Raptors Discussion: v80|Conf Finals | vs Mil | Game 4: Tue, May 21 | 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT| Bucks lead 2-1

[LaPlante94]

1) The only difference in your scenarios is Delon, and he's not a build-around piece. He's a nice PG, but he never took the next step I was hoping for. He pretty much seems like he's destined for the "good backup" or "2nd/3rd division starter" type career.

2) This is no longer a center's league. The final 4 teams' proper centers are DeMarcus Cousins (an oddball, skill wise. Also hurt and a luxury for the Warriors), Brook Lopez, Jusuf Nurkic, and Enes Kanter. That's not a sterling group. The league is moving away from the necessity of a strong center. The fact that the Raptors are employing Gasol and Ibaka is considered a bit of a departure from the new norm.

Yeah I know Delon isn't anything special or anything but he was just somebody I'd rather watch during our rebuilding years over someone like Van Vleet.

Isn't Leonard starting or playing more than Kanter for Portland now? Anyways, I still think you need a C that makes an impact whether it is scoring or rebounding or defending and we don't really got that. I guess I can't completely blame them though because they are sagging off everyone at the 3 point line and literally have 4 players around the paint.

 

[theaub]

Centers can still be useful if they're actually playing well.

Its definitely not a big man's league when they're shooting 3/20.

 

[yvrtojfk]

What could we get from the Lakers if the Lowry rumours are true?

 

[DueDiligence]

If Leonard goes you try and trade anybody you can. There is no one on this team you can build around.

 

[DueDiligence]

The Bucks are revealing all of the Raptors' cracks

The problem with the Gasol trade was that he was a slight up grade on JV which if it was a one for one trade you could argue was a good move. But when the extra pieces were included it was the wrong move.
The Raptors biggest need was a legit scorer and Delon Wright, Miles and the 2nd could have been bundled with Annouby to get you a stud scorer.
This new player could have started for Green and then you have Ibaka starting with Lowry, Leonard, Siakim and the new guy. JV and Green come off the bench. That would have been a better and deeper team.

 

[The don godfather]

If bucks win tonight slick world wrestling federation manager used to say turn of the lights the party's over!

 

[Radiohead]

What could we get from the Lakers if the Lowry rumours are true?

These rumours make no sense. They have cap space for one max player and they would waste it on Lowry? Even if they struck out on Kawhi or Durant, it makes no sense.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Kawhi Leonard blames turnovers and missed open shots for the Raptors' early struggles in Toronto's Game 2 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals. Kawhi adds that it will be challenging for the Raptors to win at home in Game 3.

So Kawhi, where do you go from here?
Looks at reporter politely but you could just see him thinking OMG, why do these questions have to be so dumb and then says - To Toronto for game 3.

Thanks for posting this, I don't think I've ever seen him interviewed before but he seems to be thoughtful, well spoken and as smart off the court as he is on the court. Unless we pull off the comeback he's gone and I'm gonna miss him so much.

 

[Cor]

These rumours make no sense. They have cap space for one max player and they would waste it on Lowry? Even if they struck out on Kawhi or Durant, it makes no sense.

Kevin Durant isn't signing with LA (almost certainly going to NY)
Kawhi is likely staying with us, or going to the Clippers.

Point being, Lakers will take their shot at the other two, but they are likely focusing on more realistic targets. And if Kawhi leaves, Lowry will be available from us. So it makes sense.

 

[Stylizer1]

The problem with the Gasol trade was that he was a slight up grade on JV which if it was a one for one trade you could argue was a good move. But when the extra pieces were included it was the wrong move.
The Raptors biggest need was a legit scorer and Delon Wright, Miles and the 2nd could have been bundled with Annouby to get you a stud scorer.
This new player could have started for Green and then you have Ibaka starting with Lowry, Leonard, Siakim and the new guy. JV and Green come off the bench. That would have been a better and deeper team.

