RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap: Orlando Magic 102 - Toronto Raptors 96

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 1, 2012 10:41 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap

- The Toronto Raptors put on a clinic on how to blow a game tonight at the Amway Center in Orlando. Despite strong efforts in the first and third quarters, they basically stepped aside in the fourth and allowed the Magic to rally on the strength of a 16-0 run and 5-for-7 shooting from three-point range.

- Although he led the team with 28 points, it's hard to justify the 41 minutes allotted to Andrea Bargnani. He clearly burned out after two quarters and didn't have anything left for the final frame. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson put up similar numbers to Bargs in just 30 minutes of playing time and was clearly operating with fresher legs to close this one out.

- Tip of the hat to Jose Calderon for surpassing 3,000 assists in a Raptors uniform. How do you watch a performance like tonight's and then argue that this team would be better served by Jerryd Bayless running the show?

- Dwight Howard appeared disinterested much of the game and still managed to put up 19 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. For all his added bulk, Amir Johnson is still no match for Superman (as you can tell by Amir's forgettable line).

- Is it possible for the Raptors to have gotten any less from the small forward position tonight? My god that was painful to watch.

- Something to watch going forward will be the continued regression of Ed Davis. It's probably too early to label it a sophomore slump - but Davis is clearly not thriving as part of the second unit.

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Apologies for the non-rapidness of the ‘Rapid Recap’.

Let’s hope the Raptors resolve to no longer play like they’re coached by Jay Triano. I was having flashbacks watching the 4th quarter this evening.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 1, 2012 10:44 PM EST reply actions

“I was having flashbacks watching the 4th quarter this evening.”

+1.

That was 1.5 quarters of Jay Triano.

Why is the 2nd year guy (ed) and the teams best defender (JJ) playing 12 minutes, almost all in the first half? Why is it when Orlando is making an obvious run and is destroying the D Casey can’t try something different?

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 1, 2012 11:30 PM EST up reply actions

well duh

the raps just want that #1 pick ;)

by tea time on Jan 1, 2012 11:07 PM EST reply actions

No doubt. Gotta say I’m not that broken up by the losses. 16 wins and a high lottery pick works for me.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 1, 2012 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

Driving The Bus

Andrea
Jose
Jamaal

Under The Bus
Amir
DeMar

Having No Interest in Getting On The Bus
Ed

by Buddahfan on Jan 1, 2012 11:29 PM EST reply actions

I thought Amir was excellent

considering he had to cover Dwight Howard. He is a PF not a C.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 1, 2012 11:30 PM EST up reply actions

let me reprase that

he shouldn’t be in a position to have to cover Dwight Howard

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 1, 2012 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

Totally agree.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 1, 2012 11:51 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Why not throw Alabi out there?

We did have an Alabi sighting … was hoping he’d get some burn when we had the lead, just to see him

by axl t on Jan 2, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions

Best 15 seconds of defense the team played!

by dhackett1565 on Jan 2, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

agree x 2

Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Flames Go!
Draft Pick Tracker - Unsigned Draft Picks - Understanding Advanced Stats

by Justin Azevedo on Jan 2, 2012 6:37 AM EST up reply actions

Ya, I thought Amir was thrown under the bus even before the game by being given the task of guarding Howard. That’s like DeMar being asked to guard Lebron.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Jan 2, 2012 1:33 AM EST up reply actions

Truth Be Told

Amir played pretty good against D12 all things considered

No one in the NBA save maybe Bynum can stop D12 or keep him from rebounding so it is ludicrous to expect anyone on the Raptors to do so or knock someone because they can’t.

Still all in all even with the Amir’s four early fouls he did a lot better guarding D12 than I thought he would. D12 never got it going offensively against Amir.

Just as I predicted the game would be decided by Ryan Anderson who Bargnani could not guard and the three point shooting which the Raptors were outscored by as I recall at least 20 points

Amir is trying, bless his heart, but even at 255 he isn’t strong enough to play Center against guys like D12.

Ed’s body language has gone to sheet. He looks totally disinterested. I guess he sees the writing on the wall. Too skinny and inexperienced to play Center and once Jonas arrives Bargnani will be locked in at PF.

Having said all this the game was again lost because of the lack of a NBA SF. Butler and James Johnson combined for a grand total of three points all on free throws by Butler. Neither could really contain Turk.

The Raptors need a SF really bad. Of course this is not new news. LOL

Bayless being out also hurt, but injuries are part of the game and that is how it goes.

Good effort, except for Ed, but just not enough to get it done.

by Buddahfan on Jan 1, 2012 11:41 PM EST reply actions

And yet DS paints a different picture....again, and again, and again.......

by Canuck Exile on Jan 2, 2012 4:11 AM EST up reply actions

Were you expecting a fawning love note to Bargnani because he played far too many minutes and ran out of gas? The Raps played well in spurts last night – but you could see that collapse coming a mile away. Hard to hold a lead when 4 of the 5 players on the floor have difficulties defending at the NBA level.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 2, 2012 9:26 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

From a one-trick pony like yourself?

What I would hope for is an even review of the game – not something full of your own personal bias.

May be that’s why people suggest you shouldn’t blog for the site?

by Canuck Exile on Jan 2, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

For all those that say you can’t have enough quality bigs, Ed Davis is showing us that’s not true. The Raptors are going to have to make a decision on whether they want to go forward with Bargnani as their PF or Davis. I just hope they’re showcasing Bargnani.

Tim W.
The Picket Fence

by Tim W. on Jan 2, 2012 1:36 AM EST reply actions

Bargnani cannot play 40 minutes a game

His minutes should be capped at 35 a game and low 30s would be ideal. He just doesn’t have the stamina to play 40 minutes a night. I would much rather see 30 minutes of high-effort play than 40 minutes of energy conservation and the eventual fade down the stretch.

by DW19 on Jan 2, 2012 8:29 AM EST reply actions

bargs

well bargs played great again but faded.. to much load on him to do it on defensive and offensive…. ya 40 min is prob to much for him since when hes in the game everything has to resolve around him.. No one else is able to take any sort of load off him.. its pretty sad to watch. In Miami when u got bosh, lebron or wade playing 40 min its different… They dont have to go hard all 40 min cause each can take over. so when we get a legit second and third option and not a horrible bench we will continue to see bargs having to play tired. I still beleive demar will be a legit second option by end of the year. Hopefully Ed davis and JJ figures out how to score or this is going to be a long year. That will be when bargs can play less.

by demarD on Jan 2, 2012 8:43 AM EST reply actions

You can just look at Bargs and realize he’s not in physical condition to play 41 minutes at a peak level. It was setting him up for failure similar to having Amir guard Howard.

This roster has lots of challenges – but there’s no way Bargs needs to soak up 41 minutes at PF. Give Alabi some run, play Davis more, shift Amir to the 4 occasionally… there are options (even if they are limited).

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 2, 2012 9:32 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions