Raptors 107 – Milwaukee Bucks 89: a breather

Mar 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets pressure from Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) and forward Luis Scola (4) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets pressure from Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) and forward Luis Scola (4) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

A patchwork lineup was all the Raptors could muster in Milwaukee. It was more than enough against a befuddled Bucks team.

As the great baseball manager Earl Weaver once said, when his Baltimore Orioles were playing at a championship level, “I could stay at the hotel. They don’t need me.” Yes, being a manager or a basketball coach can be a simple job when you’re running a talented and healthy team. While the Toronto Raptors have some talent, after long years in the wilderness, their health has been a concern of late. When a team is wobbling, leadership is called for.

Coach Dwane Casey took the bold decision to rest his All-Star shooting guard, DeMar DeRozan, last night against the also-ran Milwaukee Bucks. Despite his team already being short-staffed due to Jonas Valanciunas’s injured hand, Casey trusted in his rotation players to secure the win. His faith was rewarded; rookie Norman Powell scored a career-high 17 points and the Raptors won the game’s final three quarters, cruising to a surprisingly easy triumph.

The Raptors are in the depths of an accursed four-games-in-five-nights week, and DeMar had played most of the game against the Chicago Bulls. Rather than risk another injury, which is always a concern with a tired player, Casey gave the start to Powell. The unheralded guard from UCLA has enjoyed some high-scoring games with the Raptors 905 D-League team, and his defense has never been a problem.

Mar 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) takes a shot between Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson (3) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) takes a shot between Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson (3) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyle Lowry didn’t get much rest until the game was well in hand. Happily for the Raptors, that point was relatively early, so our point guard needed only 28+ minutes to score 25 points and hand out 11 assists. Lowry took a mere nine shots; he lived at the line, making 11 of 13. His teammates made four trips, a pitiful number though perhaps not surprising given the absence of DeRozan and JV.

The Bucks looked distinctly out of kilter. Maybe the Raptors defense was that good, but I don’t think so. Are Milwaukee fans rethinking their excitement about “winning” Greg Monroe, the off-season’s big (and expensive) free agent signing? He played like a second-unit man. He should be dominating in the low post – he had four baskets, and no free throws. Giannis Antetokounmpo was an assist short of a triple-double when pulled by perplexed coach Jason Kidd. The Greek Freak has been a bright spot in a deeply disappointing season.

The fearless Bismack Biyombo got extra minutes, and used them well. He joined Lowry in the double-double club, missing only one of seven shots and grabbing 13 rebounds. His two blocked shots were spectacular. I don’t know how GM Masai Ujiri is going to juggle the books to make it happen, but we have to resign Bismack.

Terrence Ross took a while to get his stroke happening, but finished with 11 points. Patrick Patterson and Jason Thompson more or less split the power forward duties. 2-Pat’s shot seems to have returned (touch wood), and his defense and rebounding never left. He had 14 points. Thompson had more fouls (5) than baskets (1), but served a purpose. In JV’s absence (and we still have no idea how long that will be), paint protection will be at a premium.

The Raptors are in Indianapolis tomorrow night to face the Pacers, then return to Toronto for a game against the Boston Celtics.