Raptors keep winning | Terrence Davis looking good | Nurse is a damn good coach
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10 things: Terence Davis and Fred VanVleet lead Raptors to blowout over Magic – Yahoo!
Three — Student: VanVleet’s understudy, Terence Davis, was excellent off the bench as the undrafted rookie collected a career-high 19 points to accompany his eight rebounds and five assists. Davis delivered a spark in the first quarter, drilling two threes and hitting a putback in his first two minutes of play. He picked the Magic apart with his drives the remainder of the night, either maneuvering all the way to the cup and finishing or drawing help and dishing the ball off. Davis has scored 13 or more points in four of his last six games and has developed remarkably quickly for a rookie, which is undoubtedly a product of the three seasons he spent in college before going pro.
Raptors’ recent success illustrates hope of gold-striking coaching change – Sportsnet.ca
As the Raptors dug in against the Magic there were Nurse’s fingerprints everywhere. They took an early lead with a lineup featuring three undrafted free agents in Fred VanVleet, Chris Boucher and Terence Davis, OG Anunoby who has morphed from an injury-riddled project to a budding star in his third season, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, an under-sized, fifth-year wing whom Nurse was comfortable sitting until the former Brooklyn Net either bought into the defensive intensity he was looking for or circumstances changed.
Given Hollis-Jefferson hasn’t always been the most diligent practice player – “a gamer” was Nurse’s euphemism – it might have been a while. He played four minutes in the Raptors’ first eight games. Nurse even glued him during the exhibition schedule.
But Ibaka’s injury forced Nurse’s hand and ,to his credit, the coach didn’t get stuck on principle. He rolled him out there against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers and kept rolling him out there as Hollis-Jefferson proved he could contribute on both sides of the ball.
Details matter. With 17.1 seconds remaining in the third quarter Nurse subbed in sharp-shooter Matt Thomas for Toronto’s last possession of the quarter. But, instead of using the rookie – who came into the game shooting 56.5 per cent from three – to stand in the corner and spread the floor, he made Thomas a screener at the free-throw line, putting his body on Chris Boucher’s man after the Raptors centre had set a screen for VanVleet.
In the confusion – should the Magic guard against a VanVleet drive? Stick with a rolling Boucher to the rim or be prepared for Thomas bouncing out to the three-point line? – they neglected to rotate to Boucher and the Raptors got a layup at the buzzer to go up 79-68 heading into the fourth quarter and never looked back.
They shot 52.3 per cent from the floor, had five players in double figures – led by VanVleet’s 24 and held the Magic to 38.5 per cent shooting, making it all look easy.
The standard criticism of Babcock was that he was unwilling to waver from how he believed things needed to be done.
It turned into a first quarter shootout between two of the league’s better defensive teams. Evan Fournier made his first three shots and had eight points in the quarter for the Magic, who shot 54 percent in the quarter, including 5-for-10 from three, But the Raptors, a team that thrives on the fastbreak, shot 65 percent despite the Magic forcing them to operate in the half-court offense and holding them scoreless on the break.
The Magic got sloppy in the closing seconds, allowing easy buckets to Terence Davis and Pascal Siakam (off a Mo Bamba turnover), evening the score at 32 after the first. It went downhill from there in more ways than one.
That was the start of a 13-0 Toronto run that gave the Raptors a 41-32 lead with 9:25 to go in the half. The Magic meanwhile made just one of their first 12 shots of the second quarter. The Raptors – who shot 55.8 percent in the half, led by Fred VanVleet and Terence Davis with 13 points each – maintained the lead for the remainder of the quarter, taking a 61-51 lead into the break. The Magic shot 36.5 percent in the half, making 6 of 17 attempts from three (35.3). Fournier had 12 points and Isaac added 11.
The Magic lingered for a little longer thanks to their defense, even pulling within five with 7:36 left in the third, but without their two leading scorers, couldn’t get any closer. Toronto, which dominated in the paint all night, led 79-68 after three.
