The Fast Break: Why Rudy Gay doesn't want teammates to see stat sheets

As you've probably heard or read by now, Raptors co-captain Rudy Gay has banned post-game stat sheets from the team's locker room, because as he puts it, "we're not playing for stats" and all that matters should be winning, not individual figures.

Of course, after another rough night at the office (9 points on 3/12 shooting, 7 turnovers, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block) in a heartbreaking loss to the now 4-10 banged up Nets, the real reason might have something to with not wanting his teammates to see the atrocious numbers he's posting on a nightly basis so far this season.

Full disclosure: I'm a born and raised Torontonian and Raptors fan, so I won't deny that Gay's struggles and shot selection frustrate me more than they would the average NBA fan, but that bias doesn't skew the facts, and on that note, here are the cold hard truths about Rudy Gay through 14 games of the 2013-14 season, and the real reasons he probably doesn't want stat sheets in the locker room...

- Because he's had more field goal attempts than points four times in 14 games.

- Because he's yet to crack the 50 percent shooting barrier in a single game this season, and has only cracked 40 percent six times in 14 games.

- Because he's taken 20 or more shots five times already in 2013-14 and has taken 25-plus shots three times.

- Because of the 28 players currently averaging at least 15 field goal attempts per game, his field goal percentage of 37.5 ranks 26th, with only Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings beneath him.

- Because despite a top-five usage rate of 30.7 and an average of 18.9 field goal attempts per game, he's failed to record a single assist three times already and has recorded more assists than turnovers just twice in 14 games.

- Because his 14-game totals include 264 field goal attempts, 67 free throw attempts, 48 turnovers and just 31 assists.

- And finally, because his shot chart looks like this:

Gay has actually rebounded at a career-high level so far this season (7.1 boards per game), has been solid defensively (though he's still prone to lapses in defensive effort) and apparently went straight to the Raptors' practice court to make 500 shots after last night's pitiful display, and again, as a Raptors fan I'm definitely not rooting against him (get that trade value up, Rudy!) just because his struggles have made for some good content.

But when you've got all of the factors mentioned above working against you, good luck convincing people that the reason you don't want stat sheets in the locker room is for 'team unity.'

About last night...

Wizards 116, Lakers 111 - Fresh off of his Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors, John Wall dropped 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting in Washington's second straight win.

Nets 102, Raptors 100 - Brooklyn led by 15 points with just three-and-a-half minutes to go, but Toronto closed the game on a 14-1 run and were an Amir Johnson three-ball in the dying seconds away from stealing what would have been an absolute stunner.

Magic 109, Hawks 92 - Speaking of stunners, the shock of the night wasn not only the Magic beating the Hawks, but the Magic routing the Hawks in Atlanta.

Warriors 102, Pelicans 101 - Eric Gordon missed a potential game-winning three with less than five seconds remaining.

Line of the night: John Wall - 31 Pts (10/18 FG, 0/2 3PT, 11/12 FT, 9 Ast, 6 Reb, 3 Stl, 3 TO in 37 mins.

Play of the night:

The crossover on Teague may have been as good as the jam itself.

On tap tonight: We've got a busy night featuring 13 games before the NBA takes a day off for American Thanksgiving, and there are a ton of intriguing matchups to keep an eye on. LeBron James and the Heat are back in Cleveland, the Lakers are in Brooklyn, the Hawks are in Houston, the surging Nuggets are in Minnesota, the Spurs are in Oklahoma City, the Warriors are in Dallas, the scorching Trail Blazers are in Phoenix and the miserable Knicks are at the Clippers. And that's just eight of the 13 games on tap for us. In other words, find a comfortable couch groove and prepare for at least six hours of ball.

Kobe still weeks away: After some hope and speculation that Kobe Bryant could return to action as early as later this week, The Mamba says he is actually still "probably weeks" away. Speaking of Kobe, have you seen his mini twitter rant about the ridiculousness of being selfless in pro sports? #bussfamsmart.

Woodson downplays Shumpert beef: Mike Woodson says he doesn't have a problem with Iman Shumpert - "That perception is bulls-t, if you ask me."

Halfcourt hitting fan to forfeit money? One of the fun stories of the early season - the fan who hit a $20,000 halfcourt shot in OKC - may be spoiled thanks to yet another ridiculous college athletics rule. It turns out the winner of the contest, Cameron Rodriguez, is a player for Southwestern College of the NAIA, and collegiate players aren't supposed to use their athletic abilities for financial reward, so there is technically a chance that Rodriguez could lose his money and/or his eligibility. What a joke.

Exhale, Jason...for now: Want to see what a rookie head coach looks like after his 3-10 team just barely escaped an 11th loss by blowing a 15-point lead in the final minutes?