The Raptors like a lot of other people in US and Canada had problems with the winter storm system over the last few days as they tried to get out on Monday Night which did not work and they tried throughout Tuesday to get into the air but like their 12 games losing streak they had no success but then finally the Raptors were able to get up in the air Wednesday and got into Atlanta just in time for shoot around. When the game started both teams had tough time handling the rock early in the first quarter but the Hawks got the better of the Raptors 28-24 after 1 quarter and 54-45 at half time as the Raptors were lead by Amir Johnson with 12 points and 6 boards while Sonny Weems and Jose Calderon both had 8 points in the half and the Hawks were lead by no ordinary Joe's as Johnson had 19 points and 6 assists while Smith had 12 points and 3 boards. The Second half started well for the Raptors as they 4 straight defensive spots and scored 5 baskets in a roll to take a 1 point lead 55-54 but then the Hawks stopped playing around as they went on a 19-6 run to open a 12 lead that they would not give it up even though the Raptors got it down to 6 points 75-69 going into the fourth quarter. The Hawks made a lot of shoots in the fourth quarter and the Raptors went for jumpers and went cold and lost their 13Th in a roll 100-87 and the Hawks had a game plan and executed from the start which was pass the ball as they had 11 assists on their 13 first quarter baskets and had 17 assists at half and the passing of the ball opened up the 3 ball shot as they opened 4 for 9 from 3 and went 10 for 24 from 3 in the game and had 30 assists in the game while the Raptors had 22 assists. Andrea Bargnani had another tough night 4 for 12 from the floor and 12 points but had some success going to the baskets in the first half but got scared off by the Hawks shot blocking and spent a lot of time on the bench while playing 30 minutes in the game and DeMar DeRozan went 8 for 17 from the floor and had 16 points but did not go to the line and he made most of his baskets in the second half. Amir had 20 points (8 for 11 from the floor and 4 for 4 from the line) and 14 boards in the game but the boards dropped off huge with Weems next with 6 in the game and the Hawks were a Joe Johnson show with 37 points (5 for 8 from 3) in the game and then a big drop to Joe Smith who had 18 points to go with 11 boards which was second to Al Horford with 14 boards in the game. The Raptors had a lot of defensive stops in the third quarter and went to sleep for a couple of minutes and the Hawks scored 21 points in the quarter and the Raptors are not going to win games with 10 minutes of strong D a game so more strong D can get them out of this funk their in and then they will win a couple in a roll but first they need to concentrate more on the Defensive side of the ball.
Another game off the schedule and the Cavilers lost too
Tom Mehegan
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