2015-2016 Toronto Raptors Thread: We Have "It"!

[hockeyfan1]

Final score:  Raptors 98    Indiana  87  Series tied 1-1.

Even though Lowry (18 pts.) didn't burn up the scoreboard, he played excellent defensively and covering  Indiana's Paul George every chance he had.

DeRozan was benched in the fourth quarter and with good reason.

What was right about this game was coach Casey utilizing the Raptors bench strength -- Corey Joseph (16 pts.), Patrick Patterson(14 pts.), Byombo, et al -- and it helped the winning cause.  The Raptors played aggressive, a more physical game than they displayed in the Game 1 loss.

Valenciunas, who had 23 pts., including 15 rebounds, was a big physical presence up front.  The Pacers had plenty of problems figuring him out.  There was no stopping Jonas.  And there won't be for the rest of the series unless Indiana has plans.  It won't be easy.

With the Raptors firing on all cylinders, so to speak, even with the Pacers paying more attention to Lowry & DeRozan, as long as it spells teamwork and smarts, they should keep on their winning pace.  Hopefully, DeMar can get going again.

Game 2 certainly showed which team wanted it more.

Game 3 goes Thursday in Indiana.

Way to go, T.O.!


Source:    Sportsnet,  CBC sports

 

[hockeyfan1]

Demar to leave Raptors in off-season?  Rumours...

This summer will be a major one for the Los Angeles Lakers as they will be looking to make a huge splash in free agency. Kevin Durant is clearly the prize of the free agency class, but arguably the next best player is Toronto Raptors wing DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan has obvious ties to the Los Angeles area, being a graduate of Compton High School and playing his sole year of college ball at USC.

His Los Angeles area roots are far from a guarantee that he is planning on joining the Lakers this summer, but Stephen A. Smith said on SportsCenter that Derozan is looking to come to Los Angeles in free agency.

The question now is whether DeRozan would actually leave a Raptors team that finished with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference this year, to join a Lakers team in complete disarray.


http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-demar-derozan-looking-to-come-to-la-this-summer/2016/04/18/

 

[L K]

So how much money has Derozan lost?

4GP 21/71 (.296 FG%) 0/9 (.000 3PT FG%)  11/15 FT% 13 turnovers to 6 assists

Honestly at this point they should just move on from him and start giving Powell his minutes.  It's pretty clear that Derozan isn't capable of performing in the postseason.  Whether it is some form of ref bias (seriously how does he go from averaging 8.4 free throws/game to having two games in the series with 0 free throws) or an inability to adapt his game, it's just not working.

It would be also great if Valanciunas stopped getting soft foul calls on him that that him out of the game.

 

[hockeyfan1]

So how much money has Derozan lost?

4GP 21/71 (.296 FG%) 0/9 (.000 3PT FG%)  11/15 FT% 13 turnovers to 6 assists

Honestly at this point they should just move on from him and start giving Powell his minutes.  It's pretty clear that Derozan isn't capable of performing in the postseason.  Whether it is some form of ref bias (seriously how does he go from averaging 8.4 free throws/game to having two games in the series with 0 free throws) or an inability to adapt his game, it's just not working.

It would be also great if Valanciunas stopped getting soft foul calls on him that that him out of the game.

It's highly doubtful they'll change their strategy in their approach in this series.  This is what Lowry had to say:

Despite the Pacers? success, the Raptors seem determined to stay with the same approach. To a man the Pacers emerged from the game and noted their efforts to move off the ball and play for the extra pass. The Raptors don?t seem ready to embrace that concept yet. They still believe their contested shots are going to fall.

?To be honest, I feel like the shots I?m personally taking, and DeMar?s taking, we?ve made all year,? said Lowry. ?They?re just not falling right now. But I?m not going to shy away from taking them. And neither is DeMar. Neither one of is going to shy away from taking shots that we?ve made all year. Tip of the hat: They?re scheming for me and DeMar and they?re making the shots tougher. But at the end of the day we?ve still got to make shots.?

Guess it will have to be up to coach Casey to strategize.

An embarrassing loss, indeed:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-outworked-hustled-embarrassing-loss-pacers/

 

[L K]

Raptors trailed 15 after the 1st quarter.  They trailed by 13 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  They lead by 6 in the final 3 minutes after a 21-2 run in the 4th quarter.

 

[L K]

Raptors hold on to win by 3 points by 0.1 second as the Pacers just missed out on a buzzer beater to tie it.

