Quick Reaction: Nets 105, Raptors 122

He’s progressing as a screener the longer the year goes on. This, mixed with his baby-steps from behind the arc continue to enhance his time shared with Leonard. Early on in the year those two were having trouble playing off each other, but big steps by Siakam have smoothed that over. He was really mobile on defense tonight and put up a typical Siakam stat line on offense.

Confident and comfortable. More often than not Leonard’s lack of a whistle – it’s been better of late – irritates me. Tonight he was played pretty physical and wasn’t rewarded with free throws. It speaks to his physical prowess and overall floor game that he locked this game down from his insertion in the second quarter despite having to drag himself through a mucky Brooklyn defense. Kept up his impressive passing streak and walks away with another polished, All-NBA game.

One of the league’s best screeners, and even though he loves his jumper, he remains a super gritty player on both sides of the floor. There’s a lot of flash and pop in Jarrett Allen’s game and Ibaka did a terrific job of eliminating him as a threat in the second half. Largely due to his ability to body Allen most times down the floor. His work on the short-roll and on the pop remains an integral part of the Raptors offense.

It’s incredible how poor a box-score he can put up while also executing wonderfully. I’m not the one to do it – probably Blake, tbh – but someone needs to find a way to actually quantify just how he has such a positive impact despite showing so poorly in traditional stats. There’s no statistic for ‘Nash-ed the pnr, dragging the weak-side defender away from the corner, then found the guy in the corner, who then passed to the wide-open guy above the break’. When you watch the game it’s clear that he orchestrates these things, but it’s tough to explain in a laconic way.

Hit a couple triples while also reminding everyone that he’s one of the best rim-protectors at the guard position that the league has ever seen. Sticky hands tonight and suppressed Joe Harris’ terrific catch and shoot game. Chasing him around all night and forcing him into tough plays on the baseline and under the basket.

Extra shifty and using his height to his advantage. Creative passes over the defense and often times treated Napier like he wasn’t there. Hit a spot-up triple, a hopeful return to his excellent form earlier in the season. Had terrific synergy with ‘Moose’, Powell, and Anunoby. Quality bench guard play.

With Delon operating efficiently as a floor general tonight, Anunoby was able to slide into a comfortable role as spot-up shooter and weak-side/transition attacker. Not the loudest game from Anunoby this year, but it’s nice to see that most of his struggles are related to being pushed out of a comfortable role and not due to regression.

Much better pacing when he’s attacking the rim than any other point in his career. He rarely leaves himself vulnerable in the air like years past. Continues to link together quality combo guard games.

Wonderfully solid. Bouncing around screens on defense, widening the dive lanes for the bigs on offense. Hitting his spot-up threes. The type of game that he replicated time and time again last year on his way to 6th man of the year consideration.

Was too big for the Nets second unit. Generally like when the Raptors give him a couple possessions a game to work out of the high-post. Running elevator plays off of him, letting him take a turn as creator. Very solid.

Shooters need to hit shots. Don’t know what his career looks like going forward, but Powell has taken his spot for good.

The 14-0 run doesn’t matter. Getting minutes are good for him, and it’s his birthday!

Allen was a real problem for the Raptors last time out, and in the first half. The gameplan for him in the second half was terrific, and letting D’angelo cook the Raptors while shutting down every other option seemed to work wonders. Had the guys ready to go for this one, and didn’t overwork the stars.