 | TOR Raptors | 93 | Final Box Score | 92 | CHI Bulls |  |
 B+ | P. Siakam39 MIN, 22 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 7-18 FG, 2-6 3FG, 6-8 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 +/- Objectively, 22 points and 6 boards is a respectable statline. But given the way Siakam has performed against mediocre competition this season, (yes the Bulls qualify as mediocre) his performance left something to be desired. He came out of the gates blazing, but quickly lost his footing, needing to defer to his teammates when the ball began to stick. It was an okay night for a much more than okay basketball player. | |
 B | O. Anunoby37 MIN, 10 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-3 FT, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 9 +/- This was not the most fluid performance from OG. His movements with the ball looked very herky-jerky, he was hesitant and missed a couple bunnies that he’s been making all season. No complaints on the defensive side of the ball as he turned in a stellar effort yet again. | |
 A | M. Gasol29 MIN, 9 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 4-7 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 4 BLK, 1 TO, 9 +/- When Marc Gasol looks for his own shot, it elevates his ceiling for how he impacts the game. Not only does it raise his level of play, but more importantly if unlocks another chasm for what Toronto is capable of offensively. Tonight he was excellent defensively and made the other team guard him. Get this man the game ball. | |
 B | K. Lowry39 MIN, 11 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 0 STL, 3-15 FG, 1-8 3FG, 4-5 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 7 +/- Trade him! Why’d Masai resign him? Start FVV instead. Shhhhhhhh. If you don’t understand the impact of Lowry extends far beyond a box score, there’s not much I can do to help you. He couldn’t buy one tonight, shooting just 20% from the field – but his team still needed every one of the 39 minutes he played. Kyle’s effort and pace of play is infectious. He was just the cup of coffee Toronto needed in the windy city. | |
 A | N. Powell29 MIN, 17 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 7-16 FG, 1-6 3FG, 2-4 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 7 +/- Every 4 to 5 basketball games, Norman Powell decides to come out of his cocoon and go absolutely bonkers on offense. Tonight was one of those nights. Powell had the green light – jacking up threes, attacking the paint and injecting the lethargic Raptors offense with some much-needed life. It’s like watching Jarryd Bayless, only if Jarred Bayless was good at basketball. Offensive player of the game. | |
 A- | S. Ibaka19 MIN, 11 PTS, 14 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -8 +/- His stat line could have easily been 20 & 15. Serge missed a host of gimmies at the rim that he usually converts. Having said that, the best dressed man from the Republic of Congo still contributed 11 points, 15 boards and a couple blocks in under 20 minutes. Not too shabby. | |
 B- | R. Hollis-Jefferson17 MIN, 6 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3-7 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/- This wasn’t the greatest RHJ game. He didn’t kill the raps but he definitely didn’t do much to keep himself on the floor. Effort was there but the results were not. | |
 C- | C. Boucher14 MIN, 5 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -9 +/- One to forget for Slim Duck.. that 3 he attempted in the third which ricocheted off the backboard like a piping hot squash ball says it all. Ouuf. | |
 C | T. Davis12 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/- Not the most impactful performance from Davis. The undrafted rookie looked like an undrafted rookie on Monday night, as he struggled to penetrate a stubborn Bulls defense. | |
 C | M. Miller6 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-2 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 +/- Tough to make an impact in 6 minutes. One shot attempt and no turnovers. | |
 A- | Nick Nurse Given how awful his players shot the ball for the majority of the game, Nurse rolled with the punches and made adjustments which allowed Toronto to hang in there even when the offensive well had run bone dry. He trusted his big guns and gave his bench a short leash when the game started to get out of hand. | |
Things We Saw
- A hallmark trait of good teams is finding a way to grind out wins when lesser opponents refuse to give you any ground. Previous Raptors teams were chastised for rolling over and letting opponents have their way with them after falling down. This team needed a win badly and showed no quit in their pursuit of that.
- Man that was ugly. The Raptors didn’t score a basket in the second half until 6 minutes had elapsed in the first quarter, and the Bulls weren’t doing their fans any favours either as they also struggled to score. Portions of that game made it hard to call the NBA an entertainment industry
- The term X-Factor gets thrown around alot in sports, but when Marc Gasol and Norman Powell look for their shots, man can this team be special. Both seem to share extremely mercurial offensive styles of play, as their shot selection goes up and down like a yo-yo. Tonight it was up and it provided a release valve for guys like Kyle and Pascal who were struggling to generate offense in the half-court.
- For all the fuss that was made of the raptors 3 game losing streak, they lost to 3 good playoff teams, each of whom are contenders to emerge as conference finalists. Tonight had the potential to be Toronto’s first loss to a bad team. Until that happens, I’ll be encouraged with what this team is showing me.
