OGT Nov 26: Raptors (12-2) @ Hawks (7-5)

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021400215


The wins keep coming for the*Toronto Raptors, who continue to flourish behind a collective group effort.

Toronto tries to extend its winning streak to six for the first time in six seasons when it visits the*Atlanta Hawks*on Wednesday night.

The Raptors (12-2) have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference after winning 10 of 11, including five straight by an average of 17.0 points. Toronto hasn't posted six consecutive victories in the same season since March 22-April 4, 2009.

"When we win, we still have very serious conversations about how we can get better," backup guard Lou Williams, who spent the previous two seasons in Atlanta, told the Raptors' official website. "Guys hang out a lot off the court in this group just talking about things we can do to turn that page, go to the next step and get to that next level. The culture has been building and it's a positive experience."

DeMar DeRozan*is averaging a team-leading 20.2 points while*Kyle Lowryranks second at 18.4. The Raptors, third in the league with 106.7 points per game, have three others players averaging double figures in Williams (13.6),*Jonas Valanciunas*(12.3) and*Terrence Ross*(10.9).

"It's a (heck) of an unselfish team," Lowry said. "It's a team where it doesn't matter who is most successful. Everybody wants to win games."

Williams scored a career-high 36 points in Saturday's 110-93 win at Cleveland, and Valanciunas posted a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds in Monday's 104-100 victory over Phoenix. DeRozan scored 14 of his 23 in the second half as Toronto retook control after blowing a 17-point lead.

"Each night is going to be a different story and each night there is going to be a different star of the story," coach Dwane Casey said. "Everybody has to step up when their chances come. We try to run things that go with the guys that have it going."

The Raptors had a season-high 52 points in the paint and scored 24 off 20 turnovers. They have won 35 in a row when leading after three quarters, including all 10 games this season.

Toronto took a 15-point lead into the fourth before getting by Atlanta 109-102 in both teams' season opener Oct. 29. The Raptors had dropped 15 of 18 in the series before winning four of the last six.

Another victory could be hard to come by in Atlanta, where Toronto has lost 10 of 12. The Hawks have averaged 104.5 points in opening 5-1 on their own court.

Atlanta (7-5) returns home looking to make it three in a row after pulling out a 106-102 victory at Washington on Tuesday.*Jeff Teague*scored a season high-tying 28 points for the second time in as many games while reserves*Mike Scott*and*Shelvin Mack*combined for 30, including the Hawks' first 16 points in the fourth quarter.

"We have a lot of confidence in those two guys," coach*Mike Budenholzersaid. "They believe in each other and believe in what they're doing on both ends of the court. At times they can both get going."

Teague is averaging 26.3 points over the last three games, up from his season mark of 17.8. He's averaging 23.3 during a three-game stretch against Toronto.

DeRozan is averaging 23.9 points on 50.0 percent shooting in the last 10 games against Atlanta, but was held to 15 on 4 of 16 from the floor in last month's matchup.

[Legends66NBA7]

Court is slick with that logo.

[BurningHammer]

Why the clock is always a problem when Raptors play there? :confusedshrug:

[n00bie]

Wtf is sportsnet 360? :biggums:

[Legends66NBA7]

Good start so far by DeMar and Jonas.

[Legends66NBA7]

Wtf is sportsnet 360? :biggums:

Formerly known as "The Score".

[Prodigy]

Sam Mitchel might still have a job if he had Lou Williams on his squad back then.

[Legends66NBA7]

This game is funky. Techs and shot clock malfunctions galore.

[Qwyjibo]

Questionable score keeping and clock operation in Atlanta? Shocking...

[Dr. Ice]

14 free throws already for raps and zero for hawks, not sure what the refs' problem is with atlanta

[atljonesbro]

Teams always have these absurd hot streaks shooting the ball against us. It's not even bad defense either.

[RidonKs]

james johnson is a pleasure to watch. so fluid and lanky. sometimes he looks a little to complacent and then he all of a sudden springs into action. deceptively quick.

