Raptors Discussion: v97 Raptor's 2024-2025 - Training camp begins Oct. 1

[GoonieFace]

"Masterclass"

The correct answer is that Darko changed the defense to hide Pascal defensively and that Pascal took a lot of high percentage shots. If that were, say, Boucher, then Toronto would have actually tried to play Darko's system. At this point, the last 2 games have looked an awful lot like Pascal giving Darko's system the finger.

Before anyone reads a lot into Lewenburg's tweet, realize that Pascal was officially 15 of 20 on 2s (almost all layups), but was realistically something like 15 of 27 with a ton of bailout calls made by the ref that don't happen if Kuzma was guarding him all game or if the other team isn't Washington.

Nothing about what Siakam did is sustainable on its own, but it also goes directly against the type of team that the Raptors want to be.

Looking at the boxscore, that was the best game of the year for Boucher, Achiuwa, and Dick, and a positive (albeit worst game of his last 5) for Flynn. For the starters, that was Schroeder's worst game by a country mile, Poetl was good but not great, it was obviously Pascal's "best" game, Otto was okay in 14 minutes, and Scottie had moments where it looked like he completely checked out of the game (like last year).

I cringed every time Pascal was leading the fastbreak because he kept making bad decisions. The Raptors scored 23 points off 22 turnovers and 22 fastbreak points (they were outscored off of turnovers and barely won fastbreak points, when this is literally the strongest part of the team's game most nights).

I’m glad you said this. I was frustrated watching this game. Siakam is smoke and mirrors, but anyone that didn’t watch and saw the box score would be gushing all over him

 

[Bjindaho]

I’m glad you said this. I was frustrated watching this game. Siakam is smoke and mirrors, but anyone that didn’t watch and saw the box score would be gushing all over him

That Grange article is hard to read...and I noticed that someone edited the title of it since last night.

The issue the Raptors had last night had little to do with the team "struggling" and a lot to do with style.

I have no problem with Pascal doing what he did when he's on the floor with 4 bench guys (same with Gary), but when Scottie, Schroeder and Poetl are out there, it isn't good.

A couple of things that I noticed that don't show up in boxscores. There were I believe 4 shots blocked after a Siakam pass because he led teammates directly into a shot block. He made some terrible passes that led to assists (or missed shots).

Schroeder and Barnes seem to be playing into the 0.5 basketball fairly well. The bench has some pieces that are inconsistent. Siakam was playing 10 second basketball instead.

 

[DuklaNation]

Wizards clearly tanked last night. Brutal to watch so early in the season. Nice comeback still for Raps but the concerns on the roster are more legit than ever. Fools gold wins haven't fooled me for a long time.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[canucksfan]

Ugly game.

 

[fancy lad]

Just when you thought there was something to get behind with this team, they SLAM you back down to reality.

 

[1specter]

Without OG they are awful defensively. Schroder and Dick got eaten alive.

 

[Bjindaho]

Positives:

Barnes
Siakam was actually playing Darko's system (he struggled a bit with turnovers but also should have had more assists if guys had knocked down some of the shots he created)
Unsustainable fouls (while I mentioned last game that Siakam's offensive was unsustainable due to cheap foul calls, the same thing was true this game of Dame getting foul calls on plays where he initiated contact and Lopez not getting called even though he committed at least a dozen fouls in the game)
The halftime adjustments from Darko (especially putting Scottie on Dame)

Negatives:
Turnovers (but they can be learned from)
The team's defensive structure to start the game (this has been a problem each game without OG and Trent)

Down a starter and the 6th man, this was always an uphill climb (like the Boston game). Milwaukee's guards were hitting low percentage shots all night which made the D look worse than it was. Darko rigidly ensuring that 10 guys play every game is refreshing after the Nurse era. I'm not sure that Milwaukee wins that game with OG and Trent (because of how much that would have changed Milwaukee's offense).

As hard as the game was to watch because of Milwaukee knocking down ridiculous shots and getting calls, this is one of those opportunities for the Raptors to grow. If we could get this Pascal, but get him the ball more, I think he could be a good compliment to Scottie, because he wasn't playing with tunnel vision (he had been playing get to the basket and two-man with Poetl the last couple of games).

