Quick Reaction: Raptors 104, Nets 99
Yank the main sails, fellas. We’re out to sea with a win!
| BKN Nets | 99 | Final Box Score |
104 | TOR Raptors |
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A-
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P. Siakam36 MIN, 19 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 6-14 FG, 2-4 3FG, 5-9 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -9 +/-
A most excellent first half on offense, and was incredibly good on the defensive end for the whole game. His possessions on LeVert were a useful stopgap when he was carving the Raptors up. And when ‘FVV’ and Lowry were having trouble with the roaming Allen, he punched the gaps to the rim. Disappointing second half on offense, but still brought value to the floor. |
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B
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O. Anunoby36 MIN, 6 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 2-8 FG, 0-3 3FG, 2-4 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 1 +/-
Was maybe the best defender on the floor today. After Kurucs took that dirty shot on him he made his presence known on offense and spurred on the Raptors winning run. Would like to see more of that during the whole game, but not today. |
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D
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M. Gasol17 MIN, 0 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, -13 +/-
This was one of his worst games as a Raptor. He couldn’t make any of the sizable mismatches he had in the post work, and the Nets sold out on that ideal. 17 minutes might have even been a little much for him in this game. Tough whistle, but definitely a poor performance. He’ll bounce back. |
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A
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K. Lowry37 MIN, 21 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 7-14 FG, 3-6 3FG, 4-6 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 0 +/-
Has really thrived at sliding in as a secondary option on offense. He waits patiently for his moments and capitalizes with efficiency. Pushed in transition well, tagged roll men all day (with a couple blown coverages) and collected boards to jumpstart transition. Good stuff. |
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A+
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F. VanVleet43 MIN, 24 PTS, 5 REB, 10 AST, 0 STL, 8-22 FG, 3-11 3FG, 5-5 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 +/-
Extremely impressive second half, especially the third quarter. When he melds his on-ball and off-ball game together he becomes a truly special player. Mix in the fact that he’s always bringing it on defense and you’ve got ‘Steady Freddy’. Had a huge personal run in the third quarter that might have saved the game. |
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A+
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N. Powell32 MIN, 24 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 11-17 FG, 1-6 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 16 +/-
Without him, the Raptors take the L in this game. He punished the Nets over and over from the weak-side. Didn’t need the 3 to drop, because his attacking game was near his best. Transition, off pin-downs, off the weak-side. An absolute killer. Hell yeah, Norm. |
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A
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S. Ibaka26 MIN, 8 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3-9 FG, 0-4 3FG, 2-2 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 18 +/-
Couldn’t space the floor out, but COULD take advantage of players like LeVert and ‘TLC’ guarding him in the post, which was huge. Not gaudy numbers like we’re used to in great Serge games, but he was good in this one. |
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Inc
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R. Hollis-Jefferson6 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 5 +/-
Too short a stint to rate. |
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Inc
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M. Thomas5 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 6 +/-
Too short a stint to rate, but had a nice pump and go for a floater. |
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A-
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Nick Nurse
Probably hung onto Gasol for too long, but I would’ve expected him to turn it around too. Loved the small lineup to close + the short bench in this one. If this was Budenholzer, the adjustments would’ve came 3 games from now. The Nets did a great job in this one, and leave him with some adjustments to make of his own. |
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Things We Saw
- Caris LeVert is so much fun to watch when he’s passing like this. He’s especially adept at finding cutters. The Raptors sold out and blitzed him repeatedly in the pick n’ roll and he kept finding the roll-man and the Nets kept scoring. Dangerous off the bounce, and keeps his head up.
- Jarrett Allen roaming instead of dropping gets an A+ from me. VanVleet struggled to make the Nets pay for those switches, and Siakam had trouble finding anything at all in the second half. An excellent adjustment from the Nets, and an even better performance from Allen.
- Can’t stress enough how important it is for OG to be aggressive. He changed the fabric of the game when he turned it on. When he’s willing to shoot through the gaps and finish with power at the rim he’s a different player.
- The 4th quarter defense was masterful. Siakam did a great job in the pick n’ roll. Loved watching it.
Quick Reaction: Raptors 104, Nets 99 originated on Raptors Republic.