Pour one out. This sucked.
 | BOS Celtics | 111 | Final Box Score | 89 | TOR Raptors |  |
 F | P. Siakam28 MIN, 10 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 5-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -25 +/- They ran screen and roll possessions for him to jump-start the second half… where was that earlier? He only attempted 2 shots in the first quarter. He racked up fouls on defense and had 5 halfway through the third quarter. Not his worst efficiency wise, but a disastrous performance as far as impact goes. | ||||||||
 C+ | O. Anunoby25 MIN, 7 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 3-11 FG, 1-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -26 +/- Can we describe anybody as a bright spot in this game? A dull spot? Anunoby was a dull-spot in an otherwise pitch black game. Continued effort on the offensive and defensive glass, good work tracking defensively, and hit a few shots. | ||||||||
 F | M. Gasol14 MIN, 0 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -14 +/- Without him on the court the Celtics run layup lines. With him on the court the Celtics float Theis at the nail and he interrupts every single offensive possession that comes through the middle. In a game like this, there’s no winning – and quite frankly, this isn’t close to good enough. | ||||||||
 D+ | K. Lowry34 MIN, 10 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 3-8 FG, 1-3 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, -23 +/- Maybe needed a night off after carrying such a heavy load the past two games? It’s hard to explain his lack of involvement without thinking there was some sort of rest element. Either way, didn’t follow the blueprint he laid out in games 3 and 4. The Raptors needed him to pull out the cape tonight, and that just wasn’t the case. | ||||||||
 D- | F. VanVleet34 MIN, 18 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 6-14 FG, 2-7 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -14 +/- Got an insane amount of possessions offensively. Was funneled into the middle repeatedly, where he couldn’t find any passing lanes or room to shoot, and as a result he dribbled the air out of the ball. He was put in a position to fail, in my opinion. I don’t know if he’s commandeering possessions out there, or if Nurse wanted the Raptors to play this way, but it was horrible. | ||||||||
 C- | N. Powell31 MIN, 16 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 6-15 FG, 4-11 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -10 +/- Had opportunities to pour it in and brought a little shot making. Hopefully the pop he showed tonight (even though it was minimal) translates to game 6, and maybe to 7. | ||||||||
 C+ | S. Ibaka18 MIN, 7 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- Boy, his shot making is welcome anytime. His scoring punch has been vital in this series, but the Raptors had already punted this thing by the time he checked in. He fumbled some passes he shouldn’t have, was overzealous on some defensive possessions, but does it really matter in this game? Your bench big isn’t going to save you when you’ve folded like a tent. He was totally fine. | ||||||||
 B | M. Thomas18 MIN, 10 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 4-6 FG, 2-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 +/- Hit a couple threes and did his thing. Need some more minutes for him next game, I think. | ||||||||
 Inc | T. Davis12 MIN, 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 +/- Got some shots up, and none of them dropped. There’s absolutely nothing to glean from these minutes, though. Happy he got some run and wish he got more. | ||||||||
 Inc | C. Boucher11 MIN, 3 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 0-1 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, -2 +/- TREBUCHET! He ran the floor and did his thing. He’ll always do his thing. Happy he got some run and wish he got more. | ||||||||
 Inc | R. Hollis-Jefferson6 MIN, 4 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -2 +/- There’s nothing to glean from these minutes. Happy he got some run and wish he got more. | ||||||||
 | S. Johnson4 MIN, 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -1 +/- Again, nothing to glean. Happy he got some run and wish he got more. | ||||||||
 F | Nick Nurse First F I’ve ever given him. The gameplan puzzled me. Didn’t put any of his players in positions to succeed. Went away from virtually everything that worked offensively in Games 3 and 4. Played the starters way too long, and for some insane reason Ibaka was on in the fourth quarter and rolled his ankle. The Raptors were doomed from the start considering what the gameplan was. Unimaginative and uninspired. | ||||||||
Things We Saw
- Tatum’s decision making in the pick n’ roll is immaculate. He uses his eyes to manipulate help-side defenders, he’s always in control, and my god the shotmaking. He really has taken the step, and it’s elevated the Celtics around him.
- For the life of me I can’t understand why the Raptors went about the game in the way they did. It’s one of the most puzzling performances of the season.
- Try more Matt Thomas minutes next game. He’s shown that he isn’t going to get killed immediately on defense, and he brings undeniable spacing and offensive punch.
