Playoffs G3: Toronto Raptors (2) @ Orlando Magic (7) - A Reptile Dysfunction

[DiplomaticMagic]

I absolutely hate Isaac sitting in crunch time, especially when he was arguably our best player and Evan was hot garbage.

Both Vuc and Fournier need to go.

[MasterGMer]

Do we have a shot at JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris this summer? I personally want Kemba but we have Fultz.

[pepe1991]

So much hot takes

Hell, i'll give it a shot
Grant would own Raptors because nobody expects guard to be that slow

[Xatticus]

Ever since they put Green on Dj, the whole complexion of this game has changed.

Danny Green is an outstanding defender. Back-court defense against Augustin and Fournier was decisive.

..

As was the lack of it on Saikam. Again this is a really good way for the young guys to get experience so Maybe one day Isaac will be as good.

Sent from my VS501 using RealGM mobile app

I'm not sure how you can see Isaac as the problem at the defensive end. He was the only person that slowed down Siakam all night long and we would've been down 20-0 to start the game were it not for Isaac. Aside from him scoring the first five points, he forced two misses from Siakam, forced a miss from Leonard, stole the ball from Leonard, and forced a jump ball from Leonard. This all happened in the first four minutes of the game.

I thought Vucevic was pretty good at the defensive end in the first half, but he was terrible offensively. Evan was miserable at both ends all night long. The Ross-Fournier combination is a defensive liability in this series as neither one can cover Siakam or Leonard.

This is a tough one to lose. Our offense struggled for most of the night, but free throws kept us in the game despite our inability to hit shots. This is definitely an opportunity lost.

[cedric76]

Do we have a shot at JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris this summer? I personally want Kemba but we have Fultz.

I think we ll go after kemba

Renounce vuc (unfortunately)

And trade unhappy Evan

[MasterGMer]

[*]

Do we have a shot at JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris this summer? I personally want Kemba but we have Fultz.

I think we ll go after kemba

Renounce vuc (unfortunately)

And trade unhappy Evan

How much cap space do we have, if we renounce Vuc. Is it enough for Kemba?

[MasterGMer]

What is the cap space situation for Magic this summer?

We have 16 million in cap space if we don't resign Vuc and Ross. How about stretching Mozgov's 16 million contract?

Do we have cap space for Free Agent at all this summer? I really want us to have a shot at some FAs this summer. We will see then...

[fendilim]

[*]

Do we have a shot at JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris this summer? I personally want Kemba but we have Fultz.

I think we ll go after kemba

Renounce vuc (unfortunately)

And trade unhappy Evan

How much cap space do we have, if we renounce Vuc. Is it enough for Kemba?

Does vuc even has cap hold? Thought he is ufa lol

[Skybox]

The Magic really didn't play well last night and they were still in it until the last seconds. Nick Nurse is really a great coach...his defensive systems are perplexing the Magic and Lowry is smart enough to survive on big man switches where the Magic never were able to beat him up down low. Toronto players have very active hands - lots of steals, reaches, etc -very disruptive. Clifford has been great at designing a system to max out our personnel. Toronto is obviously the more talented roster, so I'm interested to see what Cliff can do to adapt to Toronto, rather than just get the most out of his guys...I love Ross but has he ever taken a "good" shot? If he wasn't making so many this year, he'd be a coach's nightmare. He's so wild and exciting out there. Also, last night he was actively going to the rim -which, despite his stupid athleticism, he really doesn't do much. He had trouble finishing but, if he develops that, he's really a star player...Sucks to lose, but from my seat, it felt like a blowout all game and they still fought to the end and almost stole it despite some MIA important guys...I think we win the next one-time for Vuc to beat up on Gasol, get him in foul trouble, and establish inside dominance...Vuc had a good game but nowhere as impactful as his numbers would indicate. He did nothing when Gasol was in, but he basically ignored Ibaka's post defense...Vuc is a weapon but Gasol has his number...same with DJ since game 1. Fun stuff.

[j-ragg]

[*]

I think we ll go after kemba

Renounce vuc (unfortunately)

And trade unhappy Evan

How much cap space do we have, if we renounce Vuc. Is it enough for Kemba?

Does vuc even has cap hold? Thought he is ufa lol

I think it's around 16 million? They all have cap holds, I think it's 125% of your current salary.

[Audi]

damn, luckily the internet has something called youtube and you can look up videos of who scores over who. i mean, this same genius fanbase attributed DJ Augustin's "defense" on Lowry G1 as a reason we won despite Lowry just missing open shots..

Watch on YouTube

first 2 points on isaac, nice little spin drop step. isaac was there, a tad late, and siakam got a nice look. (2/30 points on Isaac)

hits 3 pointer. DJ plays the laziest transition D imaginable, isaac has to go to the paint to prevent lowry from having an open dunk/layup, fournier kinda trails lowry for no reason, late to contest siakam.

another 3 pointer. isaac is on kawhi, plays beautiful defense on him, fournier is cheating into the paint behind DJ who is in his way to get to siakam.. hits another 3 in fournier's grill.

