 B+ | K. Birch31 MIN, 13 PTS, 8 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 6-10 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -10 +/- His athleticism continues to surprise. Just another thing that wasn’t really displayed in Orlando. Big dunk in the third. The short roll/jumper has been such a weapon, displayed again in the fourth. | ||||||||
 B- | Y. Watanabe30 MIN, 6 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 2-6 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -13 +/- Yuta’s first career NBA start vs the Pistons in the dogged days of March was a scoreless, 11 minute disaster. Played more like he belonged this time around. A little out of control at times in the first half, but that’s a night and day difference from appearing scared to shoot a month ago. | ||||||||
 A | F. VanVleet41 MIN, 27 PTS, 2 REB, 13 AST, 2 STL, 10-24 FG, 5-14 3FG, 2-3 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 1 +/- Steady Freddy. No, spectacular Freddy. Did a great job balancing facilitating and finding others. Didn’t over dribble or get tunnel vision as he does from time to time. Just point guard skills. One of my favourite plays from Fred is when he made up for a mid 3rd quarter turnover and basket from Nick Batum by splashing a deep three in his face. Some big plays mid 4th, but couldn’t knock down a shot down the stretch. | ||||||||
 C+ | S. Johnson32 MIN, 5 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 2-7 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -15 +/- Made some nice defensive plays and was instrumental in annoying Kawhi. It’s usually just a matter of what he brings to the table offensively. Missed all his logically open three point attempts in the first half. The indecisiveness with the ball is a killer at times. Whatever happens in the future with Stanley, you can’t say that he lacked opportunities as a Raptor. | ||||||||
 B | P. Siakam41 MIN, 24 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 10-24 FG, 1-5 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, -4 +/- Is it just me or is that floater he attempted a couple of times a new wrinkle? Nobody is going to complain about the amount of shots he took, especially with his passive stints at times this season. The most encouraging sign is that his three point shot has consistently been there over the last two weeks. That key play with 90 seconds left though – looked similar to the double dribble play against the Knicks a month ago. Pascal didn’t really know which play to make. Birch was open. | ||||||||
 B | D. Bembry16 MIN, 4 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 +/- Bembry is back in the role he was in before March when the Raptors were at their best this season. The bench utility guy filling holes and some sneaky nice passes. Not having to do too much. The boxscore doesn’t show all his contributions. Could have legitimately had 5 assists or so if shots fell. Crafty euro off the glass early 4th when the Raps were trying to buy minutes for their starters. | ||||||||
 B- | F. Gillespie15 MIN, 7 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 5 +/- Beautiful putback dunk in the first half. Annoyed DeMarcus Cousins a bit (which isn’t hard to do). Comes close to travelling on some of his paint touches. Definitely an adventure. | ||||||||
 D | M. Flynn13 MIN, 1 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 +/- Quiet night from April’s East rookie of the month. His role has changed nearly as much as the Raptors starting line-up so dog days (or rookie walls) are expected. | ||||||||
 A | J. Harris13 MIN, 11 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 4-4 FG, 3-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 +/- GREAT minutes from Harris. Apparently its a shock that he’s listed at 6-5? Beautiful stroke on his threes, earning more minutes from Nick Nurse. Harris scored more points in this game than in all of his other seven appearances (garbage time mostly) combined. Moving the “puppies” (Jack Armstrong voice) on defence too! Impressed! | ||||||||
 B- | R. Hood3 MIN, 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 +/- Didn’t see much court time but did finish nicely in transition during one of the Raptors second quarter runs. | ||||||||
 B+ | Nick Nurse 31 different starting lineups – seriously, what the hell. Started BIG with Stanley and Yuta on the wings, obviously to match an equally big swing combo of PG and Kawhi. Speaking of Leonard, Nurse helped program the robot, so it only makes sense he shuts him down right? Kawhi couldn’t BREATHE for stretches of this game. Good call on giving Jalen Harris extended run. He’s a shooter. | ||||||||
Things We Saw
- KAWHI: This is his 3rd game against the Raptors since bringing us the Larry OB. He’s a perfect 3-0 but he’s been clamped in two of those games – both in LA. Nick Nurse would not let him breathe with extra attention that annoyed him at times.
- 5 GAME STRETCH: Ok so this game marked the end of the Raptors 5-game stretch against contenders (Nets, Nuggets, Jazz, Lakers, Clippers). Considering lineups were musical chairs again, 1-4 isn’t ideal but they were in every game playing HARD. I can’t ask for more than that.
- MARCUS MORRIS: He was left with some space to shoot by design. Some back breaking threes kept the Clippers within striking range. Ugh.
