Sports

Gameday: Raptors vs Celtics – Game 4, Sep. 5 – Raptors Republic

Published

4 years ago

September 5, 2020

With OG’s last second three, the Raptors have fought their way back into this series.

First up, here’s Es’s 3 points:

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“I’m not sure that [game 3] doesn’t rank right up there with our gutsiest performances”. That was Nick Nurse in his post game presser after the Raptors somehow found a way to steal game 3. Every time the Raptors were down in game 3, they just found a way to claw their way back into the game. Despite giving up an 8-0 run late in the 4th quarter and being outscored 12-9 overall in the last 5:15 of the game, the Raptors dug deep and never quit. Then this happened.

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Everything about this play was special. The play that Nick Nurse drew up with inspiration from an old Hubie Brown coaching DVD. The high arcing cross-court pass from Kyle Lowry over the 7’5″ Tacko Fall that was right on the money. And of course, the huge shot from OG Anunoby to save the season.

Down 2-1, the Raptors have plenty of encouraging things to take from game 3 as well as things they need to clean up.

The Good

1. OG Anunoby: OG has been the best shooter from behind the arc for the Raptors this series. The Celtics have been giving him good looks and OG has knocked them down. Through three games he’s shooting a blistering 57.1% on 4.7 attempts per game. With this uptick in offensive production, OG’s defense has remained stellar as well. For the series he’s averaging 1.3 steals per game to go along with 1.3 blocks per game. In game 3, he did an excellent job defending Jayson Tatum. In the 4:57 Tatum and Anunoby were matched up (which was the most on the team), OG held Tatum to 0-3 shooting and picked his pocket clean in the 3rd quarter.

I would expect that OG will continue to be the primary defender on Tatum as the series moves forward

2. Marc Gasol’s Rolls: Marc Gasol had his best game of the series in game 3. His defense was very good once again and his offensive production was vital. With Gasol struggling from three in the series (he hasn’t hit one yet), it was encouraging to see him aggressively get to the rim. Rather than pop, Gasol rolled hard to the basket in screen and roll actions, where he scored 8 of his 10 points.

Louis Zatzman brilliantly covered the slip-reject screen in his game 2 analysis, and it was once again effective in game 3. This play early in the game was perfect execution of the slip-reject screen and it led to an easy dunk for Gasol.

Another sequence where the reject slip screen led to a Gasol basket. Hard roll from Gasol once he recognizes Lowry rejecting the screen. Great pass from Lowry once again for the easy bucket.

This time it was Lowry snaking the pick and roll and keeping Theis engaged for just a split second longer. Gasol rolls hard once again and finishes through contact at the rim.

3. Vintage Kyle Lowry & Encouraging Signs for Pascal Siakam: Kyle Lowry’s game 3 performance was nothing short of spectacular. He was aggressive going to the rim and the Celtics just could not contain his dribble penetration. The 3pt shot started to fall as well in the second half which is very encouraging for game 4. Dropping 31-8-6 in a must-win game and playing with 5 fouls for the last 6:56 is why Lowry is the heart and soul of the Raptors

The first half from Siakam in game 3 was downright horrible. Got himself into foul trouble again and his only 2 points came at the free throw line. However, in the second half, we saw a much different Pascal Siakam. He made a couple of nice hard cuts and was much more decisive with the ball in his hands. His 14 second half points were huge for the Raptors offense, though he still struggled when Jaylen Brown was defending him. His dribble penetration was excellent and he made the right reads when he collapsed the defense. Maybe Siakam has found a blueprint to be more impactful offensively for the rest of the series.

The Bad

1. Drop Coverage vs Kemba

Kemba Walker was feasting on the drop coverage against the Raptors bigs in game 3. He had an 81.3% eFG% on pull-ups in game three and shot 3-4 on pull-up threes. For the series now, Walker is shooting 54.5% on pull-up twos and 35.3% on pull up threes. The drop coverage, especially with Ibaka, is just giving Kemba too many good looks. Nurse has a variety of options to try and contain Walker’s pull-up shooting. Playing zone defense and trapping Kemba off of screens are good curveballs to throw at the Celtics offense to stop this action, but I don’t think the Raptors can do this all game long. It’s more of a secondary off-speed pitch to try and keep Boston off balance. The Raptors did try pre-switching the screener to get Siakam or Anunoby involved in the pick and roll, rather than Gasol, which is something I would like to see more off in game 4.

2. Heavy Minutes

The Raptors starters logged some heavy minutes in the game 3 victory. Lowry and OG both played over 45 minutes and Fred played over 40 minutes. With just one day of rest how fresh will their legs be? The Raptors are going to need more from their bench in game 4, especially after their starters logging big minutes.

Game info

Tip-off: 6:30 pm EST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 680 News

Raptors Lineups

PG: Kyle Lowry, Terence Davis II

SG: Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, Matt Thomas, Paul Watson

SF: OG Anunoby, Malcolm Miller, Stanley Johnson

PF: Pascal Siakam, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Boucher

C: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Dewan Hernandez

Injured/inactive:

Oshae Brissett (knee) – out
Patrick McCaw (knee) – out.

Celtics Lineups

PG: Kemba Walker, Brad Wanamaker, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters

SG: Marcus Smart, Romeo Langford

SF: Jaylen Brown, Semi Ojeleye

PF: Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams

C: Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, Enes Kanter

Injured/inactive:

Gordon Hayward (ankle) – out

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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