P&R with siakam, Isaac makes the same decision Vuc does every time with a P&R which is to defend the drive. gets back a little late to siakam, siakam hits a semi-contested mid 2. we'll live with those shots. still, (4/30 points on Isaac)

this play was the worst defense Isaac played on siakam tonight. isaac was there, but underestimated siakam's ability to turn the corner, and made a pretty easy layup on him. (6/30 points on Isaac)

ross on siakam, easy 2 point runner in lane.

fournier on siakam, easy 2 point turnaround in lane.

isaac gets screened by green, but still contests a three that siakam hits. you'll take a contested three defense. (9/30 points on Isaac)

fournier loses siakam underneath.. easy dunk/layup. 2 points.

alley-oop over iwundu .. just bad defense. 2 points.

siakam and 1 turnaround over ross in the paint, 3 points

siakam spin/turnaround thingy in the paint on ross, 2 points

siakam drives into the paint with a runner over fournier, 2 points

result: siakam scored 9 of his 30 points on isaac.

Thank you. Was going to do this myself but dont have the time atm. You rock.

[Audi]

Even with the same atrocious offense, we win this game if Evan and DJ played any semblance of defense even just a few times. Crazy.

[Bergmaniac]

Great effort and we weren't that far from pulling it off despite all the offensive struggles. But there is really not much Clifford can do offensively with this roster against an excellent defense. Sad, but true. Toronto keeps leaving Issac completely open and DJ and Evan aren't good enough ball handlers to deal with all the pressure on them. Vucevic just can't score on postups against Gasol and MCW is taking way too many shots and bricking them. So we resort mostly to tough shots by Ross, Evan, AG and Vuc except when the Raptors play their bench when their defense is noticeably worse. Unfortunately Evan went back to missing everything at the worst possible moment, I thought his shot was back after the last month, but I guess not. Green has been smothering DJ after Game 1 and DJ has also been coasting on the defensive end in the last 2 games.

Impressive effort defensively by Isaac, AG and Vuc, but sadly it wasn't enough.

[OrlChamps2030]

The lack of ball handlers that can attack and break down a defense as a scoring or playmaking threat is the obvious flaw of this team and it really showed last night. Really need Fultz to become that guy but we must keep expectations low.

Frustrating game because it was winnable and our defense kept us in it.

[Skybox]

Also, can't help but notice we spot them the first 9 or 10 points in the last two games and then just manage to keep pace for the rest of the game.

[PrimeThyme]

Spoiler:

[Optimus_Steel]

Also, can't help but notice we spot them the first 9 or 10 points in the last two games and then just manage to keep pace for the rest of the game.

Thats two games in a row and it can't happen again game 4. This is what happens with a team that's inexperienced and overmatched, they start pressing until they settle in. They need poise to start game 4. If they can play with poise and start the game even without getting in a hole they can compete with these guys. Also we let them go on a 18-0 run in the third, lack of poise again, they got to fight thru it, teams make runs but you can't let it go 18-0. It's like they fought so hard to finally take the lead after another slow start and once they got the lead they let their guard down and it derailed quickly, can't do that in the PO specially against a more talented team. Pls learn quickly guys.

[mattyBoi]

I would just like to add that almost whole forum predicted 5 to 6 games series, so all this anger, meltdowns and fingerpointing is kind a silly because we all knew we don't have much chance

Raptors are simply better. Top to bottom.
They have Jeremy Lin on DNPs who would be Magic starter.
Leonard is top 5 player in NBA and former finals MVP ( youngest ever).
Siakam is MIP front runner.
Green has ring
Marc Gasol is former DPOY.
Lowry is allstar for years
During Ibaka's time here he was our top 2-3 player, guy isn't even starter there.

Raptors are legit contender.

People are mad because they’ve seen that we’d really have a chance now if certain things were tweaked and Vuc grew a pair.

[pepe1991]

I would just like to add that almost whole forum predicted 5 to 6 games series, so all this anger, meltdowns and fingerpointing is kind a silly because we all knew we don't have much chance

Raptors are simply better. Top to bottom.
They have Jeremy Lin on DNPs who would be Magic starter.
Leonard is top 5 player in NBA and former finals MVP ( youngest ever).
Siakam is MIP front runner.
Green has ring
Marc Gasol is former DPOY.
Lowry is allstar for years
During Ibaka's time here he was our top 2-3 player, guy isn't even starter there.

Raptors are legit contender.

People are mad because they’ve seen that we’d really have a chance now if certain things were tweaked and Vuc grew a pair.

we would aslo win games if some starters can hit anything.
If bench aside Ross contributed in any way.
If we don't start every game with 1 FGM in 6 min
If we have better players....
Playing if game after L is pointless.

[cedric76]

[*]

Do we have a shot at JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris this summer? I personally want Kemba but we have Fultz.

I think we ll go after kemba

Renounce vuc (unfortunately)

And trade unhappy Evan

How much cap space do we have, if we renounce Vuc. Is it enough for Kemba?

We can easily make room for a contract if kemba wants to be here

Kemba + all our long 3 & d guys could be great