Memories of Al Jefferson’s game-tying three-pointer resurfaced when Ryan Anderson bounced home a game-tying three pointer with 8 seconds left in regulation. However, Toronto showed great poise by not allowing that to affect their effort in OT. Learning how to win close games will be crucial for this team as they mature.
Five Alive!
A 9-19 record only looks good when the team starts 4-19. What appeared to be a lost season with no draft pick has very quickly turned into something worthwhile. Hope doesn’t come from the fact that Toronto sits five games out of the eighth seed in the East. Hope comes from the style of basketball we’ve seen over the last six games.
Here are some thoughts on the game:
After winning just four times through their first 23 games of the season, the Raptors have now won four times in their last four games since then, without their two most talented players in the lineup for any of those contests.
Here are some thoughts on tonight’s game:
Let the good times roll! The Raptors have won three straight games in rather convincing fashion while using an undermanned rotation. The group that has played these last four games in no way resembles the team that played the first 22 games. This group plays like a team – they move the ball quickly on offence, they pass up good shots for great shots, they hustle back on defence, and they communicate and trust each other to make the proper rotations. It’s very cliched, but everyone who stepped on the floor tonight for Toronto was playing “team” basketball.
Here are some thoughts on the game:
On the heels of the team’s first winning streak (does two in a row count?), Drew, Oliver and I got together to discuss Jose “Triple-Double Machine” Calderon, Alan Anderson, Ed Davis, the improved defence, Dwane Casey’s more sensible rotations, and whether the Raptors actually have a shot to get back into any sort of meaningful race.
All that, plus much, much more.
