ECSF: | (3) Miami Heat vs (2) Toronto Raptors | TOR 2-1

[MFlash321]

There is absolutely zero chance Whiteside comes back this series. There is no way his people are allowing him to re-injure that same knee with a big contract a few months away from him.

This was a game Miami should've taken. JV, the guy giving them the most fits, especially with no Whiteside, goes down, and they were able to capitalize, and should've stolen this game on their home floor. Sucks. Miami executed poorly down the stretch, just like in the previous two games. UD's late jumper, while open, wasn't an ideal shot. What an epic performance by Wade, wasted. It seems like Spo can only trust Wade, UD, and even Joe Johnson. Deng had a quiet game and it seems like Dragic is getting really frustrated by the lack of calls he's receiving. Lowry hit some big-time shots and it seems like he's returned to form. It seems it's easier to shake that off on the road, where it seems like there's less pressure and the crowd isn't exhaling with every shot you miss.

[NIL8R]

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers out there!

[Anticon]

There is absolutely zero chance Whiteside comes back this series. There is no way his people are allowing him to re-injure that same knee with a big contract a few months away from him.

It'll be disappointing if this is the case, but I can totally understand this. It''s just not worth it.

[Cmon_Son-_-]

It looks like DWade wanted to leave off a made jumper. He was about to get in line but he missed the jumper. Nothing crazy, not worth losing your minds over.

[Matty]

I wish DeRozan played better on the offensive end, but got to give credit to his defense. He isn't shutting anyone down, but he's making all the correct team defensive plays. If he was a weak link in our defense the Heat would be scoring at will against us.

Of course he's the weak link on our lineup, he's not guarding D-Wade or JJ.

[Kabookalu]

I wish DeRozan played better on the offensive end, but got to give credit to his defense. He isn't shutting anyone down, but he's making all the correct team defensive plays. If he was a weak link in our defense the Heat would be scoring at will against us.

Of course he's the weak link on our lineup, he's not guarding D-Wade or JJ.

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end. He's making all the correct defensive plays and rotations. Defense isn't always about shutting your man down.

[Matty]

I wish DeRozan played better on the offensive end, but got to give credit to his defense. He isn't shutting anyone down, but he's making all the correct team defensive plays. If he was a weak link in our defense the Heat would be scoring at will against us.

Of course he's the weak link on our lineup, he's not guarding D-Wade or JJ.

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end. He's making all the correct defensive plays and rotations. Defense isn't always about shutting your man down.

Explain how he is "elite on the defensive end", isn't rotating on the defense a team strategy that can only work if EVERYONE is making the right rotations? If that makes him elite than by de-facto everyone else is also elite on defence.

Trust me, if we ever get to play the Cavs, DD will get exposed by his slow-to-react rotations.

[dbhoops]

500$ on Miami today. Easy $

No reason, I just like seeing this.

[Kabookalu]

Of course he's the weak link on our lineup, he's not guarding D-Wade or JJ.

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end. He's making all the correct defensive plays and rotations. Defense isn't always about shutting your man down.

Explain how he is "elite on the defensive end", isn't rotating on the defense a team strategy that can only work if EVERYONE is making the right rotations? If that makes him elite than by de-facto everyone else is also elite on defence.

Trust me, if we ever get to play the Cavs, DD will get exposed by his slow-to-react rotations.

Are you deliberately shoving words in my mouth just to push your own agenda against DeRozan? I never said he was an elite defender, but we're an elite defensive team in these playoffs, and he's playing a good chunk of minutes.

[Inevitable]

500$ on Miami today. Easy $

No reason, I just like seeing this.

Wow, gutsy bet there by him.

[Matty]

Are you deliberately shoving words in my mouth just to push your own agenda against DeRozan? I never said he was an elite defender, but we're an elite defensive team in these playoffs, and he's playing a good chunk of minutes.

You just said this:

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end

What does this mean then?

[Kabookalu]

Are you deliberately shoving words in my mouth just to push your own agenda against DeRozan? I never said he was an elite defender, but we're an elite defensive team in these playoffs, and he's playing a good chunk of minutes.

You just said this:

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end

What does this mean then?

How is that hard to understand? We're an elite defensive team in the playoffs, and he's contributing to this elite defensive team. Harrison Barnes being in the starting lineup of the greatest team of all time doesn't make him one of the greatest offensive players of all time, though he contributes in that regard.

[6ixSideSniper]

Of course he's the weak link on our lineup, he's not guarding D-Wade or JJ.

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end. He's making all the correct defensive plays and rotations. Defense isn't always about shutting your man down.

Explain how he is "elite on the defensive end", isn't rotating on the defense a team strategy that can only work if EVERYONE is making the right rotations? If that makes him elite than by de-facto everyone else is also elite on defence.

Trust me, if we ever get to play the Cavs, DD will get exposed by his slow-to-react rotations.

lol Do you read or do you just pick words that fits your agenda and roll with it? He said the Raptors have been playing elite defense (as a team), and DeRozan has been a huge part of it.

DeRozan is by no means an elite man-to-man defender but you must not be watching games if you think he's a liability.

