Raps will make the playoffs, and 2nd round, if healthy

[ForeverTFC]

Your team ranks 20th defensively this season.
Gary Trent Jr is 154th in defensive win shares & for the first time in his career has a defensive rating not higher than 113.5
I do think Vanvleet is a good defender but calling him elite is a flat out overreaction. Your a Raptors fan though so I’m not really surprised.

Would you believe it if it came out of Zach Lowe's mouth or is he also a Raptors fan?

27:22 - "He's an elite defensive player. A very good to elite defensive player."
https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/32986803

Tell us you don't watch games outside the Celtics without telling us you don't watch games outside of the Celtics. smh

Stats do not support this claim, lol

When did Lowe's opinion become gospel?

lol...

I won't bore you with a "defense is half the game" soapbox take. What I will say is that VanVleet being one of best defenders in the league, on top of what he's providing offensively, deserves a lot more love.
...
If "advanced" or On/Off numbers aren't your speed, the traditional stuff works too. VanVleet leads the NBA in deflections per game (3.8), and is tied with fellow elite defender Jrue Holiday in steals (1.6).

If you are a fan of the other stuff, I'd offer these two tidbits.

1) Opponents are generating a shade under 0.9 points per possession on trips featuring a ball-screen defended by VanVleet, a top-five mark among "high volume" defenders per Second Spectrum.

2) The Raptors' defense is 10 points worse per 100 possessions with VanVleet on the bench.

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/making-all-star-case-fred-vanvleet-toronto-raptors

Giant slayer: How Raptors' Fred VanVleet reaches great heights on defense
Undersized and overlooked, the Raptors guard has clawed his way into the upper echelon as a stopper -- no small feat

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/giant-slayer-how-raptors-fred-vanvleet-reaches-great-heights-on-defense/

You want me to keep going? It's ok, admit you don't know the league.

[VanWest82]

Nice to see that elite defence give up 77 points in a half to a depleted Bucks team

lmfaoo what a clown take

How ? Regardless of how much better you defended in the second half you guys still gave up 77 points in a half to a Bucks team without Giannis.

Did you even watch the game? Bucks role players were making step back threes with a hand in their face. They made 13 threes in the first half. It was an out-of-body experience. There's a reason they only scored 26 second half points until a few hail mary bombs fell at the end and the refs got involved.

[JujitsuFlip]

Would you believe it if it came out of Zach Lowe's mouth or is he also a Raptors fan?

27:22 - "He's an elite defensive player. A very good to elite defensive player."
https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/32986803

Tell us you don't watch games outside the Celtics without telling us you don't watch games outside of the Celtics. smh

Stats do not support this claim, lol

When did Lowe's opinion become gospel?

lol...

I won't bore you with a "defense is half the game" soapbox take. What I will say is that VanVleet being one of best defenders in the league, on top of what he's providing offensively, deserves a lot more love.
...
If "advanced" or On/Off numbers aren't your speed, the traditional stuff works too. VanVleet leads the NBA in deflections per game (3.8), and is tied with fellow elite defender Jrue Holiday in steals (1.6).

If you are a fan of the other stuff, I'd offer these two tidbits.

1) Opponents are generating a shade under 0.9 points per possession on trips featuring a ball-screen defended by VanVleet, a top-five mark among "high volume" defenders per Second Spectrum.

2) The Raptors' defense is 10 points worse per 100 possessions with VanVleet on the bench.

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/making-all-star-case-fred-vanvleet-toronto-raptors

Giant slayer: How Raptors' Fred VanVleet reaches great heights on defense
Undersized and overlooked, the Raptors guard has clawed his way into the upper echelon as a stopper -- no small feat

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/giant-slayer-how-raptors-fred-vanvleet-reaches-great-heights-on-defense/

You want me to keep going? It's ok, admit you don't know the league.

He was talking about GTJ, lol so yes, please go on telling the forum how dope of a defense GTJ is......

[ForeverTFC]

Stats do not support this claim, lol

When did Lowe's opinion become gospel?

lol...

I won't bore you with a "defense is half the game" soapbox take. What I will say is that VanVleet being one of best defenders in the league, on top of what he's providing offensively, deserves a lot more love.
...
If "advanced" or On/Off numbers aren't your speed, the traditional stuff works too. VanVleet leads the NBA in deflections per game (3.8), and is tied with fellow elite defender Jrue Holiday in steals (1.6).