[atljonesbro]

Last 5 scores either 3's or 3 point play for the Hawks.

[yeaaaman]

Keep leaving your feet to make a pass Demar. :applause:

[Legends66NBA7]

I think James should of stayed in the game a bit longer.

[Prodigy]

Valanciunas never gets the benefit of the doubt.

:mad:


And of course right after I'm done defending Derozan in another thread he comes in and chucks away in the 2nd quarter.....

[Qwyjibo]

Derozan can be such a moron on offense. The Raptors need MUCH less of his isos.

[Legends66NBA7]

Valanciunas never gets the benefit of the doubt.

:mad:

Yeah, bad call.

[Hotlantadude81]

Teams always have these absurd hot streaks shooting the ball against us. It's not even bad defense either.

Teams clearly feel comfortable shooting against this team. Nobody is scared to shoot against a Teague/Korver backcourt. Kyle Korver is not a starter.

[Qwyjibo]

The Raptors need to minimize the time that Derozan and Vasquez are on the court together. You need Lowry and/or Lou with either of them.

[Twiens]

Raps gotta start playing a little D, and keep bullying Schroeder with our bigger guards.

[Legends66NBA7]

The Raptors need to minimize the time that Derozan and Vasquez are on the court together. You need Lowry and/or Lou with either of them.

That's true. Although, they played well with each other in pairs last year.



Right now, team needs to focus on defensive side. Giving up too many points.

[yeaaaman]

Derozan can be such a moron on offense. The Raptors need MUCH less of his isos.

I just watched a possession where he already decided he was shooting. Carroll was right up in him and he rose up for a jumper anyways that obviously bricked and led to a Horford dunk. What's his deal, honestly?

[Dr. Ice]

god damn how many open 3's are we gonna miss, oh well defense has stepped up atleast

[Legends66NBA7]

led to a Horford dunk.

Poor transition defense.

[Dr. Ice]

pretty good game going on right now

[yeaaaman]

Poor transition defense.

I just feel like blaming him. Bad shots usually lead to poor transition D.

[Legends66NBA7]

I just feel like blaming him. Bad shots usually lead to poor transition D.

Okay...

Bad shot is on him. Transition defense is on the rest of the guys for not getting back.

[Legends66NBA7]

That should have been a no call right now, just fighting for the rebound

Refs have been bad both ways.

[Twiens]

The refs need to calm the **** down :facepalm

[Kungfro]

Another questionable call, looked pretty clean by Lowry.

[Dr. Ice]

just like that call on lowry :lol

Atleast your team merely got a delay of game warning for arguing instead of 2 technical fouls.

[Qwyjibo]

NBA reffing sucks all around. There are no conspiracy theories for or against any teams.

[yeaaaman]

Okay...

Bad shot is on him. Transition defense is on the rest of the guys for not getting back.

Meh, fair enough, I just see more bad possessions from Derozan than I see transition D from the Raptors.

But I will admit he's shooting much better tonight I just hate the misses he has are bad shots (often) rather than good shots for him that he is missing.

[Dr. Ice]

hooray they finally called a tech on the other team

[Kungfro]

I want Lou taking every buzzer beater this season.

[Hotlantadude81]

I want Lou taking every buzzer beater this season.

I'm glad he is doing something for someone because he was garbage here. Never even part of the team really.

[Legends66NBA7]

I want Lou taking every buzzer beater this season.

If he keeps this up, he'll be in 6th man of the year conversation.

[yeaaaman]

Nice block by Patterson to save Vasquez who was literally a pylon on that play.

[Twiens]

I'm glad he is doing something for someone because he was garbage here. Never even part of the team really.

It's hard to imagine because he's been ridiculously good for us. I'm gonna assume it was mostly the injuries.

[Legends66NBA7]

Vasquez's best game of the season.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Vasquez :applause: 9 straight

[Legends66NBA7]

It's hard to imagine because he's been ridiculously good for us. I'm gonna assume it was mostly the injuries.

