Yeah it's why I don't think our differential matters.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
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Yeah it's why I don't think our differential matters.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
It has caused some some wacky games so I see your point.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
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I agree it is frustrating. I was just trying to get a better understanding of the mind set that were still trying to compete. I know there are plenty of fans that still want to see them in the play in.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
Also no one is really ever guaranteed a lotto pick. All’s you can really do is try to give yourself more ping pong balls for a better probability. But I feel what you’re saying about the flattened odds.
I’ve wondered how much of it has to do with Masai’s extension. I’m not trying to be a conspiracy theorist but I think when a key player is a fa sometimes it can cause distractions, Masai being such a polarizing figure for the Raptors FO you gotta think it has atleast a little impact.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
eh I wouldn't worry too much about it. people were against tanking when we were horrendously bad and thought being first round exits was going to attract free agents and **** or for "playoff experience".
I always imagine these ppl as dads and Raptors games are the only excuse they have to ignore all of their responsibilities so they just want to stretch the season for as long as possible.
I can't believe there hasn't been an extension yet. Most would have gotten it done already to prevent it from being a distraction.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
Maybe he took a step back this year and put in auto pilot and gave Webster the wheel. Perhaps to show his worth for leverage. That’s me thinking way to deep in to it I know, but I also think maybe he just might be gone after this year so he’s checked out.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
Aside from the Trent jr trade, the FO moves have been head scratching to say the least
Not too thrilled about giving Webster the keys tbh. Look at Jeff Weltman, the guy is complete doodoo in Magic and he had way more autonomy than Webster because of his basketball experience. Webster was only hired because he was some finance guy that helped write the CBA. He has 0 bball experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
idk any GM except Morey that made the jump successfully without any basketball experience. But Morey is an outlier because he is a computer science guy and was ahead of the curve on everyone with data science.
Yeah I'm not crazy about the idea either. But looking at the moves we made this year makes me wonderQuote:
Originally Posted by ecart
I have a feeling this was Masai's version of a rebuilding year. They definitely have done everything they possibly can not to have any more guaranteed money past this season to get ready for 2022. It seems a lot like the Jays in 2018. They weren't openly tanking, but they weren't "all in" either. For example, they didn't force their rookies into the lineup and just give playing time away no matter how they played (which would be easy to do i you are tanking). They are still doing everything they can with the personnel available. This was another just year to let guys like Siakam, Fred and OG (..and now GTJ) develop their skills and get used to being primary scorers instead of secondary players.
For all we know Masai had serious talks for Harden but wouldn't part with Siakam and OG. Everyone keeps dogging this core for this season, but they are playing a 72 game road trip, the schedule is crazy, they played small ball out of necessity in the first half (which was extra work), and then a number of them contracted Covid to zap them of their strength and energy even more. These guys are running on fumes!! They are still trying to win, but they need to load manage them too here coming down the stretch to prevent even more injuries.
I actually hope they don't make the playoffs, as these guys need as long of an off season as their bodies can get.....probably even more than they need the better chance at a high draft pick. I just want to see everyone stay healthy, and for guys like Flynn and Watanabe to get some consistent minutes.
Speaking of Yuta, don't look now but over his last 6 games he is averaging over 8 ppg, is 19 for 30 from the field and 5 for 12 from deep. He is also a solid perimeter defender with his length and foot speed. If he can chip in 8-10 ppg with the way he swarms people on defense and gets after rebounds, he could actually be a decent bench piece moving forward. For the season he is shooting 37.5% from deep. He has potential as a cheap 3 and D type of player off the bench to go with this core.
I agree with this, and I would say that all of OG, Siakam, Fred, Boucher, and now GTJ have taken steps forward this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2021...eekly-podcast/
pretty good discussion and analysis imo about our struggles this season on defense
I agree 100% with everything you wrote. Just to add one more piece to it, we also have mostly back to back games in this second half, which makes the idea of climbing out of the whole that much more daunting. I don't understand why people can't just see that we're having a bad year due to all the factors you mentioned, the total absence of a competent true center and a schedule that rolled wrong. Keep in mind, with all of this we have a positive net rating! That's incredible! I honestly don't think we're that far off from being back in the top 4 of this conference. Let's just write off this year, pray to the ping pong ball gods to show us favor and look forward to, what I would consider, a very interesting offseason.Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
I really don't think they are trying to win. If they were, why would they rest Lowry tonight with FVV already being out. Trae Young is out, and Gallo is doubtfull. That would be a very winnable game for us if we were infact trying to win. Sitting Lowry gives us a decent chance to lose and I think that's a strong indication. He isn't injured.Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
Also its not really the core that that people are dogging. Its the lack of a supporting cast, like a starting C and Bench. We dont have an 8 man rotation for the post season. Its more like a 6 man rotation which is extremely thin.
