I find it really interesting that our first win comes with Siakam sitting out...
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I find it really interesting that our first win comes with Siakam sitting out...
I'm pretty sure we still win with Siakam when NY couldn't throw it in an ocean sized basket....lol Nobody protects the rim for the Knicks so they got to the basket at will. Not to mention their starting lineup went 0 for 23 from deep.
Its sad to say, but games are essentially won or lost behind the 3 pt line now. Even when guys have wide open layups these days they kick it out for a 3 instead. You either make shots, or you lose. They really need OG and Powell to start knocking down shots.
The Knicks weren't winning that game even if we sat Lowry.
Definitely not with that 3pt shooting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raps18-19 Champ
As aside full appreciation for the Raptors choosing to sit Siakam and make a statement. Kind of move has long-term message for all players and I expect the team will be better for it. Not easy to do when sitting 0-3, but they held their organizational standard for player conduct. Leaders bought in. Looks like Pascal responded well too. Curious to see him tomorrow.
Im glad they did it given I feel they were pretty soft of discipline early on. I still remember when they didnt suspend JV for his DUI charges.
Boucher doesn't meet many guys at the top. He blocks shots from the side or from behind. Sometimes instead of playing proper defence it's like he's looking for blocks. I love the energy he brings on the offensive glass but he's a huge liability on defence. He's always been a player that's thrived in garbage time. When the minutes matter he can still put up numbers but he gets abused on defence. Take the Spurs game for example. 22/10 with 7 blocks on 70% shooting 24.7 Game Score so yeah it looks like a great game. With all those numbers both offensive and defensive he was a -9 which was second worst for the entire team next to Matt Thomas. Don't let the blocks fool you. He's a skinny Hassan Whiteside.Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
Wasn't the thing with JV a bogus charge though? Like they were just empties that were in there and he passed a sobriety test?Quote:
Originally Posted by Raps18-19 Champ
The charges were dropped but that wasnt until afterwards. The playoffs were just starting thats why they didnt suspend JV.
I think some of our struggles are due to the shortened off-season and lack of training camp. We lost two key starters and have to integrate new players into our system. I think that is also why teams are routinely giving up 140 points on the regular this season.
I think they didn't suspend him because they were relatively confident he wasn't criminally negligent and it wasn't conduct that negatively affected the team's culture. Plus it is outside of their purview to preemptively punish their players before the charges are proven in criminal court. For example, we are not punishing Adrian Griffin or Terrence Davis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raps18-19 Champ
Well you guys have a shot at redemption tonight against the Pelicans facing them again for the 2nd time this season but if the Raptors were smart, they would start Len in the starting 5 period. Baynes and Boucher come off the bench with the 2nd unit. Problem solved.
Starting 5 easily would be
PG- Lowry
SG- Van Vleet
SF- Anunoby
PF- Siakam
C- Len
2nd unit
PG- Flynn
SG- Davis
SF- Powell
PF- Boucher
C- Baynes
Your starting 5 has size but physicality/grit that y'all are clearly missing
Then your 2nd unit more or less would have the same thing
I love how you say period yet continue with a run on sentence.
Tough game for the raptors tonight. If they don't figure out the defensive chemistry, could be another loss on our way tonight.
eh i don't mind the losses. Masai has had it good for a while, which is why he has been pretty passive all these years (despite originally coming in with a scorched earth approach). This core is pretty *** and I don't believe in it so I don't mind piling up losses if it gets Masai to do something. Then again he can just leave lol.
It'll be interesting to see how Siakam responds to the benching.
I'm very curious to see tonights starting lineup. Will Len start for Baynes against Adams? Will Powell start for FVV against Ball? (Not that FVV has played bad, just to try and keep Powell going, get some more size on Ball, and keep a fresh PG in the lineup at all times.)
Tg,
I know your trolling, but saying a lineup with Lowry, FVV and OG has no "grit" is just hilarious. Their starting lineup swapped Gasol for Baynes. While he isn't the defender/ player Gasol is, one thing he does normally does play with is "grit".
They are missing "grit" , they are missing talent. Specifically shot making talent. All these missed 3's is not only killing their offense, but its killing their defense too. The good thing is OG and Powell have started slow, but history tells us they are going to get better.
Not only have they not shot it well, but they (along with Siakam) missed an incredible amount of layups in their first few games. This team NEEDS Siakam, Lowry, FVV and Powell all to score consistently if they want to win games. (like an avg of 20 ppg each.) They can't count on Baynes, Boucher or Len to be a consistent scorer like Ibaka was, and despite his new deal OG's main job is on defense. What those 4 guys give them on offense is going to be up and down and should be considered a bonus. So they need to do whatever it takes to get Siakam, Lowry, FVV and Powell the bulk of our shots.
The Raptors are playing really hard. Nick is coaching like crazy and it feels like they just can't catch a break.
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Now would be a great time for OG to find his shot. Hopefully that and 1 gets him going.
Splash. Rhythm 3.
I'm really liking how they're bringing Boucher on the double on Ingram anytime he posts Fred up. They also have him automatically switching off Adams onto Ingram every time those 2 run the PnR. Boucher has been defending Ingram really well. Boucher has been playing really good defence all around tonight.
47 fta????
