Photo credit: Matt Azevedo/MattAzevedo.com
Raptors 905 (1-2) 77, Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2-1) 104 | Box score
Assignees: Bruno Caboclo, Alfonzo McKinnie (905).
Two-ways: Lorenzo Brown, Malcolm Miller [injured] (905). Alex Poythress [injured], Ben Moore (Mad Ants).
It’s going to take some time. Struggling to establish a rhythm on either end of the floor for the second straight road game, the Raptors 905 showed they are still a team searching for an identity as they fell 104-77 to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Friday night.
Head coach Jerry Stackhouse established a strong defense around Edy Tavares and Axel Toupane last season, and an offense predicated on quick decisions and a heavy dose of driving and kicking to the open man. The head coach alluded to the fact that he’s still getting used to the names and the faces on the roster, and so getting players to move on a string as he did last season is going to be… a process.
There are still talented players on this roster, led by Alfonzo McKinnie, Lorenzo Brown, and an injured Malcolm Miller yet to make his debut. It also should be noted that, as defending champions, the 905 are receiving opponents’ best shot and are marked men on the calendar.
The Mad Ants literally took turns on offense to overpower the 905 in this one, with Stephan Hicks scoring scoring 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter, including a monster and-1 jam after making a good read as the sea parted momentarily. He handed the keys to Je’Lon Hornbreak for the second quarter, who abused the 905 inside and out en route to 15 in the second quarter. He knocked two triples and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. Leading scorer Walter Lemon Jr. then got going in the second half, finishing with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting. That lefty jumper is indeed sweet lemonade. Jarrod Uthoff (remember him?) collected a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in what was surely a satisfying win.
It’s likely the 905 had much of their defensive game plan centered around Walter Lemon Jr. and Uthoff, as the pair combined to average 49.5 points over their opening two games. The former 905er looked hungry out of the gate, scoring the game’s opening four points, but tailed off after being elbowed in the face by Kaza Keane on a drive.
Bruno Caboclo made the start at center once again for the 905, and the team made a concerted effort to establish him inside, albeit with mixed results. He had a nice shake, shimmy, and score for his first post touch, and while he showed good footwork on his next few touches, he missed his next three attempts. I wonder if this is an attempt to improve his toughness, and improve his willingness to fight and finish through contact. With his still fascinating length, exploring the potential he has to finish inside and be a regular at the free throw line could help him find a path to consistent scoring that he’s been unable to establish with his outside shot.
Caboclo’s defense was there as always, but that’s been a staple for some time now and means little until he carries over that presence to the big leagues. Alfonzo McKinnie made a great start on the other hand with seven points in the opening quarter, but struggled from the free-throw line in the first quarter, missing three of his four attempts. He finished with 13 for the game.
I liked what I saw out of Davion Berry, who fills the lane nicely in transition, has a smooth game off the bounce, and looked comfortable finishing around the trees at the rim. Aaron Best plays a similar style, but struggled to get going in this one with just a single point in the first half and was unable to make any of his five field-goal attempts for the game.
At the point of attack, Lorenzo Brown offered nothing in the first half, shooting 2-for-9 at the break and struggled get the team into an offensive flow. This was a huge point of strength for the 905 last season, with Brady Heslip and John Jordan complementing each other perfectly in addition to Fred VanVleet controlling games when called upon.
The Mad Ants outscored the 905 by 14 in the second frame to carry a 57-40 lead into the break. The lead ballooned over 20 in the second half, and Stackhouse definitely wasn’t happy with the way things fell apart as he darted off the court at the final buzzer.
They’ll have a chance to work through things again on Sunday at 3:00pm ET against the Westchester Knicks.
Notes:
- Holy confusion, Batman! The 905 twitter account reported Lorenzo Brown, Davion Berry, Aaron Best, Alfonzo McKinnie, and Bruno Caboclo as the starters, before the broadcast reported a different lineup that had Caboclo and Best on the bench in favor of Savage and Amardi. Then, it was Brown, Berry, Best, McKinnie and Bruno that started. It’s the G League for everybody.
- Canadian content: Richard Amardi had six, and Kaza Keane had seven points in the loss. It looks as though Amardi will be looked upon as a stretch-4, and may be the recipient of some of the sets Stackhouse had in store for Kyle Wiltjer.
- Still scarred by the memory of C.J. Fair? Don’t be. He was out on the court doing what he loves and finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the victory.
- The Mad Ants thought it would be a good idea to have indoor fireworks at halftime…
Who says you can’t have fireworks indoors?#MadAboutBlue pic.twitter.com/mKtAAI0jZX
— Fort Wayne Mad Ants (@TheMadAnts) November 11, 2017
- The 905 return home for an 11 a.m. game next Tuesday. A friendly reminder that promo code “REPUBLIC905” will get you a discount at this link all season long.