 

[DuklaNation]

Team needs more losses to pile up and force a change at the top.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Masai is a tad overrated probably, if you think about it. I don’t think he intended to compete with Lowry and DD. In 2013 if you told me a team led by DD and Lowry would be one of the best teams in the East for 5 seasons in a row, I’d say “no chance”. He kinda fluked into that. But he does get a ton of credit for turning DD into Kawhi and making the necessary moves to win a ring. After the championship, his record is spotty at best.

 

[weems]

Masai is a tad overrated probably, if you think about it. I don’t think he intended to compete with Lowry and DD. In 2013 if you told me a team led by DD and Lowry would be one of the best teams in the East for 5 seasons in a row, I’d say “no chance”. He kinda fluked into that. But he does get a ton of credit for turning DD into Kawhi and making the necessary moves to win a ring. After the championship, his record is spotty at best.

Last seasons trade deadline was a bigtime fail.

Had a chance to move some of our players for picks/prospects that fit more into Barnes timeline but they actually did the opposite and traded a first for Poeltl which hardly moved the needle.

This current Raps team is definition of a treadmill team.

 

[saska sault]

Looking at some salary cap matching and "reclamation" projects... Andrew Wiggins would be a Canadian kid I would make a move for if the cost was low. He is struggling and Golden State needs more bench pieces .. could move multiple guys and lower picks potentially as they may just want to get out from under his cap commitment. Lots of salaries on the raptors could make it work, these trades tend to work much.. Trent Jr and Porter Jr? I know it may be moving pieces around on the Titanic but at least he has contract length and a history of production and has won a title. I like Boucher but him or Precious could be moved also.

 

[Bjindaho]

Looking at some salary cap matching and "reclamation" projects... Andrew Wiggins would be a Canadian kid I would make a move for if the cost was low. He is struggling and Golden State needs more bench pieces .. could move multiple guys and lower picks potentially as they may just want to get out from under his cap commitment. Lots of salaries on the raptors could make it work, these trades tend to work much.. Trent Jr and Porter Jr? I know it may be moving pieces around on the Titanic but at least he has contract length and a history of production and has won a title. I like Boucher but him or Precious could be moved also.

This is way to close to the Poetl trade conceptually IMO.

If the Raptors wanted to target Wiggins, I think a Siakam trade (hopefully with Kuminga coming the other way) would make more sense for both teams.

 

[mcleex]

Darko literally has no offensive plays out of the timeout

 

[Dr.Funk]

Please no.

 

[DuklaNation]

Best thing for the future of this team is to lose against the Pistons tomorrow at home. Media, many fans, the team itself, is completely delusional about the potential here. Its extremely limited with so little offensive talent.

1-5 record against the top East teams confirms the obvious, this team is 1st round fodder at best. Rebuild.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[KapG]

When did they start putting digital ads on the court? Watches a few games and this is the first time I’ve noticed them. Neon f***ing green too. I hate this.

 

[trellaine201]

LOL never seen a league with so many cry babies. Hope he ends up in Detroit.

 

[fancy lad]

Are the detroit pistons the worst pro Sports team in north America?

they have been so shitty for so long with no sign that they’ll get better.

how can a team be so bad for so long?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Are the detroit pistons the worst pro Sports team in north America?

they have been so shitty for so long with no sign that they’ll get better.

how can a team be so bad for so long?

It's a warning to all you people that just want to tank to the bottom. It's not that easy, you could be Detroit for the next 5-10 years. It takes a long time to come out of the basement in the NBA, if ever.

 

[fancy lad]

It's a warning to all you people that just want to tank to the bottom. It's not that easy, you could be Detroit for the next 5-10 years. It takes a long time to come out of the basement in the NBA, if ever.

Yes I have been thinking this for many Years.

detroit, Orlando, indiana, charlotte, new orleans, Minnesota, and probably others I am forgetting, the list of Teams that can’t quite rebuild in the nba is long.

Being a raptor fan isnt so bad, right?

 

[DuklaNation]

OKC is 10-4, one of the top teams now after a very brief tanking period with plenty of draft capital to spend on improving the roster. There are bad management examples for all phases of teams.

 

[canucksfan]

Raptors don’t need a complete rebuild just a retool. That should have started last TDL.