Fan Duel Toronto Raptors

Quick Reaction: Raptors 93, Mavericks 98

Toronto 93 Final Box Score 98 Dallas C+ S. Ibaka31 MIN, 11 PTS, 12 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 4-13 FG, 0-4 3FG, 3-5 FT, 3 BLK, 2 TO, 9 +/- We’ll start with the good. He went after it on the boards, and fought hard. Hit a sweet turn around jumper late in the…

Toronto93Final
Box Score
98Dallas

C+
S. Ibaka31 MIN, 11 PTS, 12 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 4-13 FG, 0-4 3FG, 3-5 FT, 3 BLK, 2 TO, 9 +/-

We’ll start with the good. He went after it on the boards, and fought hard. Hit a sweet turn around jumper late in the game to close it to a three-point game. Three blocks is always nice. On the other hand, he struggled defensively, and the Raptors really could’ve used him hitting an outside shot or two tonight.

B
O. Anunoby20 MIN, 0 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 7 +/-

This loss isn’t on OG. Sure, it would’ve been great had he hit the couple shots he was afforded, but they were good shots, and he worked hard on defense and on the boards. Showed a lot of versatility, guarding different guys from Harrison Barnes to Dennis Smith Jr. and doing it well.

B-
J. Valanciunas25 MIN, 17 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 5-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 7-9 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 7 +/-

The first quarter was, to put it mildly, a disaster. Kleber had his way with Jonas at one end while Jonas missed a lot of shots you expect him to make. He recovered nicely though to finish with a solid line on the night. Still, his pick and roll defense was a problem, giving up an easy JJ Barea midrange jumper late in the fourth as he stood under the basket while his man set a pick.

A-
K. Lowry34 MIN, 23 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 6-17 FG, 4-8 3FG, 7-8 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 16 +/-

Lowry had one torrid stretch during the game where it looked like we were in for a KLOE performance, before coming back to earth late as he just couldn’t quite get enough done to win it.

C-
D. DeRozan34 MIN, 8 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 3-16 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-3 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/-

The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, after being named today, this was one to forget for DeMar. Showed patience in letting the game come to him in the first half and not forcing his own offense, but then in the second half he kept trying to take over, and it just wasn’t his night. Everyone has bad games, he needs to just forget this one and move on to Oklahoma City tomorrow.

C+
F. VanVleet20 MIN, 6 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 2-6 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -5 +/-

It really wasn’t a terrible game for Van Vleet, had some really nice moments and was one of the few guys who actually hit some shots from downtown. Simply felt like he had some minutes he didn’t necessarily need to be on the floor during the fourth, when they could’ve used a more established shooter who demands defensive attention, to open up the paint a bit.

C
P. Siakam20 MIN, 6 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2-6 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -13 +/-

You have to figure, at some point, Pascal’s shot will start falling. Until then though, we’re in for a lot of games like this one, where he’s depended on because the all-bench lineups don’t have a lot of shooting, which often means putting him in a position where he needs to hit those jumpers.

B+
J. Poeltl18 MIN, 9 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-5 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -9 +/-

Jak contributed in the usual ways – setting nice screens, working on the boards, and hitting his shots. He also managed 3-5 from the free throw line, continuing his improved shooting from there of late.

B
D. Wright16 MIN, 7 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 BLK, 1 TO, -20 +/-

Despite a team worst -19 in just 16 minutes, it felt like Delon was better than that. He got most of his minutes with the all-bench lineups though, and there just isn’t enough offense to go around, despite the group, and Delon himself, playing some good defense tonight.

D
N. Powell11 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-6 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 +/-

Norm is clearly trying to work through some struggles. He did manage one catch and shoot three tonight, but there was a lot of struggling to go with that.It would be better for the team if he figures things out, but until he gets there, maybe his fourth quarter minutes need to be held to a minimum.

C
C. Miles10 MIN, 3 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-3 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -16 +/-

In his return from a week off, CJ managed to hit a big three, but then got held on the bench through most of the fourth quarter when the Raptors were trying to fight back in it, and it felt like they definitely could’ve used his shooting. Was back in for the final possession as the trigger man out of bounds, but probably would’ve been better served as the shooter.

C
Dwane Casey

For the first three quarters, I didn’t feel like this was on Casey. He stuck to his rotations that have proved effective and the players just didn’t have the energy, which happens some nights. But that fourth quarter had some questionable decisions, including sticking with a clearly struggling Powell and not bringing Miles back in until the very last seconds, when the team clearly could’ve used his shooting and the threat he brings to open up some space offensively.

Things We Saw

  1. I really try not to complain about the refs most nights, but this was a weird one. Lowry took a three as a whistle went, and didn’t get the continuation inexplicably, and got a late mysterious technical foul. There were situations with a lot of uncalled contact, and the Raptors just generally seemed to get the short end of the stick on a few pivotal plays.
  2. With everyone around the NBA talking up the Raptors after they didn’t get a Christmas day game and complained about it, and the Cavaliers and Celtics both losing yesterday pushing the Raptors into the top spot in the East, it felt like a let-down game might be coming. These nights happen, but the team has to move past it in a hurry with another game tomorrow.
  3. For the first time in quite a while, the Raptors had a fully healthy roster in this game. Maybe there’s some growing pains re-integrating everyone, but this should help in the games to come.
  4. Would’ve been nice, if the team was going to lose the game, to keep Kyle and DeMar’s minutes down. Instead they played 34 and 35, respectively, and it’ll be interesting to see if that’s a storyline tomorrow night.