PG: Gritty win in Phily (9-1 in last 10, 5 W straight)

[Tha Cynic]

The Raptors actually held Maxey well below his season averages so far

[earthtone]

For the record I have this team top 6 in the east but they’re still a tier below contender. I don’t expect them to make a deep run in the playoffs.

When the raptors traded for kawhi I knew that team was a contender. And you still see how hard it was for them to get to the finals and win it all. I don’t see that same level of talent from this squad. I think even the team without kawhi the year after was better than this team and they didn’t even get past the 2nd round.

It was the Gasol trade that truly made them a contender....this current Raptors team still has trades to make. Not a big name player but 1 or 2 role players...that preferably bring elite defense.

I think this team is prime to make a big Kawhi like trade. The league isn't as deep as it was in 2019 - contender status is way lower than it was then. think about the East then. Prime Giannis Bucks. Embiid/Butler Sixers. Kawhi Raps. Kyrie/Tatum Celtics. Arguably 4 teams who all would be #1 in the East right now.

We’ve had one playoff appearance, two playoff wins, and one all-star selection in the past 5 seasons.

When we traded for Kawhi we had four division titles, four playoff series wins, 21 total playoff wins, six All-Star and two All-NBA selections in the prior five years.

Our highest paid player has only played 15 games for the franchise, this team deserves a season (at the very least) to build together

[AkelaLoneWolf]

It’s us and Detroit!!

8/9 free throws from RJ did I read that right????

I don’t think people give Rj enough credit for being able to fit around all of these offensive players that need the ball in their hands… somehow he’s the problem though.

He doesn’t need to fit his game to others though, he arguably has the easiest job out of the starters. He just has to play off of other people. Things only get bad when he reverts to his Knicks offensive ways.

Fitting around other players and not having a consistent role while still contributing in an efficient manner is very difficult to do.
poeltl, bi and barnes have established roles. quickley and rj are trying to fill in the gaps.

[Tripod]

The one where he scream and then got the ball back to dunk, was clear as hell a foul.

0 FTA over the last two games. A bit of that is on the refs, but it's also on Scottie to absolutely attack harder than he hsa.

I mean - he has been getting completely hacked. Especially last game. And he has been attacking and dunking on guys. Maybe the poor whistle is actually helping his aggression.

Yeah it's crazy to think the last 2 games Barnes has made 14 baskets and had 28 total shot attempts in the paint, and has not been fouled 1 time. He gets no whistle regardless what he does.

[SFour]

lol but how does it get done when they're asking for the moon for these types of players? That's the point of what I am saying.

in bargaining you usually ask for the moon to start...and then settle for less.

Anyways it's not the end of the world if we keep RJ....I'm not an RJ hater.....I'm scared of his next contract but that's about it.

Why do they need to settle when they're perfectly happy having him on the roster? You need to "overpay" to get these guys. Eg. Mikal Bridges

If they ask too much then just move on....call up teams like the Pelicans and Kings

[Ducksplatt]

2nd in the conference. Did not see that coming. This is great!!


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[AkelaLoneWolf]

He’s a flawed player who’s spot in the starts lineup will need to be upgraded if we want to be a serious team. But he was great in that 4th. Multiple things can be true at once.

Mods can we please call out this negativity. Rj has a good game and people still can’t help but talk about his flaws. Why is spewing this negativity allowed, they just won and Rj had a great game scoring 50/40/90.

I don’t think you understand the difference between spamming negativity vs talking about the games guys play based on that game lol

you posted a backhanded compliment.
when it comes to upgrading to all-nba talent, none of our starting 5 should be off the table.

[PushDaRock]

RJ for Derrick White.....just an example. They were looking to make that trade recently, but didn't go through because of picks.

We were, the Celtics were not. lol basically shows you the problem in trying to upgrade from RJ. An actual upgrade is a very valuable player that no team wants to trade away.

Derrick white who is shooting 36%/31% is supposed to fit this team better than Rj?

Oh right because defense first is more important than anything else… again it’s like people just want to trade players for the sake of getting rid of players.

The only way it makes sense to trade Rj is if you’re using him to get a star player, i.e derozan for kawhi.

Otherwise the only trades the raptors should be looking at right now are improving their bench. If they want to get a player like white for defense, he should be replacing one of their weaker bench players like Walter or dick.