The lead would grow to as many as 19 in the fourth.
Magic fall to Raptors after Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon suffer ankle injuries – Orlando Sentinel
Toronto finished with 10 more field goals and recorded 68 points in the paint. Orlando entered the game allowing 42.5.
“Disappointing,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said when he was asked if he was surprised by how many points in the paint the Raptors produced.
Despite their shooting struggles, the Magic, who were down 10 at halftime, found themselves trailing by just five with 7:36 left in the third after an Isaac free throw.
After a Fournier 3 made it 72-65, Orlando went nearly four minutes without a point.
The scoreless stretch was even more frustrating because the Raptors didn’t pull away, and a few productive possessions would have had the Magic right in the thick of it.
A 5-of-20 shooting effort in the quarter derailed any momentum the Magic tried to muster.
“I thought the third quarter we actually played well,” Clifford said. “If could have made some shots, we were right there. That thing could have been four or five heading into the fourth.”
Instead, it was an 11-point deficit that grew to 17 nearly two minutes into the final quarter.
The Magic showed some life after Ross sank 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to close the deficit to 13. But the Magic could get no closer than 10 the rest of the way.
The Raptors were able to force turnovers and create mismatches to get open shots. Assistant coach Mike Batiste said the team was getting outhustled a bit on the glass and getting beat physically in some ways.
The Magic were never able to reel their offense back in. They pretty much stayed down by that 10-point deficit set by a 17-2 run at the start of the second quarter (before both the injuries) and a 29-19 second quarter. The Raptors kept the Magic at bay for a 113-97 win at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
Orlando was never able to get its offense back after that strong first quarter. The team shot 38.5 percent from the floor and just 9 for 32 from beyond the arc (28.1 percent). A few more made shots might have kept the game close in the second half.
But ultimately, the Magic could not get their defense going. The Raptors scored 68 points in the paint and drove through the lane finishing at the rim or getting offensive rebounds and following shots for second-chance opportunities.
Orlando probably had its chances even with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon out of the game. The fight and energy were largely there. Just not enough offense and not consistently enough on the glass. The team could not make shots and had backbreaking defensive mistakes.
Recap: Toronto Raptors take down the Orlando Magic, 113-97 – Raptors HQ
In classic Pascal fashion, he opened the third quarter with confidence, even blocking two shots on the same possession. After a bit of a struggle, the Raptors were carried by Norman Powell, who continued his dominance from the first half, along with Fred and OG. The Magic fought hard, but Toronto matched their intensity; the lead remained stable, hovering around 5-10 points for most of the third quarter. In the latter half of the third, Fred struggled with his shot but remained valuable by playing active defense, getting into the lane, drawing fouls and — cue Jack Armstrong voice — dropping dimes! The Raptors played outstanding defense, holding the Magic to just 17 points in the quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Raptors led 79-68.
Finally, Toronto really started to break this one open. Chris Boucher showed off his length with an offensive rebound, and subsequently utilized his quick second jump to grab his own rebound for the putback lay-in. A positive note for the Magic: Jonathan Isaac got the better of Siakam on multiple occasions. He did a commendable job guarding Siakam, consistently staying in front of him and bodying him up. As well, Isaac managed to shake free from Pascal and hit a midrange jumper. Still, as star players do, Pascal made the Magic pay by hitting some tough shots and grabbing boards over multiple bodies in the paint. Eventually, the Raptors’ defensive effort proved too much for the Magic, who got blown out 113-97.
Over the course of the game, Toronto ended up holding the Magic to a lowly 38 percent from the field with their staunch defense. It all led to some garbage time in which Oshae Brissett hit a three! Another positive: Nurse played Pascal for only 35 minutes tonight, and he could certainly use the rest. He shot just 39 percent from the field against Orlando, though he still managed to finish with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
The star of the game was undoubtedly VanVleet, whose play propelled the Raptors to victory. He shot 10-of-19 from the field, putting up 24 points and 7 assists. It’s comforting to know that Steady Freddy can hold the fort down with Lowry out, although we’ll hopefully be seeing Lowry on the court again soon.
