That was a rather impressive game all around, wasn't it? Specifically Siakam and Anunoby, of course, but when you consider Jeremy Lin didn't meet his teammates until about 5 p.m. and that Marc Gasol barely knows all of their names and that the absences of Kawhi Leonard and Fred VanVleet could have crippled the offence, mighty impressive, indeed.
They've earned a break – nothing now until a practice next Wednesday night – and go off to sunny climes feeling pretty good about themselves.
And, yes, look for Leonard to play a bit in Sunday's all-star game, there was this from Lin chronicler Not Bea Arthur and I chipped in with a wee game report to round out our night.
There were these leftover points, too.
I think the Raptors ran the same play about three times in a row in the third quarter, a new wrinkle on an old set that really helped Pascal Siakam pile up the points.
They put the ball in his hands and ran pick and roll with Kyle Lowry – who sets some of the sturdiest screens on the team – and when Wizards switched a guard onto Siakam, it was all over.
It worked like a dream a couple of times last night and if Siakam's going to punish small defenders by driving, they should keep running it. And if he ever gets comfortable either pulling up behind the screen to shoot a 20-footer or becomes more adapt at driving and kicking the ball out to the weak side, the Raptors offence could be something special.
This is not an indictment of one as much as it is praise for the other. Honest.
Early in the third quarter, I think it was, Lowry gets the ball in transition and takes off up the left side with Norm closer to the sideline. Lowry sees an opening, tries to thread a pass where he thought Norm would cut but Norm had veered to the corner and the pass went out of bounds on the baseline.
Fourth quarter, I think it was, Lowry gets the ball in transitioni in the middle of the floor with Lin filling the lane on the right side. Lowry sees an opening, threads a bounce through it, Lin's headed right to the rim, catches it basically in stride and finishes a reverse layup.
That's not outrageously high basketball IQ but it's knowing where the play should develop and end.
Just a little bit more because I got a late start and need to get this posted.
I am not actually venturing to Charlotte this weekend, a few days of working at my own leisure in the comfort of Casa Doug or the stool is going to help in the long run and, like the Raptors, we're all about being healthy and ready for the playoffs.
We'll keep an eye on the shenanigans down there so if something untoward happens I can jump in and there's a big-picture item to be written tomorrow after Nothing But Net and a game followup today but, other than that, down time.
Oh, and mail. Always time for mail and if you want to play along for Sunday morning, click on askdoug@thestar.ca and do your thing.
Hug someone, buy some chocolates and flowers and maybe a drink or two and enjoy.
It's a silly, contrived holiday but it just gets us ready for Monday, which is another silly, contrived holiday.
"He gets better every game. He's more confident every game, his ball-handling, his shooting, his playmaking, he's just, he's great." OG Anunoby on Pascal Siakam.
"I think we needed an injection of energy there, made two subs with Jeremy and OG and from there I think we went on a 15-0 run immediately. That was all it was, was energy and playing harder, guarding a little better and playing with some pace." Nick Nurse on a third quarter move that changed the tempo of the game.
"I felt like I was really handicapping the offence because I didn't really know too much of anything. But it worked out. You need to have certain stabilizers. Kyle's definitely one of them, Marc is definitely one of them. They just kind of direct people and you kind of play off them." Jeremy Lin on how he got through the game.