Well, pretty unlikely he ends the year at 46 TS%.

Outside of a Superstar, White is probably one of the better fits to replace RJ. We would lose out on RJ's rim pressure but gain an elite defender + volume 3 point shooting. White makes too much money to just add to the rotation, he would have to replace one of the starters.

[SFour]

IQ really showed up in the 4th after a slow start for him scoring. We're not winning without the clutch threes he hit. I have been incredibly skeptical of him, but he has been key to basically all the recent wins. I don't know if he's worth 32 million a year, but he is solid player.

the contract is easier to swallow if he can at least be a threat from 3.....the starting lineup needs it

if he's not worth 32.5M what is he worth exactly.

it's not a bargain contract....just need to accept it's an overpay that will sting less over time

[bape_lovers]

I think it’s us and Atlanta in the east but warriors played more so far.

so we're in 2nd place with the least home games of any team in the league

[Childs]

Read on Twitter

[PushDaRock]

in bargaining you usually ask for the moon to start...and then settle for less.

Anyways it's not the end of the world if we keep RJ....I'm not an RJ hater.....I'm scared of his next contract but that's about it.

Why do they need to settle when they're perfectly happy having him on the roster? You need to "overpay" to get these guys. Eg. Mikal Bridges

If they ask too much then just move on....call up teams like the Pelicans and Kings

lol who would you even want from the Kings?

Pelicans have Trey Murphy but you're not getting him cheap.

[LLJ]

We need a backup big more than we need a lateral trade of RJ. RJ ain't a world beater but as a 3rd-4th option for the most part he's fine. He's got decent length, he can score, and he can pass. He may do those things worse than everyone else in the starting lineup, but that doesn't mean he's trash either. There are a lot worse SGs out there than RJ. As Boogie said, raising the ceiling of this team requires more than a lateral trade of RJ.

[SFour]

Why do they need to settle when they're perfectly happy having him on the roster? You need to "overpay" to get these guys. Eg. Mikal Bridges

If they ask too much then just move on....call up teams like the Pelicans and Kings

lol who would you even want from the Kings?

Pelicans have Trey Murphy but you're not getting him cheap.

Keegan Murray, Malik Monk.....just looking at role players that can shoot.

Mavs if you want a big.

[dafan590]

Read on Twitter

[Tha Cynic]

Mods can we please call out this negativity. Rj has a good game and people still can’t help but talk about his flaws. Why is spewing this negativity allowed, they just won and Rj had a great game scoring 50/40/90.

I don’t think you understand the difference between spamming negativity vs talking about the games guys play based on that game lol

you posted a backhanded compliment.
when it comes to upgrading to all-nba talent, none of our starting 5 should be off the table.

Yes because I can acknowledge when a player plays well but can also acknowledge that I don’t think said player is going to be someone we can keep long term if we want to be a legit winner.

And I disagree with you. While yes, everyone being upgraded is obviously on the table, I think we definitely need to upgrade RJ to be a team without too many weaknesses. He’s great for what we are now.

Anything wrong with that?

[AkelaLoneWolf]

IQ really showed up in the 4th after a slow start for him scoring. We're not winning without the clutch threes he hit. I have been incredibly skeptical of him, but he has been key to basically all the recent wins. I don't know if he's worth 32 million a year, but he is solid player.

Yeah he’s solid. 4th option guy. Overpaid for that though but I guess we worry about it later while we win some games.

That's the way I see it. He is talented enough to just roll with him for now. Decent player, but if you want to take things to the next level, I think you need an upgrade at PG.

upgrade would be an all star player

[Tripod]

Yak's last 6 games, his WORST night was shooting 70%.

[PushDaRock]

If they ask too much then just move on....call up teams like the Pelicans and Kings

lol who would you even want from the Kings?

Pelicans have Trey Murphy but you're not getting him cheap.

Keegan Murray, Malik Monk.....just looking at role players that can shoot.

lol why would they want RJ with Lavine and DeMar already there?

[PushDaRock]

Yeah he’s solid. 4th option guy. Overpaid for that though but I guess we worry about it later while we win some games.

That's the way I see it. He is talented enough to just roll with him for now. Decent player, but if you want to take things to the next level, I think you need an upgrade at PG.

upgrade would be an all star player

Exactly, it's just not realistic.