ECQF | P2 (2) Toronto Raptors vs (7) Orlando Magic

[PD28]

This is the level of defensive intensity the raptors need to play at to get out of the east. This was it. With their personnel they are contenders because they can defend at this level.

It isn't necessary to beat the Magic but it will be necessary going forward. Might as well start doing it now. Orlando can't win again when the raptors play that hard defensively. They were pretty much reduced to tough shots from Gordon and Ross.

This kind of defensive intensity isn't something this team has been able to use consistently, we saw it down the stretch of the season but not all the time. Since Orlando doesn't have much firepower, as long as we can put together a few good defensive stretches, we should be in a good position to win games. Wish we had a healthy McCaw to put on Ross, just the perfect player for him to hound on the defensive end.

[Jadoogar]

Still feeling good about your boy Lowry? How many years it takes?

Feeling great thanks. You?

[everdiso]

Magic still doing a good job of disrupting the raps' offensive flow.

Raps aren't getting the easy looks they're used to, and have been forced to go more one on one for offense.

Raps can obviously still win comfortably this way but I'd like to see them be able to get more rhythm in their offense even against a good athletic defensive effort.

[Jadoogar]

I'm guessing that Lowry and DJ Augustin were involved in some sort of Freaky Friday situation for game 1 and have found the magical cure to revert to their correct bodies. Only explanation.

On a serious note, our defense was fantastic this game. Gasol, Kawhi and Lowry were obviously great but Danny Green was really impressive. Completely shut down DJ Augustin. Ross was the only one scoring in the first half and mostly because FVV is just too short to guard him. OG or McCaw would have helped here but i can't complain. Ross is the ultimate microwave player, gets hot and cold very quickly. Did he even score in the second half?

2 straight games where Vuc has been a non-factor. Really good game plan for him.

[First Step]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

[Green Backpack]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

[First Step]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

Yeah, and MCW was too big for FVV.

[everdiso]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

honestly we should be happy to let Tross shoot and shoot and shoot some more.

[Green Backpack]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

honestly we should be happy to let Tross shoot and shoot and shoot some more.

It's fine to let him shoot, but last night it was way too easy for him when little FVV was guarding him. Powell at least slowed him down.

[everdiso]

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

honestly we should be happy to let Tross shoot and shoot and shoot some more.

It's fine to let him shoot, but last night it was way too easy for him when little FVV was guarding him. Powell at least slowed him down.

eh it's terrence ross. he'll shoot them out of most games if we let him.

[TheNewEra]

Game 3 will probably be close imo. Wouldn’t be surprised at another Orlando win. I’m thinking it’ll be 2-2 heading back to Toronto.

Orlando already performed their best (With the fluke Game 1 win) so easier to see Toronto winning both on the road and closing it out in Game 5. The Magic are just not very good.

Top three scorers on their team shot below average game one. They need the scorers to step up they are winning the bench battle already.

Keeping pace with Siakam and Leonard will kill keep them in games

[nabbs]

DJ Augustin really has more FTA in 2 games than Kawhi........ that's crazy

[Grape]

The thing is with him, he does this one game and then disappears for 3. He is widely inconsistent, and his lows are really low.

This is a blatant lie. Lowry has had a history of bad game 1s, not a bad playoff performer.

The man can not score a single point and still be a team high in +/- ratings. He was a team high +11 game 1.

Lowry is not a good playoff performer, the whole basketball world knows that. These takes are embarassing, just because he plays for your team doesn't mean you defend him in every single situation.

"The whole world knows that" should be "the whole world thinks that." It's a chain effect that gets passed through social media. I bet if you only had yourself to judge you wouldn't think that.

The whole playoff Lowry thing is largely a myth that gets carried over from both Derozan and the Raptor's inability to get to the finals. It used to be playoff lowry and derozan suck because they'd get seen as a combo, and now that Derozan has left, the term has stuck with Lowry. While he doesn't light it up in the playoffs, Lowry isn't bad in the playoffs like people make him to be.

In fact there has been years where he has been elite in the playoffs, like last year

[pingpongrac]

Raptors defense will improve when OG Anunoby returns to the lineup.
Hopefully he's back for round 2.

McCaw could actually be quite useful if he comes back Game 3. He has the length and quickness to guard TRoss... instead of letting him just shoot over FVV lol

Yeah, and MCW was too big for FVV.

I'm a pretty big FVV fan, but he doesn't have much of a place in this series if he's not hitting his threes because he's just too small to guard 90% of the Magic roster and not athletic enough to make up that height difference. The only player FVV matches up nicely against is Augustin - who still scored on him relatively easily in game 1. Considering Augustin starts and Lowry/Green will be on the floor most of the time guarding him, though, FVV is left to cover players like Ross/Fournier/MCW - who are all at least half a foot taller and generally much more athletic. It seems like every time FVV has been on the floor in this series, Orlando's wings have been drilling shots over him and finding a nice rhythm.

[macNcheese3]

DJ Augustin really has more FTA in 2 games than Kawhi........ that's crazy

The disrespect continues. Kawhi gets hacked consistently and no calls.

Either way, this series is a wrap. Raps in 5. Have a great summer, Magic fans.

[pingpongrac]

DJ Augustin really has more FTA in 2 games than Kawhi........ that's crazy

And to make matters even worse, Augustin had more FTA last night (7) than Kawhi has combined for in both games (6) despite attempting less than half as many FG (19 for Augustin, 40 for Kawhi) and averaging 7 MPG less. Kawhi has also already been called for 3 offensive fouls - which is just one less than shooting fouls he has been awarded (2 and-1s, 2 two-shot calls). Superstar calls my ***.

[Detective]

Looks like McCaw may be back for Game 3

Our D will benefit from it greatly.

[ATLTimekeeper]

DJ Augustin really has more FTA in 2 games than Kawhi........ that's crazy

Pascal Siakam is averaging 13 shots at the rim and has 3 total free throws. That is actually crazy. It's not like he's getting dump off dunks. He's driving to the rim on high volume and has one more free throw than Jeremy Lin.

[dacrusha]

DJ Augustin really has more FTA in 2 games than Kawhi........ that's crazy

Pascal Siakam is averaging 13 shots at the rim and has 3 total free throws. That is actually crazy. It's not like he's getting dump off dunks. He's driving to the rim on high volume and has one more free throw than Jeremy Lin.

Problem is neither Siakam or Kawhi flop to try and draw fouls... they're more focused on fighting through the slaps and grabs when getting to the rim. If the refs don't see some kind of adverse reaction impeding progress, they won't make a call.

After Augustin goes in for a layup, nine times out of ten he's lying on his back to draw a call... like FVV and Lowry.

[Ramed Nazored]

Augustin has been completely nullified by the Nurse's decision to throw Green at him. Hope he enjoyed his minute of fame.