If you are a fan of the other stuff, I'd offer these two tidbits.

1) Opponents are generating a shade under 0.9 points per possession on trips featuring a ball-screen defended by VanVleet, a top-five mark among "high volume" defenders per Second Spectrum.

2) The Raptors' defense is 10 points worse per 100 possessions with VanVleet on the bench.

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/making-all-star-case-fred-vanvleet-toronto-raptors

Giant slayer: How Raptors' Fred VanVleet reaches great heights on defense
Undersized and overlooked, the Raptors guard has clawed his way into the upper echelon as a stopper -- no small feat

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/giant-slayer-how-raptors-fred-vanvleet-reaches-great-heights-on-defense/

You want me to keep going? It's ok, admit you don't know the league.

He was talking about GTJ, lol so yes, please go on telling the forum how dope of a defense GTJ is......

You should read the posts you are replying to instead of spamming. We're clearly talking FVV; It's literally in the post you quoted...

Your team ranks 20th defensively this season.
Gary Trent Jr is 154th in defensive win shares & for the first time in his career has a defensive rating not higher than 113.5
I do think Vanvleet is a good defender but calling him elite is a flat out overreaction. Your a Raptors fan though so I’m not really surprised.

Would you believe it if it came out of Zach Lowe's mouth or is he also a Raptors fan?

27:22 - "He's an elite defensive player. A very good to elite defensive player."
https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/32986803

Tell us you don't watch games outside the Celtics without telling us you don't watch games outside of the Celtics. smh

[BeatDaCavs420]

Def a undercover rap fan

[Floody100]

lmfaoo what a clown take

How ? Regardless of how much better you defended in the second half you guys still gave up 77 points in a half to a Bucks team without Giannis.

Still better than your team

Last time I checked we’ve beaten you twice this season ..

[realball]

How ? Regardless of how much better you defended in the second half you guys still gave up 77 points in a half to a Bucks team without Giannis.

Still better than your team

Last time I checked we’ve beaten you twice this season ..

And yet still have a worse record... Raps at least are trending up instead of regressing.

[Floody100]

Still better than your team

Last time I checked we’ve beaten you twice this season ..

And yet still have a worse record... Raps at least are trending up instead of regressing.

Oh that’s right because you guys are so far ahead in the standings then us aren’t you

[Raps1103]

Meh I doubt it. Beyond the top 5, the Raps are very weak. No true starting 5, no go to scorer, poor bench.

What a surprise that this ex mod, favoured all the negative posts in our forum when he was a mod.. and rarely punished the trolls for baiting and personal attacks … and only went after the positive fans ! What a joke !

[Clay Davis]

Stats do not support this claim, lol

When did Lowe's opinion become gospel?

lol...

I won't bore you with a "defense is half the game" soapbox take. What I will say is that VanVleet being one of best defenders in the league, on top of what he's providing offensively, deserves a lot more love.
...
If "advanced" or On/Off numbers aren't your speed, the traditional stuff works too. VanVleet leads the NBA in deflections per game (3.8), and is tied with fellow elite defender Jrue Holiday in steals (1.6).

If you are a fan of the other stuff, I'd offer these two tidbits.

1) Opponents are generating a shade under 0.9 points per possession on trips featuring a ball-screen defended by VanVleet, a top-five mark among "high volume" defenders per Second Spectrum.

2) The Raptors' defense is 10 points worse per 100 possessions with VanVleet on the bench.

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/making-all-star-case-fred-vanvleet-toronto-raptors

Giant slayer: How Raptors' Fred VanVleet reaches great heights on defense
Undersized and overlooked, the Raptors guard has clawed his way into the upper echelon as a stopper -- no small feat

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/giant-slayer-how-raptors-fred-vanvleet-reaches-great-heights-on-defense/

You want me to keep going? It's ok, admit you don't know the league.

He was talking about GTJ, lol so yes, please go on telling the forum how dope of a defense GTJ is......

You got dumpstered so bad you forgot who you were initially talking about. Damn dawg that's crazy...

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using RealGM mobile app

[srhcan]

They need to either trade Siakam or move Barnes to bench to have a realistic shot at making playoffs.

Um what? They’re in the playoffs right now…

They are in play-in at #7 right now, if they were at #6 or above then you can say they are in playoffs right now. Out of 4 teams in play-in (#7, #8, #9, #10), 2 teams will miss playoffs.

