Quick Reaction: Wizards 90, Raptors 102

Taking care of business.

Wizards

Raptors

P. Siakam35 MIN, 31 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 10-21 FG, 1-1 3FG, 10-12 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, +6 +/-

Automatic in the first half. The Wizards refused to double despite getting eaten alive as Pascal drained mid-range jumpers, executed post-up moves, used screens very effectively and excelled in transition. A quieter second half for sure, but on this night the first half buffer produced by his play was enough.

B+

P. Achiuwa30 MIN, 10 PTS, 14 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 5-10 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -3 +/-

Was involved a lot since Fred and Banton involved him with a lot of high screen action. He hit some mid-range jumpers, had some nice passes out of the high-post but also missed a couple easy passes which would’ve led to open threes. Playing time is the only way he’ll learn and Birch being injured is doing wonders for his experience. Given that this season is a 82-game practice, this works out.

B+

S. Barnes36 MIN, 11 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 5-10 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, +13 +/-

He’s trying to take the green light more but the unselfish playmaker in him continues to look for the pass to exploit a mismatch. Here’s the thing though: he is the mismatch, so the more he looks for his own shot the better his teammates become. The FGAs are on the lower end of what could’ve been tonight, but he’s definitely trying to assert himself by taking control of the offense more.

B-

F. VanVleet32 MIN, 10 PTS, 0 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 4-12 FG, 2-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, -2 +/-

The Wiz were pressing him and inviting the drive, to which VanVleet (and Nurse) responded by getting the ball out of his hands and having Barnes, Banton and Siakam handle it more. Did have a huge shot coming out of a timeout in the third when the WIz were making their run.

C-

G. Trent Jr.29 MIN, 6 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 2-8 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/-

Missed some clean open looks which you would’ve bet on him to make. If he doesn’t get off to a quick start it’s unlikely he picks it up later in the game, so getting him going early is an asset late. Defensively he was good (as usual).

B+

C. Boucher18 MIN, 14 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 5-7 FG, 0-1 3FG, 4-6 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, +12 +/-

He finally had a game which he wasn’t desperately trying to erase from memory. Basic stuff: cutting when his man is distracted, not hesitating on the dive after the screen, and using those long legs to get a first step while finishing strong. Trade value going up for sure.

Y. Watanabe17 MIN, 7 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, +16 +/-

Combined well with Banton in the first half as Nurse opted for Banton to play point-forward. He reacts quickly on defense which makes it seem like he’s in two places at once, and is (dare I say) the Raptors best help defender. His close-outs are quite possibly the best on the team as well, far less aggressive and conceding the weaker angle to the defender.

A-

D. Banton15 MIN, 5 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 2-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, +13 +/-

If you’re on the Banton side of the Flynn v Banton PG debate, this was your game. Nurse trusted him to run the offense in a significant first half stretch where the Raptors extended their lead (though Pascal had something to do with that). Guarding Beal 26 feet away from the rim has to be an education in defense and something he probably took a lot away from. He played him well enough but as soon as the screen came, Beal’s explosiveness was evident.

S. Mykhailiuk14 MIN, 5 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, +11 +/-

He’s being used by Nurse to tune up the defensive intensity, which he does well. Anything else he give is a bonus.

Nick Nurse

Kudos on going all-in on the length lineup and giving his rookies (and Yuta, Achiuwa) greater responsibility to bring this one home. Milked Pascal when he was hot, though you’d like to see Nurse do a little more with him than just rely on the guy to create his own shot through a lot of dribbling.