 

[Kin]

Jebus. I'll take the win but a 2 seed should not have to kill themselves to beat a 7. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

Great comeback win! 

Raptors 102  Pacers  99.  Toronto leads series 3 games to 2.

The Raptors finally had production from their beleaguered AIl-Star,  DeMar Derozan who contributed 34 pts. on the night.  Lowry, with pts., Valenciunas & Byonbo with 11 each,  and Powell with  11, combined to power the  Raptors.

Indiana's star player Paul George had 39 pts.

Game 6 is Friday in Indianapolis.

More:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-mount-fourth-quarter-rally-earn-crucial-game-5-win-vs-pacers/

 

[Deebo]

oh my.

 

[Spider]

That was ugly...

 

[Kin]

I don't even know what to say at this point.

 

[L K]

I don't even know what to say at this point.

Enjoy LA Demar.  Take your 3/13 shooting with 1 assist and 4 turnovers and porous defense with you.

Win or lose, Masai is absolutely nuts if he signs him to a max deal.

 

[Kin]

Enjoy LA Demar.  Take your 3/13 shooting with 1 assist and 4 turnovers and porous defense with you.

Win or lose, Masai is absolutely nuts if he signs him to a max deal.

I mean that's true, sure, but Lowry's shooting under 30% and under 20% from 3. I don't know how you don't blow this team up if their "all-stars" play like this in the first round.

 

[L K]

Enjoy LA Demar.  Take your 3/13 shooting with 1 assist and 4 turnovers and porous defense with you.

Win or lose, Masai is absolutely nuts if he signs him to a max deal.

I mean that's true, sure, but Lowry's shooting under 30% and under 20% from 3. I don't know how you don't blow this team up if their "all-stars" play like this in the first round.

Oh, absolutely.  I mean I'm sure Lowry's elbow isn't 100% but this is three years in a row for him too.  He was supposed to be in better shape to not wear down but he's been just as error prone.  He takes bad shots and his defense is reckless at times where he gambles and allows easy penetration.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Enjoy LA Demar.  Take your 3/13 shooting with 1 assist and 4 turnovers and porous defense with you.

Win or lose, Masai is absolutely nuts if he signs him to a max deal.

Oh, I'm certain L.A. will beckon.  In fact, unless I'm incredibly offbeat here, isn't it's so possible that DeRozan does not have his mind (set) on these playoffs?  The way he's played up to now,  one would think he's dreaming of L.A. already. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

Indiana 101  Toronto 83 .  Series tied at 3 games apiece.

Turnovers, turnovers, and more turnovers. (Sigh)  What will it take for the Toronto Raptors to finally win a playoff round?

Not since the year 2001, fifteen years ago, that the Raptors franchise won a (second round) playoff series.  Those were the days of the "Vinsanity" (Vince Carter), of Antonio Davis & Mo Pete, of Tracy McGrady & Chris Bosh, of Jose Calderon et al.  But that was then, and this is now, nearly two decades of failing to win a playoff round since that VInce Carter attempted his three point shot,  that banged the rim and ended the Raptors chance for a Game 7 second round win ... yes, it was that long ago...

...circa 2016.  The Raptors, having finished second in the East Conf. just slightly behind the Cleveland Cavs, setting an all-time franchise record for wins, backed by All-Stars DeBozan & Lowry, excellent bench depth in Patterson, Joseph, Powell, Carroll, etc... what gives?

Just as the Raptors lcoked solid and in charge of Game 6 in Indiana, with a comfortable lead at the half, the root fell in, so to speak  The Pacers scored 61 pts. in the second half while the Raptors responded with a measly 39.  To add to the misery, Toronto's offence all but dried up, and the defence...well, there wasn't any...except for turnover after turnover, disorganized play, etc....

...enough said!  The only hope Toronto fans have is if your team wakes up and faces the music, so to speak.  We can only hope and wait ...

Game 7 goes Sunday in Toronto.


Source:  Sportsnet,  CBCSports 

 

[barney_rebel]

We rule man!

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

With this series win and the draft lottery win, hosting Toronto sports talk radio tomorrow is going to be the easiest gig in the world.

 

[Kin]

I just took my first breaths in, like, 3 hours.

 

[L K]

That 4th quarter gave me a pretty nasty ulcer.

Derozan started off so good and then well........I mean he hits some important shots but 33 shots.  That was Kobe's retirement game level effort.