PG: Raptors Win!

[YogurtProducer]

There is no reason to start Shead. Even when we had Lowry/Fred during their best years, Fred came off the bench and still closed a lot of games. Shead can do the same.

Still wish we had last years version of Ochai because I think thats what the starting lineup needs and RJ would become a 6th man of the year candidate simultaneously. It’s just great to have enough skill on the team again where we can argue about what works best.

Just start Ochai and give him a dozen games to see if last year version is in there still.

There’s no reason to think he forgot how to play - he’s 25 ffs

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

[Boselecta]

We can’t afford to lose Battle he should be getting 15–20 minutes a night, minimum. The energy and effort he brings are exactly what this team needs. We don’t need Walter right now; let him spend a full year developing in the 905. Bring him back next season and see what you really have. Right now, Battle helps us win Walter doesn’t.

[anotherhomer]

One of the reasons why Ochai doesn't work in Darko's offense is he really struggles making decisions with the ball. He's excellent when decisions are made for him (you're open, shoot or you're cutting and they aren't paying attention, here's a lay-up). This is why Mogbo also can't play right now. Both of them are very good defenders. Mogbo might be the best on the team, really.

to be honest, the modern NBA game require guys who have higher IQ these days and can read the game quicker, pass and etc

[NBA Sheady]

Scottie dominant, without all that dumb flexing stuff.

Great point.

[nikster]

Battle needs minutes over Dick, Walter and Agbaji. I will fight anyone over this.

Most believe this...except Darko.

I am willing to bet Walter goes to 905 after road trip.

Maybe.

Darko has patience, we should know that by now. It's a quality. He also sees the practice which we don't. Let him do what he thinks is best. Also good for rookies morale and development to know they are not yanked out based on a few bad games.

Yeah its kinda funny seeing the outrage over playing these guys barely a month into the season when they have limited minutes. I remember the outrage of Nurse not putting Malachi on the floor because we should be trying to develop him while we win.

We are not in a make or break season, makes sense to be patient with these guys

[Godaddycurse]

Just start Ochai and give him a dozen games to see if last year version is in there still.

There’s no reason to think he forgot how to play - he’s 25 ffs

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

Washington cant be traded this year

[PushDaRock]

Just start Ochai and give him a dozen games to see if last year version is in there still.

There’s no reason to think he forgot how to play - he’s 25 ffs

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

The Starting 5 actually hasn't been as bad as we might think. Right now, they're a -1.2 in NRTG over 106 mins and trending up. Those mins aren't killing us that badly and we are staggering a lot of different lineups anyways as they hopefully can figure it out as a unit.

[YogurtProducer]

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

The Starting 5 actually hasn't been as bad as we might think. Right now, they're a -1.2 in NRTG over 106 mins and trending up. Those mins aren't killing us that badly and we are staggering a lot of different lineups anyways as they hopefully can figure it out as a unit.

The problem is we are still losing the stating 5 minutes, which means we are creating holes and having to come back every damn game it feels like.

Would be nice to start a game ahead and not need to stagger the lineups to really see production start lol

[PushDaRock]

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

The Starting 5 actually hasn't been as bad as we might think. Right now, they're a -1.2 in NRTG over 106 mins and trending up. Those mins aren't killing us that badly and we are staggering a lot of different lineups anyways as they hopefully can figure it out as a unit.

The problem is we are still losing the stating 5 minutes, which means we are creating holes and having to come back every damn game it feels like.

Would be nice to start a game ahead and not need to stagger the lineups to really see production start lol

They are trending up like I said. They were really struggling to start the year. They closed this game really well and were dominant in the 4th quarter.

[manjusaka]

Just start Ochai and give him a dozen games to see if last year version is in there still.

There’s no reason to think he forgot how to play - he’s 25 ffs

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

RJ’s contact has 2 years left, this and next season. Therefore I think we don’t need to rush for a RJ trade.

[rapsincr]

I told you guys a win here would have been expected

We may never lose again

our schedule for the next few weeks seems to consist almost entirely of terrible teams. hell we could be in first place in a few weeks if we beat a few good teams in addition to all the terrible ones. i'm afraid to look further ahead because somewhere down the road our schedule must turn really really nasty.

i think i heard that the raptors have the 2nd easiest schedule in the nba from this point on

[everdiso]

We aren't losing the starting 5 minutes tho.

