I'll give the Raps credit with this one. Though LA really barely showed up and didn't bother moving their legs, the Raps were playing hard and more importantly hitting their shots. Ross played great. I was wondering WTH Butler was doing at the end, but I'm thinking it was because of the last minute Ross dunk he decided to postpone the celebration. I'd have actually liked if the Raps fouled on the inbound and Casey called a timeout, because it was really a dick move. It's nice to see Valanciunas back, though something tells me he was rushed - he's very hesitant to assert himself with his arm and was guarding it on every rebound. To me he shoudl have been held off a week or two to just practice, but I'm not a doctor, so whatever.
^ Disagree on Ross, aside from that one dunk he was not good. Still has ways to go.
DeRozen to Gay was a thing of beauty, liked the instant chemistry.
Lowry played well and so did Lucas.
Amir was a beast, Gray was a man possessed.
Jonas was obviously hesitant coming back from an injury but he plays tough, this team will need him in the future.
Overall, I'm excited. I was writing DeRozen off but he's becoming a playmaker and finding open guys.
Lowry/Lucas (Can use a better pass first PG instead of Lucas)
DeRozen/Ross (Let Ross slowly come along)
Gay/Fields (Like it or not, Fields isn't going anywhere and he's been good since coming back)
Amir/Bargs (Till a trade can be made)
Gray/Val (Bring him along slowly as well)
Youth and athleticism can be exciting.
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Very illuminating comments by Joe Dumars (who i onsider to be one of the best GMs in basketball). He states that he tried to trade for Calderon several times before and really likes Calderon's game. The Pistons will be looking to resign Calderon and do not see him just as an expiring contract.
As or the Raptors, this team has a bonafide wing player or the first time since Carter left. Great. Still think Landry Fields will get his minutes as he oes so many of the little things right to make his teammates better. Like his game. Problem is though, that may mean less for Ross, or a bottleneck at the 2/3 position.
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"OOOOOOHHHHHHH those Russians" - Boney M
Very illuminating comments by Joe Dumars (who i onsider to be one of the best GMs in basketball). He states that he tried to trade for Calderon several times before and really likes Calderon's game. The Pistons will be looking to resign Calderon and do not see him just as an expiring contract.
As or the Raptors, this team has a bonafide wing player or the first time since Carter left. Great. Still think Landry Fields will get his minutes as he oes so many of the little things right to make his teammates better. Like his game. Problem is though, that may mean less for Ross, or a bottleneck at the 2/3 position.
Great thing about it is that Fields and Gay can play the 4 as well.
I was against the raps pursuing Gasol but after the Gay trade they might as well go all in. If they can move Bargs and Fields (D'Antoni fav) for Pau and Duhon that would be huge. I don't know if LA would do it because it cuts into their 2014 cap space but I think Bargs would do well playing for MDA
^ The problem is, that move isn't putting them "all in". They've still got aways to go before their team is competing for a championship. A deal pursuing Gasol at this point would be a huge mistake because of his health, and laissez-faire attitude. You can't replace one problem with another because a year from now, Gasol's IR time will hurt the team badly. At least Bargnani can stay healthy, and to me that's worth more than what Gasol brings currently. A guy like David Lee, or more to Colangelo's liking, Omer Asik, is probably someone they should target.
This afternoon I witnessed possibly the worst shooting choices I've ever seen, in the second half of the game. Shots weren't dropping, but worse yet were the selfish choices - if your 3 point shot isn't working, don't do it, but they kept going back to it over and over again.
Watched bits and peices, but most I have in a while...had it within 3 points with under 4 minutes to go, but then bad shot choices, indecision on defense, and trying to force things and within 2 minutes it was a 9 point deficit just like that.
