PG: JV Shares Spirit Bomb, Raps Drop Purple Rain

[WWSRD]

Pacers are fxcked.

Raps toyed with them tonight.

Raps in 5. Nothing Pacers can do.

[Thats a Rap]

Wow, what a great win. Everything clicked there, and this game was the epitome of what we've known all along - the Raptors can only really beat themselves in this series. The Pacers simply don't have enough talent behind Paul George to put up enough points to beat us when we're on our game. Their offense is in fact getting worse by the game.

Other quick comments;
-DeMar's quick start was great, but we all saw him brick away after that. Still, it's encouraging that he's still got that ability to bounce back.
-Lowry was just dominant in the 4th - major #LowryTime
-I was disappointed to see Norm get no run but Carroll earned it - I wish he would've yelled "THAT'S WHY THEY BROUGHT ME HERE". Because it was - he shut down Paul George and hit a bunch of shots, including key 3s. Still, amazing to have a guy like Powell waiting in the wings and ready to take over if Carroll gets tired or in foul trouble.
-CoJo and Pat continue to impress - no idea what these guys turn on in the playoffs but they have "it"
-I feel bad for George - the guy has literally no help. Must be frustrating.

Overall, it was a great game and easy to build confidence heading into game 4. BUT, that game by game prediction that OakleyDokely made has been so spot on so far that I almost feel nervous for a letdown in game 4, at which point "panac" will ensue again. This game was in large part about hustle - we just played harder than they did (in addition to being a more talented team). But if you don't get those offensive rebounds or loose balls, and they do because they're in a do or die spot, we could easily cough up game 4. I want us to treat it like it's a must win, because the pressure will mount again if come back 2-2.

Let's try and end this in 5, at home, not 6. Anyway, the best playoff performance (other than Vince game 3 againts Philly) I think we've EVER seen by a Raptor team. Great, great win.

[AreBe]

HIGH PRAISE FROM INDIANAPOLIS STAR and from George for JV!

From the Indianapolis Star - Doyel: Focus, maturity escape, as does opportunity

The little rubber ball came flying out of the crowd after the first technical foul on the Pacers, or maybe after the second. Hard to keep track, really, but this ball was easy to spot because it was pink and it was heading right for Raptors coach Dwane Casey.

It bounced one time on the floor near Toronto’s bench, then landed smack on Casey’s head before bouncing back onto the floor. Casey leaned down, picked it up, handed it to an usher. Went back to coaching.

Someone, please show that clip to the Pacers.

Because that’s how you focus.

The Pacers? They weren’t focused, weren’t mature, weren’t good Thursday night in a 101-85 loss in Game 3 that surrendered the home-court advantage they’d earned in Toronto.
...
Paul George had pointed words for (presumably) his frontcourt, saying the following: “We’re treating this like it’s a regular-season game. We’re failing to be the physical team. There’s one guy who’s doing it and doing it at an amazing job, and that’s Valanciunas. We need to match his physicality, and we’re not doing that.”

George also had words (presumably) for his coach, offering that the Pacers need to call fewer plays and play more free-style.

“Our best offense is to get into attack mode, and I don’t think we’re doing that enough,” George said. “The plays we’re running, this team (we’re playing) knows it.”

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2016/04/21/doyel-focus-maturity-escape-does-opportunity/83031360/

[Wonderllama]

I'm already thinking about the Miami Heat, tbh

[Stromile12]

biz altered a ton of shots, so nice to have that paint protector

[WWSRD]

This is what a 2 v. 7 matchup should look like.

These teams aren't in the same league.

[GoSu]

During post game interview Interviewer asks "how frustrating is it that that youguys weren't able to do the little things.. like they dive on the floor, going for loose ball.."

PG - " we playing like it's regular season, I think there's one guy that doing an amazing amazing job and that is Valanciunas, we got to match their physicality"

PG loves JV's game

The exact quote was:

" We're failing to be the physical team. And um... I think there is one guy in particular who is doing that, and doing that as an amazing, amazing job, and that's Valanciunas. We have to match HIS physicality, and uh, we're not doing that. "

PG confirmed for JV fan. He must have a copy of the SSJ JV gif saved to his HD, too.

Now let's use JV to recruit PG in the near future

[WWSRD]

So Demar goes for 40mins while Ross and Powell combine for 13mins.

Kind of odd considering he was benched last game in the 4th.

[Macho]

Starting lineup should be KL,DD,Norm,DMC and JV with CoJo, TRoss, PPat and Biz off the bench.

