GO CHIEFS.
Danny Green finds a Raptors teammate for each Ninja Turtle
Danny Green is a big Ninja Turtles guy.
Not just any version of TMNT will do, though. The ’90s animated version, for obvious reasons, is where it’s at for the Raptors shooting guard.
On a recent episode of Inside The Green Room, DG took a few moments away from talking basketball to find a Raptors teammate for each Ninja Turtle.
Leonardo, the leader of the crew, most closely resembles Kawhi, according to Green. And Raphael, the “angry” rebellious type, is none other than Serge Ibaka.
“Serge is an emotional guy — in terms that he plays with passion. He gets into the game, and a lot of his play and a lot of how he does things is based on his energies and emotions,” Green said in the video above.
10 things from Raptors-Grizzlies (Jan. 19) – The Defeated
Cooked: Pascal Siakam also got into the action during that lopsided third quarter by faking JaMychal Green out of his shorts. Siakam sized up Green on the left block, crossed over to the middle, then quickly spun baseline to the basket. Siakam then got Green up in the air with a ball fake, before pivoting and finishing on the other side of the rim. Siakam finished plus-40 on the night.
Reborn: C.J. Miles followed up his breakout against Phoenix with another positive effort versus the Grizzlies. Miles cooled off significantly after a hot start, but he contributed throughout the game on the defensive end by disrupting passing lanes. He finished with five steals after having recorded just 11 steals in the season to date.
Steady: Norman Powell scored 14 off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting as he continues to create good shots off the bounce. Powell is showing more skill and finesse around the rim, and more than anything else, he’s showing better judgement of when to attack versus when to defer.
Raptors Two-Way Player Jordan Loyd Impressing In The G League With The 905 – Ridiculous Upside
Since the start of the G League season, Raptors two-way player Chris Boucher has mostly remained at the center of the headlines. Of course, that’s largely due to how he’s stood as arguably the best front-court player in the G League as he’s averaged 28.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.4 blocks on 49% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc on 7.3 attempts per game. Boucher’s unique ability to both be an amazing scoring threat and a dominating rim protector allowed us to name him as the G League Player of the Month for November.
Although Boucher has rightfully earned a lot of the attention that he’s garnered this year, he isn’t the only two-way player on the Raptors that has impressed in the G League. In fact, 6’4 guard Jordan Loyd has been the War Machine to Chris Boucher’s Iron Man as the Raptors two-way player has averaged 23 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals on 47% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc on 6.3 attempts per game.
With those numbers, Loyd joins Hornets rookie Devonte Graham, Nets two-way player Theo Pinson and Celtics two-way player PJ Dozier as the only players in the G League that are averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per gameHis stat line become even more impressive when you factor in how he’s been able to put up those numbers while also maintaining a solid 60% True Shooting Percentage and a 2.4 Ast/TO. Those extremely impressive stats for someone that’s a focal point for the 905’s offense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPQLEFGjdfE
The Raptors have made it known in front-office circles that they’re interested in adding an elite shooting guard, rival executives say. A package including Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright and a first-round pick might be a sensible starting point to the discussion, one of the execs said.
With the Celtics struggling to find an identity—and defined roles for their plethora of wing players—there could be a path to a deal. Jaylen Brown, the expiring contract of Marcus Morris or Aron Baynes (2019-20 player option) and a first-round pick would have the makings of a compelling offer, according to one executive. The C’s could win the East with a core of Kyrie Irving, Beal, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. Whether the Wizards would want to help Boston is another story.
Toronto selected Tucker with the fifth pick in the second round of the 2006 draft, but he couldn’t get consistent court time. He spent most of the season with the Colorado 14ers, then a team in the development league, and was waived by the Raptors before completing his rookie season.
That launched a journey across the world.
He starred in Israel and then in the Ukraine, and then back in Israel. He played well in Greece, Italy and Germany. He won most valuable player awards and championship trophies.
“I wasn’t coming back to the NBA. I had no interest in it,” Tucker said. “I was successful there. … I had established myself to the point where I was one of the best players in Europe at the time. These were million-dollar contracts.”
Americans becoming stars overseas is nothing new. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni became a legendary point guard in the Italian leagues after a quick trip through the NBA and ABA in the mid-70’s and loved the experience.
“It rounds you out as an individual and makes you a better person,” D’Antoni said. “But future-wise, you worry about, ‘Will I ever get back to the NBA or do I stick with it? Do I go get a job?’ I think it builds and reveals character. The guys that stick out, they get better.”
