Defense, vets, and multiple roleplayers stepping up off the bench -- this is the way it was supposed to be. BTW, we own the Raptors. Like own their souls. We are "that team" that every good team has. Their special kryptonite. We've swept the season series from them 2 years in a row now, and appear to be the only team in the league still playing enough fullsized personnel to make DeRozan look like, well same ole DeRozan. Hell, we even got the refs to give us a break, after they whistled Cuz for 3 quick fouls to get us in trouble in the first half. For a decade straight now "turning point games" have been anything but for us. But here we are again with another opportunity. We've been pressing good teams, and now finally broke through. The team is still playing hard and together, things are coming around as the schedule slowly starts getting more reasonable. It always starts somewhere...unless you are us.
Link to Boxscore
Starters
Gay ( A+ ) -- all those who had "Rudy Gay, leading scorer in the NBA stopper" down in the prediction game thread...I'll give you $1 million a piece. Heck, make it $10 mil a piece. Its an easy promise since I know there was absolutely nobody. Anyway, Rudy was brilliant tonight. Played tough and fired up, and smothered DeRozan, holding him 21pts below his season average. That's how you get a "+".
Featured Grade
Barnes ( C+ ) -- Matt started the game at PF tonight, and really didn't do much in the first quarter. He was tasked with guarding Siakam, who at least in the first quarter, had more of an impact on the game than Barnes did. Of course Barnes was giving away a lot os size. It didn't take long for Joerger to get Koufos into the game for some rim protection. When Barnes came back into the game, Rudy went out and Barnes was on DeRozen, who he continued to make life miserable for. Matt scored 8 points, but didn't shoot the ball well going 3 for 10 from the floor. Despite that, I might have given him a B if not for some stupid turnovers and only one rebound. Matt did make a difference in the game though with solid defense in the second half. --Baja
Cousins ( C ) -- got off to the hot start per usual, bombing threes. But then Lowry hopped into him a few times, and the refs took the rest of the first half from him. After half slowly turned into a struggle as his shot totally left him, and bricked so many it was endangering us. But made some big plays in other ways late, including the tip on the inbounds to save the win.
Collison ( B ) -- was mostly about the assists early, but in the second half as other sources of offense dried up, Darren made more impact. Had a huge +1 down the stretch that set us up for victory, although decision making in the final minute continues to be disturbingly shaky.
Lawson ( C+ ) -- the mighty mini starting backcourt didn't last long as the Raptors were immediately determined to pummel our little guards inside, forcing us to double and scramble our D. But Lawson looked more comfortable out there, and while certainly not excelling, he scrapped and stuck his nose in.
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Bench
Koufos ( A- ) -- its hard to ever give Koufos an A of any kind because his game is so damn ugly, and even here he missed a couple of his ugflips, and some FT to boot. But even with that, I thought this was one of his best and most energetic games. And his defensive impact, getting up to block shots too, was a major boost off the bench.
Afflalo ( B+ ) -- wasn't able to sustain it after half, but in the first half was an important figure for us, looking perfectly comfortable coming off the bench and I think even leading the team in scoring.
Cauley Stein ( INC ) -- got bullied and beat up by Valanciunas, and could do nothing but foul in return. Didn't last long before Joerger really showed his hand and went all vets all the time.
McLemore ( INC ) -- like Willie, Ben came in, missed his shots at a dangerous time for us, nad was removed and never returned as the veteran guards scrapped out the win. You can feel how serious Joerger has gotten tightening the screws now.
Tolliver ( INC ) -- I think all the minutes were in the first half. Largely ineffective inside, but did have a few moments of good defensive attention on the perimeter.
Temple ( A- ) -- as always with Temple, its not about the numbers, although the number were solid. But in the second half, and late in particular, brought some hellacious defense, and along with Barnes harassed the hell out DeRozan. And as a topper hit two big threes for us as well.
Casspi (
) -- I just felt like Omri deserved a buck me up grade. He must be a sad panda right now after being kinda announced as the likely starter up until 10 minutes before gametime, and then going from finally getting a chance to start to being the only guy in our Top 12 not to play at all.
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