That’s a rough one.
 | TOR Raptors | 106 | Final Box Score | 112 | BOS Celtics |  |
 A | P. Siakam36 MIN, 33 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 11-22 FG, 5-7 3FG, 6-6 FT, 0 BLK, 5 TO, -2 +/- A lot to like in this one, namely the above-the-break triples. That’s going to be a huge development for navigating how teams play him as a ‘pnr’ ball-handler. He put in work all game long, pressing the Celtics defense at every opportunity. Brown is an All-NBA defender and got the better of him quite a few times, though. The turnover to assist ratio is pretty ugly, he was part of the rebounding problem in this one, and this stat-line doesn’t at all reflect just how tough the start of this game was for him. Strong response, and a good performance. | |
 B | O. Anunoby38 MIN, 9 PTS, 8 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 4-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, -4 +/- In a game where the Raptors lost because of rebounding, Anunoby was the only player who rebounded above his usual level. Liked his composure, was quick to take his opportunities and even quicker to keep the ball moving. Didn’t really think that the offensive foul at the end was fair, but that’s life. | |
 D- | M. Gasol25 MIN, 1 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 0-8 FG, 0-4 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 5 +/- Ugly stuff once again from Gasol. Doesn’t have the tenacity to match opposing teams will to get after it on the glass, and was consistently pushed off his spot by a small and wily Grant Williams. It’ll come around, but tonight was egregious. Don’t trust the plus-minus, he was very bad. | |
 A+ | K. Lowry40 MIN, 29 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 11-18 FG, 6-10 3FG, 1-1 FT, 1 BLK, 4 TO, -7 +/- Transcendent. His sense of timing in this one was miles ahead of everyone else. Kept the Raptors in it when they couldn’t buy a shot and went bucket-for-bucket at times with the Celtics. Terrific stuff from KLOE. | |
 B | F. VanVleet42 MIN, 8 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 2-11 FG, 2-5 3FG, 2-2 FT, 1 BLK, 4 TO, -8 +/- The inside finishing didn’t carry over from the Pelicans game at all. He was still really important as a ball handler in the offense, though, and he kept the lid on Kemba for most of the game. Hit the shots he was supposed to from downtown as well. | |
 A- | S. Ibaka24 MIN, 13 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 5-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 2-4 FT, 3 BLK, 2 TO, -12 +/- Again, don’t trust the plus-minus. Serge was awesome in this one, and shored up the defense for long stretches of the first half when the paint penetration from the Celtics was overwhelming. Thought Nurse should’ve found him more than 24 minutes in this one, because he was good. | |
 B | N. Powell22 MIN, 7 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -2 +/- Falling into a pretty good glue role. Very few mistakes, and capitalizing on his straight lines to the rim and open jumpers. It’s not his ceiling, but he’s hitting a very good floor off the bench for the Raptors. | |
 B+ | T. Davis9 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 +/- I liked his minutes a lot. Hyper active, helps out on the glass, and can operate in the swing DHO’s above-the-break. He looked much better than Johnson, and I hope McCaw doesn’t supplant him. | |
 Inc | S. Johnson5 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -1 +/- Hit a triple, but other than that he didn’t factor into anything important. His game is pretty erratic, both offensively and defensively right now, which doesn’t do well with a bench role. | |
 B | Nick Nurse Fans and pundits alike were pegging this as a game for Ibaka to flourish in, and most were aware of Gasol’s struggles. So it’s a bit shocking that Gasol played more on a night where Ibaka was much, much better. The zone seemed an odd choice at times, with the rebounding struggles. He can’t make the players box-out with more diligence, though. | |
Things We Saw
- Jaylen Brown certainly flashed his ceiling in that game. The defense on Siakam was brilliant, and he found room to attack the Raptors defense with regularity. The Celtics wing tandem of Tatum and Brown stole the show for Boston.
- It’s not the end of the world, but a change to the starting lineup (Ibaka for Gasol) seems like it would be best at this point. In a game where Ibaka is clearly better, Nurse couldn’t easily translate that to more minutes for him because Gasol started. If you let Ibaka start, it’ll be much easier to avoid stacking his minutes. Let Gasol play back into shape and re-evaluate, but Ibaka is much better right now.
- The Celtics played a really tough brand of basketball tonight. It’s frustrating knowing that they won that way, when the 76ers punked them in their first game. The Raptors are the defending champs, you hate to see them lose because of physicality.
- Pascal Siakam’s ability to adjust and elevate above elite defense is jaw-dropping at times. We saw it a lot in the playoffs, where mid-game he’s completely changing the way he attacks, and not many players actually do that. He’s fluid and changeable, and my god, so talented. Exciting year to watch him work.