[Psubs]

We can’t afford to lose Battle he should be getting 15–20 minutes a night, minimum. The energy and effort he brings are exactly what this team needs. We don’t need Walter right now; let him spend a full year developing in the 905. Bring him back next season and see what you really have. Right now, Battle helps us win Walter doesn’t.

Darko is trying to get him big club minutes to develop players. Bobby needs to make a pre-Christmas trade to free up minutes.

Battle is shooting 71% and 73% from 3, the know he's like a Kyle Korver. Maybe they are keeping his minutes down so they can pay way less than the MLE in the summer. Oh wait he's on a 2 year deal.

[GLF]

The obsession some posters have with starting Ochai over RJ is weird lol. Ochai has been terrible this season so far and there is no guarantee he fixes the starting lineup. Also RJ has played really well. I rather give this starting lineup more time to gel than just start Ochai bc in theory he would be a good fit. It also would be such a bad look to bench RJ who has been playing really well and we’re winning for Ochai who has been very bad so far this season. The starters will figure it out. The same way it’s too early to judge Ochai’s play, it’s too early to give up on the starting lineup.

[PushDaRock]

That man is a goner and has had only one decent year lol.

No chance in hell Darko can keep that lockerroom by starting Ochai over RJ.

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

RJ’s contact has 2 years left, this and next season. Therefore I think we don’t need to rush for a RJ trade.

I'm only moving RJ if he gets us an actual upgrade. I don't find that type of trade likely though. The shopping list right now is adding a 3rd string C at some point probably at the deadline and buy out market. Additionally, it would be ideal to add a POA wing defender to the rotation in the mold of Caruso/Dort/Wallace. Teams aren't usually giving those types away though. Ochai or Walter developing into that would have been the most ideal.

[Psubs]

The obsession some posters have with starting Ochai over RJ is weird lol. Ochai has been terrible this season so far and there is no guarantee he fixes the starting lineup. Also RJ has played really well. I rather give this starting lineup more time to gel than just start Ochai bc in theory he would be a good fit. It also would be such a bad look to bench RJ who has been playing really well and we’re winning for Ochai who has been very bad so far this season. The starters will figure it out. The same way it’s too early to judge Ochai’s play, it’s too early to give up on the starting lineup.

Ochai needed to be moved at the draft for as many 2nd round (maybe future) picks as they could squeeze out of a team.

[mihaic]

Top 9 rotation players all have over a 58ts%, which is awesome and such a massive upgrade over what we've seen before.

Ochai and Walter struggling badly in the low 40s.

Battle, in #12 minutes, rocking a 97.6ts%.

So we are saying Darko's offense works?

[NinjaBro]

Just saw the replay of the game. Scottie Barnes can stay a little longer.

[PushDaRock]

The obsession some posters have with starting Ochai over RJ is weird lol. Ochai has been terrible this season so far and there is no guarantee he fixes the starting lineup. Also RJ has played really well. I rather give this starting lineup more time to gel than just start Ochai bc in theory he would be a good fit. It also would be such a bad look to bench RJ who has been playing really well and we’re winning for Ochai who has been very bad so far this season. The starters will figure it out. The same way it’s too early to judge Ochai’s play, it’s too early to give up on the starting lineup.

I don't get it either. I agree that it's very questionable whether Ochai even helps fix anything in the starting lineup and RJ could end up reverting back to old habits off the bench in a higher USG role as well, so you very well could be creating more problems than actually fixing one.

[mihaic]

Most believe this...except Darko.

I am willing to bet Walter goes to 905 after road trip.

The problem with giving Battle, Jakobe's minutes is Battle has no chance of filling what I believe they intended to be Walter's role on the team which is guarding tough matchups on the perimeter. Shead has been taking that role more and more to the point where when Jakobe goes down to the 905, I think Chucky is called up as a backup to Shead.

I think we should try out Chucky. A two PG line up might work well for us. We need POA defenders and creators.

Not enough minutes. He will get his chance when IQ or Shead are not available.