Multiple times I mentioned the fact that the Toronto Raptors had a chance to go on a 5+ game winning streak, and fortunately, I was right. That’s 5 games for the Raps after their 93-90 win over the Orlando Magic.
The Magic made it interesting, and for a while, this looked like another classic Raptors blown lead, resulting in a loss. Orlando scored 10 straight points to pull within 1 with under a minute to go. Fortunately, some solid defense and clutch free throws sealed the deal and the Raps have some confidence and momentum going forward.
The biggest story of the night was definitely Terrence Ross. Two absolutely massive dunks left the crowd in awe as Ross was a huge part of the win tonight. 7 out of his 13 points came in the fourth quarter, and Ross didn’t force his offense, hit his shots, and came up huge defensively.
DeMar DeRozan was also solid with 17 points, and he’s really taken the next step as a player this year. It is very likely that DeRozan and Ross will be two of the Raptors’ best players for years to come, however the question is- can they co-exist?
Maybe. DeRozan’s game is built as a small forward, and his height allows him to shift over to that spot. However, he needs to continue adding muscle, and improve his overall defensive game on bigger defenders. Offensively, his game is perfect for the 3-spot. Insert Ross at shooting guard and you have two athletic freaks that compliment each other and could carry the Raps for years to come. Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter?
Hopefully it amounts to something even better.
Credit to GAMEFACE-PHOTOS for the photo.
