This was a big game for both sides. These games can be looked back on to see which of these two teams hold onto the first seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference with a marginal 3 game lead on the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics have lost Kyrie Irving for 3-6 weeks with minor invasive knee surgery and the Celtics have not missed a beat surprisingly. The other players have stepped up and they have beaten high-quality opponents on the road and at home. The Raptors are currently in the midst of a slump having lost 3 of their last 6 games and will be looking to gain some momentum in this one.
The Celtics are a tough defensive team even without Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart on the perimeter.
The game started off with both sides scoring at will. The pace favored the Raptors who tend to play a faster style. The Celtics kept up with the Raptors behind none other than Aron Baynes?!? Aron Baynes poured in 12 first quarter points including a couple threes. JV was having trouble guarding against a perimeter big like Aron Baynes. The Raptors managed to take an early lead after the first quarter with a score, 33-31.
The second quarter was more typical to what the Celtics like to play. A slow, gritty and low-scoring type quarter. The Celtics are a top 5 defence, and this was their strong suit. Even without Kyrie Irving, the Celtics were able to create high percentage scoring opportunities. Marcus Morris for the Boston Celtics was a big spark off the bench. He scored 25 points in this game and got started early in the second quarter. With Terry Rozier in the starting lineup, the offense had to come from someone else on the bench and Marcus Morris filled in that role spectacularly. The Raptors were unable to build upon their lead in the second quarter. The halftime score was 55-53.
Boston's defence was everywhere and caused the Bench Mob to struggle.
Now the third quarter is where the Raptors were in a good rhythm but could not seal the deal. The reason for this was fouls. The Raptors played great defense in this quarter, but it was either frustration or no trust in the help defense coming, ended up fouling the Celtics. The Celtics were at the line early and often. After allowing so many freebies to the Celtics, the Raptors were still within striking distance and closed the quarter off strong. A quick 7-2 run to end the quarter gave the Raptors another 2-point lead heading into the decisive fourth quarter. Marcus Morris and Jayson Tatum were leading the charge in the third and were getting easy opportunities. The Raptors allowed easy penetration into the lane and the Celtics were able to draw fouls or hit lay-ups. The defense still hasn’t been what Dwane Casey and staff want it to be.
In the fourth quarter is where the wheels of the Toronto Raptors fall off. The Raptors went ice cold. They created great open looks from all over the court and missed wide-open threes in the corners. The Bench Mob and the starters both didn’t have it going in the fourth. Casey was mixing and matching any players he had on the bench to squeeze out some offense but to no avail. CJ Miles, the Raptors’ best perimeter threat, had his worst game of the season. He went 0-6 from the outside, 5 fouls, and 4 turnovers. Definitely a night CJ wanted to forget. CJ also threw up an air ball as well. Just not his night and the Raptors could not get any offense from Kyle Lowry as well. Lowry shot 2-10 from the outside and 4-13 in the game. The one bright spot was DeMar DeRozan who had 32 points.
DeRozan was the one bright spot on offense for the Toronto Raptors with 32 points.
Serge Ibaka picked up his fifth foul midway into the fourth quarter and this was the game-changing moment. Siakam struggled to guard Morris’ size in the post and JV was taking off the dribble or gave Morris too much space for a 3-point shot. Ibaka was the perfect mix of strength and agility to guard him and when he was finally inserted back into the game, all the momentum was on Boston’s side. The Raptors turned the ball over 7 times in the fourth quarter which led to easy run out opportunities for Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum. A poor fourth quarter effort defensively and a cold-shooting quarter are key ingredients in getting blown out, which they did. The Raptors lost the fourth quarter 15-28. Tempers flaring in the final seconds of the game where CJ Miles fouls Morris who appears to get hit in the face as well. Morris takes exception to the foul and gets into it with CJ Miles. CJ picks up the double technical with Morris for some reason. The double technical is the worst illogical call in the NBA and there was no reason for CJ Miles to get T'ed up in this one. Morris makes the first free throw but keeps on jawing but now with Ibaka. Ibaka defends his teammate and tells Morris to pipe down. Morris keeps talking and the referee eventually ejects him. Morris taps the referee on the backside before hitting the showers. The Raptors frustrated and could not believe they let this one slip out of their hands. Back to the drawing board.
Toronto Raptors Boston Celtics
99 110
Player of the Game
DeMar DeRozan
36 minutes, 32 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 12-19 shooting, 0-5 3PT, 8-10 FT, -8
DeMar was one of the only bright spots on this night. He had it going all night offensively and kept the Raptors in the game. No other Raptors attempted more than 3 free throws. His ability to draw fouls and allow the Raptors to stop the clock and put points on the board was vital. But his defense on the perimeter needs to improve. The straight-line drives into the heart of the defense is what starts the entire defensive breakdown. DeRozan has the size and length to be a great perimeter defender but needs to get down into his stance and use his feet instead of his hands to keep the offensive players in front of him. Big game coming up on Tuesday against the Cavs where DeMar and co. need to win.
Things To Take Away From This Game
1. 3-Point Shooting
Sometimes I wonder how this new improved offense and focus on 3-point shooting will affect the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs. On this night, the Raptors shot 18 more shots from the outside compared to the Celtics and only made one more basket. Toronto shot a dismal 8-35 from the outside. The Raptors’ best shooter CJ Miles went 0-6 from the outside and even threw up an air ball. It was just that kind of night. The Raptors will need to hit the gym and keep working on their jump shooting.
2. Turnovers
The 15 turnovers compared to the Celtics’ 6 turnovers does look like a disparity, but the timing of the Raptors’ turnovers was the worst. The Raptors turned the ball over 7 times in that decisive fourth quarter and tossed the game away. If the Raptors turned the ball over out-of-bounds, this would have been better. But the Raptors gave up live-ball turnovers which led to fast break opportunities and easy mismatches for the Celtics to exploit.
3. Kyle Lowry
I don’t like highlighting one player to designate as a reason for the loss tonight. But Kyle Lowry was outplayed on the night by his counterpart. Terry Rozier put up a stat line that Raptor fans typically see from Kyle Lowry. Lowry’s poor shooting on a night where the Raptors needed offense was huge. The nine assists led the team, but his outside shooting would have kept the defense honest and spaced the floor more for the likes of JV and Ibaka to do damage on the interior. Lowry’s ability to get into the lane is one of his strengths, but only shooting 2 free throws will not be a key for success come playoff time.
Kyle Lowry scored 11 points and had 9 assists on the evening. Terry Rozier had 21 points and 7 assists.
Photos courtesy of:
http://www.nba.com/raptors/gallery/rapsceltics-033118/