Pros and Cons of Celtics-Raptors

The Celtics made a statement yesterday, winning against the Raptors 123-116 in OT. They relied heavily on their best player, Kyrie Irving, who put up 43 points to lift the Celtics to 9-6. Both the Raptors and Celtics are still sitting at the 1st and 4th place, respectively, but the race is becoming a lot closer now, as they are separated by 3 games. The Celtics have won two straight, while the Raptors need to regroup themselves, after losing 3 consecutively. Here are the pros and cons of last night's game:

Pro: Kyrie was in His Bag Yesterday

Against one of the best defenses in the league, Kyrie couldn't miss, as he dropped 43 points and 11 assists, with a field goal percentage of around 70%. In the fourth quarter, Kyrie had 19 points, while the rest of his team had 10. Also in OT, the Celtics called out their best man to end the game. Throughout the game, Kyrie was known for his dynamic offense, but his defense actually kept the Celtics in the game. Usually labeled as a "lazy defender", he really stepped up his game, containing Lowry to just 14 points on only 3 field goals made. Irving had an exceptional game yesterday, as the Celtics will look to call his number in crunch-time situations.

Pro: Supporting Cast of Raptors Stepped Up

Throughout the season, Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard were the main components of the team, along with a few others, to carry the offense. However, that was not the case, as Serge Ibaka had 21 points, along with Pascal Siakam, who had 16 points. Danny Green and Jonas Valančiūnas each had 11, and could have had more if Green had not fouled out. Not only the points, but their defense and presence on the court really eased the pressure on Kawhi, as well as Lowry, who did not have his best game today. Despite losing their 3rd consecutive game, the bench really played well to keep themselves in the game.

Con: The Celtics' Offense Needs To Stop Rushing

Even though Tatum had 21 points, Hayward had 15, and many others with double-digit points, many of them were taking contested mid-range jumpers and/or rushing the offense, shooting the ball before the shot clock even hit 20. Coach Brad Stevens has always desired ball-movement in his offense, and that was not the case, as they either rushed or forced up a terrible shot when that couldn't have even been the case. Although they won the game, the Celtics need to find the right chemistry for the offense to be considered dynamic.

Con: Lowry Did Not Play Well Yesterday

Lowry had a down game yesterday, putting up only 14 points on just 3 of 12 shooting on the court. Fortunately, other players on the Raptors stepped up to keep themselves in the game. Lowry also had some problems with the refs as well, almost getting ejected at one point, if it weren't for his teammates holding him back. He was frustrated all night long and didn't play up to expectations as many expected. He will look to rebound today against the Bulls.

In conclusion, the Celtics and Raptors are neck and neck, each winning a game at their own home court. However, the season is not even close to being over as anything can change over the course of the season.