RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap - New York Knicks 90 - Toronto Raptors 87

neither of whom can play defense.

However when Jose is guarded by a more athletic and bigger PG he struggles big time. Bayless would have really helped in this game.

He had five tonight.

His best ever in a game is seven which he has done twice including once last season.
He has had six blocks in a game once

great competitive games, with ping pong balls only earned at the very end.

Two career highs in two games for DeMar.

Vs Lakers he had 7 assists a career high
Tonight he had 6 turnovers a career high.

Weird that those two new career highs would come in two consecutive games.

How much proof do we need to show that Demar excels in starting at the SF position? Sure there a doubters, but do we really have anything to lose by putting him in that spot? We lose a game against the Spurs? I’m sure that will be alright with everyone. I say the Raps try it again. Of course we have to wait until Bayless comes back.

If Bayless returns, I say use the Calderon, Bayless, Derozan, (fill PF and C) combo against the Spurs. I really believe that Derozan does better at the SF position.

its as if I watched this game alone.
Gray stopped Tyson…
Nicks couldn’t control the boards or inside game.

So what is a coach to do???

You take away your inside man…leave Chandler alone…and lose the game.

Do talk nonesense and tell me this didn;t happen.
I was there.
I saw the rebounding change that 4th qtr.

Casey lost the game.

is the fact that this team minus Andrea and Bayliss stays in the game with the Knicks, Celtics and Lakers. I may sound as a broken record, but even with no trades you are looking, at 3 new members of the starting 5 compared to the last 3 games (AB, JV,New SF).

Was watching Bradley Beal again last night and he looks like a more pure SG than DeRozan. Beal’s got good handles and great release on his shot. If we don’t pick top 6 and miss out on Barnes, MKG and Lamb, Beal wouldn’t be a bad addition.

The knock on him tho is his height/size, he also doesn’t take it to the rim often enough considering how good of a ball handler he is and although he’s got a great release on his shot, he still gets into some wicked shooting slumps. Not sure he’s gonna be a star but def an NBAer for sure. At 18yrs old tho, as one of the commentators rightly said, he’s got a more complete game than some guys already in the NBA so his growth potential in terms of his game development could be enormous.

1) James Johnson in foul trouble hurt. He has been the best defender on this team but a couple ticky tack fouls (especially in the 2nd half where he barely played) really hurt

2) Tyson Chandler fell out of foul trouble. Him being off the floor for most of the first 3 quarters of the game allowed the Raps to score in the paint with ease. Once he was back that changed.

3) I say this almost every game but keep running. The ‘talent’ on this team needs to run to be effective. They are not efficient enough to score regularily in the half court. It really seemed like Casey tried to slow down the game (and use up the clock) in the 2nd half and especially in that fourth quarter.. unfortunately it meant the Raps had trouble putting points on the board

15 fast break points in the first half – none in the 2nd
21 points off of turnovers in the first half – 4 in the 2nd
47 to 36 in the first half – 40 to 54 in the 2nd half

+1. As well as Casey has done with this bunch they don’t really match his mentality. I had hoped DeRozan would improve because of his athleticism and work ethic, but he can’t dribble or defend and makes bad decisions. I don’t see him improving much unless he’s on a fast-break high-pace offensive team that can take advantage of his aerial game.