ACL injury. Didn't recover to 100% till this season.

[GoRapz]

Wow Atlanta has the worst time out music ever :facepalm

[Legends66NBA7]

Hope JV is coming back soon.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Vasquez 12 in a row :bowdown:

[Dr. Ice]

good lord vasquez

[Qwyjibo]

Hayes having zero jumping ability helps him be smarter on defense. He never bites on any fakes because he knows he has no hope in hell at blocking anything.

[Legends66NBA7]

Good timeout. Bring in the starters.

[Legends66NBA7]

Man, these refs are dragging the shit out of this game.

How many reviews ?

[Qwyjibo]

If you have Lowry and Lou in there, why not Ross instead of Derozan for the much better perimeter shooting?

[Legends66NBA7]

Wow Atlanta has the worst time out music ever :facepalm

I like what they do during the game and remix songs. It's dope.

[Dr. Ice]

how on earth was that a flagrant foul

[Hotlantadude81]

If he keeps this up, he'll be in 6th man of the year conversation.

I hope he gets another season ending injury.

Maybe I don' mean that, but he stole paychecks here for 2 years.

[Grey Dawn]

Go Raps! Lol Vasquez moping on the bench

[Hotlantadude81]

Wow Atlanta has the worst time out music ever :facepalm

Along with ownership, management and many other things.:oldlol:

[Kungfro]

Are Matt and Leo really gonna push that "3,2,1 Lou" nickname they just came up with?

[Hotlantadude81]

Well, it's a month into the season basically... And when your best win is against Washington... You know you have problems.

[yeaaaman]

how on earth was that a flagrant foul

I didn't think so as well but on the replay he made contact with his head on the follow through and that's part of the qualification for a flagrant.

[No.45]

Lowry man. :rockon:

[Legends66NBA7]

I like that they went to Amir down in the paint. Need to do that more this season in tight games.

[Dr. Ice]

gotta give the raptors credit, they made some insane shots to open the lead at the end of the final quarter. Well Played.

[Legends66NBA7]

7 Raptors in double figure scoring. Great job.

[Hotlantadude81]

Such a mediocre and BORING team.

[fsvr54]

Why is life such utter shite?

[n00bie]

Atlanta may have the dullest home crowd. Game was close in the 4th but the crowd made me want to fall asleep.

[Qwyjibo]

Patterson was surprisingly solid on the boards and defense. I liked seeing JJ and/or Hayes on the floor with him at all times.

[Legends66NBA7]

Atlanta may have the dullest home crowd. Game was close in the 4th but the crowd made me want to fall asleep.

Whoever plays the organ is a boss, though.

[Hotlantadude81]

Atlanta may have the dullest home crowd. Game was close in the 4th but the crowd made me want to fall asleep.

It was obvious the hawks were going to lose... And it's easy to see that they're going nowhere. The Hawks never got control of the game.

[Twiens]

Backup guards drop 43! On to Dallas :cheers:

[Just2McFly]

Why is life such utter shite?
+10000000000

[Legends66NBA7]

+10000000000

You root for both teams, so you get the best/worst of both worlds.

[atljonesbro]

Such a mediocre and BORING team.
Came out of hiding after 2 wins. Lmao pathetic

[Droid101]

We Da Nort

[All Net]

And the raptors keep on rolling. .

[kwajo]

Patterson was surprisingly solid on the boards and defense. I liked seeing JJ and/or Hayes on the floor with him at all times.
Agreed. If those guys can keep up their good play, can we trade away Psycho T please? I love his effort but I just don't see his style fitting in that well with the current group, we need someone longer and more athletic at the backup PF/C spot to contest shots when JV & Amir are on the bench.

[Hotlantadude81]

Came out of hiding after 2 wins. Lmao pathetic

The Hawks haven't beat a really good team this year.

How cares that they beat NY, Indy and a mediocre Washington team?