NBA Thread

[Orgfiller]

Memphis shot 45% with only 11 turnovers. We didn't destroy them defensively. We played well but not that great.

 

Gasol destroyed us.

[over500]

It's like Lowry is our only NBA caliber player.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

JJ's post game could've come in handy tonight.

 

Hayes dominated Gasol earlier in the year.

 

Smh Casey.

[dineke]

Welp, right back in no-man's land... exactly where Masai said we wont be 2 years ago. lets see how he gets out of this.

[SpeedyGose]

Meanwhile Jonas with another double double in sub 30 minutes

[burlingtonbandit]

Welp, right back in no-man's land... exactly where Masai said we wont be 2 years ago. lets see how he gets out of this.

 

I think he plans to get a FA. Still lots of assets to make the team better, too. Its not like this is the ceiling of the team.

[Dylan]

What is the raptors record when playing teams with at least a few wins above .500?

[eastcoastjaysfan]

We have a string of games against:

 

Philly

Detroit

Indiana

Sacramento

Brooklyn

 

If we can't turn this around now things are going to get ugly.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

JV in January:

 

60% FG

87% FT

65% TS

 

Averaging only 25 MPG

 

It's impossible for anyone to defend Casey any longer. JV should be at 32-35 minutes every single night.

[dineke]

I think he plans to get a FA. Still lots of assets to make the team better, too. Its not like this is the ceiling of the team.

 

Kyle Lowry is 30 and once he starts declining (which could be soon), they're f***ed.

[SpeedyGose]

JV in January:

 

60% FG

87% FT

65% TS

 

Averaging only 25 MPG

 

It's impossible for anyone to defend Casey any longer. JV should be at 32-35 minutes every single night.

 

100% agree. Been beating this drum all f***ign season.

 

The team is garbage on defense, why not play your most effective offensive players?

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Sums up the team perfectly:

 

http://therunnersports.com/2015/01/20/toronto-raptors-scouting-report/

 

Even though the guards are a strength for this team, one of the best ways to beat the Raptors right now is to attack them with fast guards, running their guys through tons of pick-and-rolls. If you can, try to get Jonas Valanciunas’s man involved instead of Amir Johnson’s. The Raptors have an aggressive defensive rotation that puts a lot of pressure on their bigs. Amir is amazing at being able to get back in position, but Jonas is a step slower at times and you can take advantage of this. It also causes them to be out of position for defensive rebounds, so even if you miss the shot, there’s a good chance you can get an offensive board. This will cause Coach Dwane Casey to get frustrated with JV and sit him down early, which is a huge bonus for your team since he has the 2nd highest Win Shares, TVA, and PER on the Raptors behind Kyle Lowry. He’s also first on the team in Win Shares per 48 minutes. You can also try to attack Valanciunas to get him into foul trouble. That will, again, cause Coach Casey to get frustrated and bench Jonas. But let’s say you have no big men and JV is tearing up your team in the first half? Don’t worry, because Casey will still bench him and neglect to go back to him at the end of the game for some reason.

 

--

 

Casey is becoming a massive liability.

[burlingtonbandit]

Kyle Lowry is 30 and once he starts declining (which could be soon), they're f***ed.

 

Well yeah if they were to keep the same roster in tact.. I really doubt Masai is going to stick with this core and ride it out the next few years... He's been a really good GM so far in the league so I think you gotta trust him to do whats best. I think if he can move Derozan for a good piece he will do it.

 

Lowry is also turning 29 in March so I think he has a good couple years left before he declines.

[SpeedyGose]

Sums up the team perfectly:

 

http://therunnersports.com/2015/01/20/toronto-raptors-scouting-report/

 

Even though the guards are a strength for this team, one of the best ways to beat the Raptors right now is to attack them with fast guards, running their guys through tons of pick-and-rolls. If you can, try to get Jonas Valanciunas’s man involved instead of Amir Johnson’s. The Raptors have an aggressive defensive rotation that puts a lot of pressure on their bigs. Amir is amazing at being able to get back in position, but Jonas is a step slower at times and you can take advantage of this. It also causes them to be out of position for defensive rebounds, so even if you miss the shot, there’s a good chance you can get an offensive board. This will cause Coach Dwane Casey to get frustrated with JV and sit him down early, which is a huge bonus for your team since he has the 2nd highest Win Shares, TVA, and PER on the Raptors behind Kyle Lowry. He’s also first on the team in Win Shares per 48 minutes. You can also try to attack Valanciunas to get him into foul trouble. That will, again, cause Coach Casey to get frustrated and bench Jonas. But let’s say you have no big men and JV is tearing up your team in the first half? Don’t worry, because Casey will still bench him and neglect to go back to him at the end of the game for some reason.

