I think the only positive from this game was Malik Monk's best performance this season.
Apart from that we saw Fox and DDR taking things their way at some point in 4th quarter making it a close game again... BUT we fought back playing hero ball with our clutch players, there were barely any movement in the offense so the negative things were a lot...
I dont get why Sabonis is snubbed so much in the offense, he had 9 or 10 assists but he couldn't hold the ball so much, drag his opponent (mostly Poetl) out of the paint and create some space for the others to attack the rim. Also in the first 3 quarters most of his (missed) shots were beyond logic, some crazy fadeaways from middle range. Guarding the perimeter has been an issue historically I guess. I think Kayte mentioned that the Raptors were dead last in 3pt pct this season and I dont know we managed to wake up the sleeping giant or something. The rotation seems not to be working so well, McBuckets starting in 1st and 3rd quarter didn't pay off, Lyles again wasn't contributing that much but at least this time he didn't shoot 6 3s like in previous matches, McLaughlin wasn't productive either looking (in this match) like a downgrade of Davion that had obviously things to prove tonight. I get it that having 5 players like Fox, DDR, Sabonis, Monk and Keegan is more than enough to win with ease against some teams in the NBA (Portland, Utah and Atlanta among them, especially when they have absences) but they have to use a certain system in order to be more competitive against better teams (not that half the Raptors is a powerforce) and stop having those "bleeps" in late 3rd quarter and during 4th quarter to mess everything up. Our opponents had a run in all 6 matches so far at the last 15' of playing time. Every time the Raptors took a time out they answered instantly. Mike Brown was famous for calling time outs as soon as possible, like Popovich does, but this hasn't happened this season and it cost us at least 1-2 wins.
This defeat was much similar to those plenty previous season ones when facing "tanking" teams with absences, it wouldnt have been an easy defeat with a double digit deficit if it hadn't been for DDR, who had a bumpy start though, missing several midrange shots and those 2 unforced errors in fast breaks back to back.
We ruined our momentum and now we play against the Heat on the road before facing the Raptors again at home that should have IQ (the player) back by then. Hope our IQ (not the player) increases, be smarter and make them play for ruining our streak.