Energetic Sonny Weems powers Raptors
He spent time Sunday trying to harness waterbug-like Houston guards Kyle Lowry and Aaron Brooks and did an admirable job.
"Man, did you see how fast those guys are out there?" the 6-foot-6 Raptor swingman asked. "They (were) quick. That's real tough."
But dealing with them was necessary and that got Weems as many minutes as he's ever played in an NBA game.
Smith's Blog
Not sure how many noticed a very slight change in what the Raptors do offensively but as Chris Bosh was going nuts from the field (11-19 on a rather economical day), you can be sure the Rockets did.
The subtle shift in a new Toronto offensive set, which Jay mentioned in his post-game dissertation, moved Bosh to the elbow rather than on the low post or midway up the lane and it worked wonders.
The set, which they just put it, works two-fold.
The option of Jack delivering the ball to Bosh at the elbow, heading to the corner while Bosh made a dibble-handoff move with Turk worked wonders. It got Turk around the corner and in paint, where he made little fades or hit an open Jack in the corner.
But, just as importantly, it didn’t give the Rockets a chance to double Bosh, who was too far from the basket to make a double-team effective. It takes a lot longer for a second defender to come and double at the elbow in that time, Bosh would get the ball moving on the perimeter and someone would have got an open look.
It’s amazing that moving a guy two steps can have such an impact but it does. And it did. And it’s a pretty good coaching move, if you ask me.
Toronto Sun
Raps bring work boots
Defensively, that extra bounce in their step resulted in nine blocks, as well as consistently contested shots that held the Rockets to just 37% shooting.
"We are starting to get better on the weak side defence and that's really helping us out," Bosh said. "Against a team like Houston, who moves the ball and runs their offence pretty well, I think we did a good job of that."
Sonny soaring
"Take advantage," the first-year Raptors forward said. "Especially on the defensive end. I'm willing to do that. As long as they keep me on the floor, I will do that all day."
"That feels great coming from last year and not playing at all to today and playing 29 minutes. It just feel awesome," Weems said, adding he views every chance to play as an opportunity to bring energy, regardless of the minutes.
Globe & Mail
Raptors rebound against Rockets
Raptors head coach Jay Triano said moving Mensah-Bonsu up in the rotation was an effort to take advantage of the possibility that he’d be motivated playing against the Rockets, who cut him in November, but also to reward him for taking advantage of the playing time he did get.
“We rank our guys every single possession, every play of every game, whether we’re up 20 or down 20,” Triano said. “That’s what we tell guys at the end of the bench … that’s how we move guys up and how we keep guys honest.”
National Post
Raptors push past Rockets with rare ease
It would be hard to call the notes on the wipe board inside the Toronto Raptors locker room insightful.
Pre-game messages such as "effort and energy, constantly," "ball movement" and "shoot smart 3's and rebound" qualify as Coachspeak 101 in basketball.
Houston Chronicle
Rockets find it difficult to overturn Toronto jinx
The Raptors have done little to slow opposing teams this season, and in the previous three games, they had allowed an average of 114 points on 52.1 percent shooting.
Unable to defend much, the Raptors decided to take away something and loaded up in the lane, fronting Carl Landry and swarming to cut off penetration.
That left the Rockets plenty of open shots but few they could make.
Ariza's frustration stems from struggles
The Rockets' Trevor Ariza seemed to know immediately he would be ejected after throwing a forearm at DeMar DeRozan in Sunday's third quarter. He will have to wait to learn whether a suspension will come.
Ariza was unavailable for comment after Sunday's game, but the cause of his frustration was clear. He had missed all nine of his shots, with the turnover that precipitated his swing at DeRozan his fourth in his 26 minutes.
“I think he got frustrated after I got a steal,” DeRozan said. “I really didn't know what happened after the fact.”
Jarrett Jack confronted Ariza, saying: “Why do that? He didn't do anything to you.”
