Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 110 - Dallas 88

by Adam Francis on Jan 17, 2010 3:11 PM EST in Game Day

-In their most complete game of the season, the Toronto Raptors moved one game back over .500 with a terrific 110 to 88 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

-The first quarter was a bit rough, but Toronto's defence kept Dallas to a respectible 45 per cent, and really turned it on in the second quarter, outscoring Dallas 34 to 18. And unlike their past two matches, Toronto never let Dallas back in this one, outscoring the Mavs in the final two quarters as well.

-This was indeed a complete team effort. Chris Bosh was his usual 20 and 10 self (23 and 13 actually) while Andrea Bargnani showed again why he's such a dangerous offensive player with 22 points to go with 6 boards. However it didn't stop there; Calderon and Jack combined for 26 points and 14 assists, Amir Johnson had a huge 10 points and 8 boards in only about 20 minutes, and even Antoine Wright showed up with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

-In fact Wright may have had the game's turning point when he took a charge late in the second quarter. Both teams were reasonably close on the scoreboard at that point but that and a few key defensive stands after got the Dinos going and they were off and running from there.

-On the Dallas side, this was a disappointing performance. Dirk led the way with 19 but had only 4 boards, was only 1 of 4 from the free-throw line, and really a non-factor in the second half. Jason Terry was probably the Mavs' best player in fact with 18 points off the bench, but the team just didn't get much help from anyone outside of Shawn Marion.

-In the SF battle I alluded to in my preview this morning, Marion was slightly more dominant in this one finishing with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Hedo stuffed the stat sheet once more (8 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals), but again shot a putrid percentage from the floor (he was 2 of 9.) If the Raps can get him going this team will be a VERY tough match-up if they play like they did this afternoon.

-And fans will get to see just what the Dinos can do to build on this win in their next game, one Tuesday night against a very tough Cavs' team. For now though, fans and the team should bask in this win for a while, if not their biggest this season, perhaps their most promising in terms of a sign of things to come.

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amazing win

raptors are performing amazingly lets see wht they can do against the cavs i hope they pull of a great win

by raptors_run_the_show on Jan 17, 2010 3:18 PM EST reply actions

bargnani

rele impressed by bargnani hes showing tht if bosh leaves it just might be ok because he can be a franchise player

by raptors_run_the_show on Jan 17, 2010 3:20 PM EST reply actions

The Change In The Schedule Is Evident

Clearly the change in the schedule allowing the Raptors more time off between games which has

Allowed them more practice time and more rest between games is definitely making a difference.

Nice win.

No doubt that the Raptors can score.

Defence continues to remain the key. If they can continue to tighten it down then they could be very competitive in the first round of the playoffs.

Calderon is meshing nicely with the second unit.

by Buddahfan on Jan 17, 2010 3:22 PM EST reply actions

Sweet

Never allowed them back in the game.

Jose coming off the bench has been huge. Reminds me back to our 47 win season, he was the spark oming off the bench.
This team is now one game over 500 and has really gone through its struggles.

by Tinmann on Jan 17, 2010 3:28 PM EST reply actions

He can stay if he keeps playing like this…

by axl t on Jan 18, 2010 1:31 AM EST up reply actions

Calderon- What a professional!

A couple of years ago, Jose stepped aside for TJ Ford and he did so for team chemistry. Leo Rautins was yapping today that it shouldn’t matter to a player whether they start or not but of course that is load of crap. Players learn fom the time they start playing as kids that the best players get to start. How many top prospects for the NBA have a goal of being a bench player in the league. Of course every player wants to start.
Jose has once again stepped back to the bench for the good of the team. He’s better than Jack but thank goodness that he does what the coach needs done.
And he is great for the team. The “anti Calderon” cell of the Raptor fans will be silent after his performance today but fear not, on the Raps next loss he’ll be the whipping boy again.

by RT... on Jan 17, 2010 8:53 PM EST reply actions

Well put !

You know their lurking. Think they are circling over Hedo now.
All this trade talk – fail to see how we are better without Jose.

by Tinmann on Jan 17, 2010 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Didn’t get a chance to watch today, so I don’t know how much court time was devoted to that painful Jack-Calderon-Turkoglu combo. But that lineup combination is just one of the reasons why it makes sense to deal someone. And then having a coach that has no clue what lineup combinations work or how to hand out minutes compounds the issue.