Green’s threes lift Raptors past Grizzlies | The Star
Doctor’s orders: The decision to give Kawhi Leonard a night off for “load management” was made primarily by the team’s medical staff, Nurse said before the game. Nurse also quickly dismissed any suggestion that any physical issues have come up that put Leonard out for the 11th time this season. And the coach also said he doesn’t discuss any of Leonard’s “rest” requirements with the team. “I don’t think it needs to be addressed,” he said.
Double duty: The Raptors ended the game playing Jordan Loyd, Chris Boucher and Malachi Richardson — all of whom had played earlier Saturday for the G League Raptors 905 in their win over the Greensboro Swarm. Patrick McCaw and Greg Monroe rounded out the fourth-quarter group.
No Gasol: The Grizzlies played without centre Marc Gasol, a late scratch because of back soreness. It gave Toronto almost free rein in the paint, where Serge Ibaka scored the majority of his 18 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddaVeeiKKhI
Raptors dig deep in NBA where no lead is safe | The Star
The three-point shot has been revolutionizing the sport for years, but at this point in time it’s taking over game after game after game.
“Teams will go streaky from week to week, the way they’re shooting the ball, and that will put them on (winning) runs and runs the other way,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
No one has felt that as much as Nurse, who has had a mercurial three-point shooting team at his disposal. In the last seven games before Saturday’s 119-90 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Raptors were shooting 41.1 per cent as a team (79 for 192) — which, if they could ever sustain it, would put them right among the very best in the league. But in the 10 games before that stretch, they shot an unacceptable 31.7 per cent (80 for 252).
The Raptors began Saturday 24th overall in three-point shooting, but were about one more made shot per game from being in the top 10. Of course, they’re also about one more missed shot per game from falling close to the bottom of the 30-team league.
The feast-or-famine part of the Raptors’ three-point shooting has been frustrating for players and coaches, but it also means they’re never out of games — the main reason why so many teams rely on a long-range shooting style, where no lead seems safe and no deficit too big.
“It sure doesn’t,” Nurse said, “and I think that’s also contributed to what I call parity around the league. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen teams supposedly on the bottom go on the road and beat teams at the top, and it happens quite frequently now, and I think the three-point shot has a lot to do with that.”
Five takeaways from Danny Green's explosive night against the Memphis Grizzlies | NBA.com
The Raptors are now 10-2 in games that Kawhi Leonard does not play. In those 12 games, they have outscored their opponents by a total of 137 points.
Those are not exactly the stats you would expect to see when missing your star player, but it’s encouraging to see other guys stepping up. On nights when Leonard is out, it’s been very much so a team effort to earn the 10 wins, but even more impressive is the diversity of who’s led the team in scoring in those wins.
Serge Ibaka scored the most points in three of those contests with Lowry next in line with two high-scoring games. It’s otherwise been a mix, from Danny Green, Fred VanVleet, Jonas Valanciunas and Norman Powell sharing the leading scorer title in wins with the team’s MVP candidate sidelined.
In the long run, the Raptors and their fans will be thankful that Leonard saved his legs all season, and it’s even easier to be thankful when the team’s record isn’t sacrificed in the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVJ2Gp5vqY
Raptors light it up from deep in easy win over Grizzlies | Toronto Sun
For the game the Raptors were a very healthy 17-for-36 from behind the arc after a total of just 14 in the past two games combined. The 17 threes were one shy of the season high for a game.
“That was awesome, it was fun,” Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse said. “We hadn’t had one like that in a while. It was good to see some of our shooters make some shots tonight.”
The Raptors began the third quarter nursing a 55-48 lead against a Grizzlies team that was playing its second game in consecutive nights and doing so without their franchise centre Marc Gasol who sat out the game with a back issue.
But in the third the Raptors starters came out and immediately picked up the pace. Green, who is rarely afforded the luxury of any room when he camps out beyond the three-point arc hit five in a row from the same spot in the same corner before the Grizzlies forced him to move.
For most of those he was left wide open, which is just unacceptable by a team when Green has been the only steady three-point threat in the lineup for the past few weeks.
“My teammates did a good job of finding me,” Green said. “We had a our pace going well in that third quarter. We jumped on them kind of early and there were a lot of open ones. It wasn’t like they were tough, contested or difficult shots. Just run the floor, get to the corner, get to (open) space, get some offensive rebounds and kickouts and I just happened to be the guy that was open.”
Grizzlies embarrass themselves against the Raptors – Grizzly Bear Blues
This fan base deserves more than what this team has shown of late in terms of execution. Effort, while not consistent, is not necessarily the issue. It is the actual game plan and implementation of that game plan (or lack thereof) that is the issue. That is coaching and that is a roster that is flawed, as it has been in the past, but now another layer has been added.
Marc Gasol and Mike Conley no longer equal a playoff team.
That truth changes the game. Now it is on the Grizzlies to acknowledge that and act accordingly before the trade deadline passes. Moves, from large to small, should be made with the goal of adding assets and players that fit the skill set of Jaren Jackson Jr. The time has come.
Death by Danny Green is a quick death. Death by holding on to a bygone era two years too long will be much longer…and more painful.
Raptors use massive 3rd quarter to ease past Grizzlies | CBC Sports
Toronto opened the third with a 10-0 run for a 65-51 lead. Siakam scored seven points before Memphis’s JaMychal Green countered with a three-pointer.
But that didn’t stop Toronto, which surged ahead 77-55 on Green’s three-pointer to outscore Memphis 20-7 before the Grizzlies took a timeout at 6:18.
“I’m not surprised I missed,” Green said. “I was more surprised I hit seven in nine attempts but my teammates did a good job of finding me.
“There were a lot of open ones, it wasn’t like they were tough contested or difficult shots. Just run the floor, get to the corner, get to space.”
Once Green got on a roll, Nurse said he made a point of riding the hot hand.
“They’re a heavy-help team and we were getting in the paint and their system is to collapse and we kept finding him,” Nurse said. “Then we started obviously looking for him after he hit three or so there.”
Raptors' Miles finding rhythm with Kawhi-less opportunities – Sportsnet.ca
On a night when a lot of Raptors played like they maybe would have been happy staying home early on, Miles came out with some juice, driving the lane and picking up a foul on his first touch late in the first quarter.
He hit a long three and then converted another runner in the lane – the kind of in-between shot he’s been struggling with as much as his three-point shooting. His best moment came a moment later when he dug in for a steal against impressive Grizzlies rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. – one of five steals Miles had in the game – pushed the ball ahead and then stepped into an open triple after the ball ricocheted around and newcomer Patrick McCaw swung it back to Miles.
The seven-point flurry helped the Raptors take a 55-48 lead into the half and, more importantly, build on an encouraging outing against the Suns when Miles scored 13 points in 17 minutes and went 3-of-5 from deep.
After a second strong game in a row he looked like a player with the weight of the world off his shoulders.
“Just trying to play as hard as I can, man. Bring energy on both ends of the floor,” he said later. “Right now my focus is just affecting the game in any way that I can and I’ll worry about everything else as it comes. Some nights you’re going to make shots, sometimes you’re not, but the energy level, I can control that.”
But he needs to make shots. The Raptors need to make threes. The win against the Grizzlies should be a boost as the Raptors shot 17-of-36 from deep. Who knows, it might catch on.
“Especially for shooters,” said Green. “A guy like C.J. has had some rough patches here and there, we all have our slumps. That’s the life of a shooter. But it’s good to see him playing well coming off the bench for us. He’s been a good spark for us last couple of games playing at a very good pace and picking his spots and taking his time and giving us another threat off the bench.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPd0ScqrGBQ
Recap: Danny Green catches fire, Raptors send Grizzlies into hibernation, 119-90 – Raptors HQ
aken all together, you almost have to feel bad for the Grizzlies — or at the very least, Mike Conley. Memphis’ long-time leader only put in 10 points on the night, but did what he could to keep things level for much of he first half. The Raptors were moving the ball well (14 first half assists, 31 for the game) and keeping their turnovers down (five in the first half, 10 overall), but the Grizzlies were staying with them. It was 55-48 at the half, and while it felt like the Raptors did indeed have another gear to get to, the Grizzlies’ were showing some fight.
But “some” was not enough, not when the Raptors started hitting threes at the pace they did tonight. That third quarter featured Toronto shooting 58 percent from the floor, and 62.5 percent from three (10-of-16). Beyond Green’s production, the Raptors got threes from Fred VanVleet (a quiet 4 point-7 assist night), Kyle Lowry (a light work 12-and-7), and Delon Wright (nine points in an extended garbage time run). It was a lot.
Toronto’s upfront play, meanwhile, featured some quality minutes for Serge Ibaka around the basket. The big man had 18 points and five rebounds (with four coming on the offensive end). He shot 9-of-13 from the field, and seemed to be hitting every soft hook shot he took. His front court partner Pascal Siakam also put on something of a show, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds while pulling off spin moves so fast that even PA Announcer Herbie Kuhn came in with the “Spicy P” call.
