Watched about 20%
Just didn’t have the go-to guy like Brandon Roy. Had the tendency to go to one player, but as soon as anyone gets the hot hand they decide to share the ball around. Calderon getting lots of time, difficult for team to adjust to having a different point guard every night. Could run a second unit with Calderon like Alvin Gentry in Phoenix with Dragic last years playoffs. Bargnani faked and drove to the net for a dunk and it looked so easy for him one questions why he won’t do it all the time.
Game 7- Golden State (L 109-102)
Watched final 1:00 of fourth
Raptors trailed 45-26 when I checked earlier in the night, but actually brought it within four and ended up losing by only seven. Couldn’t keep Ellis and Curry in check so defense was the issue yet again. If the Raptors could ever shut down the dominant scorer on the other team it would be a start. When watching the highlights, the announcer on he Score, “It’s a nice little excursion north of the border for Steph Curry and Monta Ellis,” it shouldn’t be. Those are two of the smallest, easiest to knock around backcourts in the league, something the Raptors never do. It shouldn’t be a friendly sojourn into Canada, it should be like they are trespassing and coming into Raptors country to get their butts kicked back where they came from. Once again perception; Canada= soft
Game 8- Charlotte (L 101-96)
Watched the whole thing.
Already wrote this recap well, word unexpectedly quit just as I was finishing it, which belies the nature of this game. Both teams coming in 1-7, a ‘must-win’ for Toronto before they head out to face Orlando and Miami. The Raptors just cruised along in this one, seemingly content to trail by two or three all game. Sometimes were able to grab a lead, but never hold on to it nevermind build on it. Don’t know if it can be called Triano’s fault with the lineup he’s got, and I’d like to give him some time, but he’s just not clutch. His last-second plays are either just bad, or executed poorly. With seconds left on the clock and the Raptors trailing by 3, the ball goes to Bargnani beyond the arc where he doesn’t hold on to the ball tightly enough and gets stripped by Stephen Jackson. The crowd booing and Bargnani shaking his head, and its just the beginning of a long season. Charlotte has trouble scoring, while being able to lock down on defense and play gritty, winning basketball. If the combined Raptorcats were to join the league, they may not even be top 4 in the east. Also, it seems the injury bug has hit Toronto (as if it couldn’t get any worse), with Barbosa, Anderson, and Davis out, Reggie leaves the game and Kleiza and Weems not at 100%. See you in Orlando…
Game 9- @ Orlando (W 110-106)
Watched first quarter and fourth quarter
Didn’t look so good in the first period as the Magic get to the basket with ease, however the Raptors seem full of surprises. They manage to pull out an upset in Orlando. Sonny Weems ices it with a big three which sends him into a mini- hot streak for the next couple of games. DeMar plays well too with a crucial dunk down the stretch. Reggie Evans matched up with Dwight fairly well too.
Game 10- @ Miami (L 109-100)
Watched the first about 40%
Expecting another surprise? Chris Bosh and the Heat delivered exactly what they needed, getting a solid win against an obviously inferior team. At times it looked like Miami was cruising, did we really ever think they would let the Raptors beat them. Both Wade and James hot to the basket repeatedly. It was Chris Bosh’s first game against his former team and he performed underwhelmingly.
No comments:
Post a Comment