Short-handed Raptors lose third straight in Memphis

“If you look at our stats, you’re taking 20 points out of our lineup and it makes it pretty difficult to recover those when the next leading scorer is Leandro Barbosa coming off the bench at 12 (per game),” said Triano. “There’s a bunch of guys right around 12 points so obviously we’re going to have to have two or three guys step up and play above their season averages.”

The Raptors’ rotation was bizarre tonight. With Andrea, Reggie, Weems, and Peja still sidelined; and Amir and Jose playing banged up, the Raptors played a tight 8-man rotation. The trio of rookie Ed Davis, Joey Dorsey, and Amir Johnson rotated all game, while Soloman Alabi got an emphatic DNPCD.

The Raptors’ 2nd leading scorer Leandro Barbosa had an abysmal shooting night, going 0-of-6 from 3-point range, and shooting 5-of-15 overall. And while Linas Kleiza (22 points) and Demar Derozan (18) stepped-up somewhat in Bargnani’s absence, the Raptors just had too many superfluous problems that cost them this game.

The Raps committed 25 turnovers against the Griz, which led to 28 points that Memphis capitalized on.

The Raptors also only got to the line 14 times, and getting there was just as productive as not getting there at all. Out of the 14 free-throw attempts, only 5 were hit. Joey Dorsey was the main element of that stat, as he went 0-of-5 from the line.

Ironically, Dorsey was one of Toronto’s bright spots tonight. In his 2nd start of the season, Dorsey grabbed 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists.

The point guard play for the Raptors was also nothing more than average. Jose Calderon – coming off his worst performance of the season against Detroit, had 13 points and 9 assists; while Jerryd Bayless only played 16 minutes off the bench, finishing the night with 7 points and 1 assist.

The Raptors are in trouble now. As they finish off 2010 without Andrea Bargnani in Dallas on Tuesday, then in Houston on Friday; they are in danger of falling to 10-22 on the season.