The team is poorly constructed. Siakam is forced to play Center, yesterday OG was forced to play Center. They need to play a Center (Birch or Achiuwa) in starting lineup. If no trade is on horizon then a Center should replace Barnes in starting lineup. FVV/Trent/OG/Siakam/(Birch or Achiuwa) as starting lineup is their best chance to make the playoffs.

[Duffman100]

Meh I doubt it. Beyond the top 5, the Raps are very weak. No true starting 5, no go to scorer, poor bench.

What a surprise that this ex mod, favoured all the negative posts in our forum when he was a mod.. and rarely punished the trolls for baiting and personal attacks … and only went after the positive fans ! What a joke !

…. I warned and banned you multiple times for baiting. So…

[realball]

Last time I checked we’ve beaten you twice this season ..

And yet still have a worse record... Raps at least are trending up instead of regressing.

Oh that’s right because you guys are so far ahead in the standings then us aren’t you

Oh so first it's "we beat you" and now it's "you're not that far ahead". Next it's gonna be "at least we have two superstars" lol.

[Raps1103]

Meh I doubt it. Beyond the top 5, the Raps are very weak. No true starting 5, no go to scorer, poor bench.

What a surprise that this ex mod, favoured all the negative posts in our forum when he was a mod.. and rarely punished the trolls for baiting and personal attacks … and only went after the positive fans ! What a joke !

…. I warned and banned you multiple times for baiting. So…

Shhhh, go away Skippy .. u obviously missed the point … now shoooo…

[Duffman100]

And yet still have a worse record... Raps at least are trending up instead of regressing.

Oh that’s right because you guys are so far ahead in the standings then us aren’t you

Oh so first it's "we beat you" and now it's "you're not that far ahead". Next it's gonna be "at least we have two superstars" lol.

Two mediocre teams arguing about who is slightly less mediocre is pretty funny.

[dkb965]

How ? Regardless of how much better you defended in the second half you guys still gave up 77 points in a half to a Bucks team without Giannis.

Still better than your team

Last time I checked we’ve beaten you twice this season ..

Celtics fans are convinced that their team is a contender even though they have played .500 ball for a season and a half, so it makes sense that they beat the Raptors this season right. They are by far the most delusion on RealGM. They refuse to face the reality that the Celtics are nothing special and a treadmill team going nowhere.

[wegotthabeet]

Top 6 is possible without injuries. Maybe a 2nd round appearance with the right 1st round match up.

Assuming every team is at or near full health I would rank the East teams like this, not necessarily where they'll finish in the standings, but the order in which they are most likely to make the NBA Finals.

1. Brooklyn
2. Milwaukee

Brooklyn & Milwaukee are the clear top two and probably the only real title contenders in the East.

3. Miami
4. Philadelphia
5. Chicago

All very good teams, but Chicago is very unproven and Philly still hasn't moved Simmons.

The 6th spot is up for grabs. Roughly 5 or 6 teams could finish 6th. Toronto might be the best of the remaining East teams. Need to see what happens between now and the trade deadline. I had Toronto in the top 6 preseason. We'll see. I also thought Boston was a bit better. Chicago has surpassed my expectations and Cleveland has probably exceeded everyone's expectations up until now.

[DelAbbot]

Meh I doubt it. Beyond the top 5, the Raps are very weak. No true starting 5, no go to scorer, poor bench.

What a surprise that this ex mod, favoured all the negative posts in our forum when he was a mod.. and rarely punished the trolls for baiting and personal attacks … and only went after the positive fans ! What a joke !

…. I warned and banned you multiple times for baiting. So…

If you are not a raging homer, you are not a real Raptors fan /s

Making every Raptors fan look stupid

[realball]

Oh that’s right because you guys are so far ahead in the standings then us aren’t you

Oh so first it's "we beat you" and now it's "you're not that far ahead". Next it's gonna be "at least we have two superstars" lol.

Two mediocre teams arguing about who is slightly less mediocre is pretty funny.

My apologies, I didn't realize trash talk was only allowed for the cream of the crop.

[Ahmed1212]

Which of the top 5 ranked teams could you see them beating in a 7 game series if both teams are healthy? I don't see them beating any of the current top 5 ranked teams

Would like to mention that Kyrie Irving does not play a single game in a Raptors vs Nets series.