Quick Reaction: Hornets 100, Raptors 111

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TOR Raptors

111

Final
Box Score

100

CHA Hornets

B+

P. Siakam20 MIN, 9 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 3-10 FG, 3-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -2 +/-

The pull-up jumper looks very good, especially from three. If you left the Celtics series worried that teams had figured out how to deny Siakam his looks inside the paint – this game probably didn’t make you feel better. However, it is preseason, he was 2nd team All-NBA, and he’s supposed to come out here and get the jumper loose. He was very range-y defensively as well. Good stuff.

A+

O. Anunoby18 MIN, 11 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 5-10 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -5 +/-

Everything you could want and more. Competed on the glass at both ends, hit from downtown, switched across multiple positions, and flashed a much improved handle. The building blocks of an MIP season look like they’re there. Very happy with his performance.

F. VanVleet16 MIN, 9 PTS, 1 REB, 5 AST, 5 STL, 3-9 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/-

5 steals in 16 minutes. Blew up a number of the Hornets ‘pnr’ possessions and gummed up everything that came near him defensively. Still creating well in those seams to the corners on offense, still an excellent spot-up shooter, and still taking very good care of the ball. Steady Freddy indeed.

D+

N. Powell20 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1-8 FG, 0-3 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 +/-

Not a good game. Was fumbling his dribble, didn’t have the pop to beat defenders with his first step, and missed nearly all of his shots. That’s not who he is though, just a funky preseason performance.

A. Baynes12 MIN, 5 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-1 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -1 +/-

Took a charge, of course, and drew a 4-point play with some slick screen work. He also hit a tight ‘lil’ hook shot. He’s still trying to find his way as the guy in the middle of the Raptors defense, but it’s early.

A+

M. Thomas21 MIN, 16 PTS, 1 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 5-9 FG, 4-7 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 22 +/-

A very, very nice game. Relentless motion off-ball that killed the Hornets defense over and over, some ‘in your jersey’ defense, and an unshackled handle. Nurse & co. saw what he was unlocking offensively and let him run with it. Couldn’t have made a better case for 7th or 8th man in the rotation.

A+

M. Flynn19 MIN, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 3-7 FG, 3-6 3FG, 0-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 35 +/-

Very in control for a rookie who came in during the shortest offseason in NBA history. Formed up off of other players drives exceptionally well and found himself in open shooting spots – which he made. Also brought some nice point of attack defense. Excellent debut.

T. Davis17 MIN, 13 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 4-9 FG, 2-6 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 13 +/-

We’ve become accustomed to Davis’ scoring punch off the bench and tonight was no different. He shared the floor when the Raptors were in the midst of their 3-point tidal wave and chipped in himself. He made a couple nice dump-off passes as well. Nice game.

A-

P. Watson14 MIN, 5 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 2-4 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 3 BLK, 1 TO, -3 +/-

A sleeper candidate for the 8-man rotation, Watson showed off some of the shot-making that’s become part and parcel of his game, and man oh man did he have some impressive standalone defensive plays. Nice showing.

B+

C. Boucher14 MIN, 9 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 4-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 3 BLK, 2 TO, 17 +/-

Tough start. Didn’t really find the pacing as a roll man, and couldn’t lay down contact on a lot of screens he set. Had a some nice minutes towards the end of the game, though. Found space to make shots on offense, and got some swats on defense. And really, that’s what Boucher is meant to do – score and swat.

S. Johnson12 MIN, 2 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-4 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 +/-

Was at his best when he was making advanced passes for his position. Although, this game did nothing to remove the giant question mark surrounding his game.

Y. Watanabe12 MIN, 5 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 +/-

Found himself in the right spots on both ends of the floor quite often. Active hands on defense are always welcome, and so are spot-up threes. He’ll continue to make his case for more than a two-way spot.

B+

D. Bembry9 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 10 +/-

Got the McCaw spot as the guy who gets thrown in as a point of attack defender, and I thought he did a good job defending Ball – who is exceptionally dynamic. Got some drag screen and ‘pnr’ possessions and his decision making was good, despite the fact that he doesn’t put a ton of pressure on the defense in the half-court. Had a couple really nice passes in this one.

C+

J. Harris8 MIN, 3 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -13 +/-

He’s rapid. You can tell he feels the bumps of NBA players a lot though, and it makes it hard for him to traverse the floor with the ball or without. Hit a shot, missed a couple more. Mixed bag.

B+

A. Len8 MIN, 3 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-6 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 9 +/-

He’s going to be big around the rim defensively this year, and he was tonight. As a bonus he put some pressure on the Hornets defense at the bucket.

Inc

H. Ellenson8 MIN, 5 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-5 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -13 +/-

Defensively, very out of sorts. But the game was in ‘pickup’ mode by the time he entered it.

B-

A. Johnson6 MIN, 2 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -15 +/-

Brought the ball up the floor, made some nice reads as a passer, and put pressure on the glass. Classic Alize Johnson stuff, but didn’t pop a lot.

Nick Nurse

I’m not sure how much of the game needs managing in a preseason setting, but if it did he rallied his team back from a 22-0 run. Liked the heavy minutes for the rotation guys in the first half. And just fun and funky lineups in the second.