RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap - Washington Wizards 111 - Toronto Raptors 108 (OT)

by Adam Francis on Feb 6, 2012 11:03 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap - 2010/11

-The Toronto Raptors have a history of playing some weird matches against the Wizards in Washington and this one likely falls into the same category. Despite being down 57 to 42 at the half, the Raps stormed back, forcing OT before eventually falling 111 to 108. The loss knocks the Raptors to 8 and 18 on the season, and only a 1 and 2 record so far this year against the Wiz.

-In what's been the story of the season, the Raps shot themselves in the foot early, getting down by 10 after one quarter, and struggling to find any semblance of offensive execution. Making matters worse was that the D wasn't there either, resulting in near 60 per cent shooting for the Wiz, and a game that looked like a certain L for Dinos.

-It was a lackluster effort from Toronto to say the least, but Dwane Casey made personnel adjustments in the second half, riding the play of his team's top two first-half performers, Linas Kleiza and Jerryd Bayless. Gradually the Raps chipped away at Washington's lead and by the time the game's final minutes were within reach, so was a win for Toronto.

-If you were to describe the game's final minutes to someone you could simply say it was the John Wall versus Jerryd Bayles show. The two went toe to toe, accounting for almost of their teams' scoring, and even with Toronto down two, with 10 seconds left, it was Bayless' errant drive that pulled the Wizards' D in, allowing Amir Johnson to dunk the missed lay-up, sending this one to OT. (It also didn't hurt that Linas Kleiza nailed an awkward 3 with about a minute left that conjured up images of Mo Pete.)

-OT was another back and forth affair but the difference was Washington's ability to draw fouls in the end. There wasn't much scoring, but the Washington's four free throw makes to Toronto's two was the final difference on the scoreboard. Unfortunately a number of crucial mistakes at key times gave the Wizards' the opportunity to shoot said free throws, including a horrific display of defensive rebounding by Jamaal Magloire, inserted into OT at crunch time for this exact purpose. Magloire's inability to secure a Travis Booker missed free throw gave the ball back to the Wiz, forcing the Raps to foul, and well..that was pretty much it. The Wiz hit one of two, giving Toronto a chance to tie with a 3 at the buzzer, but Jose Calderon's shot failed to even draw iron.

-Bayless finished with 30 points as did Linas Kleiza, and DeMar DeRozan and James Johnson chipped in 15 and 10 each. Wall had 31 for the Wiz, but Nick Young's 29 was a big part of Washington's victory too, as the Raps simply couldn't contain the explosive backcourt. And while the Raps gave it a good run, nearly stealing one they had no business being in, the end result was loss number 18 on the year, and an entertaining match ended with a hollow ending.

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great finish

excitement, come back on the road from a huge deficit.

A key loss for ping pong balls….hopefully the Wiz can use this victory to go a run and win some games.

I almost called the miracle game winner from Nick Young but JJ blocked it….he did hit the dagger from the line and I swear I could feel we would come back and lose.

We just took some tough medicine but the come back made it go down a little easier. For those of you praying for 8th place don’t fall into the trap. It’s fools gold.

by defensive rap on Feb 6, 2012 11:50 PM EST reply actions

I'm glad that

the team is putting an effort in and TRYING to win some game. Especially without Bargs. It’s a vital culture change for the organization, and Casey has been doing a great job at the start.

by keepit4real on Feb 7, 2012 12:14 AM EST reply actions

+ 1

by Member29 on Feb 7, 2012 6:46 AM EST up reply actions

Not to make excuses for Magloire but I felt he should have had a foul call as it looked like he got pulled and held from behind. He still should have secured it though.

by McGateway on Feb 7, 2012 1:21 AM EST reply actions

ain't buying this

worst coaching staff I think I have ever seen.
Offensive plans are prehistoric bad.
Perimeter shooting is gone and shooters start off games acting as if they haven’t shot a ball since before the lockout.
Cold, stupid shooting.

Substitutions???
Gotta be kidding me!
Gray starts…puts in 6 solid minutes…scpres 4 and rebounds …then gets sat.
Down ONLY by 5 points with 3 minutes to go in the quarter…he NEVER gets another call.
No, instead, those that allowed for being down by 26 points are allowed to stay in.

Really? No time Gray could have been called in? Is he a player or is he not?

This whole team and its staff are, well…challenged and out coached by even the weakest and youngest in the league.

Putrid. This was Washington!!!!!!

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 7:31 AM EST reply actions

The sudden change in people can be incredible….the fact is pretty simple you aren’t a Raptor fan, but a Gray fan.

