Nothin’ But Positives – Raptors vs. Mavericks – October 23rd

Back to back Nothin’ But Positives as the Raptors come back home to take on the Mavericks after handing the Celtics their collective ass at their own home opener!

We already have your pre-game, your post-game, and your quick reactions for every game, but by popular demand (a few people on Twitter) I am bringing my quarterly positives right here in long-form. Rather than try to sum them up in 240 characters or less, I can now expand on what I liked each quarter of the game. If you’re familiar with this format, you’ll know what to expect. If you aren’t, just know that if there is a baby wearing noise-canceling headphones, it counts as a positive and it’s going on the list.

 

 

First Quarter Positives:

• Starting off with what the Raptors were lacking, as OG’s transition handles give Toronto the first points of the game.
• And again! This time OG drives under the basket for a 4-0 lead.
• Fred VanVleet from the corner for 3. It’s refreshing to see the two players who had an off-night just 24 hours ago come out with renewed energy.
• Gary Trent Jr. working in transition, immediately defending after his own missed shot, and staying on Porzingis.
• Precious not doing too much like he appeared to be in the previous game. Rather than drive to the basket he hands the ball off and immediately sets the screen that allows OG Anunoby to get his fifth and sixth points of the game.
• Fred long rebound.
• OG Anunoby blocking Kristaps Porzingis, causing him obvious frustration. Frustrating Porzingis seems to be a very important part of Nick Nurse’s game plan for tonight.
• Scottie curling to the basket for his first points of the game!
• The Raptors forced the Mavericks to call an early time-out after holding them to just 2 points in 5 minutes.
• Scottie anticipating and stealing the bounce pass from Luka to Dwight, pushing the ball back for a Raptors bucket.
• Precious again not forcing the game. Rather than drive or attempt a 3 he swung the ball to Gary, who swung it to Fred and then back to Gary for 3.
• The Mavericks missed 9 of their first 10 shots. Not because they aren’t falling, but because the Raptors aren’t giving them room to breathe.
• OG and Precious switching on screens to allow the shooter to get into the most open spots.
• An OG 3 from the “I don’t shoot trying to miss” area.
• OG contesting Willie Cauley-Stein’s 3 (even if WCS is the coolest player in the league).
• The Mavericks broadcast ended the quarter talking about pickles. I will always eat your pickle if you don’t want it.

 

Second Quarter Positives:

• Opening the quarter with a Fred VanVleet no-look pass to Goran Dragic. The shot didn’t fall, but a two point-guard lineup and the chemistry needed for it to be successful is something that Dragic admitted will take time, and this play is a step in the right direction.
• Fred VanVleet pull-up 3. He knows that’s his bread and butter and has struggled shooting from elsewhere to start the season.
• Back to back rebounds for Chris Boucher.
• Jason Kidd is probably already in the hot seat and we’re 5 days into the season.
• Precious and-one!
• Fred with the quick defensive rebound and hustle ahead to OG who was waiting under the basket.
• Another OG corner 3. He heard you.
• Goran Dragic with a pretty little crossover/stepback/one-legged fadeaway putting on for the 30+ crowd.
• Dwight Powell vs. Khem Birch – the battle of the Canadian shoulders.
• The Mavericks bench has one point.
• There is a little girl in the crowd getting her life to ‘Backstreet’s Back’
• Svi Mykhailiuk’s ability to just dump a pass to anywhere, from anywhere. This time it got Khem Birch to the line and brought the lead back up to 5.
• Gary Trent Jr. with another wide open 3, putting him in the double digits with over a minute left in the half.
• Svi got his head busted open, but if the pattern of Raptors bleeding their own blood and then playing the best basketball of their careers continues, we’re about to see a show (and yes, he is fine).
• The Mavericks broadcast is now talking about how much they love dogs.

 

Third Quarter Positives:

• Scottie is back! He sat out the second quarter with a hip injury but started the third driving to the basket and bringing the energy needed for the second half of a second night of a back to back game.
• Second half Freddy is reminiscent of the Raptors title run.
• A Khem Birch dunk!
• Svi didn’t take many shots in the first half, but sunk a 3 at the shot clock buzzer in the third.
• Fred grabbing the long rebounds. The Mavericks had their first lead of the game for the majority of the third quarter but Fred isn’t allowing them easy buckets.
• FRED TO PRECIOUS ALLEY-OOP!!!!
• It’s over?

 

Fourth Quarter Positives:

• Khem Birch shooting threes? On one hand, I am not a fan of having your big man shoot threes unless it is a definite make and the only option. On the other hand, I am a fan of just getting weird with it.
• Precious barrelling through Kristaps Porzingis like a freight train.
• PRECIOUS BARRELLING THROUGH PORZINGIS LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN AGAIN! CHOO CHOO!
• Jalen Brunson taking a charge from Precious Achiuwa. That takes guts, and probably years off of your life.
• A Precious Achiuwa pocket pass to Scottie Barnes to get Scottie to the line.
• Scottie taking it to the basket in the paint against 3 defenders.
• A SOARING SCOTTIE!!
• Precious cleaning up the glass for his 12th board and 9th and 10th points.
• Scottie quietly finishing with 17 points and 8 rebounds.
• Didn’t lose by double digits.
• The new Raptors survived their first back to back.

 

 

Final Score: DAL 103 – TOR 95

Positive Player of the Game: OG Anunoby

Nothin’ But Positives – Raptors vs. Mavericks – October 23rd originated on Raptors Republic.