Game 30 - @ Memphis (L 96-85) Monday December 27
Listened to second quarter
From what I heard this game sounded just like the last one against Detroit. An undermanned and under-experienced Raptors team couldn’t compete and were unable to focus. After leading by as many as 13 points early in the game, the Raptors had another disappointing second quarter with ten turnovers. The radio announcer aptly said they were “opening up a bakery with all these turnovers.” The starting post spots of Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey couldn’t match up with Z-Bo and Marc Gasol. Triano tried to juggle the lineups a little with the absence of Bargnani and Weems, but this lead to players handling the ball more who were not used to it and ended up turning it over a total 25 times. This number was also a product of good Memphis defense. The question now is who will step up and lead the offense without Bargnani and be a go-to scorer. After 30 games the Raps sit at 10-20 with little optimism for a dramatic turn-around.
Game 31 - @ Dallas (W 84-76) Tuesday December 28
Wasn’t able to watch
Who could have expected much from this game? The Raptors coming off two ugly losses and headed into Dallas on the second game of a back-to-back where they haven’t won since December 30, 1999. Nevertheless the Raptors proved how unpredictable they are with a win over the Nowitzki-less (but still rock solid) Mavericks. The Raptors were still without Bargnani, but Ed Davis filled in nicely with a 17-point double-double. After a solid 14 point first half, Linas Kleiza is ejected for arguing a traveling call in accordance with the “love of the game” policy. Jerryd Bayless also leaves the game on two separate occasions after spraining his ankle twice. All-in-all a positive note for the Raps who needed this win as a confidence booster, both for the players and coach Triano. They play next on New Years Eve in Houston.
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