2022 Toronto Raptors Thread - Page 29 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Big Chill · 03-28-2022, 08:09 PM

Huge win!

Karl · 03-28-2022, 08:11 PM

Nikki Reyes accidentally called Fred Van Vleet Fred Van Vleet Jr. LOL.

Senator Clay Davis · 03-28-2022, 08:17 PM

Ugly win is still a win, and this one was badly needed against the Celtics B team. And as I said before come playoff time there won't be teams to play down against so I expect a more consistent effort. Magic, Knicks and Rockets are the scariest games coming in lol.

Hockey_Ninja · 03-29-2022, 08:18 PM

Lakers officially out of the play-in. Let’s be honest, we all saw it coming

CorsiHockeyLeague · 03-30-2022, 06:13 PM

Such a frustrating team to watch. Just completely disappear, seemingly at random, in games that matter. It's one thing to look lackadaisical on offence but jesus, you're getting out-rebounded 22 to 7 with all that length? Embarrassing.

Worse still the Mavs are losing to the Cavs. Cavs have been getting the ball out of Luka's hands, which means he still has like 11 assists in the first half but hasn't been able to get a shooting rhythm going and only has 10 points. Still possible that the Mavs win that one, and obviously the Raptors could pick it up, but it's looking like a bad night to be a Raps fan so far.

EDIT: Reverse jinx successful! 20 minutes later and both the Mavs and Raps are leading.

Trojan97 · 03-30-2022, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Such a frustrating team to watch. Just completely disappear, seemingly at random, in games that matter. It's one thing to look lackadaisical on offence but jesus, you're getting out-rebounded 22 to 7 with all that length? Embarrassing.

5th best winning % in the NBA since Dec. 1 after their 9-13 start & one of four teams in the East with a winning record vs .500+ teams (1 of 10 in the NBA). #### happens, bad starts happen. This team is great.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 03-30-2022, 07:23 PM

So, I still think they're a bit frustrating because they make things hard on themselves unnecessarily, but that's part and parcel of a team that's still a bit of a work in progress. But I'll take that over a team that doesn't battle, and damn, does this team battle. Just relentless.

The Mavs, incidentally, did their job, beating Cleveland on the strength of Luka going for 20 in the third quarter and finishing with 35, 13 assists and 9 rebounds. There is just nothing, nothing whatsoever, to be done about that guy.

Senator Clay Davis · 03-30-2022, 07:41 PM

I mean they aren't that frustrating a team. The only real frustration with them is they are the prototypical "play to the level" team, which is why we see them go on runs beating a bunch of contenders and then follow that up by losing to Detroit or the Lakers or the Magic. But they've been playing great for months now, no sustained drop offs just a few games here and there.

mile · 03-30-2022, 07:52 PM

Closing in on 45+ wins, certainly didn't expect that at the start of the season.

Great game by everybody, hope this team is peaking at the right time.

I'm so glad the Raptors didn't give up on Siakam. His game started to turn a corner in the last quarter of last season and now this is best he's ever played. Looks like he's playing without the pressure of forcing himself to be the #1 scoring option. He's All-NBA this year for sure.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 03-30-2022, 07:55 PM

Well, the Magic are next, so I guess we'll see.

They're now tied with the Bulls, who have some tough games coming up. They get the newly-re-Georgified Clippers tomorrow, followed by the Heat, then the Bucks, then the Celtics. They finish with the Hornets and T-Wolves who are both going to want to finish strong and may be playing for seeding. So Paul George, and then five games against teams above .500.

The Raptors also have to contend with the Heat and get the 76ers and Hawks, but the remaining teams on their schedule are all below .500 and two of them are at the bottom of their respective conferences. Cleveland's schedule is slightly tougher than Toronto's, as it's the same opponents except the Bucks instead of the Heat (roughly a wash) and the Nets instead of the Rockets (obviously big advantage Raptors there).

Toronto should absolutely be able to avoid the play-in.

Senator Clay Davis · 03-30-2022, 07:59 PM

^^This is gonna be one of the toughest years ever for All-NBA teams. I think it'll be pretty close for Pascal, might need a strong finish to lock it up.

Trojan97 · 03-30-2022, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mile

Closing in on 45+ wins, certainly didn't expect that at the start of the season.

Great game by everybody, hope this team is peaking at the right time.

I'm so glad the Raptors didn't give up on Siakam. His game started to turn a corner in the last quarter of last season and now this is best he's ever played. Looks like he's playing without the pressure of forcing himself to be the #1 scoring option. He's All-NBA this year for sure.

Been trying to catch more of the post game pressers lately and you kind of forget what a good dude Pascal is. Has a great attitude, very thoughtful and generally likeable guy. Happy to see him playing at such a high level and hope he shines on the big stage this year in the playoffs.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 03-31-2022, 10:24 PM

Update: the Clippers are choking pieces of ####. How do you manage to screw that up. Foul on a three when up 2 with 3 seconds left? Just let him take the shot, you idiot.

Senator Clay Davis · 04-01-2022, 08:30 PM

The Grizzlies look frightening right now, and might be for a while. Great roster, young roster, tons of cap space, good amount of draft capital, mega rich owner. Taylor Jenkins has to be coach of the year too, 20-2 without Morant now.

jayswin · 04-01-2022, 11:55 PM

Is that the same owner that bought the team in Vancouver?

Senator Clay Davis · 04-02-2022, 09:29 AM

Nah he's some mid-40's tech billionaire, bought them in 2012. But it's funny thinking about the Western Conference right now. Top three teams are Phoenix, Memphis and Dallas, who were the three worst teams in the West in 2017. Tanking is not guaranteed to work, but tanking with good management is a pretty good recipe for success.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 04-05-2022, 06:09 PM

Well, Dallas is actually in 4th and I'm not sure they can get 3rd with the games both teams have remaining. And the third place team did pretty OK in 2017. But the point stands.

The Raptors played a pretty decent 1st quarter there with the exception of going 0 for 8 from 3. This is the kind of thing I mean when I talk about frustrating. It's just... almost.

EDIT: Made it all the way to 1:11 left in the half before they made a 3 pointer and it was Thad Young. 1/13 from 3. Fred 0/7 overall and generally playing like absolute garbage with multiple TOs. But they're still leading because of rebounding and Pascal being unstoppable from the paint.

Also, don't look now, but the Cavs are down 5 to the Magic after 3 quarters. That would be a hell of a result.

Senator Clay Davis · 04-05-2022, 07:48 PM

So play-in officially avoided. Now just to get matched up with the Sixers and things are looking decent.

mile · 04-05-2022, 07:49 PM

Cavs lose. Bulls are losing by 15 late in the 3rd. Raptors overcome some adversity late in the 4th to win. Things are looking good!

Can't believe there's only 3 games left.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 04-05-2022, 07:50 PM

Raptors survive some tough shooting luck and some seriously problematic free throw shooting to lock up the 6 seed at worst by virtue of the Cavaliers losing, and also go ahead of the Bulls, who are losing to the Bucks by double digits and play Boston next.

If Chicago loses those two games and the Raps beat the Sixers, those sixers are probably your first round matchup I would think. Which isn't a bad thing; there are no easy opponents in the top 4 but the Sixers can be a bit chaotic.