Raptors 96 – Charlotte Hornets 90: too close
By Brian Boake
The Raptors had the Hornets under control, but let them hang around. As a result, an easy win nearly disappeared.
The Toronto Raptors began this game with aplomb, and finished it with their tail between their legs. Only an off-night by the visiting Charlotte Hornets allowed Toronto to escape a humiliating defeat. While the Raptors defense was sound most of the game, their shot-making disappeared in the second half and almost led to disaster.
First Half
The only element of the Raptors offense which wasn’t clicking was the long ball. Toronto missed its first 8 attempts from beyond the arc before DeMar DeRozan and then Cory Joseph (as the clock buzzed) drained shots. Charlotte, by contrast, had very little working except deep shooting. Raptors interior defence was relentless, racking up four blocked shots by half-time. The Hornets made only eight 2-point field goals in the first two quarters. They were one and done a number of times, as evidenced by DeRozan’s five defensive rebounds, more than any Hornet on either side of the ball.
Charlotte has no paint protection to speak of (which makes me wonder why they gave up on Bismack Biyombo). The Raptors game plan must have included the simple and powerful word “Attack!”. Toronto shot 15 free throws to Charlotte’s 7 in the first half.
I hope you enjoyed those positive words about the Raptors offense, because there’s no more forthcoming.
Second Half
The third quarter started as a two-way brickfest. Neither team could manage a basket for over four minutes. By the end of the woeful 12 minutes, the squads were a combined 12 for 39, and Toronto had managed to outscore Charlotte 1 to nothing from distance.
The Raptors carried a 16-point bulge into Q4, which they would need all of. It was deja vu all over again for Raptors shot-making, as they needed more than four minutes again before making a bucket. The Hornets were nearly as dreary, but couldn’t help but take a slice out of the Raptor margin. With fewer than 3 minutes to play, Kyle Lowry (who had been re-inserted after coach Dwane Casey despaired of his second unit) buried a three, and the Raptors led by 14. Game over, right?
Wrong…nobody told the veteran Hornets to quit and eight straight points later, they were breathing down the Raptors necks. Toronto blew three straight free throws, and it still wasn’t over. On an in-bounds play, Cory Joseph dribbled around in the backcourt until caught and fouled by Jeremy Lin. CoJo made both, Kemba Walker missed a desperation long ball, and CoJo dribbled out the win.
In Sum…
The San Antonio game was a good loss; this was a bad win. The Raptors didn’t get anything approaching balanced scoring, as DeRozan and Lowry provided 47 points. That math won’t work in the post-season. Jonas Valanciunas didn’t get sufficient touches on offense, but still provided a double-double of 12 twice, with 3 blocks.
TRoss also didn’t get many chances, taking only 2 shots in 20+ minutes. Norman Powell’s 6-game run of scoring in double figures ended, as his outside touch evaporated. So did Biyombo’s touch from the charity stripe. He managed one of six.
Charlotte turned the ball over 6 times, which is good on them but bad on our team. More ball pressure needed!
The Raptors visit Atlanta on Thursday night.