Another game, another blowout win for NBA champion Raptors | Toronto Sun
DOING IT BY COMMITTEE
With various Raptors missing time due to injuries this season, others have been required to step in. Instead of fretting about who has been out, head coach Nick Nurse says he has enjoyed getting a glimpse of what some other players can do.
“I try to look at it as a really cool opportunity for some guys, and don’t fret very long about missing some guys and say, ‘OK, let’s look at the bright side,’” Nurse said.
“We get a couple guys who get a great opportunity. We need to develop guys, we’re gonna need some guys later. Maybe some of our guys that are out get some miles rested and that’ll benefit us later in the year as well,” he noted.
Nurse said centre Serge Ibaka could return at some point on the weekend. As first reported by Postmedia a couple of days ago, Ibaka’s tender ankle has mostly healed up. Kyle Lowry’s return date is less certain.
A few days ago Powell – who has been getting a chance to start with Lowry out – was asked what he’d learned about Toronto’s depth.
“We have a good team and the guys who are fighting for minutes, fighting for an opportunity, we know those guys were going to come in and step up,” Powell said.
“They’re hungry to go out there and play and contribute to the team. We weren’t really worried about what people were saying outside of what the team believes. We always have that next man up mentality and go out and lay it all on the line and we’re not going to back down and that group of guys that has that same mentality are able to just go out there and play.”
Davis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Boucher took advantage of the extra minutes in the first half on Wednesday, giving the Magic all kinds of fits. Boucher hit double figures in scoring for the fourth time in his past six games. Davis had 13 points in the first half, including eight in his first two minutes and set a new scoring high for the fourth time in 10 days.
Raptors bench buys time for stars to shine in home win over Magic | The Star
The Raptors were trailing by four when Terence Davis II and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson took the floor, followed soon after by Chris Boucher. Davis put up a quick eight points — 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, plus a driving layup — and the game was tied 32-32 after the first quarter.
The trio brought similar energy at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, helping the Raptors improve their home record to 6-0.
Davis (who recorded a career high with 19 points) and Boucher both finished the night at plus-22, with Hollis-Jefferson plus-21. Their contributions bought Fred VanVleet (who racked up with a game-high 24 points) and Pascal Siakam (who added 18) time to find their groove.
“I thought we didn’t execute a bunch of our schemes early, defensively,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “We just had a bunch of breakdowns and there were some clear-lane layups in the half-court — which we don’t like to see that often, if ever. Those guys provided a nice punch, and then the starters came back in and started playing. It wasn’t the prettiest game, I don’t think, but I thought we played awfully hard and played really hard in stretches, so that was good to see.”
Davis went 28 minutes without missing a shot, while Davis and Boucher reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time in the last six games. It’s clear they’re getting the hang of playing together.
“We’ve been playing together for a few games now and it’s really just bringing energy and taking what the defence gives up,” Davis said.
Raptors hold out hope that the best of Powell will become the norm | The Star
Take this season, for example. Heading into Wednesday’s home game against the Orlando Magic, Powell had six games where he’s scored 14 or more points and eight games where he’s scored seven or fewer.
That inconsistent production hasn’t cost the Raptors very much — they are still one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and had a 9-4 record going into the Magic game. Powell has been integral to many of the wins and often too invisible in the losses, however, and that’s the problem.
He sees the numbers and watches the game tapes. He knows he’s giving his best effort, and that’s good enough.
“I mean, I go out there and play the game of basketball and live with the results,” he said after having 17 points in a rout of Charlotte on Monday. “I trust the work that I put in. I play with confidence.
