the JV foul #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/8FpUGMAyV0
— Sam Holako (@rapsfan) February 2, 2017
Numbers Game: What’s going on with the Rotation? – Raptors HQ
Now we get a pretty clean picture. Lowry is fantastic across the board. Patterson is solid for some, great for others. Same for Nogueira. As expected, Siakam is a disaster for many, but surprisingly not so much for some. Joseph is predictably rough for everyone what with him being Lowry’s direct substitution. Players like Valanciunas, Carroll, Terrence Ross and DeRozan are roughly average (with DeRozan skewing particularly negative due to the relative ineffectiveness of his bench unit compared to Lowry’s), but have occasional very good fits and occasional very bad ones.
Some stand out conclusions based on the above, before we move on to some lineup construction.
There is one player on the roster who does better away from Lowry than with him, Pascal Siakam, the guy the Raptors shoehorned into the starting power forward role beside Lowry for most of the season so far. It’s hard to find guys who can perform without Lowry on the court, so Siakam should be used almost exclusively without Lowry. Siakam’s impact on Lowry is both a) the worst impact of any player on Lowry and b) the worst impact of Siakam on any player, so yeah, let’s not play Siakam with Lowry ever again. His impact is so terrible it can be seen bleeding into the impacts the other starters have on each other.
But his impact is not terrible for everyone. It’s just poor for Joseph and Norman Powell, and is actually positive for Ross and significantly so for Nogueira.
Did I miss something? Send me any Raptors-related article/video to rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