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Good point. I don’t want the team to finish 7-8 and round 1 exit. Trade Lowry and gather assets. A mini reset may be what is needed. The draft looks deep as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
Rather than go off on y'all for yet another loss...all I'm gonna say or all I will say is that you are what you are this season and Monday it doesn't get any easier when you face Boston
But the answer to the struggles is staring you literally right in your faces: Siakam...and the best thing the Raptors can do is blow things up and trade for James Harden because nothin else seems to be workin for you
I think the Raptors should go after Daniel Theis next year. I don't think the Celtics will re-sign him with Robert Williams waiting for his opportunity and looking very promising when he is playing.
Man I wasn't expecting Baynes to be this damn poor on defence. He can't defend the pnr to save his life. On the flip side was really impressed with the way Boucher held his own in the later stages even against a Steven Adams down low at times. At this point wouldn't mind if they cut siakams leash a little short, heck bring him off the bench.
Considering norms numbers are far superior with the starters, it makes for a shake-up that could potentially benefit both individuals.
Lowry
Vanvleet
Norman Powell
OG
Boucher
I’m still hoping FVV moves to the bench. Boucher for sure deserves to start though. He’s done exactly what we hoped he would.Quote:
Originally Posted by driftindirt
with Fred getting his contract, team should do what's best for both player and team and get a bit more balance in this lineup. I do feel he is better to come off the bench as that 6th man. I really hope with us in this hole and our defence being poor to actual turn to Flynn to get some back up guard minutes and gave Fred play the 2 for longer stretches. Not like we would get a drop off on the defensive end and hopefully that leads to some transition buckets
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
Powell has enough trouble guarding the 2. He'd get eaten alive guarding the 3. That lineup would get bullied on the boards.Quote:
Originally Posted by driftindirt
Refs strike again! God that game was atrocious from the refs. They screwed them multiple times, but my favorites were
1-the phantom 6th foul on Siakam where he literally just jumped around Hart on the baseline with 0 contact, ..
2- the magical new 24 second shot clock the pelicans got around 3 minutes left. The ball is heading out of bounds and with 4 seconds left when Norm tries to save it. The ball goes to the pelicans and the shot clock doesnt just reset to 14, they say we had possession somehow during the scramble and give them a full 24 seconds.
3- sealing the win for the pelicans by refusing to call a foul for 5 seconds with 8 seconds left down by 2.
4- the pelicans took 15 fta in the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter. Including that horse shyte intentional against Lowry.
5- the tech against Lowry for a ball slap and then not giving one to Ingram for slamming the ball back to him after he missed.
This was another game where it truly felt the Raptors were playing 5 on 8 to me. Just pure garbage from an NBA team of officials...pure effing garbage!!!!! *%*%
I’ve been actively trying to not blame the refs... but no doubt the officiating has been atrocious all season. The 3 point shooting is why we’re losing, but the reffing is making the entire game feel like an up hill battle.Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
I dont think norms a poor defender, I just think thats just the team as a whole seem to be playing this year. I mean look at siakam, he isnt a poor defender and yet guys are blowing by him this season. I think these guys came into the season with too much hype (shots to go around) that they have completely lost focus on defence. But yah I would prefer norm as the 2 if fred can be moved to the bench
Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Johnson#3
Man I am with you on that and in particular that 24 second clock after the scramble was puzzling
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
I expect the raptors to beat the Celtics tonight. Revenge!
I am also expecting the same. Celtics are struggling too.Quote:
Originally Posted by killersweet
I’m not getting down on Siakam. He’s always going to be solid on the defensive end. He just has work to do on offence.Quote:
Originally Posted by driftindirt
Norm has always been a subpar defender. There was a while here when people were saying he could defend the perimeter but I just never saw it. He gets lazy on that end.
Let’s not blame the refs guys. That job belongs to Leaf fans.
The Raps had a chance to win despite them, but you can't tell me you watched that game and thought it was officiated well. I dont care how they officiate the game (tight vs loose), I just want it consistent all 4 quarters and both ways. ..and that crew did neither.Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Johnson#3
My favorite while watching the Pelicans broadcast though was when Freddy caught a long pass headed up court and completely ran somebody over on the catch trying to draw a charge... and the ref swallowed the whistle. The Pelicans announcer (full of sarcasm) was just like "... and I guess there was no contact on that one". I literally laughed out loud. After calling every little touch for 3 and half quarters (especially on Toronto) the game totally changed in the 4th.
I don't understand why Nurse didn't challenge the 6th foul on Siakam though. If he was having a better game I bet he would have. I think he was just as happy getting Boucher back in at the 4 the way he was scoring. Siakam clearly never came any where near Hart. He just missed after adjusting so the ref blew the whistle late.
I know they needed the challenge later on down the stretch, but that play was just another example of the ref cheating for New Orleans again. How on earth Lowry didn't just get that charge live is ridiculous.
The Refs arent the reason they are 1-4 (as there are a few guys who have struggled dearly on), but they dang sure haven't done them any favors so far this season.
I think personally he has done well with guarding the ball, I think he has gotten in trouble at times when trying to over help and then late to get back. But yah he has never been an elite defender but good enough in a teams defensive schemes.
If you look at advanced stats norms been around the 1.4 dws over the past few years with last year being his highest at 2.3 so that tells a bit better picture of his defence. In reference OG was at a 1.6 -1.7 his first couple years. I mean that doesnt tell all but he certainly isnt completely useless on that end lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Johnson#3
I don’t disagree that it was a poorly officiated game. It absolutely was. I just find it petty to complain about the refs. Crap calls happen for both teams in every game.
Expecting the boys to come out with a better game today!