GT #63: Raptors @ Wizards 8 PM (ESPN/NBCSW/1500 AM)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It's just one loss and I'll probably be saying they're going to win it all after the next win.

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[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Gotta hand it to the Urptors. They ratchetched up their defensive intensity after the first quarter.

I have to say though. They are really ‘handsy,’ making hand contact, clutching, grabbing pretty much whenever a Wizard made a move with or without the ball.

A lot of this was supposed to be outlawed when the NBA reinterpreted rules following the Pistons/Knicks eras.

The Raps might struggle if they get a reffing crew that calls it tight.

[nate33]

Oh, about the Wizards losing to the Raptors:

Markieff Morris is kind of stiff when it comes to being athletic. Marcin Gortat clearly losing a step and lift and his lateral movement. The reason no one really takes the wizard seriously as postseason threats is there big men are not that great. This season Scott Brooks is going to lose thinking that Markieff Morris as a small ball Center is the answer.

SB IMO lacks the vision to know when it might be a good time to put Jason Smith in the game if not for a minute or two.

Now that everybody eats is sorta getting stale, I think it would be wise for the Wizards to consider adding to their roster.

What is Jared Sullinger up to?

Shabazz Mohammed might be a better scorer than Kelly Oubre, but I could be wrong.

It might be too late to work anyone new into the lineup. The Wizards need something added to their interior (like a rebounder or low block scorer). I just don't see it happening.

I disagree. In the playoffs these days, most teams are going smaller and smaller. Defenses are finding ways to adequately defend big men with wings, and then exploit their spacing advantage on offense. Big men are being played right off the floor.

Indeed, one of the biggest advantages of Wall coming back won't be that he replaces Sato, it'll be that we have one more really good guard/wing to enable us to play more small ball. Right now, we only have 4 two-way wings: Sato, Beal, Porter and Oubre. We can go small, but it's hard to find the time to do it because guys need rest. But if we have 5 two-way wings, we can play any 4 of them at any given time while still getting enough rest.

[tontoz]

They played reasonably well but Sato's turnovers and the bench disparity we're too much to overcome. Still it was tied at 84 so we had a chance.

Raps have been hot lately but I wouldn't mind seeing them in the playoffs.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Oh, about the Wizards losing to the Raptors:

Markieff Morris is kind of stiff when it comes to being athletic. Marcin Gortat clearly losing a step and lift and his lateral movement. The reason no one really takes the wizard seriously as postseason threats is there big men are not that great. This season Scott Brooks is going to lose thinking that Markieff Morris as a small ball Center is the answer.

SB IMO lacks the vision to know when it might be a good time to put Jason Smith in the game if not for a minute or two.

Now that everybody eats is sorta getting stale, I think it would be wise for the Wizards to consider adding to their roster.

What is Jared Sullinger up to?

Shabazz Mohammed might be a better scorer than Kelly Oubre, but I could be wrong.

It might be too late to work anyone new into the lineup. The Wizards need something added to their interior (like a rebounder or low block scorer). I just don't see it happening.

I disagree. In the playoffs these days, most teams are going smaller and smaller. Defenses are finding ways to adequately defend big men with wings, and then exploit their spacing advantage on offense. Big men are being played right off the floor.

Indeed, one of the biggest advantages of Wall coming back won't be that he replaces Sato, it'll be that we have one more really good guard/wing to enable us to play more small ball. Right now, we only have 4 two-way wings: Sato, Beal, Porter and Oubre. We can go small, but it's hard to find the time to do it because guys need rest. But if we have 5 two-way wings, we can play any 4 of them at any given time while still getting enough rest.

nate, your take that I enlarged goes CONTRARY to what Isiah Thomas said just a couple days ago. THE Isiah says bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to make it so little men can't even play in the league. GMs are going to stop drafting guys like him (and I would add based on his reasoning, guys like Tim Frazier and Jevon Carter).

A good big man beats a good little man... (most of the time https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/the-old-adage-a-good-big-man-always-beats-a-good-little-man.240072/ )

Nice points....5 two-way wings.... THAT DOES WIN

Reminds me of Louisville's great team that was right there with Houston's Phi Slamma Jamma team. Okay. Wall coming back good per you.... okay

[nate33]

nate, your take that I enlarged goes CONTRARY to what Isiah Thomas said just a couple days ago. THE Isiah says bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to make it so little men can't even play in the league. GMs are going to stop drafting guys like him (and I would add based on his reasoning, guys like Tim Frazier and Jevon Carter).

I'm not sure if it's contrary. Obviously, if you have an alien like Giannis, Lebron or Durant who truly has all the skills and mobility of a wing while also having the size and length of a center, then you have a significant advantage. But still, if you're going up against a team like that that can play Giannis or Durant at center, you are better off matching up with them by playing small then you are by playing with a traditional center.

(Caveat: against Giannis, I'm not so sure our best option isn't to guard him with Gortat or Mahinmi. Just give him the open 18 footer and prevent him from driving the lane and using his spin move. You're better off letting him shoot open jumpers at a 50% clip than letting him get to the lane and get And-1's all night while getting into foul trouble.)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

nate, your take that I enlarged goes CONTRARY to what Isiah Thomas said just a couple days ago. THE Isiah says bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to make it so little men can't even play in the league. GMs are going to stop drafting guys like him (and I would add based on his reasoning, guys like Tim Frazier and Jevon Carter).

I'm not sure if it's contrary. Obviously, if you have an alien like Giannis, Lebron or Durant who truly has all the skills and mobility of a wing while also having the size and length of a center, then you have a significant advantage. But still, if you're going up against a team like that that can play Giannis or Durant at center, you are better off matching up with them by playing small then you are by playing with a traditional center.

(Caveat: against Giannis, I'm not so sure our best option isn't to guard him with Gortat or Mahinmi. Just give him the open 18 footer and prevent him from driving the lane and using his spin move. You're better off letting him shoot open jumpers at a 50% clip than letting him get to the lane and get And-1's all night while getting into foul trouble.)

Put Gortat in and tell him to send a message. GA don't want none.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Raptors game? Don’t even remember it. What IS a raptor?

Let’s demolish the Pacers. (Hint hint to those who have some skill in setting up GTs).