On a night like this, are real ratings even necessary?
Raptor of the Night: Jonas Valanciunas
Kyle Lowry
29 MIN, 5 PTS, 4 REB, 10 AST, 0 STL, 2-7 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -29 +/-
Wasn’t the same active force on either end from the outset. Did well to try and get everybody involved but in a way it just took less responsibility from himself. Still picked up Hill too high and he finally took advantage. Did everything he could last game, what more could he give (maybe a bit more)?
DeMar DeRozan
33 MIN, 13 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 5-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -29 +/-
We all know the stats of Demar after off playoff nights but you could feel from the beginning he wasn’t going to get it going. Cleveland picked him up real high and trapped early. I don’t think his ejection was warranted but you had to think by his and the referees reaction it was a mercy.
OG Anunoby
20 MIN, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -23 +/-
I won’t stop praising this kid for his work this series. Stoic and efficient. You can’t ask him to do a lot but he’s got decisiveness, ups, and a motor that will work to give him a long NBA career.
Serge Ibaka
18 MIN, 12 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 5-8 FG, 2-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, -12 +/-
Honestly not a bad showing from Serge tonight. It’s still hard to watch his wobbly knees close out on shooters, but he tried to make a point on the offensive end. Can’t say I’m not pleased to see anymore Ibaka dribble-drive turnovers though.
Jonas Valanciunas
16 MIN, 18 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 7-14 FG, 0-0 3FG, 4-6 FT, 3 BLK, 1 TO, -6 +/-
Fred VanVleet
20 MIN, 5 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -14 +/-
Couldn’t tell he had a sore shoulder. Was game all night, picking up on D and driving the ball. Can you really ask Freddy to make the killer play though?
Delon Wright
18 MIN, 10 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 4-7 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -10 +/-
10 points from mostly garbage time buckets. Would’ve been nice if he got his big bros stroke though.
Norman Powell
12 MIN, 5 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -7 +/-
I’m not saying the NormGod would come to save us, but maybe we should’ve gave him a chance?
CJ Miles
23 MIN, 13 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 5-11 FG, 0-2 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -15 +/-
Asking CJ Miles to start the game entirely stifled any production the bench might come up with. Smothered from three so turned to a dribble drive game that would dispel any horrors of Demarre Carroll’s deer legs going to the hoop.
Pascal Siakam
27 MIN, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-3 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -14 +/-
Spent three straight games getting into LeBron physically but just didn’t see that today. It’s got to be draining. To be the first point of defence for your team but have it all unravel because of a simple pass to a back cut.
Jakob Poeltl
12 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-3 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -10 +/-
Oh, hey Yak.
Lucas Nogueira
2 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -10 +/-
Probably the two minutes that ensured the second of the Brazilian Brothers packed his bags and left Toronto by the end of the season.
Lorenzo Brown
7 MIN, 1 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -5 +/-
Still an MVP.
Alfonzo McKinnie (INC)
Inactive
Malachi Richardson (INC)
Inactive
Malcolm Miller (INC)
Ineligible
Thoughts:
- Everything went Ty Lue’s way this series. Initially challenged by the Raptors in Game 1 as they stuck to their plan, it all began to unfold when Kevin Love realized he was a basketball player again.
- There’s going to be some questions when it comes to Casey’s management of the team during adversity. Two lineup changes can be warranted but sows serious distrust amongst the players as it show you’re searching for answers. He obviously didn’t find them.
- This one hurts. Riding on such a high all season, Washington gave the Raptors a real knockdown punch that forced them to bite their mouth-guard and punch back with full force. Going into the Cavaliers series you had hope, at least knew it’d be competitive and it honestly was. On the bad end of some whistles, matchups, and buzzer beating shots is all it would take and it did.
Shout out the all the Toronto Raptors fans for this season. Certainly not the ending we wanted for such an incredible season, but the fight and passion were there. Do as you please but a 4-game sweep doesn’t dispel any appreciation this writer and fan has for the 15 guys that suited up in Raptors red this season to fight for themselves and their city. Go Raps Go!
Keep your eyes peeled for end-of-season reviews, player profiles, and opinion pieces for the NBA, G-League, and of course your own Toronto Raptors soon to come!