[C3H6N6O6]

Anyone want to defend why Wade was shooting around during the Canadian anthem? Also, did he do this during the american one too? Never thought of him as a classy player and he keeps proving me right.

I agree, despicable. I've never seen any athlete do that in nba, nhl, mlb or anywhere else. Doesn't matter how much you hate your opponent, be it basketball, boxing w/e you always respect things like that.

Why are they even playing the Canadian anthem? Like who cares? Wade is there trying to focus on winning the game, the last thing on his mind is the Canadian Anthem. Its not even disrespect, he's just not even thinking about it. I wouldn't be either.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf got suspended for not standing during the US National Anthem.

[primecougar]

Are you deliberately shoving words in my mouth just to push your own agenda against DeRozan? I never said he was an elite defender, but we're an elite defensive team in these playoffs, and he's playing a good chunk of minutes.

You just said this:

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end

What does this mean then?

i think most people here consider derozan a liability on the defensive end. choker is trying to say, if he demar is as bad as everyone says he is then the raptors wouldnt be an elite defensive team. pretty much demar is playing good team defence and not slacking on that end of the floor because his shots been off these playoffs

[Jakay]

Jonas' ankle is incredibly swollen, couldn't even put his dress shoes on. Might miss game 4.

The only fact in this is that his ankle is swollen and that he wasn't wearing his right shoe. Maybe he was told not to wear a shoe on that foot as a precautionary measure.

Hopefully that's true, I'm only going off of my own experiences of when I had a severely sprained ankle. Couldn't even put my shoes back on and I was out for a week. Though Jonas has professionals helping him.

Never underestimate the power of tape. But he grabbed up his ankle a bit. High ankle sprains are usually worse, and last longer. Hopefully he'll play, but not worth rushing, Raps are still good enough to take the series if Lowry keeps this up.

Whiteside... eh... double sprained knee is not a good sign. I thought they were quick to put him back in in game one when he hurt it. Playing with fire. Still, don't want to see a series decided by injuries. This would be a different series if Bosh was playing, obviously.

[Matty]

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end. He's making all the correct defensive plays and rotations. Defense isn't always about shutting your man down.

Explain how he is "elite on the defensive end", isn't rotating on the defense a team strategy that can only work if EVERYONE is making the right rotations? If that makes him elite than by de-facto everyone else is also elite on defence.

Trust me, if we ever get to play the Cavs, DD will get exposed by his slow-to-react rotations.

lol Do you read or do you just pick words that fits your agenda and roll with it? He said we've been playing elite defense (as a team), and DeRozan has been a huge part of it.

DeRozan is by no means an elite man-to-man defender but you must not be watching games if you think he's a liability.

My issue is with giving DeRozan credit for supposedly doing his part of the job on team defence, when it should be expected that he brings that effort on that end of the floor, especially when he brings very little on the other side.

[Kabookalu]

Explain how he is "elite on the defensive end", isn't rotating on the defense a team strategy that can only work if EVERYONE is making the right rotations? If that makes him elite than by de-facto everyone else is also elite on defence.

Trust me, if we ever get to play the Cavs, DD will get exposed by his slow-to-react rotations.

lol Do you read or do you just pick words that fits your agenda and roll with it? He said we've been playing elite defense (as a team), and DeRozan has been a huge part of it.

DeRozan is by no means an elite man-to-man defender but you must not be watching games if you think he's a liability.

My issue is with giving DeRozan credit for supposedly doing his part of the job on team defence, when it should be expected that he brings that effort on that end of the floor, especially when he brings very little on the other side.

Team defense isn't just about effort, it's about knowing when to rotate and being in the correct position at all times. DeRozan's rarely out of position. I don't know why it's so hard to give him credit here for this.

[Matty]

Are you deliberately shoving words in my mouth just to push your own agenda against DeRozan? I never said he was an elite defender, but we're an elite defensive team in these playoffs, and he's playing a good chunk of minutes.

You just said this:

I know you hate DeRozan, but if he was a liability then we wouldn't be elite on the defensive end

What does this mean then?

i think most people here consider derozan a liability on the defensive end. choker is trying to say, if he demar is as bad as everyone says he is then the raptors wouldnt be an elite defensive team. pretty much demar is playing good team defence and not slacking on that end of the floor because his shots been off these playoffs

Most people have issues with DeMar's 1-on-1 defence, not his help defence. I've never seen any posters claiming he was bad on help D. That's probably the only area of his game you can count on outside of his Free-Throws.

[Matty]

lol Do you read or do you just pick words that fits your agenda and roll with it? He said we've been playing elite defense (as a team), and DeRozan has been a huge part of it.

DeRozan is by no means an elite man-to-man defender but you must not be watching games if you think he's a liability.

My issue is with giving DeRozan credit for supposedly doing his part of the job on team defence, when it should be expected that he brings that effort on that end of the floor, especially when he brings very little on the other side.

Team defense isn't just about effort, it's about knowing when to rotate and being in the correct position at all times. DeRozan's rarely out of position. I don't know why it's so hard to give him credit here for this.

He's quite average on help defence but if it makes you feel any better he does it better than Ross. I just don't why we need to give him credit for that, it's not like he's 36 years old.