Raptors Rapid Recap: Denver 97 - Toronto 96
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Mar 26, 2010 10:23 PM EDT
in Game Day
Email
Print- On a night when the Toronto Raptors crushed the visiting Denver Nuggets 58-38 on the glass, it was the inability to grab rebounds in the final minute that resulted in a three by "Mr. Big Shot" Chauncey Billups to tie the game at 95 followed by a buzzer-beating jumper by Carmelo Anthony for the one-point win.
- The late-game struggle on the glass coincided with Jay Triano's decision to 'go small' to match up with the Nuggets, as opposed to simply continuing with what was working throughout the game. The wasted double digit rebounding performances by three Raptors -- Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson -- is something that hasn't been seen by a Toronto team in over a year.
- Bargnani grabbed 15 — FIFTEEN!!! — rebounds in this one. I believe Hell has frozen over as a result.
- Despite the heartbreaking loss, a couple of changes to the starting lineup resulted in one of the Raptors' best efforts of the season. Antoine Wright got the nod in place of a sick Hedo Turkoglu while Sonny Weems replaced painfully ineffective starter DeMar DeRozan.
- Coming off the bench appeared to agree with DeRozan, who shot a blistering 7/8 from the field for 15 points in just over 21 minutes. However, the rookie mistakes and defensive miscues were still on full display.
- While they're benching DeRozan, would it be too much to ask Triano to flip Jarrett Jack for Jose Calderon again? Calderon is clearly better off the bench for some inexplicable reason while Jack is better running out with the starters.
- Forgotten man Marco Belinelli also looked solid tonight in just 15 minutes off the bench.
- The Raptors used a 29-16 third quarter to build a nine-point lead, but gave it back by allowing the Nuggets to win the fourth quarter 25-15.
- If the Raptors continue to play the way they did tonight, it's possible they could split a very difficult back-to-back set against the Miami Heat on Sunday and the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday. We'll probably have a much better sense of how the bottom three seeds in the Eastern Conference will play out by Tuesday morning.
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
a petition
HQ staff should be the Raps coaching staff
nuff said.
it was a team contribution tonight, i think it was the first time coach has used his players to the best of their abilities well except for the last couple plays.
lool hell has frozen over as a result i chose not to watch this one i guess i made a mistke
by raptors_run_the_show on Mar 26, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions
I think everyone gives Triano too much credit. He had good lineups merely by chance. If Turkoglu isn’t sick, we’re still looking at having tons of trouble.
And coaching is largely what determines how you will win a close game. Unfortunately, he failed in the most basic of tasks which was to put his best unit on the floor. Instead he relied on luck and chance to try DeRozan in the final plays.
Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious
by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Mar 26, 2010 11:43 PM EDT reply actions
15 points in the 4th quarter!
and most of those coming in the first 4 minutes…
They were up 87-75 with 8 minutes to go, and then the Nuggets went 22-9 to close the game.
All of Triano’s offense/defense crap screwed up the momentum… he started coaching not to lose vs. trying to put the game away.
Triano has done that a lot this season: Reacting to what the other coach is doing vs. setting the tone himself. He got burned by it once again last night.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Mar 27, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Don't know if I should laugh or cry
We kicked their butts on the boards.
Bargnani was a beast.
Our wings dominated their wings.
Yet we lost.
A lot of the focus seems to be on Bosh and he does seem to have lost the intensity we saw earlier in the year. He’s not getting to the line. He’s holding on to the ball too long, that is when he is not turning it over to the opponents.
Having said that, what I’m most concerned about is our point guards. They sucked last night. Bad shooting games will happen (although far too frequently for Jose of late). Thank god we finally used one of our better wing defenders to guard the opposing star point last night. I know I’m going to get crucified for this, but our offense really missed Turk last night. Yes, he is disinterested. Yes he is a lousy defender. But the ball does move better with him on offense. This post is not meant to sing the praises of Turk (he has far too many faults for that), but rather to question our point guards. When opponents crank up the defense, our points do not have the ability to get our offense to roll.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
- The Facebook campaign to hire Will Ferrell for All-Star Game player intros is underway
- Video: Meet the infamous bearded guy that goes nuts by the 76ers’ bench
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
