2015-16 Raptors and General NBA Thread

[St. Pats]

I wish I was surprised but I'm not. This is a mentally weak team. Can't handle pressure or physical play. This isn't the pick up ball mentality of the regular season. Now teams actually compete and the Raptors have no answer. They lose the next game and they are done. They better get it together quick. I can't believe I have so little confidence in a team that had its most wins ever but you just knew that the choke job was a real possibility.

[kmart]

Raptors should still win this series. It was literally a couple of bad calls that took Valancuinas and the Raptors out of the game. I totally expect them to bounce back in this series with Valancuinas in the game.

As far as Lowry and Derozan are concerned, it's one game but they'll need to deal with the physciality of Hill and George. Lowry in particular will need to find his shot fast. Good news is that the Raptors played the worst game they could've possibly played and were in the game for the most part.

I never understood why DeRozan was guarding George. He's not a great defender. Carroll probably isn't ideal either, since he's coming back from injury. I'd rather see Powell give a go at George, he does a great job of holding his ground while contesting all shots.

[Jets4Life]

Raptors will lose in 4 straight.

[corporatejay]

I have game 5 tickets so I sincerely hope you are wrong.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Raptors have the best team in this series. The Pacers have the best player. In the NBA having the best player still means a lot. This is where Carroll needs to earn his money and step up to shut George down, or perhaps even moreso it's Casey who needs to prove he's a good coach and come up with a plan to shut George down. DeRozan is an average defender so you can't put him on George, so if we see that continue the Raps are in deep trouble. If they concoct the plan to shut George down, they'll win the series.

[OzSome]

I wouldn't count the Raptors out after the Game 1 lost. They were good defensively especially in the first half while the offense needs to play better.I think Derozan and Lowry will bounce back and defense will play much better. I think they will take Game 2 and 3.

[Trojan97]

Raps are going to win tonight. That's it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Best basketball writer around (probably best sports writer period) on the Raps...

But amazingly, just 48 hours after they tipped, the first moment of truth in these playoffs is here. As one team executive emailed after Game 1, "Monday will be the tightest-sphinctered game in Toronto basketball history." It is certainly the franchise's biggest game since ... when, exactly? It feels bigger than even Game 7 two seasons ago against Brooklyn, when the Drakes emerged as the accidental Atlantic Division champs -- hang those banners, baby! -- after dumping Rudy Gay, and coming one phone call away from diving into the tank at the trade deadline.

A winner-take-all deal is bigger than any Game 2, but those Raps were playing with house money. The same core has gotten better and better every year, almost forcing Masai Ujiri, the team's GM, into stasis with a roster he's not quite sure about. How do you bust up a team that tacks on five more wins every season, especially when you're already holding one key rebuilding chip -- the Knicks' pick -- thanks to a laughable heist involving Andrea Bargnani and his facial hair?

The Raptors have now lost seven straight playoff games in the weak sister conference. At some point, you have to start asking if something is just wrong with the fabric of your team. Another first-round loss, this one against a demonstrably worse team that couldn't win close games all season, would mark that point.

This isn't some Western Conference team winning 55 games every season, and coming oh-so-close to real playoff success; the Raptors aren't the Clippers, or the pre-2011 Mavs. They've done basically nothing. Almost all the key players are in their primes. They are meant to win now, and if they don't, Ujiri will have to ask some serious questions -- about Casey, and about whether DeRozan, a free agent whose cap hold soaks up any potential cap space now and forever, is the long-term fit they want with Norman Powell, Terrence Ross, Valanciunas, and all the babies eventually ready for more.

Doomsday talk is silly after Game 1, but not with this playoff history. The Raptors need to win Game 2, and they need to win this series. Period.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15...rst-round-jinx

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Best basketball writer around (probably best sports writer period) on the Raps...





http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15...rst-round-jinx

GREAT article. That Scola video...a picture tells a thousand words.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Best basketball writer around (probably best sports writer period) on the Raps...





http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15...rst-round-jinx

Hah, I was like "no way, Zack Lowe is the best basketball writer around" then I forgot he didn't go over to the Ringer with Simmons and stayed at ESPN.

Totally agree.

[Machiavelli]

JV beasting early

[Senator Clay Davis]

Run. The. Goddamn. Offense. Thru. JV. Full-time...thanks.

[killer_carlson]

at work so just following the game log online.

Derozan is 2-9 and still getting touches. That is unbelievable.

[Machiavelli]

George is getting hot early this game...worrisome. Lowry and DD not holding up their end.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I almost wanna go with Lowry, Joseph, Powell, Carroll (or PP) and JV in crunch time. DeRozan just not playing well.

[killer_carlson]

Derozan not getting to the line and shooting approximately 27.2% from field goal range - for the second consecutive game. (5 for 18 so far tonight, 5 for 19 last game).

Maybe his game doesn't survive the scrutiny of playoff basketball and he isn't getting chincy foul shot attempts?

[The Big Chill]

Looking solid now. The defence has picked it up.

[Senator Clay Davis]

What a gift from Vogel, next game is in 3 days and he's resting his stars to start the 4th.

[Senator Clay Davis]

And how do you keep Powell out of the starting lineup? Stats don't show it but he's been awesome tonight.

[DropIt]

exciting 3rd quarter. Raptors look much better while the Pacers look content to split.

Hope my Pacers get it together back at home