Raptors Rapid Recap: San Antonio 86 Toronto 91

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 3, 2010 8:51 PM EST

- With Tim Duncan not starting for only the second time in his career, the Raptors built a double-digit lead and held off a fourth-quarter charge by San Antonio to stop the Spurs’ five-game winning streak and emerge with the win.

- It was just Toronto’s third victory against a team above the .500 mark. They have now won six straight at the Air Canada Centre and are 13-0 when they hold opponents under 100 points.

- Chris Bosh surpassed Vince Carter to become the Raptors’ all-time leading scorer with 9,428 points.

- Not starting clearly affected Duncan, who entered the game in the second quarter and shot a terribly inefficient 8-22 from the field and 5-9 from the free-throw line.

- Jay Triano has inexplicably rekindled his love affair with Antoine Wright, who started for an ill Hedo Turkoglu. Not surprisingly, he was the only starter to fail to score in double digits.

- Yet another Triano move that defied explanation was his insistence on going with Andrea Bargnani on Duncan down the stretch, allowing the Spurs to keep attacking Bargnani in the paint. I’m no coach, but it might’ve been an idea to use Amir Johnson at some point.

- Bargnani barely extended the Raptors’ three-pointer-made streak with a trey halfway through the fourth quarter.

- The Raptors travel to Orlando to take on Dwight Howard and the Magic on Wednesday.

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uhm...

listening to post game interviews and comments (laso from NBA TV) I heard nothing but praie for Andrea’s defence on Duncan and in general (mentioning also his 5 blocks). Maybe you have a bias?

by renato on Jan 3, 2010 8:58 PM EST reply actions

agreed

some credit should go to Barg for duncan’s poor shooting night

by 7-9nomore on Jan 3, 2010 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

I’m talking crunch time. If you watch the last few minutes, the Spurs game plan was clearly all about Duncan taking Bargs into the post and abusing him. And it was this strategy that allowed them to close the gap. If Duncan hits a couple of free throws, it’s a completely different ball game (and possibly outcome)… A good win though…

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 3, 2010 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

I’d argue that Duncan’s never been particularly strong on free throws and Bosh was doing even less against Duncan earlier in the game.

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

by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Jan 3, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions

moreover

also Antuan Wright is getting high marks,

by renato on Jan 3, 2010 9:03 PM EST reply actions

I’ll just shake my head at that one.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 3, 2010 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

bizarro game

Parker scores at will, yet only takes 11 shots. Jefferson was consistently hitting his shot, but only took 10. Duncan short-rims almost every shot, and takes 22 shots in 29 minutes.

Raps got lucky… the Spurs were definitely not at their best.

by B.C. on Jan 3, 2010 9:13 PM EST reply actions

I would have to disagree. bargs played duncan pretty solid one on one. even in the last few minutes. if anything, especially in the last few minutes. he (bargs) missed some silly rebounds that duncan cleaned up (and made the ‘and one’) but anytime duncan sized bargs up one on one, he held his own.

watch the tape again.

by vicPapa on Jan 3, 2010 9:14 PM EST reply actions

Bargs and Wright

I though for the most part Bargs did a solid job not backing down from the best PF ever.

Wright? The only reason he is getting praise is because they won and Triano can easily defend playing him as much as he did. Frankly 35 minutes for Wright is disturbing even if all of Hedo, DeRozan and Weems were on their death beds.

Dave "Howland" Randell
Co-Creator of RaptorsHQ.com

by RaptorsHQ - Howland on Jan 3, 2010 9:31 PM EST reply actions

ok with coaches rotation

Ya umm having bargs guarding Duncan down the stretch was the right call, bargs changed a lot of duncans shots plus had 5 blocks..and u think puttin amir to guard duncan would have been an idea?? Ummm no first amir is way to foul pron and second he is way to small to guard duncan one on one where bargs us bigger and can hold his own. And as for wright jay even said he had him in there to guard jefferson since he knows how to play him since his days in jersey and it showed cause Jefferson was totally a non factor in this game. So I think your lil rant on the coach and why he played guys the way he did doesn’t make sense to me

by sherwin316 on Jan 3, 2010 10:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Bargnani & Duncan + Bosh

.
I thought Andrea bothered Duncan on quite a few shots, so much so, that Duncan shot 8 of 22 (36 %), versus his season average of 56 %.

You could say Duncan got the better of Bargnani near the end, and it made for a close game, but that would be forgetting the reason why Toronto didn’t run away with this game — Bargs/Bosh shot a combined 15 of 40 (37.5 %) — with a number of looks (especially Bargnani) …. being clean looks. Hell, Bargs even over-compensated in the Post on one failed opportunity – so badly – that I had to ask myself …. Was that Wright shooting the ball?

Bosh played another good game, although I think he needs to invest in some of that pine tar crap …… those moments of ball slippage can be aggravating.

Banks impressed me today. He’s not a back-up PG – at least not for a legitimate play-off team — but considering we have no alternative (with Jose out), Marcus more than held his own tonight.

by RapthoseLeafs on Jan 3, 2010 10:31 PM EST reply actions

Duncan not starting

Thought it was quite the slap in the face with the Spurs figuring that they could probably give Duncan the night off and only bring him in if needed. Nice the see the Raps respond better than the joke of a game the night before.

Have to agree with others….Bargs played well defensively and you can’t fault a coach for sticking to what’s working.

by cmrm123 on Jan 3, 2010 10:43 PM EST reply actions

re Bosh, Bargnani

Lets remember both teams were on back to backs out of town. Chris and Andrea both played 40 mins in a losing effort in Boston, and Chris 39 & Andrea 41-1/2mins tonite.

Under the circumstances an outstanding game from both, with a combined 37pts, 8ftas, 23rbs, and 7blks, and great defence to bother Duncan, who shot 8/22 and still scored 21pts.

by Johnn19 on Jan 3, 2010 10:50 PM EST reply actions

I wanted to post that

you beat me to it

by renato on Jan 4, 2010 3:31 AM EST up reply actions

Alternative view:

That is a lame excuse, moreover if you look at player xyz (usually xyz = Oden, but put there whomever you prefer) x40 min production, we would get triple production for a fraction of the cost. The fact xyz plays a career average of 3 min per game, due to fouls/injury/whatever is an insignificant statistical anomaly that should not be used by the Bargs hypers (and I am looking at you, Renato) as the next excuse for a guy who is, at best, a 6th man on a treadmill team in the Turkish league.

by renato on Jan 4, 2010 4:59 AM EST up reply actions

I'm confused...

Um, Renato, are you looking at yourself?

Um, did the Spurs really try to rest TD because of what the Celts did to us last night? Well who can blame them I guess, but why did we suddenly grow balls for this game. I’m still irked by the Celts game, we should have won that game and I hate losing to those wankers.

Um, D-Stand, I didn’t catch the game out here in Bonnie Scotland and am relying mainly on the HQ for the update – oddly, after reading your post i had to read nearly everyone disagree with it. I’m confused.

Finally, Um, Bargnani played 40 mins on the back end of a back to back, guarded a Hall of Famer, had five blocks, only 4 PF’s and was not in the game not for his shot but for his D. Even if you hate Andrea, you have to hate this Andrea less than previous incarnations.

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Jan 4, 2010 6:36 AM EST reply actions