This was a post back before the season started..

while I do not know your team well

I do know Gray.

and another one…

Big, big BIG Gray fan

I know he will do the team well.
I also know there are a few on this blog already saying things I am staggered by. It is as if they have never seen him play or in fact do not understand the miidle game.

I am looking forward to watching him learn this team and then continue his growth as an NBA big man.
IMO he is just about there.

and another…

aaron gray

relax everybody that is worried about Gray joining.

I have followed him many years and can promise you a solid player, perhaps 15 to 20 minutes a game.

So lets do a run down…right now Aaron Gray is averaging 16mpg, which is right in the 15-20minute range you said he would be good for, yet he has one game where he doesn’t play alot and suddently the Raptors are the anti-christ?

The fact is simple, the Raptors have given him more of a chance than either the New Orleans Hornets or the Chicago Bulls. Gray played 2009-2011 played a total (that’s right total), 73 games. Now I know that you will blame Chicago or the Hornets for their imeptitude at recognizing the talent of Gray (that is mocking), so I will let the numbers do the talking.

When Aaron Gray is on the court we average (per 100 possessions) 88.3 points, and allow 110.8, while when he is off the court we average 98.2 points and allow 105.4 points. That is a difference of -15 points per 100 possessions with Gray on the floor. He also has the worst simple rating on the team at -18.5; and his net production is -19.8, which again is the worst on the team. Those aren’t my opinions but the cold hard facts. He is a career 3.6ppg and a 3.6rpg and he doesn’t block shots ( he has two on the year), and on top of that averages 5.8 fouls in 32minutes. So instead of looking to blame everyone else maybe you need to have realistic expectations.

Maybe you should remember you have said things like this…

still hope he can play, but 2 solid centers on a bench seems not so good.
Gray has always promised to be a great center off the bench…not a starter.
I mean, maybe IF he lost another 5-10 pounds and learned more moves or developed a little better shot just outside, but then again I get tired of hoping.

before we start feeling this way…

I figured Aaron Gray and his partner in crime ppellico were gone. Now with the trade, I feel we ended up with the better half. :)

by Shalax23 on Feb 7, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

I deny nothing in what you say, other than you reasonings of both the Bulls and Hornets.

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

except...

the Hornets wnted Gry to return. He ws the one who pted out and went free agent…this is a rather importnt part.
He in fact began to be played a ton as the season ended and he grew more into shaoe after returning from the broken leg.
Now to you these might be slight points and glossed over…however, to me they are kind of rel.

Yes…I am a Gray fan more than a Raps fan. I do in fact change tems easily if I feel they team or its players do not stand for waht I do.
I was a former season ticket holder with seats behind home plate for the Cubs.
I ended it based upon what I cinsidered irresponsible moves by the tem.
I attended more floor level games for the Bulls than you have and spent thousnds of dollars watching them up close.
I also switched when I thought they were playing me for a fool.

I am not a true believer.
I do not hold with faith.
I am an individual who thinks not as a mass but independantly.

If this si not fitting of your definition of a fan…so sorry.
I do not follow causes or crowds.

Ya..Gry should be a 15 minute player…and I am pissed about his use last night/
So there…

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

and beside not healing from my stroke...

my A key sucks as well on this laptop…sorry.

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

He played more time at the end of the season with NO in 2010-11?

You must be in an alternate universe:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4326/gamelog;_ylt=AtqJZa6lTTjRbU9P9h3u3Ve1PaB4?year=2010

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

um...hello there

your stats prove it…in the beginning he had no time and at the end he did…

so what universe did you go to school in?
Look at the months!

wow….

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

sorry let me clarify.. if you consider going from 0 to 7 minutes is something, then yes. But I was comparing his playing streak between Feb 1 – 25 when he was in the regular rotation as 1st/2nd off the bench.

Then after he was last big off the bench.

For a team that lost D.West, he hardly gained a lot of minutes. There was 25-30 minutes of playing time to chop up.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

Gray didn’t get on the court because of what he did. Okafor got hurt Feb 1. Gray gets his first shot of the season. Okafor returns. Gray goes to the end of the bench with limited minutes.

D West gets hurt mid March, Gray gets some of those minutes. Severely under performs (just look at those stat lines) with four games left gets shoved to last man off the bench.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

In his entire career he’s gotten 6 shots at playing.

Dec 18-30, 2007-08
Apr 5-16, 2007-08
Oct 31 – Jan 3, 2008-09
Mar 10 – End, 09-10
Feb 1 – Feb 25, 10-11
Mar 4 – Apr 28, 10 -11

and this year.

If you isolate just those dates and games where he faces a decent matchup, there’s absolutely nothing that shows he can contribute in the NBA.

Aside from three good games, a double double vs the Lakers Feb 5th 2010, and the Nets Feb 9th a few days later and his career high vs the Raptors April 16 2007 (19 points 22 Rebounds), that’s over 4 YEARS of unnoticeable playing.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

Let me be clear...

I don’t care if you have raised mother teresa, coached the Chicago Bulls to 6 championships or built microsoft.

The fact is pretty simple that the only thing you are interested in is Gray,

casy suchs,

outside defense sucks.
amir sucks,.
shooting guards suck.
giid luck with this season…
i will look forward to seeing Gray moved to a better team real sooon

If you are interested in cheering for an individual go and watch tennis. You say you are interested in cheering independently, all that means is the only thing you are concerned with is your own opinion, if that is the case why bother posting on a public board? In fact the numbers beg the question why is Gray even playing? Since he is having the most negative impact on the team, which you couldn’t even argue against.

I deny nothing in what you say, other than you reasonings of both the Bulls and Hornets.

So you are pissed and sulking, own up to it but stop throwing temper tantrums and act like a 59 year old man who has raised children.

by Shalax23 on Feb 7, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

I’d say give the guy a break, if he really did have a stroke, that’d be a good explanation.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

Someone on the internet is wrong

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

XKCD

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

pull a John Lenon

and let it be. Chillax.

And no one said you are wrong Shalax, but he obviously loves Gray and is upset with his situation.

I think Gray could be a serviceable, 18 minutes per game, back up C on our championship team in 2016. Let it be.

by defensive rap on Feb 8, 2012 5:01 AM EST up reply actions

uh?

What trade?

by renato on Feb 7, 2012 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

I swear these fanbois are probably creations of 15 y/o trolls. They’re probably getting the last laugh.

I so want to revise my previous Gray rant. But I won’t.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Jesus!

I wanted Gray to get more than 6 minutes last night!

This makes me now a troll and antichrist!
Please, folks…you all get to rant about things you are upset about…so what the hell gives!?
6 minutes against the fing wizards!!!!

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:43 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t think 2 games over 20 minutes and going 7, 13, 15 and 7 minutes in his last 4 games would count as heavy usage, especially when he got those minutes because D. West was hurt in the back quarter of the season + Okafor was also hurting at the end.

His scoring during that period was 12,2,0,7,0,0 which hardly goes to show me he was prime F/A material.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

I am 59 years old, retired after running my own business for 30 years and living the good life in Stuart, FL...you?

Raised 3 kids…2 through masters programs.
Own 4 homes.
Coached 4 years of championship travel baseball, 4 years girl travel softball and 4 championships

..with a adopted kid drafted by Oakland A’s club as a pitcher…

You ever do anything successful?

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

forgive me asking

what is travel baseball/travel softball?

by renato on Feb 7, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

I could start comparing wiener sizes with you, but I don’t feel the need. Let’s just say I’m still an active coach (over 15 years)/scout.

Congrats on the 4 homes btw, and sounds like you’re a great baseball guy. Go over to the baseball chat side and I’d love talk baseball. A few of my former athletes have gone on to NCAA baseball so I’m a huge fan following them.

You’re more than entitled and welcomed to your opinions on anything and everything, but if you do, you have to expect people to question it on a public forum. I just find this Gray argument extremely irrational, to a point where I don’t even think you’re being serious.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

"I swear these fanbois are probably creations of 15 y/o trolls"

You started it with this sophomoric remark…nit the thought process of an adult…coach or not.
Simply uncalled for when discussing sports.
If you start throwing these pissy rocks, then get ready for a reply.
So don’t start acting so innocent and all adult when you say these things.
If I am welcome to my opinion, please then refrain from the idiot remaks.

And why should we believe you have a wiener?

by ppellico on Feb 7, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

The 15 troll was a general statement, but at no point do I ever throw personal insults. I just find it difficult to believe that a full grown adult can get so pissy on the interweb. This is a public internet forum, for all I know 70% of everyone where is 14 years old. I can only judge based on how someone writes, and I’m still not 100% sure based on what you write.

There’s a ton of people here who I adamantly disagree with, including some of the bloggers, but I respect them. They lay an argument and try their best to use supporting facts, usually with some kind of stats. After all a lot of basketball is qualitative observation vs quantitative, which allows for some liberal interpretation but there are direct quantitative correlations.

Shalax and myself have tried to point out your beliefs of one certain player and how it maybe questionable with facts and figures, but you usually ignore them and continue respond with statements that insight further comments (as he’s pointed them out) which is the definition of a troll.

Anyways, I did not cast the first stone, but I’m always ready to defend and reply.

I’ve been away for most of the week, and all I read was about the pissing contest you had, and decided to take your ball and go home. Not quite the behaviour of a mature adult in my opinion, but that’s just my opinion.

If you want to feel free and continue your discussion regarding Gray, you’re more than welcome to, but feel free to also address some of Shalax and my points.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 11:03 PM EST up reply actions

this is also the NBA so on any given night u can lose to any one

The offensive side of things is the least of this staff’s concern. They are not trying to turn this around in one season. This season is abt defence and the offence is secondary mainly because this team lacks real offensive talent anyway.

This is a good coach and a good coaching staff. They’ve gotten more out of this really bad team than most expected. They’ve been competitive for the most part.

by Member29 on Feb 7, 2012 8:06 AM EST reply actions

Random notes:

- What’s with the fanbois lately? I miss the day when it was just Marcia and her undying love for Jose and her awful grasp of the Engrish Language. :) BTW I don’t really know the reason she why she got banned? Can we unban her to join this new crop?

- So totally jealous of GMs with no real Basketball history. Why can’t I be Neil Olshey, Rich Cho, Chris Grant, David Khan, Daryl Morey. The NBA must hire more non-basketball people as GMs than any other sport.

- How fast was the rise and fall of Kris Caveman? At least he got his dough.

- See ya, Mike “Who?” James. I guess I was kinda right. I said he’d never be back in the NBA, but he scored a cup of coffee.

- Whats with the feud between Karl Malone and the Jazz CEO? Ricockulous.

- LAMarcus Aldrige has been eating the same shit everyday for the last two years after he scored 37 points. Mashed potatoes, corn and chicken. Now that’s commitment to a superstition.

- Gotta love a huge underdog story like Jeremy Lin. Hmmm gotta take a closer look at the Harvard Bball program now.

by Ustation on Feb 7, 2012 9:36 AM EST reply actions

Bayless

Figured I would start this thread up….

Watching last night I remembered why I was so excited when the Raptors got Bayless. I really love what he brings to the floor: swagger, quickness, heart, scoring and no fear. That being said what often happens is the game turns into a 1on1 battle. Last night the shots were falling and it was something special to watch but this was Washington.

Does anyone think that Skiles won’t have a game plan how to handle his Pick n Roll?

Bayless needs the ball in his hands to create and it takes him several dribbles to set up his moves, even Pick n Rolls he likes to bring the ball several steps outside the three and attack his defender with speed in the PnR. While he does this very effectively, it essentially kills any flow your offence has. Plus he is not a good passer in the lane (although he made a great one at the end of the game to Amir), and he is not a great finisher inside because of his size. With all that being said it is clear he is a shooting guard.

However, he doesn’t play off the ball well. He is a good spot up shooter but that limits what he brings to the table because of how good he is at creating his own shot off the dribble. He has no post game and I have rarely seen him use screens away from the ball to create his shot.

With all his talent though he could definitely be a player that is a top quality 6th man and just let him loose on teams. While not everygame will be 30 points he can create tempo and pressure with his on the ball defence and offence on his own. Surrounded with spot up shooters who can play pressure defence he could be a very good player off our bench for the future.

by Shalax23 on Feb 7, 2012 9:36 AM EST reply actions

One of my main goals this season is player evaluation...

I am glad to see we are getting enough minutes to some of these unknown quantities to make an educated decision.

Bayless has proven his worth without a doubt, and his limitations at the same time.

He will not be our PG of the future, he just isn’t the floor general you want leading your squad.
He can be lethal when he’s hot and cause a lot of problems for opponents defence.
He is a good defender to use against teams with a high profile PG or smaller stature SG.
He does pass the ball more often than Barbosa, so if he supplants Leandro going forward it’s a definite upgrade.
With the above point being said, Barbosa has won numerous 6th man of the year awards in his career and it’s a nice thought that Bayless is heading down that road.

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Feb 7, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with your assessment

Bayless showed me last night why we need to add a point guard to our shopping list. He’s a keeper in my book as an aggressive scoring sixth man who will have the odd big night like last night. Those kind of guys are valuable As a guy who runs the team though?? I just don’t see that in him.

by Member29 on Feb 7, 2012 11:28 AM EST reply actions

Bayless

his ceiling I believe is to play as a sixth man and bring scoring off the bench, a bitlike Jason Terry. He may never be as smooth a scorer as Terry but he could be a better defender and if he could contribute something similar to what Terry does, I would be thrilled.

by defensive rap on Feb 7, 2012 1:11 PM EST reply actions