PG: Raptors establish a winning culture

[Dalek]

Nice to see the team playing better the last 2 games. More teamwork shown on both ends of the floor than in previous games. Mavericks played badly tonight, but that is not the only reason we won. We have faced other teams this season that have played badly and still beaten us easily.

Positives I take from the past two games are better teamwork/chemistry, better production from bench, better pace for the team (Run and gun B-ball is not advisable for a team with poor individual defending guards. I think this team is built for a slower pace where running happens only off of open-court & top-of-key turnovers - the slower pace allows you to limit turnovers and long rebounds where half your team is still running towards the opponent's basket, which in turn allows you to set up your defense so you can defend as a team instead of having 1 or 2 individuals back on D), and having the team's best performing players (this season) on the court for significant minutes together. This team will still struggle against more talented teams who play well, but if they play together like they have the last 2 games, their winning percentage will go up.

Also, it was really fun for me to see T-Ross & Demar on the fast break together a few times tonight!

Casey ball should be low turnover, grind it out basketball. It is why I favour us using more low postscoring if we make a trade. Someone like Luis Scola/Millsap would be ideal, but maybe Ed Davis can play the role.

[Gntts]

Niiice. Loved it!

I did not hope that Demar would ever pass the ball while driving to the basket. Glad to see him sharing the ball a lot yesterday. The pass to TRoss was not the only one he did make in the situations in which he was almost never passing earlier this year. It is good for the team.

[fredericklove]

Wow at whoever called Amy Fay average...LOL

That's not her is it? Her boobs are bigger than that and she's a lot thicker. Kind of hard to tell. Funny that I actually know her too lol

It's her, her original source says Amy Fay. Very very average looking I guess

[fabste]

Wow at whoever called Amy Fay average...LOL

For italian standards she IS average

[Choker]

It's her, her original source says Amy Fay. Very very average looking I guess

Dang she's changed a lot since I've last seen her. Lowkey heard she's been getting caught up in that stardom life that would cause one to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time ahem.

[J-Roc]

There was a painful period in yesterday's game where the Raps were jacking up long range shots, or bad shots, and luckily getting offensive rebounds. Then Kleiza hits a ridiculously deep three. And Jack Armstrong tells us this is Dwane Casey "grind it out" basketball. Sad.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

but...but...I thought we needed space in order to win. I'm confused.

Well, this game doesn't disprove that does it? We took out a Val and played Linas to provide spacing, that busted their zone and we pulled away. If you want to make the anti Bargs point not sure pointing to spacing is the way because every game since Casey is trying to find away to get spacing from the four.

I know so much is going to go on Bargs, but to me moving the ball and trusting team mates better doesn't sound like Barg's issues as much as the other absentee "star".

Also Jonas has potential, but really all this year has been about giving him experience, which is fine, and I'm glad he's getting a free pass, but he's not really giving us much, and really hasn't all year.

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[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

I was really impressed with DeRozan, he hit some tough shot when the team needed it and the gsame was in the balance. Down the stretch we got hot (LK) from 3 and pulled away but until the I thought DeMar had come out and put the team on his back. Made a statement.

I was impressed with Jose, who was big tonight. Have to thing the Mavs would love to have him.

Of course Ross has a solid 2nd Quarter, kind of fell in love with it abit, but overall strong game, and of couse Linas got hot from 3.

The team played together on both ends though and I think most of all that's the difference.

Was funny after all the BC Focus hating to hear Cases interviews duirng the game, where he essentially echoed the sentiments.



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[Illuminati_]

but...but...I thought we needed space in order to win. I'm confused.

Well, this game doesn't disprove that does it? We took out a Val and played Linas to provide spacing, that busted their zone and we pulled away. If you want to make the anti Bargs point not sure pointing to spacing is the way because every game since Casey is trying to find away to get spacing from the four.

I know so much is going to go on Bargs, but to me moving the ball and trusting team mates better doesn't sound like Barg's issues as much as the other absentee "star".

Also Jonas has potential, but really all this year has been about giving him experience, which is fine, and I'm glad he's getting a free pass, but he's not really giving us much, and really hasn't all year.

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"but but but...spacing" posters who keep repeating this just make themselves look ignorant daily. Like mentioned above why in the world was Linas subbed in? When you have two big man with no mid range game to speak of yet alone one that stretches to 25 feet out howin the world will demar operate? All a team has to do is collapse on the entire team and we all know Demar cant shoot 15 feet out.

but but but....lol its a simple concept.

[Nothingface]

The real question is, are we better without Bargnani, or are we better without Lowry.

The team rarely looks cohesive with Lowry at the helm...

[Indeed]

but...but...I thought we needed space in order to win. I'm confused.

Kleiza is the stretch big. If you didn't watch the game, you may want to read the comments here.
As people said above, our system needs a stretch big, 3 point shooting, passing and defense. Ross is a big part of it. However, I agree with someone that our offense relies on Kleiza will not be consistent. And our defense is good, but few of them are unforced error. Also, Dallas is a small team, Marion is their PF with Brand in the middle.

A win is a win, so perhaps we will look forward and see if our offense and defense can maintain.

[mirrornick]

so we won every game that you created GT?

Oh boy I might get banned. I'm 5-1 this season and preseason when I make a game thread.

Sorry folks . I will not create another GT this year

Nope, most of the wins were in preseason.

[Choker]

The real question is, are we better without Bargnani, or are we better without Lowry.

The team rarely looks cohesive with Lowry at the helm...

Even with cohesiveness we would still have an abundance of problems.

[Indeed]

but...but...I thought we needed space in order to win. I'm confused.

Well, this game doesn't disprove that does it? We took out a Val and played Linas to provide spacing, that busted their zone and we pulled away. If you want to make the anti Bargs point not sure pointing to spacing is the way because every game since Casey is trying to find away to get spacing from the four.

I know so much is going to go on Bargs, but to me moving the ball and trusting team mates better doesn't sound like Barg's issues as much as the other absentee "star".

Also Jonas has potential, but really all this year has been about giving him experience, which is fine, and I'm glad he's getting a free pass, but he's not really giving us much, and really hasn't all year.

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Yes, Bargnani has became like Bosh, a black hole who only look for his shot. This is why I turn away from Bosh.
I thought I would give Bargnani a year for him to adjust, since he showed in his rookie year, he is a willing passer, but I guess the time has came, and we cannot afford someone to think "me first". We cannot have "I need to make shot", "I need to get into rhythm", "I need to stop my man scoring efficiently", and etc. It should be "the team needs to make shot", "the team needs to get into rhythm", "the team needs to stop the other team scoring efficiently", and etc.

[Choker]

Although Linas and Ross were the huge boosters for us that won the game, Ed Davis' decision making was what was helping us stay in it initially before those above mentioned two broke out. There are a lot of problems on this team and not having a legit inside presence who could make decisions is one of them. Hypothetically DeRozan is one of those options but he's not a good decision maker though.

Davis has been a huge bright spot for this team.