Rockets vs. Raptors Reaction

Yesterday, at the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors took on the team with the best record in the NBA, the Houston Rockets. The Rockets coming into the arena with a 17-game win streak. Taking on the Raptors who are the best home team in the entire league. Coming into the night the Rockets looking to extend their winning streak and come closer to locking up the first seed against the Warriors. The Raptors looking to prove themselves show the league that they belong and should be considered a legitimate contender. 

 The Raptors coming of years of under performing post season runs, they want to show everyone that this year is different. This game had plenty of storylines from everything on court and the implications, to Drake night happening at the ACC. We will look at the game and what it meant for the Rockets and the Raptors.

It was a playoff atmosphere in Toronto. The Rockets won 17 straight games, and this game was the only one where they weren’t favoured to win for the rest of the season. The Raptors wanting to prove they are for real and a threat this upcoming post season. From the Raptors dominating early taking a big lead to half-time and carrying it through the second half. However, you knew the Rockets weren’t going to go down easy as red-hot James Harden and the Point God Chris Paul Rally the troops and make it anyone’s game with 4 minutes left. The ACC up on it’s feet and louder than ever.

Kyle Lowry ending the game with 30 points, 6 assists and 7 3pm, DeMar DeRozan adding 23 points with some great defense and timely clutch shots. The Raptors bench did their job even without Delon Wright (Injured), and Norman Powell (Started). The bench held and maintained the lead. Knocking down 3’s, playing solid defense and moving the ball without any agenda. On the other side James Harden scoring 40 shooting a scorching hot 68% from the field. The game came down to last couple of minutes. The Raptors got the job done at the end with some great lockdown defense, collectively shutting down one of the games best scorers and an even better offense. James Harden did make some clutch shots including a ridiculous step back 3 over Fred VanFleet. The Raptors came up with clutch stops down the stretch and DeMar sealed it with some clutch shots.

This game had a lot of implications. It could be a preview for the 2018 NBA Finals as these two teams are both a top their conferences. Let’s discuss what this means for the two teams:

Houston Rockets

Well they did just win 17 straight games. Obviously, the Rockets will not be happy with a visit to the second round. This team believes that they can compete and beat the Warriors and win the NBA championship. This team is ready to get to the post season and take the Larry O’Brian trophy to Houston, Texas. James Harden looks better than ever, probably winning his first MVP this season. He’s looked like a true MVP just dominating the competition. Their second superstar, Chris Paul looks more comfortable than ever even without the basketball in his hands. The offense is one of the league’s best as Mike D’Antoni built a beautiful offense with two superstar playmakers, shooters and a pick-and-roll monster Clint Capela. The run n’ gun style with all the shooters giving Paul and Harden room to operate.   

The Rockets last year went down to the Spurs in 6 games, after a bizarre showing from them. A simple lack of effort. Chris Paul with his reputation of never making a conference finals and constant coming short of expectations in the post season. This game proving that the Rockets still have more to do if they want to knock off the Warriors. There defense still needing work, as the Raptors will able to carve out easy looks. The defense definitely isn’t their strong suit but needs to be at a respectable post-season level to compete for a championship.

The Rockets can still get bailed out by their two superstars and it almost happened last night off the back of James Harden. The Rockets heavily rely on their superstars. That can be a problem come playoff time if anyone of them is not their best game. However, they still look legit and a serious threat to knock off the Warriors and win it all.

Toronto Raptors

Well I think the Raptors passed the test. They have proved they are here to compete. LeBron James has won the Eastern Conference for 7 straight seasons and knocked off the Raptors for the past 2 seasons. Their two all-stars in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry routinely falling short in the playoffs. After last season looked promising in the regular season, they got swept in the second round. The entire organization agreed to re-up the team but have a culture reset. More ball movement, a higher pace, taking more threes and layups, spreading out the roles and placing a larger importance on the supporting cast. This would give DeRozan and Lowry more rest, so they would be more rested come post-season time. In past seasons, they would play such a simple style of offense making it very predictable and running DeMar and Kyle into the ground.

Oh boy, has this change worked. The best season so far in franchise history. The increased ball movement, and bigger roles for the other has given the young players a bigger spotlight and room to grow. The bench becoming maybe even good enough to be it’s on starting 5. The ball movement making the offense less predictable, and more efficient. The defense becoming much better, with their importance on team defense and containing three paint looks and layups.

The bench mob has given the Raptors a real shot. They have taken pressure off Lowry and DeRozan and placed the importance on the team instead of isolation basketball. It makes the team run deep with a lot of options depending on the situation. It gives the Raptors a lot more options and allows them to keep their all-stars fresh and ready for when they need them most.

The Raptors are here, and legit. They need to continue to play with this confidence and urgency through April and May. The Raptors need to lock up the first seed to provide them with the best chance to knock of the Cavs and make their first finals appearance.