 

--

 

Casey is becoming a massive liability.

 

Painfully accurate. JV did get some burn down the stretch vs Gasol last night, which is a step in the right direction. Hope to see more of that.

 

I don't see why Hansbro even plays, 3 man rotation of JV/PPat/Amir each playng around 30-32 mins would be fine and Chuck filling in the extra minutes when needed.

[GD]

I dunno if I'd play Amir 30-32 in the regular season. I'd like to bring in an extra tall guy to back up JV at C, and then have 2Pat play majority minutes at PF and Amir some minutes at PF, while saving his health for playoffs.

[SpeedyGose]

I dunno if I'd play Amir 30-32 in the regular season. I'd like to bring in an extra tall guy to back up JV at C, and then have 2Pat play majority minutes at PF and Amir some minutes at PF, while saving his health for playoffs.

 

Agreed. I think that's one of our biggest missing pieces right now. A quality backup C to save minutes on Amir. also getting a legitimate backup PG and GV off this team

[burlingtonbandit]

Thing is big men are hard to acquire and especially so when really all you can deal is a 2nd round pick.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Thing is big men are hard to acquire and especially so when really all you can deal is a 2nd round pick.

 

Nogueira, expiring deals, several first rounders and some second rounders.

 

There are enough trade chips to get an impact guy.

[dineke]

Well yeah if they were to keep the same roster in tact.. I really doubt Masai is going to stick with this core and ride it out the next few years... He's been a really good GM so far in the league so I think you gotta trust him to do whats best. I think if he can move Derozan for a good piece he will do it.

 

Lowry is also turning 29 in March so I think he has a good couple years left before he declines.

 

I know but I was just responding to your point that this team hasn't reached its full potential which could very be false because the only star player on this team is approaching 30.

[burlingtonbandit]

I know but I was just responding to your point that this team hasn't reached its full potential which could very be false because the only star player on this team is approaching 30.

 

I meant that the franchise isn't in a treadmill because they have a ton of assets to improve the team. Derozan, JV and to a small extent Ross all have pretty good value along with a few 1st round picks that could get you good pieces. Also the team has lots of cap space to get a FA. This isn't like Brooklyn where they are stuck with crap and no assets.

[burlingtonbandit]

Nogueira, expiring deals, several first rounders and some second rounders.

 

There are enough trade chips to get an impact guy.

 

I meant to get a backup big man. You aren't going to give up a 1st rounder for a backup C that improve your team but doesn't make you a legit contender.

[jays_fever]

I meant to get a backup big man. You aren't going to give up a 1st rounder for a backup C that improve your team but doesn't make you a legit contender.

 

If it's in the mid to late 20's you could. Those picks don't really have a lot of value. Im of course talking about a impact big off the bench that could play 20+ minutes a game

[burlingtonbandit]

If it's in the mid to late 20's you could. Those picks don't really have a lot of value. Im of course talking about a impact big off the bench that could play 20+ minutes a game

 

It most likely ends up in the 20 range and I don't think you would part with that pick for a rental backup big. And if you pick up a big with more years left on his contract then you are sacrificing cap space for a backup C. I just don't really see a player that fits what Toronto needs and only being traded for a mid to late 1st round pick or less.

[John_Havok]

Someone wanna tell me how Brandon Jennings put up 21 assists last night?

[Orgfiller]

Someone wanna tell me how Brandon Jennings put up 21 assists last night?

 

First 20 point-20 assist game since Nash in 2009 (I read somewhere), lmao.

[Orgfiller]

Lowry to start! Barkley giving him mad props.

[Orgfiller]

Whoa, apparently JV was seventh in frontcourt voting. Not bad for someone who unjustly sits for half the game. Ahead of Noah.

 

Our fans are pretty good.

[burlingtonbandit]

Congrats to Lowry and to the fans that helped him get in. Hopefully he can get a rest pretty soon though.

[Horses Fart]

Congrats Kyle lowery!!! He's had a few off games lately so let's hope this motivates him going into the break.

[Orgfiller]

Dude, the AD transformation was insane. Good thing he became a beast too, poor guy must've gotten bullied over his appearance.