Raptors' Rapid Recap - Costly Loss as Raptors Lose Evans to Injury

by Adam Francis on Nov 26, 2010 10:47 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap - 2010/11

-The Toronto Raptors dropped a 110 to 101 decision to the Boston Celtics in a game that looked like a Celtics' blowout from the jump. Toronto managed to fight back however in the second and fourth quarters, but in the end, the C's talent won out.

-Leading the way for the Celtics was the combo of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett. Rondo gave the Raptors fits in the first quarter as the C's dropped 31 on the Dinos. Garnett finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds but more importantly, gave the C's an energy and swagger that they lacked last Sunday. On the Raptors side, Linas Kleiza had 18 off the bench while Barbosa had 14 and Stojakovic had 13.

-Notice a common theme for the Raptors? Yes, it was the bench that kept them in this one. Toronto's bench outclassed that of the C's with Big Baby Davis the only real threat off the pine. But considering how dominant Boston's starters were, it hardly mattered that Toronto had a good effort from the bench. Bargnani, Weems and DeRozan combined for only 19 points on 6 of 25 shooting.

-Most importantly? Reggie Evans could be done for a while. He appeared to land awkwardly on his right foot and had to hobble off to the Raptors' locker room late in the game. Now word has come back that it's a fractured right foot, and that means at least a month or two on the DL I'd assume.

-This of course changes everything. Suddenly Andrea Bargnani will be back under the microscope, Ed Davis call-up speculation will begin, and guys like Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey need to be ready to play major minutes. This game might not have been a big loss on the scoreboard, but it's a crushing one for a player who was finally healthy after an extremely tough year last season, and suddenly the Hawks match looming on Sunday looks like an enormous hurdle for the Dinos.

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Questions

Is Julian Wright injured?

If Weems played so poorly why didn’t Wright get some floor time?

This kind of leads me into my next point. Triano is STUBBORN. This stubbornness, which is only stifled by injuries to the roster, is concerning because he likely would have played Evans in place of Ed Davis to the detriment of the longterm development of this team. Now with Evans gone, Amir Starts, Davis gets good burn off the bench, and Dorsey – who can replace Evans productivity even though he lacks Evans “character” gets a chance at some minutes. I expect the Raps to be fine going forward. Don’t let the personna compel you to overvalue the player.

It’s been a nice run so far, if Evans can come back well before the deadline and shows himself in game shape, they can move him for some valuable pieces, more so than they might have gotten had he tailed off in performance as the year wore on. Blessing in disguise.

Happiness is that which gets lost in the details of its pursuit.

by HQ Interloper on Nov 26, 2010 11:17 PM EST reply actions

re: Davis

We don’t even know what Davis is capable of yet, since he got injured so early in the year. I’m thinking the best thing for him would have been being able to practice against Reggie in practice and learn from what it is that Reggie does well.

Spend this year as a learning year, and and hit the gym to build up his body. We threw Bosh to the wolves and he thrived. Banging around in the paint before his body and put on some “NBA strength” may have put the kind of undue stress on his joints which may lead to a faster downhill phase to his career. If Ed Davis proves himself up to the challenge then so be it, but I’m inclined to be cautious at first.

The way Dorsey has bounced around one has to wonder about an attitude or maturity problem. I would rather not hand this fellow anything that he doesn’t earn by outworking someone ahead of him on the depth chart. I don’t know how much faster a pro sports team can rehabilitate a fractured foot. But if Reggie is out for a month or more, I think that empty roster spot should be used on a veteran bigman who just knows how to play their role. Perhaps take the 13th-15th man off of a team that is already in the luxury tax, they get some salary relief, we get another warm body and six intelligently used fouls.

by Yardly on Nov 27, 2010 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

Great post Interloper, totally agree, especially on Triano’s stubbornness.

Saw that last night with Weems and DeRozan, who he left in for WAY too long.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Nov 27, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

And as for Dorsey, he’s been one of the best workers on the club so far, and is really trying to put some of his past issues in the rearview mirror.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Nov 27, 2010 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

re Triano

One minute you are criticizing JT for not playing the young ones to develope them, and the next he is playing them too long. MAKE UP YOUR MIND. Their time was limited to 16 & 18 minutes, as they struggled, but the only way they will learn to play vs vets with 12/13 years experience like Pierce and Allen is to play minutes vs them.

by Johnn19 on Nov 27, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Could be it for Reggie as a Rap

.
No injury … Reggie keeps playing well – maybe less minutes … to the point that keeping him gets more realistic. He creates an attitude, which is too often undervalued. Of course, should some desperate GM come along, you take what he offers, if it’s beyond what his value should have been.

Injury …. As it stands, Evans will probably be out until until just before the trade deadline. And BC, if there’s something out there, will pull the trigger.
.

by RapthoseLeafs on Nov 26, 2010 11:38 PM EST reply actions

re: Reggie

IF he was a leader in the locker room or just a leader by example, then I would say keep him. We don’t have alot of vets on this team, and I think his voice has added influence due to how much we squeezes out of what talent he possesses. A valuable lesson and role model for those young players savvy enough to observe and emulate.

