Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Magic
2. Historic: the good, the bad, and the ugly
There are many historic and memorable feats in the first game between the Raptors and Magic, the most efficient way to explain them is playing the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good: As aforementioned, Augustin and Siakam were the two best players for their respective teams tonight, but their performance goes beyond team play. Augustin tied his career-high playoff output with 25 points. Siakam was just as impressive tying or setting career-payoff-highs in minutes, points, rebounds and blocks.
Siakam with the STEAL & the SLAM! #WeTheNorth | #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JHjFmfvDdq
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) April 13, 2019
The Bad: Toronto lost home court advantage again. There is something about the Raptors and losing the first game at home. To top it all off, the upset created playoff history for both teams in opposite spectrum of one another:
The Magic closed as 9.5-point underdog today, their biggest upset win in a playoff game in franchise history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 14, 2019
The Raptors are now 2-14 in Game 1s, the 2nd-worst record by any team in NBA history (min. 2 games). pic.twitter.com/Jqq7dE4nFc
The Ugly: How is not losing the game when the team was 9.5 point favorites before tip-off ugly? Enter Kyle Lowry’s ZERO points on the night.
Kyle Lowry was 0-7 FG (including 0-6 3PT) for 0 points in Game 1, adding 7 rebounds and 8 assists for a 45.5 offensive rating - his worst in an #NBAPlayoffs game since joining the Raptors.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 13, 2019
📊 https://t.co/xg51WvaU0b pic.twitter.com/1IFxDAFSOq
A 45.5 offensive rating for a multiple time All-Star point guard and the leader of a 58-win Toronto Raptors team is simply inexcusable. Leonard is the best player on the team and Siakam is the much-invited breakout star, but Lowry is far and away the most important player on the roster.
His extremely vocal leadership, bulldog defense, playmaking, and shot-creating abilities are unmatched. Toronto fans know the team flourishes and dives with Lowry, but to be completely shut down like he was tonight despite being a team-high +11 on both ends of the court was astonishing. He needs to be much more aggressive if Toronto has any hopes of winning the series or contending for a title.
Honorable mentions:
The Good: Former Raptors Lucas ‘Bebe’ Nogueira and Jonas Valanciunas were at the game supporting their former teammates.
"I want to support my guys. The guys have been my family for multiple years. We've been through a lot of stuff together." - Jonas Valanciunas
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) April 13, 2019
The Bad: The bench. FVV was -16 plus/minus category, Serge Ibaka shot 33.3% from the floor and Norm Powell 25% from the floor.
The Ugly: The entire second quarter offense for the Raptors was outscored 32-19, which would’ve been much worse if they didn’t end the frame on a 9-0 run.