Defense collapses and loses to Pistons
The Raptors are unable to register eight athletes on the bench as Pascal Siakam is subject to the new Coronavirus Health and Safety Protocol, and head coach Nick Nurse and five assistant coaches are also included in the Health and Safety Protocol. It became possible, and the postponement continued for two consecutive games from the match against the Bulls on March 1.
The Pistons match in this situation. Yuta Watanabe was selected as the starting member because the main players Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby could not participate.
Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell scored three-point shots and made the best start with 13-3 in the first three minutes, but the defense collapsed after that. In particular, the check for 3-point shots was unsatisfactory, allowing 3-point shots in a row. Watanabe switched to Mason Plumlee at the center, but was pushed in by power and was given a basket count to play three points, allowing him to make a comeback.
Watanabe couldn’t get involved in the offense and decided to retreat to the bench with 4 minutes and 50 seconds remaining without a shoot attempt. After that, Watanabe didn’t have a turn, and the team finished the first half with 60-69 without being able to rebuild.
The Raptors who returned to the starting lineup and reached the second half. Watanabe made use of his reflection in the first half and showed aggressiveness in the offense, but it was hard to hit the shot. One minute after the start of the second half, the ball was pushed from the defense rebound. I brought it to the shoot as it was, but I lost my posture and the finish was not decided. In addition, he called in Laurie’s pass and shot an open 3-point shot, but the ring hated him. Then, even though he opened out from the transition, he was able to close the gap by stepping back to the 3-point line, and the 3-point shot he shot did not hit the ring.
Although the attitude of aggressively shooting was commendable, it lacked accuracy and was replaced three and a half minutes after the start of the second half. Even after Watanabe went down to the bench, the Raptors’ defense collapse did not stop, and by the end of the third quarter, the behind had expanded to 18 points. The Raptors, who couldn’t recover to the end and scored 20 out of 41 (48.8%) 3-point shots, lost the game with a final score of 129-105.
Watanabe failed all three field goals in 11 minutes and scored no points and rebounded. I couldn’t get a result with my first chance to start. For Watanabe, who has a two-way contract, each game is an appealing place to win this contract, but chances are not always given. In the next section against the Celtics, I would like to see more performance than today.
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