Preseason GT # 4| Wiz vs Raps - Oct 20 @ 730 pm Eastern TSN/1050

[sbsat]

someone please tell me Scottie is going to be okay

Darko seemed unbothered

[Zeno]

someone please tell me Scottie is going to be okay

Darko seemed unbothered

I also heard in a podcast that they saw Scottie outside the locker room smiling and walking around and he looked fine.

[tecumseh18]

someone please tell me Scottie is going to be okay

Darko seemed unbothered

But Darko talked about a "knee on knee" thing that didn't happen. We all saw what actually happened, and we were told on the broadcast that it was "bad news ... a sprained foot."

[Dennis 37]

Its amazing that if you seemingly stick with a guy that they might not suck. Gotta say with Flynn, I'll beleive it when I see it. But it looks like he's going to get a fair shake at it.

But Achiuwa, Achiuwa looks pretty good, and like he has a even a smidgeon of confindence again.

Good game. Good way to end the pre-season.

Dalano and Justin say hi.

If nurse only did stick with Banton. He didn't last year.

Indeed, we didn't fully get an idea if Banton could be something. Justin did everything asked for in the G-League and was glued to the bench on a losing team.

[Rapsin6]

I just saw the interview with Nick Nurse after last night’s game. His face looks fatter. Could this be a case where someone’s head actually gets big because of their ego?

[WaltFrazier]

Is that the point I was making? It's a matter of philosophy. I'm all for veterans who can also contribute on the court, but guys who are pretty much washed, the young guys won't listen to them so much anyway. We saw that with Thad and Scottie last year. I like Thad and not even saying he was wrong that time, but it doesn't work. In my opinion better to have young players who can develop and contribute when there are injuries

Lol, you don’t honestly believe that do you? Why are washed up veterans sticking around on clubs all around the league then?

You have absolutely zero evidence for this ridiculous claim.

And Dowtin is NOT young. He’s 26 years old.

It has nothing to do with philosophy but that he emotionally invested himself in Dowtin's success.

The CBA now allows for 3 two way players (Jeff used to be one of those). That's 3 extra roster spots just for developing players that can fill in and contribute when there are injuries (just like Jeff did last season!). Two of those guys are guards (just like Jeff).

The vets who are washed have a function. Hell, Scottie praised them earlier in summer camp. He's said nothing but positive things about Thad Young. After last night's game, Gradey Dick said the vets on the team have helped him understand NBA spacing and how to adjust to the speed of the game. He didn't say the other young players helped him.

For sure I got emotionally invested in Dowtin making it. For basketball reasons. No point rehashing that now. I hope he does well with Delaware Blue Coats and gets picked up by Philly or another NBA team signs him. He's an NBA guard, as I saw Samson Folk tweet today. I do feel the fact they waived him a day before he was due $900k or whatever it is, is a really crappy way to treat a player who hung in all last year through adversity, played well every time called upon, and stuck with the Raptors this summer. And had ankle surgery. It's a bad look for Masai given the quote I have in my sig.

[sidsid]

I'm pretty confident that Masai would have "shocked" the draft crowd again if we had the 4th pick (maybe even the 3rd) and taken Coulibaly.

[Tha Cynic]

It's honestly perfectly feasible for him this season and that's nuts. If he clinches both he'll shoot up into top 20 player discussion, I think.

Darko is smart enough to get Barnes 3 point shots from the corner instead of mostly above the break.

i was encouraged to see the 3 point shooting today. if porter stays healthy, with trent, gradey, and maybe mcdaniel that is a lot of 3 point shooting off the bench.
if barnes can improve and og can get back to his usual 3 point shooting, we should be set.

The Raptors don't have any elite movement shooters right now (though Dick projects to be one), so they will rely heavily on whatever is created for them. Someone like Porter won't have much impact if the passing is one and done. It doesn't create the same time of open jumpers good ball movement does. That was always the first step and the reason why people wanted this entire offense and the person running it gone. The ball movement looks good so far, so hopefully that keeps translating into a higher percentage of makes.

[Los_29]

Lol, you don’t honestly believe that do you? Why are washed up veterans sticking around on clubs all around the league then?

You have absolutely zero evidence for this ridiculous claim.

And Dowtin is NOT young. He’s 26 years old.

It has nothing to do with philosophy but that he emotionally invested himself in Dowtin's success.

The CBA now allows for 3 two way players (Jeff used to be one of those). That's 3 extra roster spots just for developing players that can fill in and contribute when there are injuries (just like Jeff did last season!). Two of those guys are guards (just like Jeff).

The vets who are washed have a function. Hell, Scottie praised them earlier in summer camp. He's said nothing but positive things about Thad Young. After last night's game, Gradey Dick said the vets on the team have helped him understand NBA spacing and how to adjust to the speed of the game. He didn't say the other young players helped him.

For sure I got emotionally invested in Dowtin making it. For basketball reasons. No point rehashing that now. I hope he does well with Delaware Blue Coats and gets picked up by Philly or another NBA team signs him. He's an NBA guard, as I saw Samson Folk tweet today. I do feel the fact they waived him a day before he was due $900k or whatever it is, is a really crappy way to treat a player who hung in all last year through adversity, played well every time called upon, and stuck with the Raptors this summer. And had ankle surgery. It's a bad look for Masai given the quote I have in my sig.

