Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 109 - Washington 107

by RaptorsHQ - Franchise on Dec 4, 2009 10:23 PM EST in Game Day Comment 20 comments

-WHEW. That sound you heard was the collective sigh of relief from Toronto Raptors' fans. The Raps and Wiz battled into OT for this one but the Dinos emerged victorious with a 109 to 107 win.

-MVP for Toronto? Chris Bosh. Bouncing back from a 2 point performance, CB4 dropped 31 on the Wizards and was relentless on the glass grabbing 16 rebounds, NINE of the offensive variety.

-And tonight his sidekicks came along for the ride when it counted most. While they both struggled offensively early, Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani were big down the stretch with Hedo hitting a few gigantic shots to keep Washington at bay.

-This was indeed the gritty, hard-fought win the team needed as Washington didn't go quietly into the night, despite scoring only 17 first quarter points. Gilbert Arenas had a game-high 34 points including the 3-pointer that sent this one to OT, and he got lots of help from his teammates; the Wiz had five players in double figures.

-We'll be breaking things down in full in the morning but this one has to feel good. The team played its best defense in weeks holding Washington to 37% shooting while holding their own on the glass despite playing one of the best rebounding teams in the league. There were still some issues of course, especially with turnovers early, but considering the "team talk" and recent play, this psychologically is huge. Toronto has a run of winnable games coming up so to get this one and to be able to build off of a solid effort is huge.

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Throwing cold water on the idea that Hedo Turkoglu is a clutch shooter

http://www.basketballfreeforall.com/archives/2007

In the end, a lot of the blame for Turk’s inflated reputation as a clutch shooter lies with the media, who glorifies his late-game heroics (event) but ignores his failures (non-event). Once designated clutch, the media picks up the story and runs with it, creating a feedback loop.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 4, 2009 10:29 PM EST reply actions

the problem with those stats are there over an 82 games basis..the guy has come up with big shot after big shot in the playoff’s but you want to say he ain’t clutch..the point is proven when you try to argue the stats say AP is more “clutch” than turk…how many daggers has he hit in a must win game? who cares if he is a good shooter in the fourth when there down by twenty..you say people get worked up cause it was on T.v but your missing the point they got worked up because IT WAS THE PLAYOFF’S..the magic would have been no where near the finals without him last year and when he was locked on Orlando’s pick n roll was unstoppable..I can understand the VC argument cause i always thought he was good when it counted but to say he is not clutch is not sensible..yes he did miss the three that sent it to over time but he also hit 2 big shot’s in overtime..Show me who you think is clutch in the league right now that has hit the kind of must hit shots Hedo has and I am not talking about clutch free throws I am talking true game winners..

by tfulks23 on Dec 4, 2009 11:55 PM EST up reply actions

and would tonight’s game be a non event? or must we judge only on games that are blacked out?

by tfulks23 on Dec 4, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

the problem with those stats are there over an 82 games basis

Yes, unfortunately the regular season schedule is 82 games, and all those games count towards your playoff position.

An example of a clutch player in the NBA would be — no surprise — LeBron James, whose stats all jump significantly in the closing minutes of games.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 5, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions

your missing my point..take a guy like Brandon Roy who most people consider to be a pretty clutch guy..remember that big shot he hit against Houston last year? he has come up big plenty of times in regular season games but in the playoff’s outside of one excellent game he was not the clutch player the stats say he is..in fact as i recall it was Shane Battier that was hitting all the big shots in that series ..and what about a guy like Robert Horry who i am sure if your counting how many time he has “took over” in the fourth would not be considered clutch but he has in fact hit some very memorable game winners..so would a guy like him not be considered clutch?

by tfulks23 on Dec 5, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

So much work just to hold Washington to 96 points in regulation… But it’s gotta start somewhere

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Dec 4, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions

Still, it was nice to see the Raptors respond. Let’s hope they can build on this, and not lose to the likes of Minny and Jersey.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 4, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And the Raptors are still like a bunch of cavemen trying to discover fire… But at least they’re rubbing a couple sticks together…

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Dec 4, 2009 10:36 PM EST reply actions

Let’s replace the dinosaur with Captain Caveman!

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 4, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

We can't

He plays for the Clippers!

by PConn on Dec 5, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

Between Hedo’s last shot and Hibachi’s, I like Gilbert’s better. Except for the result.

Offense was great in OT except when they went into stall mode, and the D was just good enough.

Worst play of the night was JJ and/or Hedo failing to box out Earl Boykins who got an offensive rebound (???!!!)

by Aaron Craig on Dec 4, 2009 10:37 PM EST reply actions

Was ok when Bogues did it for us oh so long ago, but I know what you mean.

Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Dec 4, 2009 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

Watch your mouth my boy

DS has already put the blame for that on Andrea, please follow the rules:

1 DS is Right
2 DS is ALWAYS right
3 In the unlikely event DS is not right Rule #1 take the precedence over and above any other consideration……

by renato on Dec 5, 2009 3:45 AM EST up reply actions

Haha — I remember also calling out Hedo and Jack for that Boykins rebound. It was a ridiculous play (and thankfully the Raps wrestled the ball back). But it just shows why Boykins has overcome his small stature to earn a spot in the league.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 5, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

Raptors can play defense !!!

All it takes is effort for 48 minutes of TEAM defense, by everyone who plays.

They won in spite of 17 turnovers, 9 by the bench, who only contributed 11 pts.

Jarret Jack had a terrible game, but contributed on defense in OT, along with
Bargnani who could not make a shot till the 4th quarter, going 6/20, with 9 rebounds

by Johnn19 on Dec 4, 2009 11:16 PM EST reply actions

Important win

Gotta feel good about this win. Washington was a good test.
Bosh was at his best. A max money effort
Hedo would be batting about 200 in clutch shot siyuations. This Mr Clutch has got to stop.
.

by Tinmann on Dec 4, 2009 11:25 PM EST reply actions

Turkoglu is batting .500 so far. Missing in Phoenix and making in Washington. No one makes them all. What matters is to have the confidence to fail, and keep taking the big shot with confidence you will make it, he scored the last 6 points in OT.

by Johnn19 on Dec 4, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions

Apparently you didn’t watch Tuesday’s home game against Washington. Turkoglu’s performance in the 4th quarter, but particularly in the final moments, was just an epic failure.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Dec 5, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

I thought Triano’s short leash tonight had a great effect on the energy and defensive effort of the team. The moment the defense lagged (or someone missed a rotation or didn’t challenge a shot), there was a substitution. While him giving players a long leash has been a positive in the past (like for the development of Bargnani), I think what he did tonight is something he needs to do more of until this team has this effort on a more consistent basis. Lag once, and you’re gone.

And I loved the first half DeRozan played tonight. He’s really progressing. It would have been nice to see him have that same aggression and energy in the third quarter, though.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Dec 4, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions