RaptorsHQ Rapid Recap: Milwaukee Bucks 105 - Toronto Raptors 99

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Feb 8, 2012 9:42 PM EST in Raptors Rapid Recap

- What’s the cure for a three-game losing streak? If you’re the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s a road date against the Andrea Bargnani-less Toronto Raptors.

- In the first game of a seven-game home stand, the Raptors offered little resistance on the perimeter, as the Bucks shot 12-25 from beyond the arc on their way to a 105-99 victory.

- Former Raptor Carlos "Count Chocula" Delfino accounted for half of those triples on his way to a season-high 25 points. DeMar DeRozan might have dropped 25 points on his own – but when you can’t check your man on defence, the scoring doesn’t mean as much.

- The free-throw disparity also played a role in this one. The Bucks connected on 27-for-37 while the Raptors shot 16-for-17 from the charity stripe.

- Somehow, the lowest-scoring first quarter team in the NBA (19.5 points) managed to take a 29-28 lead after one. However, all the offensive promise of the opening frame dissipated over the remainder of this sloppy matchup.

- Toronto managed to battle back from a double-digit deficit to tie things up at 69 in the third quarter. It was close the rest of the way, but ultimately the Dinos just ran out of bullets.

- The point guard battle never materialized, as potential All-Star reserve Brandon Jennings struggled to score 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting and Jose Calderon went 4-for-12 from the field. The advantage clearly went to Calderon, however, as he dished out 15 assists to go with just one turnover.

- Another lopsided matchup occurred up front, with Drew Gooden putting up 20-and-14 compared to Amir Johnson’s paltry 7-and-6.

- And in a two-possession game with less than a minute to go, Calderon’s inability to box out Jennings and the Raptors’ failure to secure a key rebound on a Stephen Jackson free-throw miss sealed it.

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Watching Barnes right now and he looks good, would like to see him in a Raps uniform

by Member29 on Feb 8, 2012 10:22 PM EST reply actions

sorry, can't bring myself to comment on the game. Tough to watch.

by Member29 on Feb 8, 2012 10:23 PM EST reply actions

0-7 home stand...

would secure us nicely in the bottom 4. haha. I think the Hornets will be much improved with Gordon back.

Barnes is looking nice, but any one of a few players would be good.

How nice would Rivers be as a late lottery pick? That is truthfully my dream. Barnes Rivers to the Raptors.

by Shalax23 on Feb 8, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

I cashed in

870 Airmiles for a pair of tickets behind the basket and had a good time with my son. The product on the floor was questionable but a very entertaining night otherwise.
The RAP PACK have a few drop dead gorgeous girls who can move and the Raptor spent a few minutes with my son, and I met the Superfan.

by Tinmann on Feb 8, 2012 10:48 PM EST reply actions

Nice!

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on Feb 8, 2012 10:49 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Ok...

0-7 may be a stretch but the schedule starts with a loss followed by games against the Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Spurs then the Bobcats. While the Bobcats may be the worst team in the NBA that will be the Raptors 3rd game in 4 days, and then we get the Pistons who are starting to get healthy and poss some match up problems with Munroe inside.

Then we get into a very tricky portion of our schedule with 19 games in 33 days after the All-star break. 9 of those are road games; and we have the Heat, Grizzlies, Bulls, Knicks, Magic (two times), Warriors and the Nuggets at home.

If we go 2-5 on this home stretch and then 5-14 over the next 19 that puts us at 15-39, which if everyone’s winning percentages hold would put us 3rd worse.

While Bargnani coming back could boost that total, even if he is healthy things may get worse before they get better.

To make matters worse, rumors coming out of UCONN are that Drummond is going to return for his sophmore year, and that would move Barnes into the Top 2 or 3.

by Shalax23 on Feb 8, 2012 10:49 PM EST reply actions