The unfortunate tendency (not only for the Raptors but for any team) is that when you're opponent starts making threes, your naturally instinct is to answer those with threes yourself. And as soon as Gibson and the Cavs other outside shooters started to get hot, the Raptors changed their gameplan (or rather, the players on the court likely deviated from the gameplan the coaches were giving them). They need to be okay with responding to a three by going inside and getting an easy two and riding out the other team's hot streaks. I really like the combination of Jack and Calderon on the floor at the same time; neither had a great game last night, but there's potential there. And the chemistry between Bosh and Bargnani just gets better and better. Bargs' intincts for moving without the ball are getting really good, and with his size he's such an easy target for passers. Did have a couple slip through his fingers though. Bosh, Bargs and Turkoglu all had really good high-low movement, which seemed to be the thing that the Cavs' defense had the most problems with.
And Derozan definitely looks like a good pickup; great athleticism, and good poise.
|