2018-19 NBA and Raptors thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

As for the Warriors, well yeah we all knew Durant ruined the NBA, the Warriors probably would have won at least one of the past two titles without him. It's funny cause when he does leave the hate for the Warriors will basically end, and the first two games of this series show why. They are way more fun to watch without Durant, less iso ball and way more ball movement, plus teams actually have a somewhat decent chance rather than pretty much none. All that said the Blazers cannot lose that game, that is a far worse loss than the Raptors had in game one. Both the Raps and Blazers look capped at winning one game this series.

[flamingred89]

So...Is there a reason why the Raptors are worse at open looks than I would be?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Timeout in the first three minutes of the game is always a good omen.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Series is off to a great start..

[The Big Chill]

It's hard to believe how bad Gasol is playing

[flamingred89]

Ha. This isn’t even a contest at this point.

[Senator Clay Davis]

We all knew this series was over after the other night. Just avoid getting swept I guess.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Honestly just throw this game, let the loser bench maybe find some confidence. Also play Lin, we're owed karma for cheering on the start on Linsanity, and seriously, he CANNOT be worse than Van Vleet.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah... This is more or less what I would have expected.

[savemedrzaius]

Marc Gasol 1\9...And he has a player option for next year

I miss JV.

[dino7c]

When the Warriors pound the Bucks in the finals we will see just how far away the Raptors really are. If Leonard is gone in the off season (likely) they might as well just fold the franchise.

[bluejays]

To me, there are a handful of players worth keeping (for some, if you can): Leonard, Siakam, Ibaka, and Anunoby. Gasol is what they need for the bench, and though I didn't get the chance to watch today's game, just seeing the boxscore tells me all I need to know about how the coach handled him (too much rope). Anyway, things really need to change this off-season, and given what little they have to work with, I suddenly have a creeping suspicion that Ujiri may take a position in another organization.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's just amazing how much of a cliff guys have fallen off in the playoffs. At least Gasol was useful against the Magic and Sixers on defense, but otherwise everyone outside Kawhi and Siakam have been below replacement level players the entire playoffs, and Siakam at this point looks gassed from the highest usage season he's ever had. I actually don't see them putting up much of a fight now, they know even if they squeak through this series they will get blasted against the Warriors. No regrets about giving it a go, and Kawhi delivered something DeRozan never could, but the party appears to be over. The rebuild is gonna be brutal because there's no easy way to do it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Lillard will get a lot of flack for his performance in this series, but that's not giving Klay much credit for the job he's doing locking him down. Also Draymond is a jerk, but one hell of a player. Don't think the Bucks can do much damage since I assume Draymond will take Giannis away and that'll be that.

[bluejays]

I don't think Draymond can handle Giannis one on one. There are probably a handful of players who can (including Kawhi), and by that it means limiting the damage. The guy is physically built for putting up large numbers in a no contact league with his frame and reach.

[Machiavelli]

Kawhi is labouring out there, looks injured

[bluejays]

He has looked a bit slow, but the team has so far put a solid team effort. Ibaka and Siakam have looked great so far. No idea why the coach hasn’t played Ibaka much in the past two games.

[keenan87]

FVV.. 14 seconds left and you can't get a shot off. That is just pathetic. Get him off the court already.

[Machiavelli]

Keep FVV on the bench, please

[bluejays]

I gotta say the reffing has been very questionable so far. Star treatment, obvious missed calls. Just garbage. Does everyone on the raps have two fouls?