Rebounding

[Smoothshot555]

Sometimes basketball is a really simple game. Plug a problem position and things can change drastically.

The Raptors were out rebounded in 17 of 19 games leading up to April 10 vs Cavs (Baynes last game played, Freddie G’s first game played. Birch came in April 11 vs Knicks).

This includes a few ugly ones where they lost the battle by 15, sometimes 20+ boards.

Starting with that Knicks game, the Raptors have out rebounded their opponents in 4/6 games since (including against the Hawks and Thunder who had killed them prior); they lost the battle by 2 against the nets last night and by 6 against the knicks.

Raptors are getting extra opportunities on the offensive end and denying their opponents the same on the other end and the cookie is crumbling accordingly.

Sometimes basketball is a really simple game.

[WeThe2019Champs]

Baynes is sooooo useless. Happy he's glued to the bench.

[Tor_Raps]

It was a problem we had even with Ibaka/Gasol. Then you take them away and replace them with only Baynes and it became catosphrotic.

This issue single handedly cost us our season. Not only was it rebounding but just interior play in general. The amount of times our defense had to collapse because we were over matched inside was ridiculous.

[Spates]

Its more than just rebounding though. Khem and Freddie can bang a little around the rim and be a pnr roll man. Baynes negated the roll because he couldn't finish around the rim or even make good passes. Birch has been sound with the ball, making some great passes and he's mobile and switchy. Freddie has been a strong interior presence on defense.

Watching Boucher play with Freddie puts a spot light on Chris chasing blocks. If Gillespie is shading a player into an awkward layup Chris just needs to be positionally sound and boxout. Its not like Boucher is a deterrent and his blocks make a statement. He's been a bowling pin all year.