RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap - Chicago Bulls 77 - Toronto Raptors 64

by Adam Francis on Jan 14, 2012 10:31 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap - 2010/11

-Yes, that is the final score. No we're not running the old Rapid Recap at the end of 3 quarters. The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors fought it out in a swamp-like exhibition of basketball, with the Bulls' talent shining through in the game's final quarter. The verdict? A 77 to 64 win.

-How bad was the offense? Neither team shot above 40 per cent from the field and both teams were quite horrendous from long-range. However the Raps did the Bulls one better by hitting only ONE free-throw all night all the while only attempting seven, and scored 12 measly points in the game's deciding quarter.

-That's what did the Raps in as both teams did very solid jobs defensively. The Bulls though got extra possessions when it counted down the stretch, hit more shots, and Derrick Rose was...well...Derrick Rose. He finished with 18 points and 11 assists to lead the Bulls, but he had lots of help as five Bulls hit double figures.

-For the Raps, both DeMar DeRozan and Leandro Barbosa had 15 points, but neither had what you'd call "great" games. DeRozan failed to get to the free-throw line once in a game that sorely demanded his aggressiveness while Leandro Barbosa hit only 7 of the 20 shots he took. To make matters worse, James Johnson, who was the Raptors only other double-digit scorer with 12, injured his ankle late in the game and had to leave for good.

-The Bulls are good, but it's pretty hard to win against any team when you score 64 points. Luckily it sounds like Andrea Bargnani's calf is better than expected, and both he and Jerryd Bayless should return soon, because without a full deck, it's admittedly tough to see the team generating enough offense to beat the next slate of clubs the Raps' face. Eight of Toronto's next nine games are on the road as well.

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I Saw Some Things To Be Optimistic About

by Buddahfan on Jan 14, 2012 10:41 PM EST reply actions

Were you watching college ball and getting optimistic about possible lottery picks?

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 14, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

UNC got blown out of the water, so can’t be optimism about Harrison Barnes. Seriously though, at least our defense is better than last year. Get Andrea back, and in the offseason use our uber-high draft pick to get a high scoring wing, bring JV over and maybe sign a PG (if miracles occur) and we will be heading in the right direction

by Barflies on Jan 14, 2012 11:11 PM EST up reply actions

Is that all? ...

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Jan 15, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Nope

Just watch and see I will tell you in April what I saw tonight that I liked. LOL

by Buddahfan on Jan 14, 2012 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

with Budda here. The Raps are a bad team, Chicago is one of the best. Toronto kept it close played good D.

The game was pretty terrible to watch from an enjoyment factor (slow paced defensive games aren’t usually a gem to watch) but Raps played hard but got beat because, well they have alot of sucky players.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 15, 2012 7:12 AM EST up reply actions

like taking Buckleys

it tastes bad and it works……

I still think we need to draft the best player available. The one we think will one day be one of the great players in the game, not just for position, especially if we have the first or second pick. The nice thing is we don’t have to draft a big at all. This draft should yield 3 to 5 great players. We need one of them. And JV should be a very pleasant surprise.

by defensive rap on Jan 15, 2012 12:53 AM EST reply actions

Nine Games Next 16 Days

None of the nine games are in any city for more than one consecutive game.

So over the next 16 days

Nine games
Nine airplane flights.

Murder especially without Bargnani

by Buddahfan on Jan 15, 2012 2:29 AM EST reply actions

it sounds like Andrea Bargnani's calf is better than expected

Where did you read this Franchise when is he expected to play? What about Bayless?

by renato on Jan 15, 2012 6:21 AM EST reply actions

Bad Dream

I didn’t get to see the game, but I had a dream that the Raps had the following players on the floor at the same time.
pg – Jose
sg – Barbosa
sf – Forbes
pf – Kleiza
C – Magloire

Good thing it was only a dream!

by Al Bundy is my hero on Jan 15, 2012 8:05 AM EST reply actions

Forbes looked pretty good last night when they used him to rest Jose...

His numbers turned out decent too…

I think 5 pts 5 assts and 8 or 9 rebounds…

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Jan 15, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

didn't have a laptop near me

so I couldn’t join the talk…

But IMO…I saw a good attempt by a depleted team to play against a so called good team that had its players AND essentially the same team it had last year.
And that last point is what ipressed me with the Raps.
The Bulls are one of the few teams enjoying seeing players back knowing the plays, each other and coaching staff.
And sorry…but with all that going for it, they played poorly…again in my opinion.

And in fact, IF they are still confident Noah is a starter and can help them with the championship…Forgetaboutit!

He was pushed around all night. One time I saw him fly into the stands after being pushed out by…I think AJ.

And those fouls!!!! Please, do not tell me the Bulls didn’t get away with some home court calling. They were driving to the basket like we all wanted them to and STILL they didn’t get to the line.

I still see a very good season coming and soon, maybe in a few weeks, we will see tha team gel.

by ppellico on Jan 15, 2012 8:12 AM EST reply actions

+1

by axl t on Jan 15, 2012 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

are you sure that's what you want?

For us to gel at the middle of the season, when we are out of a playoff spot, and then play well and miss the playoffs and get a medium draft pick? Mediocrity hey?

Not for me. Improve the system, don’t worry about the wins and loses and use the games to assess players you want to have moving forward.

by defensive rap on Jan 15, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

help me out...cause I don't remember

that the Bulls went to the bottom and had to rebuild through the draft.
I might be wrong…but I do not remember this.
And it is my opinion a ton of teams have been able to rebuild a solid group of p-layers by trading and picking gems when others missed them.

I can’t help it. I refuse to lose for the ake of “possibly” rebuilding next year.
And cannot see players and coaches even giving such a thought a second of their day. It betrays every competitive gene embedded inside them.

I say keeep fighting. Keep learning. You might get lucky.

by ppellico on Jan 15, 2012 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

San Antonio...

Draft smart and make good decisions… you don’t need to pick top three to come away a winner…

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Jan 15, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

except

Tim Duncan was a #1 pick.

San Antonio has probably been one of the teams for drafting quality players late (although in fairness when you draft a stinker late no one cares but anyways), but they still built what they had today off of a #1 pick in 1997. (and there is no shortage of believers they went into full tank mode after Robinson got injured).

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Jan 16, 2012 8:31 AM EST up reply actions

Ah, touche!

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Jan 16, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

If Chicago hadn’t gotten lucky and won the first overall pick in 2008, they would be nowhere near the team they are now. They are Derrick Rose – they’ve done a good job patching together the rest of the roster with very solid players (including the 9th overall pick the year prior in Noah) who would basically be worthless if not for the presence of their MVP.

Chicago is only where they are because of 2 bad years in a row in the lottery, and some extreme luck. So if your plan for the team is to “get lucky” – no thanks. Doesn’t happen to every team – and you’ll have a hard time selling luck to Raps fans considering this franchise’s history with winning the first overall pick.

by dhackett1565 on Jan 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

The draft and MKG

There mental toughness associated with MKG that will help this team get over the hump in close games. Here is a exerpt from yesterday’s KY-TN game.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was angry after he and fellow freshman Anthony Davis didn’t get much help from their Kentucky teammates in the first half against Tennessee. He made sure the Wildcats knew it at halftime. “He was the main one who came into the locker room mad,” Davis said. “[He was] really feisty because we weren’t playing like we were supposed to. That’s just how he plays. You know he’s got a will to win, and he brings a lot.” His anger inspired the second-ranked Wildcats, who wore the Volunteers down with more pressing defense and sharper shooting. Kentucky overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half for a 65-62 victory Saturday.

by cmrm123 on Jan 15, 2012 9:14 AM EST reply actions