Toronto Raptors Q&A With Michael Holian
By Adam McGee
Jan 19, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) drives for the basket around Milwaukee Bucks guard Jared Dudley (9) during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Adam: All things considered, the Raptors would probably have been pretty happy to find themselves in the spot they’re in if it had been offered to them before the season began. Does it feel disappointing considering how inconsistent the results have been in spells though?
Michael: Great question. You’ve just hit on the peculiar vibe that has spread across the city of Toronto. One would think that anytime a team reaches the 30-win mark before the All-Star break (for the first time in franchise history), an all-out celebration would take place. But it just goes to show how much the expectations of this club have catapulted in a relatively short timeframe.
Walk into any one of Toronto’s fine establishments when a game is on, and you’ll either find tremendous support, or downright hateful words. With the latter usually directed at Dwane Casey.
Most importantly, the Raps’ swagger has returned. However, the last two games in particular have given fans a heart-attack. Back-to-back overtime wins have been highly entertaining, but those inconsistencies you mentioned have reared their ugly heads. Blowing a 17-point, third-quarter lead in Brooklyn, followed by an 18-point, fourth-quarter advantage in Washington, have tempered the enthusiasm.
Despite their 33-15 record, issues on the boards (26th in Defensive Rebounding), lazy defense (20th in Defensive Rating), and overall predictability have plagued Toronto all season. What’s truly disappointing is that so much more could have been accomplished in the first half.
Overall, it’s hard not to be pleased with second-place status in the East. So the complaints can only be pushed so far.
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