The bigger issue is that Toronto hardly move on offence. It's hard to be a play making big man when everyone is standing still. The raps comedown the floor, big man goes into the paint, then comes out and set a pick at the three point line. Everyone just stands on the 3 point line. No one can perform a pick and roll, they don't run any back door plays, and they don't force anyone to double team them down low. Siakam has absolutely no post game anymore. All their decisions on offence are too slow it gives the D time to adjust.

 

[Hadoop]

Isn't Leonard starting or playing more than Kanter for Portland now?

Kanter has a separated shoulder, so yes

 

[Hadoop]

The bigger issue is that Toronto hardly move on offence. It's hard to be a play making big man when everyone is standing still. The raps comedown the floor, big man goes into the paint, then comes out and set a pick at the three point line. Everyone just stands on the 3 point line. No one can perform a pick and roll, the don't run any back door plays, and they don't for anyone to to double team them down low. Siakam has absolutely no post game anymore. All their decisions on offence are too slow it gives the D time to adjust.

Part of it is fatigue. Part of it is their lack of (championship calibre) chemistry due to Kawhi's load management, the myriad of injuries and the major changes to personnel at the trade deadline.

 

[Stylizer1]

Part of it is fatigue. Part of it is their lack of (championship calibre) chemistry due to Kawhi's load management, the myriad of injuries and the major changes to personnel at the trade deadline.

The first game was definitely fatigue in the 4th quarter and running Leonard into the ground. Second game was fundamentally bad. Cutting too many corners and hoping the next guy gets hot from 3.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Danny and Marc have to get their head of their ass and knock down a few shots.

 

[Paladin2799]

The problem with the Gasol trade was that he was a slight up grade on JV which if it was a one for one trade you could argue was a good move. But when the extra pieces were included it was the wrong move.
The Raptors biggest need was a legit scorer and Delon Wright, Miles and the 2nd could have been bundled with Annouby to get you a stud scorer.
This new player could have started for Green and then you have Ibaka starting with Lowry, Leonard, Siakim and the new guy. JV and Green come off the bench. That would have been a better and deeper team.

I think the problem was not trading OG to get Butler.

In hind sight if they had Butler and KL taking scoring chances and Siakam/Gasol providing their forward strength, thats tough to deal with.

Their biggest problem was holding onto OG when dealing with Butler.

 

[Kurtz]

I think the problem was not trading OG to get Butler.

In hind sight if they had Butler and KL taking scoring chances and Siakam/Gasol providing their forward strength, thats tough to deal with.

Their biggest problem was holding onto OG when dealing with Butler.

Did you see that deal being rumored somewhere? What would the complete trade package look like?

 

[DueDiligence]

I think the problem was not trading OG to get Butler.

In hind sight if they had Butler and KL taking scoring chances and Siakam/Gasol providing their forward strength, thats tough to deal with.

Their biggest problem was holding onto OG when dealing with Butler.

Agreed . I think Masai wanted to hold onto OG because he thought he would be a future star. But what's the point when you are all in this year with Kawhi? And then go one step further with Gasol.

 

[The Nemesis]

I think the problem was not trading OG to get Butler.

In hind sight if they had Butler and KL taking scoring chances and Siakam/Gasol providing their forward strength, thats tough to deal with.

Their biggest problem was holding onto OG when dealing with Butler.

There was never any indication that a package of OG + other non-Siakam stuff was going to get Butler. The team can't trade another 1st rounder until 2021 too, so that hurt. Can't just assume that the problem was not doing something that we have no idea if it was even possible to begin with.

 

[Jozay]

Running the same starting 5 is not ideal. Would've liked to see Ibaka in there for Gasol.

 

[Alerion]

Gorgeous set play there until Lowry blew the catch

 

[hamzarocks]

Let's go raptors

 

[Suntouchable13]

Please keep it goin!

 

[Radiohead]

Jesus, hopefully Kawhi is okay.

And I can't believe Milwaukee is actually shooting worse than us from 3 this series.

 

[Alerion]

Gasol hits a few and all of a sudden the Bucks actually have to close out which opens up the paint a ton for Gasol's vision. This is a lot more like the guy we need to see.

 

[Radiohead]

Gasol not f***ing around. This is what he's capable of.