Scola is just pointless right now.

[raptor jesus]

Starting lineup should be KL,DD,Norm,DMC and JV with CoJo, TRoss, PPat and Biz off the bench.

Scola is just pointless right now.

Then Demar's either defending the roll man - something he's not used to doing - or switching, in which case the Pacers would make him switch out on PG (and we're right back to where we started). That should be the starting lineup against the Heat though, who have Deng at the 4.

[MainEvent]

Really loving the bench, they are tough, play with intensity and can defend.

2Pat, CoJo, Biz, Powell always bring it. Ross doesn't have the same intensity or focus but had a great game in limited minutes.

[TheBatman]

Raps get the W. Points for Purple Rain reference.

[Par36]

Not saying Raptors would win against the beat for sure, but your ****ing wack if you think Whiteside would take Jonas. But hey..

Getting overly excited of Jonas playing against a team with no presence I the paint

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

Reported

#Clown

...reported? Green font?

But no, as for Jonas vs Whiteside, it's a matchup that has been in the favor of JV all season.
For example last game played:
JV 20-10(on 7 of 11) +5 vs Whiteside: 13-11(5 of 12) with -9

It's a much more fair matchup then vs the Pacers but at minimum it's a 50/50 shake, with Whiteside struggling vs bigger big men on the block. If heat had Bosh, I'd favor the heat pretty heavily, without him...

[Tha Cynic]

How the heck did the Pavers get twice as many free throws when the Raptors have clearly been the more aggressive team all series. This is not sustainable if the Reffing continues this way. Wait till they get to the 2nd round against Miami.

[GreatDane]

How the heck did the Pavers get twice as many free throws when the Raptors have clearly been the more aggressive team all series. This is not sustainable if the Reffing continues this way. Wait till they get to the 2nd round against Miami.

You've been watching basketball for a long time, you know the reasons why the Pacers got all the calls. TV Ratings + home tea = good luck for Toronto.

Turner fouled JV and Biyombo on literally every single play, and half the whistles that were blown during those plays went against JV and Biyombo. Five fouls EACH? Complete sham.

[Kabookalu]

How the heck did the Pavers get twice as many free throws when the Raptors have clearly been the more aggressive team all series. This is not sustainable if the Reffing continues this way. Wait till they get to the 2nd round against Miami.

You know it's bad when Pacers fans are even admitting the reffing is terrible against the Raptors.

[Indiana Jones]

Indy's players and fans acted like they were getting a raw deal from the refs all night. And then you look at the boxscore and see that the Raptors got called for 27 fouls to Indy's 18.

Ridiculous

Spoiler:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gESxCT-7RNo[/youtube]

[alienchild]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YLpmOwoPL4[/youtube]

Watch this and listen carefully to the difference in their comments about DMC's game.

DD is focusing on points. He say's: " and he played great defense too"

KL says " I didn't know he got 17 points "

Say's it all.

[vini_vidi_vici]

How the heck did the Pavers get twice as many free throws when the Raptors have clearly been the more aggressive team all series. This is not sustainable if the Reffing continues this way. Wait till they get to the 2nd round against Miami.

23 more drives, 3 less PFs called for the Raps, 7 less FTAs on them. 33 more OREBs too, which means we are crashing the glass aggressively too (FWIW IND shooting worse raw FG%).

115 FGAs inside 10ft for the Raps, IND 87. IND has clearly been the more jump shooting team. TOR with 78 more total passes, TOR with a higher ASTr, so its not like they have been getting much better ball movement either.

13 less FTAs, 13 more FTAs. .424 FTr for IND (2nd), 3.12 FTr for the Raps (9th). I dont how this is justified, but the same thing happened last year.

Back to the game 3 tho. 20 more Uncontested shots for the Raps, and they shot 8.4 FG% better on them, great night.

Consider too that KL/DD/PP shot a combined 9/25 on them (36 FG%), and you would like to think that can only improve, esp KL/PP.

PG only got 31.5% of his looks uncontested, it was some very impressive D by DMC, two of those uncontested looks atleast were off OREBs and the ensuing scrambles.

JV/KL/DD with another unimpressive shooting night, yet we still pretty much had the game in control wire to wire. Consider this is the 3rd best D in the league, I would hope along with getting a more favorable whistle this can only bode well for the Raps the rest of this series.

Ultimately, while the execution hasnt been great, I like the intensity and esp the defensive effort.

[OakleyDokely]

Compete team effort last night. That 2nd Q especially was one of the best team performances all season.