I think its a blessing that we have a pretty decent core in place, and have the opportunity to further add talent in the draft.
And I agree with you these guys are running on fumes. They need a break.
And this honest assessment is why a guy like Mobley will be able to successfully be a modern NBA C, where a guy like Kai is a PF. You don’t want Kai as your defensive quarterback.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
Almost C’s in the league cannot do what Gasol did.
Thanks for sharing.
For sure Lowry has been resting a lot more than needed. It’s actually a relief. Masai seems to get it. I was really worried he would not be down for the losses and we would end up losing our standing.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
Well I think it has more to do with Gasol's brain being so ****ing big and being able to read the floor better than our G-League centers lul. Any big that is as smart and as experienced as Gasol can do it. Even the most optimistic stans of Mobley still think he'll get bodied by centers like Embiid, Jokic etc so there really isn't a clear distinction between KJ and Mobley in that respect.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
Does someone wanna tell Trent jr were tanking lol he came firing out the gate... this kids gonna be an all star
I’m not really talking about 1on1 matchups or stuff like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
As a comparison I don’t see embiid doing great things in the league either because he doesn’t direct his team defensively.
Simmons does at the start, but before long he is stuck chasing the oppositions best player around the court.
There is a clear distinction between Mobley/kai’s bbiq from everything I’ve read.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
You said there's a distinction between 4 and 5. That is what I am referring to. But we can continue this discussion in the other thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
Simmons anchors their defence while Embiid is a tenacious defender in his own right. This is the same guy that clowns Drummond & Towns’ defence every time they play each other. I don’t like his goofy personality but his game is due respect.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
But I agree with you about ball iq. I think you guys are saying the same thing there. For a C to be a good anchor on defence he needs to read the floor and that has a lot to do with ball iq and experience so you may not know when a guy is 20 years old if he ends up being a smart player.
Picking bigs in the draft is just hard. You really gotta work them out but even then it’s hard to know how they read and react in the game until they are put in certain situations.
It literally just comes down to bball iq. Like Jokic isn't the most athletic guy and doesn't make highlight plays on defence, but he is a pretty impactful defender because his brain is so big. I don't think it matters if it is a 4 or a 5. If Boucher had Gasol's brain, you could prob play him and Siakam together full time.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
https://nugglove.com/2020/03/04/denv...okic-defender/
I also think it depends on your scheme too. The Raptors don't really need a guy like Rudy Gobert who can bail you out and basically anchor a top 5 defence with G-League talent around him. It would be a luxury but not necessary. With the way we play, we just need someone that can read the floor and be in the right position at the right time.
Like Poeltl would be so nice in our scheme rn.
I like his game but yeah get with the plan dude.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
Basically Ben Uzoh, not in talent but as a spoilerQuote:
Originally Posted by killersweet
The hawks are riddled with injuries eh, not good for their playoff push.
After having the luxury with Gasol it does feel like we do need a Defensive big, especially since we don’t have even a half way decent one. Maybe now that we have Birch it won’t be as glaring but we gotta see how he pans out.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
But yeah I’d prefer more of an all around guy myself, a two way big would be ideal. Gasol while great at anchoring a defence made me cringe on the other end.
Gasol hasn't been that great. He still would have been a situational play like last season. He just would have been helpful as a mentor. Hard to say since apparently our scheme is difficult to learn. But I don't see Birch as anything more than an energy guy (which isn't bad necessarily). Gillespie intrigues me because of his physicals but he is just so inexperienced.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
Nurse prob wants to keep development going since it is the better long term play but we prob would have won more games if we played more man to man this season.
Flynn waived Siakam off and then blew the lay up 😆
Birch looked good tonight
I wanted to move on from Gasol last year tbh. He earned his money in our ship run with the defence. But it was clear he was on the decline before we even got him.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
hot take, i think his ego is gonna be a problem in the futureQuote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
His pops is a yapper too.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
We’ll see. It could motivate him. He looked destroyed when he missed that 3 at the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
It was a good loss.
idk I think there's a difference between having a chip on your shoulder and thinking you're entitled to minutes but we'll see.
Until I hear that Flynn thought he was entitled to minutes I’m not worrying about it. Dads gonna dad.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
yeah I dont get this new bread of dads who want take to social media.. If you have an issue take it up with your sons agent and allow him to talk to front office. I dont like what these loud mouth dads do to the image of their sons. Like Lonzo and Lamello are good players and Lavar actually did them no favours by talking so much and if you notice it seems he got the memo because he finally shut up and let his boys play do the talking. Mr Flynn is going to have to learn that as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
With an overbearing father like that, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Like I said it is a hot take.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
They’ve always been a thing, but they now have a platform.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
If my kid was in the league I’d be living vicariously through him too lol.