Correct me if I’m wrong but that 900k would count against the team’s cap.

[Tha Cynic]

Darko is smart enough to get Barnes 3 point shots from the corner instead of mostly above the break.

i was encouraged to see the 3 point shooting today. if porter stays healthy, with trent, gradey, and maybe mcdaniel that is a lot of 3 point shooting off the bench.
if barnes can improve and og can get back to his usual 3 point shooting, we should be set.

I'm only mentioning his 3pt release and not makes, it's major improvement from his old form and slow release. And he's shooting with confidence no hesitation. Huge step in improvement with Darko, he didn't even have this shooting form yet in Rico runs

Agreed. His base last year to improve that 3 was staggering. It just looked very robotic. But, what he has shown in preseason is much easier to work with and improve through progress and reps. These shot mechanics (and he has been very consistent with it), look much better in terms of what the progress will look like next season and on if he keeps working on it.

For example, if you watch Giannis shoot, it still looks terrible in terms of mechanics which is why you don't expect it to get better. The same could be said about Derozan. His mechanics don't really work with a 3 pointer.

[Johnny Bball]

Darko is smart enough to get Barnes 3 point shots from the corner instead of mostly above the break.

i was encouraged to see the 3 point shooting today. if porter stays healthy, with trent, gradey, and maybe mcdaniel that is a lot of 3 point shooting off the bench.
if barnes can improve and og can get back to his usual 3 point shooting, we should be set.

The Raptors don't have any elite movement shooters right now though Dick projects to be one. So they will rely heavily on what type of shot is created for them. Someone like Porter won't have much impact if the passing is one and done. It doesn't create the same time of open jumpers good ball movement does. That was always the first step and the reason why people wanted this entire offense and the person running it gone. The ball movement looks good so far, so hopefully that keeps translating into a higher percentage of makes.

I know some of you want to think its FVV, but the person running the offense was in fact Nurse. Because the ball movement now isn't because of new players and isn't his replacement Schroder making the difference, its a new coach (and directive from up on high) to get back a better way of playing.

[sidsid]

Always a focus on the vision switching ability, but that early second quarter zone where OG/Boucher passed off a cover is an interesting wrinkle.

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[sidsid]

The end of half full vision lineup had that look of a team that can generate in the halfcourt. Get the drive and kick going and the defense is on its heels. The passing isn't crisp enough yet, but they're right there around the rim.

What's missing here with Siakam is taking the mid ranger when available. There's been a lot of movement, but he hasn't adjusted to finding his shooting offense in this motion offense. He should find his way as he settles in.

[Scase]

I'm pretty confident that Masai would have "shocked" the draft crowd again if we had the 4th pick (maybe even the 3rd) and taken Coulibaly.

I don't think there is a snowballs chance in hell Masai would have picked him over scoot or a thompson, but I can definitely see why he would pick him up a couple slots earlier for sure. He was just clowning Siakam in that 1st Q.

[sidsid]

OPJ:
- makes good reads, and cuts at the right time for some easy buckets
- plays a bit of help d, gets a block
- a respected shooter
- rebounds a bit


Give this man the starting job over Dennis already.

[nikster]

i was encouraged to see the 3 point shooting today. if porter stays healthy, with trent, gradey, and maybe mcdaniel that is a lot of 3 point shooting off the bench.
if barnes can improve and og can get back to his usual 3 point shooting, we should be set.

The Raptors don't have any elite movement shooters right now though Dick projects to be one. So they will rely heavily on what type of shot is created for them. Someone like Porter won't have much impact if the passing is one and done. It doesn't create the same time of open jumpers good ball movement does. That was always the first step and the reason why people wanted this entire offense and the person running it gone. The ball movement looks good so far, so hopefully that keeps translating into a higher percentage of makes.

I know some of you want to think its FVV, but the person running the offense was in fact Nurse. Because the ball movement now isn't because of new players and isn't his replacement Schroder making the difference, its a new coach (and directive from up on high) to get back a better way of playing.

Yeah I'm not convinced it's Fred either. Nurse clearly never even attempted this style of play, even in preseason. Would have been interesting to sew Fred in this system

[HumbleRen]

OPJ:
- makes good reads, and cuts at the right time for some easy buckets
- plays a bit of help d, gets a block
- a respected shooter
- rebounds a bit


Give this man the starting job over Dennis already.

His body would combust if he was a starter.

[Agimat]

Nurse's system places a huge significant emphasis on player's skills, whereas team basketball prioritizes and encourages fluid ball movement which mitigates the need of individual skills and other weaknesses such as lack of shooting. I'm probably the 1% here who thought that we have a solid bench along. Nurse turn-based offense made it seems so.

and I know its only pre-season, but Darko's offense making it easier for the players to score.

[sidsid]

OPJ:
- makes good reads, and cuts at the right time for some easy buckets
- plays a bit of help d, gets a block
- a respected shooter
- rebounds a bit


Give this man the starting job over Dennis already.

His body would combust if he was a starter.

He cannot play more than 4-5 minutes a half for sure, and you'd have to hide him on whoever the 5th starter is, but it's a very low responsibility role. He'll be asked to stretch the floor and cut and move in motion when necessary, but the rest of the starters would do all the heavy lifting.

We're just trying to make those initial Poetl minutes functional in the halfcourt.