2016-17 Toronto Raptors and General NBA Thread

[octothorp]

That was a huge win! Playoff style, physical opponent, tough game, hostile crowd, brutal whistle. Lowry leaves for stitches in the 3rd, comes back for 19 points in the fourth. Best win of the season, IMO. 53% shooting against one of the stingiest defenses in the league.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Shooting 9/10 in the fourth never sucks. Even in all of our wildest dreams when he was acquired from Houston I don't think anyone could have seen him become this kind of player.

[Drake]

With his triple-double tonight Westbrook now has 30 in 2016, joining Oscar Robertson as the only players with that many triple-doubles in a calendar year.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Raps-Warriors tonight. We all remember the last trip to Oakland, so hopefully they can get a little justice tonight.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Not a good start. Down 16 halfway through one.

[Karl]

Looks like this will be the Raps first blowout loss in a while. Down 42-17 to this point.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Worst quarter of basketball I've seen in probably a decade from the Raps.

[GirlySports]

this might be their best quarter!

[TheAlpineOracle]

Much better second. Game back within reach.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Spoke too soon. Blew it at the end there.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Come on Ross. You have to have better shot selection than that. Just two garbage shots in a row to kill All the Momentum of that run.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I don't have the stats to prove it and this is just my observation and I could be wrong, but when the Raptors play legitimate contenders they seem to just murder the Raps in the paint and on the boards. If the Raps have any plans to legitimately take a run at a Championship this needs to be addressed. I've been a big JV fan, but this guy is lost out there when he faces high end competition. Might be time to use him in a package to finally get that piece the Raps have been missing.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I don't have the stats to prove it and this is just my observation and I could be wrong, but when the Raptors play legitimate contenders they seem to just murder the Raps in the paint and on the boards.

Rebounds, definitely. I don't think points in the paint was a huge issue against Cleveland... maybe in the first meeting but not the last two.

I love Siakam's effort, but the slow starts are becoming too much. I know the plan is to try and run with Siakam as a stop-gap until Sullinger is back, but with that still a month off, I think they need to switch things up.

At least we'll get a spark with Powell starting tomorrow night (although his second half was one of Carroll's better halves of the year).

[TheAlpineOracle]

Cousins is exactly what the Raps need in my Opinion. I think thy can bang with anyone with a presence like that in the paint.

[octothorp]

I like Cousins a lot as a fit for the Raps, but I can't see the Raptors making a winning offer even if Sacramento wants to sell (which is unlikely when they're finally in a playoff race and can offer him one of those absurd new franchise-player contracts in the offseason).

[kmart]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I don't have the stats to prove it and this is just my observation and I could be wrong, but when the Raptors play legitimate contenders they seem to just murder the Raps in the paint and on the boards. If the Raps have any plans to legitimately take a run at a Championship this needs to be addressed. I've been a big JV fan, but this guy is lost out there when he faces high end competition. Might be time to use him in a package to finally get that piece the Raps have been missing.

JV has been sheltered for too long. His weaknesses are outweigh his strengths and he is always exposed against the contenders. He struggles against defending a big who can shoot and a big who can drive. He is simply neutralized to nothing against good fast teams.

His strength is setting screens for DeMar and Lowry. His post game is overrated, that's why you see Lowry and Casey avoiding post ups against longer bigger defenders. His shooting percentages will always be high, simply because he doesn't have to carry the Raptors, if they fed him every game he would struggle IMO. There's also a reason why Casey would rather have Bebe late in games over JV, and those reasons are on the defensive end.

For what it's worth I think JV is a decent centre at best, not an all star caliber centre and not elite in any way. He does well banging with the big centers, but also struggles scoring against them. A slow game is where he's at his best, but that's not ideal against the leagues fastest and best.

[St. Pats]

Raptors are playing 3 on 5 in too many games. At the PF position they are hating it offensively unless PPat is on that game. At center they either have no defense or no offense. Big man rotation just isn't good enough! I was hoping Sullinger IF he is ever healthy would help but I don't see it being enough even if he plays well. Still waiting on MU. About time you made your move Ujiri.

[killer_carlson]

Ross is being given a very long leash right now as well.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

Raptors are playing 3 on 5 in too many games. At the PF position they are hating it offensively unless PPat is on that game. At center they either have no defense or no offense. Big man rotation just isn't good enough! I was hoping Sullinger IF he is ever healthy would help but I don't see it being enough even if he plays well. Still waiting on MU. About time you made your move Ujiri.

Come on man, we're 32 games into the season. Patience.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Ross is being given a very long leash right now as well.

Probably being showcased if anything. We all know the guy is inconsistent, and there's no way he's going to play his way onto any teams' starting 5, but given the potential (moreso his athleticism), some team will want him and may very well pay a premium. At least I'm hoping.