Toronto Raptors 108 Sacramento Kings 111
For those who watched tonight's game will know exactly why I have chosen to post the picture above. For those who didn't, I will break it down in the simplest of terms, so you too, can feel the same way Reggie Evans and all Toronto Raptors fans feel right now.
As an NBA fan 1st and a Raptors fan 2nd, looking at tonight's match up against the Sacramento Kings meant one simple thing, an easy win for the 1-1 Canadian franchise. Losing to New York in a close home opener, then coming back to blow out the Cleveland Cavaliers by 20 two days later, this game started how most had expected it to. Toronto lead 33-16 after the 1st quarter and ended the 1st half up by 11 points. During the 1st half of play the Raptors scored 21 fast break points, Andrea Bargnani and Demar DeRozan combined for 32 points and Reggie Evans already had 12 rebounds. Besides Tyreke Evans' 16 points, no other Kings player scored in double digits.
The 2nd half was much kinder to the Sacramento Kings as the Raptors fell back into some very bad old habits. Forcing shots without moving the ball and taking nothing but mid-range jump shots with very few attempts in the paint. The Kings took advantage of this by going on an 8-2 run, closing the gap to 8 points with an intense ARCO Arena crowd now behind every play. The 4th quarter would see the game tied 3 times with big shots from both teams, but ultimately ending with a 111-108 victory for the Kings. Last years Rookie of the year Tyreke Evans ended the game with 23 points, while this years Rookie of the Year hopeful Demarcus Cousins finished with 16 points and 4 rebounds.
What makes this so frustrating as a Raptors fan, is that this loss could have easily been avoided. Reggie Evans ended the game with 19 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive, out rebounding all 5 Sacramento Kings starters. Demar Derozan tied his career best, scoring 24 points. Add to that, 28 points from Andrea Bargnani, 31 points from Calderon and Kleiza, and all this was still not enough to maintain control of the game with a 17 point lead.
The next 3 games on the road are against the Utah Jazz, the 2009-2010 Championship Los Angeles Lakers and end the road trip taking on the Portland Trailblazers. I think that list speaks for itself.
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