Rebounding, defensive woes resurface in loss to depleted Raptors, 99-93
By Kevin Dunleavy
It wouldn’t be accurate to say the Toronto Raptors were “missing” three starters Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, and Jose Calderon just didn’t play.
Even without 60 percent of its starting lineup, Toronto had plenty against the equally depleted Wizards. Reserve center Andrea Bargnani hit 8 of 9 shots from the floor on his way to 25 points, leading the Raptors to a routine victory, 99-93, before 13,864 at the Verizon Center.
With the 7-foot Bargnani showing the touch that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft and fellow bench players Will Solomon (14 points, 5 assists) and Joey Graham (8 rebounds, 5 points) contributing, Toronto led all the way.
The Raptors shot 54 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range, and out-rebounded the Wizards 39-28. It was a relative walk in the park for the Raptors (15-21) and a major regression for the Wizards (7-27), who had shown recent signs of improvement.
“It’s a step back, not because of who wasn’t on the court for them, but just because of the way we played.” said Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. “We didn’t play good basketball at all. We got out-rebounded by one of the worst teams in the NBA.”
Jamison brought his customary effort, scoring a season-high 32 points on 13 of 23 shooting. He also had four steals and a team-high seven rebounds. But he didn’t get much help.
Caron Butler needed 18 shots to get his 15 points. Frontcourt starters Andray Blatche (12 points) and Dominic McGuire (four points) combined for a scant two rebounds in 51 minutes.
“We got beat up on the boards tonight by a team who hasn’t put up great numbers rebounding-wise,” said Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott. “That says something to me.”
All in all, it was one of the more dreadful nights this season at the Verizon Center. Toronto hit 8 of its first 13 shots on its way to a 21-8 lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Anthony Parker (15 points) and Bargnani late in the second period gave the Raptors their biggest lead, 46-25.
The Wizards scored on their first nine possessions of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to five points. But Washington’s failure to get stops at the other end was critical. All-Star forward Chris Bosh (18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) scored nine points in a 2 minute, 43 second span to keep the Raptors in command.
“We were in a really nice groove for most of the game,” said Toronto reserve Jason Kapono (12 points). “In the first half the Wizards had some trouble making shots but in the second half they started playing better and gave us a scare. We were able to close out the game.”
In dropping to 0-7 on the second night of back-to-back games, Washington settled for too many outside shots against a team that is vulnerable inside.
“They were missing one of their shot blockers, Jermaine O’Neal, and looking at film, you see that was their Achilles heel if you attack the paint,” said Butler. “But I think everybody got into that same type of play as them. They run the floor. They’re in transition. They shoot jumpers and you’ve gotta understand, that’s their style of play.”
One positive for the Wizards was the work of reserve point guard Javaris Crittenton (3 points, 3 steals, 6 assists) who created havoc on defense and opportunities on offense with his penetration.
“He brought something tonight. He’s a young player, playing a very difficult position,” said Tapscott. “I told him he’s not gonna have easy nights or easy practices. He’s gonna have to get used to every decision being analyzed and examined. But he played with energy. I thought he guarded the ball well tonight.”
On this night, it was a comment Tapscott could make about precious few of his players.
Notes » Antawn Jamison collected his 6,000th career rebound … After one night in the doghouse of coach Ed Tapscott, Andray Blatche was back in the starting lineup. Tapscott said Blatche’s sit down was a “team matter.” … Former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan will serve as a studio analyst tonight on TNT, according to The Examiner’s Jim Williams.