Bottom line: Jose Calderon was the best backup PG in the NBA. He’s returned to that role now and is thriving. I see no reason why he shouldn’t continue to come off the bench, and why he shouldn’t continue to close out the 4th quarter. There is no rule written in stone that says the starter HAS TO finish the game.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 17, 2010 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks DS for a very sane comment. Just because you are not the starter doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on the floor to close out the game. However, although I would agree that Calderon was the best back up PG in the league, that doesn’t mean that with the right combo of players he wouldn’t be a good starter. I think Hedo really disrupts the chemistry of the1stunit. He wants to have the ball in his hands too much. I want to see the PG (whichever one is out there at the time) directingt the flow of the offence and Hedo handling the ball when the situation presents itself, not trying to be a point forward all the time. I think Calderon would still flourish with the starting 5 if Hedo came off the bench (realize that won’t happen). With JC’s ultraprofessional team first attitude the Raps are on a roll and we are looking more like the team that had Forderon. Thanks to Jose that winning comes before Jose’s ego.

by krakhaus on Jan 18, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

Calderon/Turkuglu

Playing both together is not a problem, in fact a good combination:

Vs the Mavs in the 2nd qtr, 34-16 massacre Jose 9pts,6assists and Turk 5pts and 5assists, and in the 4th vs the Knicks Jose 7pts,3assists, and Turk 8pts,5rbs,1 assist to close out the game.

It looks like JT is going to alternate the PG’s by quarter, with Jack continuing to start and Jose to finish, with a SG.

by Johnn19 on Jan 18, 2010 2:04 AM EST up reply actions

+/-

calderon was +32 today. very impressive

by Andre D on Jan 18, 2010 1:25 AM EST up reply actions

you do not really have proof of it

I mean, there is little evidence on what JC an do as a starter, he injured himself at the beginning of both seasons.

by renato on Jan 18, 2010 3:44 AM EST up reply actions

That’s sort of proof in itself, really — the fact that physically he has not been able to handle the rigors of being a starting PG in the league. A backup role — and allowing him to finish games in crunch time — seems to suit him a lot better.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 18, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Calderon and Minutes

This goes back to previous years and part of why Calderon didn’t have as good a year last year with the poor backup PG situation. Notice, if he’s playing 20 to 25 minutes a night he’s REALLY GOOD, but when asked to log 40+ minutes he opens himself up to injury and his play tails off to the point where he’s even less aggressive (with fewer drives to the hoop) as if subconsciously he’s holding back to make it through the game/season. I’m not going to speculate on who should start and who should come off the bench, but I do hope both PG stay healthy throughout the remainder of the season, although Marcus Banks has proven adequate.

by HQ Interloper on Jan 17, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

I second that

Actually I should say I “fourth” that. I disagree with Interloper, in both cases the injury happen at the very beginning of season, so it cannot be related to him being injury prone or at fatigue, I guess it is a matter of a patch of bad luck.

by renato on Jan 17, 2010 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

with the remaing schedule i have the raps finishin 49-33 record there is alot of winnable games coming up for the raptors in the second half of the season lets see if they can do it

by raptors_run_the_show on Jan 17, 2010 10:24 PM EST reply actions

I think people are forgetting what a stellar job Jack has done when he has started. He also ended up with 7 assists yesterday and he runs the show just fine with the first unit. Earlier in the season when Jose was starting they struggled at times and the change to Jack didn’t work at first either. Once Jack got acclimatized to the starters though they really started to play well as a team. I think this is how the team should run until the end of the season (baring a trade which this team needs desperately). I would like to see Turk come off the bench but as many have already stated, that is unlikely to happen especially in light of the fact there really isn’t anyone that I think is a starter that is currently sitting.
Johnson had a hell of a game yesterday and continues to show improvement across the board.

by McGateway on Jan 18, 2010 6:41 AM EST reply actions

Calderon's goal should be Sixth Man of the Year

It looks like the current set-up of Jack starting and Calderon backing him up is working well. I propose that Calderon think of himself as the Raptors version of Ginobili/Terry/etc. He can be the team’s engine coming off the bench and bury other teams’ second units.

by DW19 on Jan 18, 2010 10:05 AM EST reply actions