Raptors 2014-2015 season

[Zach]

Raptors rolling

[Antithesis]

They just obliterated the Hawks in the 2nd half. Washington is getting destroyed by Cleveland as well - all around not a bad night as a Raptors fan!

[Sammymydog1]

Nice game by the Raps. Great effort on D but man, did the Hawks shoot poorly!

[octothorp]

After their beautiful play last night, tonight is as ugly a basketball game as I have ever seen at the NBA level.

[St. Pats]

You just have to watch the Raptors much as you would the Flames. You know they aren't going anywhere this year whatever their record ends up being. They are somewhere along the development chain but playoff success ain't happening. Raptors should win a round. Flames maybe make the playoffs.

Then you can just relax and watch games. Whether they are on a good streak or bad you know you are still years away from being a contender.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Thing is with Rose now shot again, Atlanta and Cleveland are the only definite better teams than the Raptors, and the Raps are a terrible matchup for Atlanta (and Washington for that matter). So getting to the ECF or NBA Finals is still very possible, now granted that's because of the weak ass East, but it can still be done this year.

[Senator Clay Davis]

A 1-19 shooting quarter is uhhh yeah. Still got to 11 somehow though, thanks refs.

[bluejays]

So far extremely selfish play by Lowry and DeRozan to mostly blame. How many times does somebody have to say to use your teammates? These guys can be so immature when it comes to one upping your same position opponent. Very few players in the league have the ability to do that consistently. The Raptors don't have that player, so they shouldn't play like that.

[SportsJunky]

That was a terrible game tonight. I was there and the crowd was very unhappy with the performance of their team. Some of the worst played pro ball that I've ever seen.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by fleury

So far extremely selfish play by Lowry and DeRozan to mostly blame. How many times does somebody have to say to use your teammates? These guys can be so immature when it comes to one upping your same position opponent. Very few players in the league have the ability to do that consistently. The Raptors don't have that player, so they shouldn't play like that.

The Raptors coaching staff cannot design an offensive scheme other than what you described.

They are to blame.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

The Raptors coaching staff cannot design an offensive scheme other than what you described.

They are to blame.

I don't believe that anymore. I've seen some very solid plays run where the ball-handlers simply look off good options in favour of iso plays for themselves or others. The end of the Pelicans game last week was a perfect example: Vasquez inbounding the ball with 16 seconds left. Amir sets a pick on DeRozan's man, DeRozan comes around him perfectly, presents himself to Vasquez with hands up as he's rolling toward the basket. Amir's man, Asik, fails to react. It was literally a wide open pass and dunk. Vasquez just watches DeRozan go by, then inbounds the ball in Lowry in the back-court, resulting in an iso, because they missed the original play-call. It was a particularly egregious example, but this happens all game long, every game.

Casey has said that he gives his ball-handlers the option of departing from the called play and go iso if they think they have the advantage. But right now the ball-handlers are being way too eager to use that liberty, and Casey needs to step in and reel these guys in. The problem is that DeRozan and Lowry seem to think the problem is that they aren't shooting well. And they may be shooting poorly, but the real problem is that they're making awful decisions about when to shoot and when to go through the offence. I'm worried that their approach is going to be to try to shoot themselves out of this slump, rather than using their teammates (who are there, who are getting open most of the time down the court, and who will convert at a much higher rate when they get the ball).

[killer_carlson]

if the ball handlers are keeping the ball rather than moving it, it's a coaching issue. He needs to reign that in. he won't because he cannot come up with an alternative that isn't a perimeter move.

I said at the start of the year that I am not convinced that Casey knows how to run an offence in the post or using an inside player. I have seen nothing to dissuade me from that opinion.

[octothorp]

Oh yeah, I don't disagree that a lot of it is a coaching issue; Casey's the only guy who can fix the current problems and so far he hasn't shown any sense of urgency in doing so. I just don't think it's necessarily the lack of a solid play-book. I think its a problem with how the players and the playbook are being managed.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Demar just had a break and chose to do 360 two handed dunk and missed it...probably not the best decision.

[Zach]

The Knicks...

[Senator Clay Davis]

The East sucks so they're locked into the top 4 probably, but are they ever struggling right now. Way too predictable offensively.

[The Big Chill]

I find it hard not to blame the coaching staff. The defensive intensity is non existent and there seems to be no accountability. All the ball movement and teamwork that was there early in the season is gone. Not looking good right now.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I find it hard not to blame the coaching staff. The defensive intensity is non existent and there seems to be no accountability. All the ball movement and teamwork that was there early in the season is gone. Not looking good right now.

This hits the nail right on the head.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Demar just had a break and chose to do 360 two handed dunk and missed it...probably not the best decision.

Perfect example of selfishness costing the team

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Perfect example of selfishness costing the team

Not to mention straight out stupidity. Derozan and Ross are quite the pair. Dumb and dumber. Casey fits right in as well in the lack of IQ department.

They continue to suck and then drop in the first round there is going to be some major changes in the summer. Casey gone for sure.