GT #63: Raptors @ Bullets 5 PM (NBCSW/980 AM)

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets are 30-32!

They defeated the Raptors on Thursday and this afternoon has the 2nd leg of this mini-series.

Toronto turned it over as as much as your Bullets and couldn't hit a 3 to save their life. On the other side, your Bullets were able to shoot it and rebound it to get the win.

This remains the Play-In matchup. And the stakes are high for that and the lottery too!


-------------------------VS-------------------------


Projected Lineups :











Bench:

[BearlyBallin]

First game of 6 scheduled over the next 10 days. A win before going to Milwaukee (10-0 the last ten games) tomorrow would be a good way to start the weekend.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

First game of 6 scheduled over the next 10 days. A win before going to Milwaukee (10-0 the last ten games) tomorrow would be a good way to start the weekend.

Milwaukee will come here winners of 16 straight, tonight's game is big, but game has lots of implications. A win and we win season series and move ahead of them for 9th.

It'll be interesting to see how they respond to a TOR looking for revenge and a fairly important regular season game.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

I love Wright, but sometimes he too often is looking for the steal. Feel like he's been getting a bit burned lately hunting for them.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Nick Nurse scares me in the second of two. Great coach, great at making adjustments

[nate33]

Beal is handling Toronto's aggressive, trapping defense poorly.

I get that Toronto has athletic, long-armed players, which makes things difficult; but Beal is playing into their hands by dribbling too much without purpose. You gotta pass-and-cut, and drive-and-kick against this defense. They overplay so much that it will open up backdoor cuts. Stop playing with the ball while standing still.

[nate33]

Deni really has Siakam's number. Siakam has reached the point where he barely even tries to score on Deni. He just gives it up to someone else. Siakam had just 13 points in 39 minutes on Thursday and has just 2 points against Deni so far tonight (free throws).

[nate33]

First quarter is not even over yet and Poeltl, Anunoby and Siakam have each committed 2 fouls

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

10 TOs already, that really hurts.

[nate33]

Gafford is oddly effective as a low post scorer despite the fact that he doesn't really have any moves. He is just really strong with the ball, won't let anybody knock it out of his hands, and he is explosive when he goes up to the rim - going through the post defender.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Gafford saving our butts right now.

[nate33]

10 TOs already, that really hurts.

To some degree, it's to be expected. The Raptors lead the league in forced turnovers but are second-to-last in opponent FG% (in a bad way). They gamble a lot. When it works, they get fast breaks going the other way. When it doesn't, their opponent gets dunks and 3's.

The Wizards need to clean things up, but they're going to have some problems taking care of the ball against this defense.

[nate33]

Gafford saving our butts right now.

Yes, but part of it is simply a consequence of the way Toronto defends. They're often out of position on the defensive glass, or they're guarding Gafford with a switch that Gafford can bully. Gafford's job tonight is to do exactly what he is doing - take advantage of Toronto's gambling style.

[80sballboy]

I can't believe Toronto is this bad. There's too much talent and I thought Nick Nurse was a good coach, but something isn't clicking right now. Precious has to be one of the smallest centers in the league at 6-8, 225 and Gaff just dominates when he's in the game. Their guard play is not very good, but then again, we have Kendrick Nunn. Not sure why he's getting that many minutes with Morris out. Goodwin should get nearly all the minutes at the backup 1 and 2.

And Deni needs to look at the basket occasionally.

[80sballboy]

BTW, Wiz are 21-12 with Delon Wright.

[nate33]

I can't believe Toronto is this bad. There's too much talent and I thought Nick Nurse was a good coach, but something isn't clicking right now. Precious has to be one of the smallest centers in the league at 6-8, 225 and Gaff just dominates when he's in the game. Their guard play is not very good, but then again, we have Kendrick Nunn. Not sure why he's getting that many minutes with Morris out. Goodwin should get nearly all the minutes at the backup 1 and 2.

And Deni needs to look at the basket occasionally.

Toronto can defend, but they don't really have a defense-bender on offense except when Siakam has a matchup advantage. Half-court offense for them is a real grind. If they're not getting fast break opportunities off of turnovers, they don't win.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Delon making me eat crow on the steals comment.

[80sballboy]

Thad Young is Thad Old. That dude has been around forever.

[nate33]

The bottom line is that Toronto is terrific defending out on the perimeter, but they're small in the paint. We really need to force feed Porzingis and Gafford in the post rather than play around with the ball out on the perimeter. Toronto doesn't really have an answer for either Porzingis or Gafford.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Some big threes from Wright to start the third.