Final Score | Capital City Go-Go 116 – Raptors 905 112 | Box Score
Two Ways: Joel Ayayi, Cassius Winston (Go-Go), David Johnson (905)
On Assignment: Isaac Bonga (905)
The Raptors 905 had their seven-game, fan-less home win streak snapped by the Capital City Go-Go on Monday. Go-Go guards Jordan Goodwin and Cassius Winston scored 23 and 24 points respectively, with much of their damage coming in the paint. Reggie Perry led the 905 with 27 points and 13 rebounds.
It wasn’t quite a tale of two halves. More like a tale of the first half, a brief stretch in the third quarter, and the rest of the game. The 905 could not contain the point of attack in the first half, which led to layups (38 points in the paint), 10 offensive rebounds, eight second-chance points, and an 11-point half time deficit.
“We were very complacent tonight,” 905 Head Coach Patrick Mutombo said post game. “We decided we wanted to compete late in the game. Turned the ball over 17 times for 28 points. It’s undisciplined plays from too many people. I thought we did a very poor job containing the ball one on one. Very disappointing. It’s one thing to lose a game because you got out-schemed. It’s another because they just played harder than you.”
The Good:
905 forward Reggie Perry answered all his critics, or, critiques, at least for one game. Perry has sometimes lingered under the basket after a failed offensive possession while the play went the other way, leaving his team short handed. On Monday, Perry was the lone 905er to bring the requisite intensity for the entire game, guarding taller, bulkier centres, clearing the defensive glass, and challenging shots at the rim. Offensively the variety with which he scored his 27 points was impressive: a drop-step hook shot off glass, a step-up three in semi-transition, a face-up jumper, a baseline fadeaway, to name a few. Perry also had a first: a flop, that garnered an offensive foul.
“I fell on the floor,” Perry rephrased in jest. “I definitely fell on the floor. He was pushing me trying to get up to the screen. There was no way they were going to call it. Sometimes I have to do a better job of selling stuff.”
The Less Good:
With 27 seconds left in the game, the 905 scored to cut their deficit to two. Capital City called timeout, which allowed them to advance in the ball to the frontcourt. In the G League, this advancement moves the shot clock from 24 seconds to 14. Upon inbounding the ball, 905 guard Ashton Hagans immediately gave a foul, putting the Go-Go on the foul line. It appeared like the 905 assumed the shot clock was at 24 seconds, where it would have been had this play occurred in the NBA. Coach Mutombo was asked about this post game but the sequence may not have been properly conveyed in the (my) question, leading to an inconclusive answer. Perhaps we will gain clarity before Tuesday’s game. Either way, the Go-Go’s Cassius Winston made both free throws to pretty much seal it.
Two-Way guard David Johnson has been hampered by absences throughout the season, but his 14 games played with the 905 have been mostly underwhelming. An incredible athlete, Johnson hasn’t been able to showcase it with consistent finishing at the rim. As for the perimeter, coming into Monday Johnson was shooting just 8% from three on over seven attempts a game. Perhaps more concerning: his threes don’t often come in the flow of the offence, rather when he has a slight opening from the wing. Defensively, Johnson has earned more trust from Coach Mutombo; on Monday he was fighting admirably to get around screens and did a nice job contesting shots. But if Johnson isn’t scoring it’s rare he’s having a big impact on the game, which doesn’t bode well as we cross the half-way mark of the G League season. All that said, it is only 14 games into his professional career so perhaps more leeway ought to be granted.
The Raptors 905 stay home for a back to back tonight against the Windy City Bulls. Sorry, you’re not allowed to come.
