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Post game report card: Raptors edge out Hawks in season opener

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Game Eight of the Toronto Raptors‘ postseason run was certainly a wild one. With the home crowd behind them in full force, the team pulled away from its opponents in dramatic fashion to win the crucial matchup.

What’s that? The playoffs ended six months ago? Well, the way things looked tonight against the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto’s 109-102 season debut could have easily passed for a barn-burning playoff thriller. In likeness to last year’s memorable run, fans crowded in Maple Leaf Square in an amalgamation of support while those inside the arena remained attentive and excessively vocal. After building a respectable lead until the final six minutes, the Raptors disappointingly coasted and barely fought off a late Atlanta comeback to come out on top. Key contributors from the home team include DeMar DeRozan with 15 points, six steals and a career-high 11 rebounds, Amir Johnson, who chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kyle Lowry, who posted 11 points and 10 assists. All five starters scored in double figures in the winning effort. Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez proved their worth as reliable bench players with production on both ends of the floor. On the flip side, guards Jeff Teague and Ashton Kutcher Kyle Korver led Atlanta with 20 points apiece. Big men Al Horford and Paul Millsap each recorded a double-double and Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager Mike Scott (“The Office” reference) surprisingly pulled off a 20 point night. Let’s get into our first post-game report card of the season:

Offense: A

There were no major causes for concern on the offensive end of things tonight. Both teams were essentially deadlocked in scoring after the first quarter and Toronto managed an eight-point lead at halftime. The Raps created significant breathing room in the third frame with a balanced attack from their starters, but were outscored 31-23 in the fourth quarter. This late-game breakdown should be attributed to a weak defensive effort. Overall, the aggressiveness put forth by the starting five cannot go unnoticed. DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas both did an excellent job of getting to the rim and absorbing contact. Lowry maintained his notorious “pitbull” demeanor by attacking the basket at every opportunity and Johnson demonstrated tremendous hustle in the paint (he recorded an impressive five offensive rebounds). Third-year swingman Terrence Ross shot 3-5 from three point range- hopefully he can sustain this throughout the season. In all, the team proved to be effective on the offensive end. The slim deficit is certainly a consequence of poor defense in the closing minutes.

Defense: B

This late-game drama is all-too-familiar for Raptor fans. While Toronto did hold an eight point lead halfway through, the Hawks shot an advantageous 46.3% from the field and a blistering 57.1% from beyond the arc. Korver absolutely lit up the Raps, shooting 6-7 from three-point land, while Scott went 4-6. It’s safe to say that perimeter defense is a necessary adjustment for the next game. Aside from guarding the three, Toronto did an excellent job protecting the rim and forcing turnovers. Valanciunas and Johnson combined for five blocks. DeRozan’s six steals, which mainly came in transition, were included in an astounding 17 turnovers from Atlanta. For the most part the home team put on a sound defensive effort, but there’s no doubt that coach Dwane Casey has already addressed the lackluster perimeter coverage.

Rebounding: A

The Raptors won the rebounding battle 48-42. DeRozan unexpectedly led the way with 11 boards while Valanciunas and Lowry recorded three offensive rebounds each. Patterson pulled down five rebounds in 23 minutes of action and, as previously mentioned, Johnson was a major source of hustle and tenacity on the glass. There isn’t much to complain about here, but let’s hope that we see this type of effort on a nightly basis.

Game Ball: Amir Johnson

The veteran forward was an integral part of tonight’s win. He posted the first of many double-doubles to come and made his presence known throughout (including a filthy putback dunk). Whether it was scrappy boards or assertive jumpers in the paint, Johnson reminded us why he deserves to be a starter on one of the best teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

The road to 82-0 has officially begun. Here’s to a successful 2014-2015 Raptors campaign:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggOQefxiBgo&feature=youtu.be

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