“Obviously you want to shoot the ball better, but it all comes with game experience, being able to play, being able to take a couple — see what it’s like, see what it feels like with the increased minutes. And being able to start, you know you’re able to feel the game and adjust, and be able to take more shots and be more aggressive in your reads. I know the numbers and things are going to pan out and change, because I’ve been shooting the ball great in my preparation.”
The simple fact is, the Raptors have enough talent and depth to get by despite Powell’s occasional lapses in production. It’s a team built to withstand a slumping player or an injured one because someone will usually have a big game, and Nurse is savvy enough to make in-game adjustments so that he gets the right guy every night.
Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors bench lead decisive win over Orlando Magic | NBA.com Canada
Terence Davis has been a huge boost to the Raptors second unit since Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka went down.
He had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in Toronto’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, 15 points and six rebounds in their win over the Portland Trail Blazers and earlier this week, a career-high 16 points and seven assists in a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets.
An increase in minutes has led to an increase in production and he brings a special type of energy to the Raptors’ bench.
The athletic and wiry guard gives it his all on the defensive end, is always crashing the glass and constantly getting out in transition. As an added bonus, he’s been an efficient scorer and consistent 3-point shooter – something Toronto probably didn’t expect to be getting out of the undrafted rookie.
Davis finished the contest with another new career-high in scoring of 19 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists and one steal.
Over the last two games, he’s shooting 12-for-17 (70.6%) from the field and 7-for-10 (70.0%) from beyond the arc with a combined plus/minus of plus-33.
It appears Davis has solidified his spot in the rotation and if he keeps this up, he should continue to see minutes even when Ibaka and Lowry return.
Terence Davis is surprising his own coach after another career game – The Rookie Wire
Davis improved his season scoring average to six points, 2.8 rebounds and two assists this season as he continues to see more playing time for Nurse. Though Nurse has often used small rotations, Davis has likely done more than enough to remain a fixture off of the bench.
The emergence of Davis is yet another undrafted player the Raptors have uncovered. Along with Davis, the Raptors have several others on the roster, including Fred VanVleet, Chris Boucher and Matt Thomas among others.
As Davis continues to improve each time he steps onto the court, he may very well begin to rise up the ranks of this year’s rookie class as an under-the-radar player.
Nick Nurse’s adaptability should be a lesson to all coaches, including Mike Babcock – The Athletic
Perhaps an easy example: Casey once cited cancelling morning shootarounds at home during the 2014-15 season as one of his bigger regrets during his Raptors tenure, which he saw as part of the reason for that team’s slip in discipline as the year went on. Last season’s Raptors almost never had a morning shootaround at home, prioritizing sleep and recovery time for the players. And if the players chose to use the extra time for other activities, well, that was fine, so long as they stayed focused when their presence was required.
Even as the Raptors have gotten younger this season, they have rarely shot around in the morning at Scotiabank Arena. It is a part of Nurse’s vibe as a collaborator rather than, in his words, an authoritarian. Even Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who was not exactly in Nurse’s good graces until recently, said last week that the Raptors coach is more flexible with how his players execute their individual defence, so long as the team concepts are being applied. That suits Hollis-Jefferson, an aggressive defender who perhaps gambles for steals a little too often, well.
Nurse said before the game that he does have considerable preferences regarding how he wants his team to operate. At the same time, based on how the Raptors have operated since he took over, it seems as if he is married to no single tenet, whether stylistic or behind the scenes, especially if it does not fit his roster.
“I think we’re playing well. I think there are nights where we spread (the ball) all over the place — the other night (against Charlotte), 40 assists — and there are nights where we get a W with 18 assists because we got the ball where it needed to go at the right time and the right moment of the game,” Nurse said. “And I think that’s kinda where we are right now. Would I love to have 40 assists every night? Heck yes, that’s fun to watch and fun for most guys to play in. But I would say I’m a lot more flexible than I am rigid on anything, to be honest. I’ve got some ideas on stuff. And if they work, we keep riding them. And if they don’t, we chuck ‘em out and go to the next one.”
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