Team Effort
I am usually not a pessimistic person. I'd like to consider myself a realist. Looking at the Raptors' first four games of the new year, with Jazz, Spurs, Bucks and Pacers on the horizon, I wrote here that I was bracing myself for a 1-3 swing.
Well, we went 3-1!!! Although that lone loss was an ugly one at San Antonio, the last 2 wins in particular were outstanding. Scoring 120+ points on back-to-back days against two of the best in the Eastern Conference, no less.
After Coach Nurse ran his 5 starters into the ground in beating the Bucks yesterday, I didn't think we had it in us to beat the Pacers today. But the bench that scored just 5 points yesterday bounced back with 52 points in the 121-105 win.
Eight players scored in double figures. A total team effort. Shot 17-of-33 from downtown, with Danny G. draining 5-of-8.
We've improved to an NBA-best 7-1 in the 2nd game of back-to-backs.
My thoughts on the game.
Kyle's Back
Kyle finally played, and it was like he never missed a beat. He drained a 3 about 2 minutes into the game, and having that man back in the lineup improved our offense so much.
He came up huge early in the 3Q, when he had 3 quick turnovers and the other guys were making a run. Coach called timeout (you could hear him yell, "Timeout!" on telecast with the stunned crowd silent over an incredibly lethargic stretch of play) and right out of the gate, Kyle picked up three quick assists on three transition buckets.
Here are two long passes to Siakam.
When Kyle is running the show, our pace and efficiency improve immensely. He creates so many easy, open looks, whether in transition, in pick and rolls, or drive and kickouts.
With Kawhi predictably not playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, Freddie started on the backcourt alongside Kyle. In an ideal world, we need VanVleet to be leading the second unit. I feel there is more he can do to help the reserves than with the starters.
Norm's Big Game
Powell had a game-high 23 points off the bench on 10-of-12 shooting. He was perfect from downtown, making all 3 shots.
I once mentioned in passing how Norm is that one player who seems to have trouble sustaining his confidence. He has always seemed to let small things bother him, like a missed shot, a turnover, etc.
Today, I liked the way he played within himself. He didn't really force the issue. Drove to the bucket when he saw opening. Took his jumpers when he had his chance. Played a very efficient, high-percentage, no-frills basketball.
With JV out a few more games and CJ now stuck at the deep end of the bench, we need all the scoring we can get from the second unit. Moose dropped 11 points today but he ain't gonna score in double figures every time out. Chris Boucher maybe deserves more than just garbage minutes (made a cool 3-pointer on his first and only shot off the bench in the 4Q and the bench erupted!) but I don't think you can trust him to be a consistent NBA scorer yet.
That leaves Freddie and Powell as the only reliable perimeter scorers from the bench (in games when we start Kyle, Kawhi, Danny G, Serge and Siakam). It was great to see Norm play with so much confidence today against a strong defensive team.
I'll end the post with a gratuitous clip of a Serge block.
Well, we went 3-1!!! Although that lone loss was an ugly one at San Antonio, the last 2 wins in particular were outstanding. Scoring 120+ points on back-to-back days against two of the best in the Eastern Conference, no less.
After Coach Nurse ran his 5 starters into the ground in beating the Bucks yesterday, I didn't think we had it in us to beat the Pacers today. But the bench that scored just 5 points yesterday bounced back with 52 points in the 121-105 win.
Eight players scored in double figures. A total team effort. Shot 17-of-33 from downtown, with Danny G. draining 5-of-8.
We've improved to an NBA-best 7-1 in the 2nd game of back-to-backs.
My thoughts on the game.
Kyle's Back
Kyle finally played, and it was like he never missed a beat. He drained a 3 about 2 minutes into the game, and having that man back in the lineup improved our offense so much.
He came up huge early in the 3Q, when he had 3 quick turnovers and the other guys were making a run. Coach called timeout (you could hear him yell, "Timeout!" on telecast with the stunned crowd silent over an incredibly lethargic stretch of play) and right out of the gate, Kyle picked up three quick assists on three transition buckets.
Here are two long passes to Siakam.
When Kyle is running the show, our pace and efficiency improve immensely. He creates so many easy, open looks, whether in transition, in pick and rolls, or drive and kickouts.
With Kawhi predictably not playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, Freddie started on the backcourt alongside Kyle. In an ideal world, we need VanVleet to be leading the second unit. I feel there is more he can do to help the reserves than with the starters.
Norm's Big Game
Powell had a game-high 23 points off the bench on 10-of-12 shooting. He was perfect from downtown, making all 3 shots.
I once mentioned in passing how Norm is that one player who seems to have trouble sustaining his confidence. He has always seemed to let small things bother him, like a missed shot, a turnover, etc.
Today, I liked the way he played within himself. He didn't really force the issue. Drove to the bucket when he saw opening. Took his jumpers when he had his chance. Played a very efficient, high-percentage, no-frills basketball.
With JV out a few more games and CJ now stuck at the deep end of the bench, we need all the scoring we can get from the second unit. Moose dropped 11 points today but he ain't gonna score in double figures every time out. Chris Boucher maybe deserves more than just garbage minutes (made a cool 3-pointer on his first and only shot off the bench in the 4Q and the bench erupted!) but I don't think you can trust him to be a consistent NBA scorer yet.
That leaves Freddie and Powell as the only reliable perimeter scorers from the bench (in games when we start Kyle, Kawhi, Danny G, Serge and Siakam). It was great to see Norm play with so much confidence today against a strong defensive team.
I'll end the post with a gratuitous clip of a Serge block.
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