Don’t know how much even a desperate gm would offer for Evans. We did get him in exchange for Kapono after all :-)

The looming lockout is going to be a pain. I don’t know how much of a rush any GM will be in to trade a two year contract for an expiring, if there’s a chance that extra year will be wiped out anyhow.

by Yardly on Nov 27, 2010 12:14 AM EST up reply actions

That’s one of the biggest things that people HAVEN’T been talking about, Reggie’s leadership. He called “players-only” meetings, was one of the most vocal guys on and off the court, and gave the team a certain swagger and presence. I worry that the team will miss that almost as much as they’ll miss his on-court play.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Nov 27, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

And to think, before the game some were belly-aching that the raps might be over-performing themselves out of lottery position too soon, and get stuck in a cycle of mediocrity.

I guess you could ask whether the swagger he would impart is worth more than the games he would have moved us out of lottery position.

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Nov 26, 2010 11:54 PM EST reply actions

Celtics fan here.

Not here to spite though; want to wish you all the luck you need to get Evans back healthy. Hate seeing stuff like that, especially since it was such a random landing.

I guess all of us that play basketball have been there: awkward landing, reaching into a passing lane, clipping someone with your shoulder; there’s many things that can happen at random that will screw with ones health.

Good game, your squad made it more fun than it should have been ;)

I’m off now. Have to go back to celticsblog.com to whine about our Bench’s (minus Davis) production ;)

Cheers, and good luck out there, Raptors.

- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz

by Kiorrik on Nov 27, 2010 1:06 AM EST reply actions

ps.: just wondering;

what does Toronto think of the Heat? Watching Bosh and hoping for the best? Hate Bosh now? Just LeBron? How about Wade?

Cheers!

- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz

by Kiorrik on Nov 27, 2010 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

opinions

Wade is still Wade — any opinion of him before the Big-3 signed up in Miami should stay the same.

Lebron is a giant d-bag, and his true colours (colors) were shown with the hole decision process.

Bosh is already getting a reality check — being humbled by the realization that he’s not a superstar. I think opinions will always be mixed: he’ll never be as hated as Vince Carter or McGrady (who openly admitted to not playing hard etc.), but his media antics have made him come across as “lebron lite” in the d-bag department.

by B.C. on Nov 27, 2010 8:37 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks Kiorrik…when I saw the play I thought the same thing; one of those dumb ankle sprains that happens in the middle of play.

Apparently not though, and we’re all hoping he gets back to 100% soon.

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Nov 27, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Reggie

It hurts our depth but Amir is a better player and it opens up a spot for Davis. Reggie was unlikely to be a Raptor moving forward so hopefully this is a blessing in disguise. On another level its awful for Reggie and he deserves better luck.

by defensive rap on Nov 27, 2010 1:58 AM EST reply actions

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Nov 27, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Hope Evans gets well soon

Good opportunity for Dorsy and Davis. Kleiza will also get more burn at the 4 as a result. We really could use a true center on this team, altho not a fan of Alabi yet, we sure could use a guy with his size right abt now.

by Member29 on Nov 27, 2010 6:07 AM EST reply actions

Probably because I'm older than many of you but

I don’t like the way Garrnet plays. There used to be something called “sportsmanship” where all this chest thumping and getting into someones face was considered “unsportsmanlike conduct” and wasn’t tolerated. There were players in the past who would have cracked a couple of his ribs with an elbow if he had tried that crap. But I guess in today’s world Garnet’s play is admired and refs stand right there while he practically spits in players faces.

by raptball on Nov 27, 2010 6:34 AM EST reply actions

I lost respect for garnett after what he said the Charlie bout be a cancer patient..for him to deny it it say he really meant he’s a cancer to his team and the league. When I heard that I was like ummm really KG? What a load of shit that excuse didn’t make a lick of sense considering what Charlie does for charity work with patients with his condition. No class KG that’s why I love Reggie you can tell he don’t like him with some of the things he has said.

by sherwin316 on Nov 27, 2010 7:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

only admired in cheesy media spin articles

I think that many fans see him as a punk… and prefer those players who can trash talk without being so obvious.

I mean – Jordan, Barkley, Malone, Reggie Miller, and even Bird/Magic were all trash talkers, but does anyone remember them for being giant a**holes like KG?

by B.C. on Nov 27, 2010 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

I didn’t think anyone respected Garnett. Every time I watch them play and he pulls that crap I want someone to either completely humiliate him or just straight up punch his lights out.

by danielfarrell on Nov 27, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

I AGREE

have any of you guys seen that footage where KG tried to Doggy-Style-Hump Jerryd Bayless (before he was a Raptor?)… He literally was on all fours during the middle of play — ON THE COURT — trying to make Bayless his b*itch…or someting to that effect..

Personally that crosses a very very serious line…. it’s worse than LBJ’s douchie-ness…

Someone should file a lawsuit against KG… I’m dead serious….

Finally – Props to Matt Bonner – I’ll never forget him for taking down KG’s ego (way back when)…. Who has more Championiship Rings? KG or Bonner?

Bonner = Class Act.

by Jenge on Nov 27, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Reggie's Foot.

I really liked Reggie, but this I do believe was probably one of the last games Reggie plays as a Raptor, unless his foot is healed by Dumbledore today. The positive thing about this situation is that Amir and Dorsey are going to be getting a lot more playing time. That I do like.

There's no I in Teamocil, at least not where you'd think...

by CBJCousins on Nov 27, 2010 7:56 AM EST reply actions