Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 101 - Milwaukee 96

by Adam Francis on Jan 22, 2010 10:00 PM EST in Game Day

-In maybe the ugliest game of the year, one that seemed neither team wanted to win, Toronto used a late fourth quarter run to grab the lead and eek out a 101 to 96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

-Player of the game for Toronto was Jarrett Jack who despite only having 2 assists, dropped in 27 points hitting big shot after shot down the stretch. Marco Belinelli provided a big spark as well with 16 off the bench and Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan and Chris Bosh brought enough additional firepower to seal the win.

-Don't look at the box score to figure this one out though, Toronto shot a worse percentage from the field than Milwaukee (43 per cent), and for most of the game did a horrendous job guarding inside and out. However TO did have one big advantage at the free-throw line where they shot 42 shots to the Bucks 24. This, and some timely zone defence by Jay Triano to help negate Andrew Bogut, kept the Raps alive in a game they probably didn't deserve to win.

-For the Bucks, Luke Ridnour was a Raptor-killer again with 27 points and Andrew Bogut did most of his 22 point damage early. But players like Brandon Jennings and Carlos Delfino fired bricks all night and the Bucks' D wasn't enough to ride out a win.

-Let's hope TO learns from this loss that they need to bring it FROM THE TIP Sunday, as they'll be playing a much more formidable opponent; Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

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Following this stretch of 8 of 9 at home...

… I’d like to see the Raps firmly entrenched in the 5th spot in the East.

Is that going to happen? Not if they continue to play the way they did tonight.

Oh, and just for jokes, go to Raptors.com right now and you get redirected to a Pizza Pizza splash page. Unreal.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 22, 2010 10:09 PM EST reply actions

Maybe I’m the only one that feels this way, but I was pretty satisfied after this win.

Can you honestly say that going into the 4th quarter, you felt like the raptors could make a comeback and play the stifling defence that they did towards the end of the game?

I dunno, it just was really nice to see them be gritty for once and win a game they had no business in winning. They won on a bad night and while that won’t cut it against the good teams in the league, I’m just happy with the effort and intensity with which they played at the end of the game. Thoughts?

by HDave on Jan 23, 2010 3:06 AM EST up reply actions

I’ll settle for them playing any way that will win games. JUST WIN BABY, who cares how, or who plays better or worse on an individual basis.

By the way did anyone notice the improved rebounding play 11-6 OFF and 45-39 TOTAL, even though they were disjointed on offensive TEAM play.

by Johnn19 on Jan 23, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Ugly, ugly

Good teams have to win ugly sometimes. Winning is all important, and this game will be forgotten by tomorrow.
This is the most disjointed the offense has looked this year with a combined total of only 2 assists by Jack and Calderon.
The game was won by JT’s decision to play ZONE defense, and outstanding individual games by Jack, Belinelli, and Bosh, with an able assist from Turkoglu’s 5 ast, 7 rbs.
Hopefully they will revert to their usual team play vs the Lakers, as it’s hard to see they will play as poorly vs LA.

PS: The dreaded Jack/Jose/Turk troika worked for the win this time.

by Johnn19 on Jan 23, 2010 12:09 AM EST reply actions

Maybe this game helped prooving a point

Andrea and Bosh complement well. WIth PF on Chris rather than a big C he was way less effective. When they (B&B) are paired, one of them will have a favourable Matchup. In a situatio whey Chris is paired with another PF he is less dangerous (well today he looked also tired). We have seen this also last year with JO.

I believe, for both of them, their situation in TO, gamewise is close to the best possible.

by renato on Jan 23, 2010 6:07 AM EST reply actions

The key being that without Andrea the Bucks ignored Rasho, and were able to double/triple Bosh and deny him the ball with only 13 shots, untill Triano made a change with the smaller line up late freeing Bosh to operate.

by Johnn19 on Jan 23, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

and

he went on being the usual dominant force, didn’t he?

by renato on Jan 23, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Renato, you also believe that if Bargnani farts, it smells like flowers. That said, B & B are showing more chemistry this year than they ever have before. I was loving that stretch when they were putting up 40-50 between them.

I think I’ll go cup half full on this game too. 82 games is a lot, take whatever wins you can get. Remember the loss to Indiana? Boston? Cleveland and the first bucks game? They all stand out so clearly, but we forget about the ‘little’ wins over teams like the Knicks, Philly or sweeping Detroit. They all count for the same but the losses hurt more and are more memorable. I’d happily take 40 quiet wins in ugly games each season!

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Jan 23, 2010 6:45 AM EST reply actions

Robert

uh? I do not really get your comment, I was not celebrating Andrea, I actually said tthat possibly they BOTH are in their perfect situation on O, given their characteristics. Maybe you have been a little trigger happy this mornig?

by renato on Jan 23, 2010 6:54 AM EST up reply actions

Double edge

It may have been the previous 1000 posts where you try to back your boy. You are quick to point out a Bosh bias on this site, but seem blind to your own. Chilax and enjoy the player you like, you don’t have to convert everyone. I am not saying this because I disagree with you, I got a Bargnani jersey for Christmas, I also love him as a player. It just feels like anything that happens in any game, has to revolve around making some kind of point about Bargnani.

Sorry if I am ripping you here, honestly not trying to be mean, and love the European updates you have given over the years. But time to get off your soapbox about Andrea, we can all see BC’s patience with him is paying off.

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Jan 23, 2010 7:38 AM EST up reply actions