Tough one.
 | Grizzlies | 98 | Final Box Score | 91 | Raptors |  |
 B+ | P. Siakam30 MIN, 20 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 9-19 FG, 1-6 3FG, 1- FT, 3 BLK, 2 TO, -1 +/- Unquestionably the most difficult matchup on both sides of the floor. Had to navigate the newly dominant defender, ‘JJJ’, and hold up the back end of the Raptors motion heavy defense. He was great navigating inside the arc offensively, and really needs to hit his C&S threes. Overall an impressive game, but the foul trouble brings a knock, where he has to strike the balance of how to stay on the floor. Lots of things to like, but you need more minutes from him in close games. | ||||||||
 C | P. Achiuwa29 MIN, 5 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-8 FG, 0-1 3FG, 4- FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -2 +/- The offensive warts have been aplenty this year, and this game was no different. His moment as an offensive hub was a fever dream of terrible possessions and he still didn’t move well to assist teammates. The defense is still really solid, though. No one contests the rim like he does on this squad. The rebounding really hurt in this one. | ||||||||
 A- | S. Barnes38 MIN, 19 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 8-16 FG, 3-6 3FG, 0- FT, 4 BLK, 4 TO, -11 +/- What a rollercoaster from the rookie. The ‘look back’ is generating its first negative reviews, and ‘JJJ’ swatted the hell out of him while hot dogging. A few defensive gaffes, but some fantastical scrambles for steals and blocks. The NBA’s best 3rd quarter player, still, and those threes in the fourth quarter were inspired. This game had everything, and I’m inclined to take away more positives. | ||||||||
 B | F. VanVleet42 MIN, 15 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 6-13 FG, 1-5 3FG, 2- FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, -2 +/- I don’t envy his workload. Another 42 mins for the league’s minutes leader, and it was an absolute grind. Started out the game carrying with some shotmaking, but that subsided as the game wore on. Very little punch from him in the set actions, and didn’t hurt the Grizzlies as a spacer. Still though, his defensive presence was incredibly important to the Raptors getting back in this thing. Not his best, but he’s everything for this team right now. | ||||||||
 C+ | S. Mykhailiuk18 MIN, 7 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 3-8 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0- FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -2 +/- Still looking for the shot to come around. One of his better defensive games this year as he paired well with others in impromptu doubles and traps. Failed a little bit as a ball mover offensively though, and still isn’t meeting the level of play the team needs from him, and that he should be able to provide. | ||||||||
 C- | C. Boucher7 MIN, 6 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 0-1 3FG, 3- FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, -8 +/- Wild 7 minutes. Got a step on ‘JJJ’ for an And-1, had a thunderous dunk to close a quarter, but was also out at sea for numerous defensive possessions where the Raptors surrendered points. Particularly in the pick n’ roll. | ||||||||
 A- | Y. Watanabe29 MIN, 11 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 4-9 FG, 3-8 3FG, 0- FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -2 +/- This scoring output, if replicated, is something that would make everyone extremely happy. Opportunistic as a cutter, definitely as a shooter, and an unbelievably dependable defender. Great game off the bench for Yuta. | ||||||||
 D+ | M. Flynn22 MIN, 5 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2-8 FG, 1-7 3FG, 0- FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -13 +/- It was great to see him reach back and hit that 3 late, but it was couched in a performance that was below average. When the ball is in his hands the Raptors just don’t create, and the drop off from Fred to him (although they shared the floor tonight) is colossal. | ||||||||
 B+ | D. Banton15 MIN, 2 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0- FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, +3 +/- Grab and Go. Always. He pushes the Raptors into spots that few other players do, and they rest of the roster doesn’t fail him when they all start running. His length and activity was a positive defensively and on the glass. All you could hope for from him in games like these. | ||||||||
 B | I. Bonga11 MIN, 1 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2- FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, +3 +/- The offensive limitations are very on display, but a terrific stretch of defense, and two separate occasions where he put pressure on the rim gave the Raptors enough in his minutes. | ||||||||
 B | Nick Nurse It’s tough to critique a coach in a game like this. The non-Fred+Pascal’s started the game 6-27, and on a lot of good looks. That’s not coaching. And the team played good defense basically all game, despite getting bludgeoned on the glass to start. If you have qualms about Fred and Pascal sitting at the same time in the first half, that’s fair, but Siakam nearly fouled out anyway. Tough to say. | ||||||||
Things We Saw
- Per Michael Grange, JJJ weighs in at roughly 270, putting Siakam at almost 40 pounds lighter – yikes. Got blocked going to his left 3 separate occasions, and many other players just don’t make that play. He’s arrived defensively for the Grizzlies, and he helped so much tonight. And his movement at that size is incredible – he beat the Raptors stunts off the dribble on a few different occasions.
- Too many minutes for Fred every game. His body needs a rest.
- Love it or hate it, Scottie’s look backs are going to grace Shaqtin A Fool and other lowlight segments. Personally, I think it’s super funny and speaks to his effervescent personality. But, he might catch a fade some day because of it.
