PG: Raptors Win!

[Madvillainy2004]

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This is what separates Ingram from DeRozan.

DeMar was a selfish player.
Ingram isn't.

Gotta disagree there. I think those early WTN teams relied on DeMar very heavily to generate offense, but he's always been a willing passer. Kyle could score, but he could be streaky so you'd get stretches of games where he would carry the scoring load but then he'd have stretches where he would contribute but not necessarily carry scoring wise. Though I will say that I always felt like JV deserved more touches on offense, but didn't get them because of Casey's dumb ass and not because DeMar was selfish.

This team is a lot more dynamic offensively than probably anything DeMar ever played on. Still, kudos to BI for having that mindset and the ability to recognize where the defense can be exploited when they focus too much on him. My opinion is that this all starts with Scottie who is the highest paid guy and the (primary) leader of the team, he doesn't care who scores as long as the team is playing the right way.

Side note: Shead is awesome. I know someone said that he might be ready to start in a couple of years, but at the rate that he's been improving I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of this season or the beginning of next he was showing signs of being capable of being full time starter. I don't want to start a Calderon vs Ford debate because like another poster (I think it was YP) said "let's just enjoy having two quality point guards on the roster".

Not to go too off topic but I always thought JVs lack of touches was moreso due to him being a dreadful playmaker. The raps played a pretty slow/low TO + low risk offense for those years but JV for most of his time here was like double his turnovers to his assists. Probably couldve got more touches but JVs lack of passing kinda handicapped how much you could actually go through him down there. He also wasnt super dynamic as a roller/vertical threat or space the floor. I dont think JV was used perfectly but I dont think we really missed out that much by not spamming post touches with him during those years.

[Basketball_Jones]

Scottie’s handles have improved
Much tighter now

Yeah a lot of those open court drives and left handed finishes he wasn’t even doing a year ago. Now, if he can figure out how to get those in half court sets he’s really cooking.

[Boogie!]

Scottie’s handles have improved
Much tighter now

Yeah a lot of those open court drives and left handed finishes he wasn’t even doing a year ago. Now, if he can figure out how to get those in half court sets he’s really cooking.

He can’t do it in half court sets because he doesn’t have the first step for it… it works in transition because it always has… why do you think the raptors try to so hard to push every time they can… it’s easier to exploit defenses that aren’t set and are scrambling back… stop expecting things that will never happen.

[HumbleRen]

The starting lineup so desperately needs another ball handling defensive guard in the line up.

It unlocks the 2 way potential for the starting lineup and unlocks IQ to become a lethal shooter.

I think our best line up is

Poeltl
Barnes
Ingram
IQ
Shead

Put RJ in for IQ. IQ is the perfect 6th man. We need people who can drive to the net in the starting lineup. Having height at the 2 helps. That second unit would be killer from the line.

Nope. You need IQ’s shooting and spacing.

If RJ isn’t hyper efficient, he’s a negative. He’s better suited to lead bench line ups that don’t have a go to scorer.

Either way, nobody is good enough at the moment to move RJ to the bench at the moment, even if there’s better fits on the line up.

[Thaddy]

Battle needs minutes over Dick, Walter and Agbaji. I will fight anyone over this.

Most believe this...except Darko.

I am willing to bet Walter goes to 905 after road trip.

The problem with giving Battle, Jakobe's minutes is Battle has no chance of filling what I believe they intended to be Walter's role on the team which is guarding tough matchups on the perimeter. Shead has been taking that role more and more to the point where when Jakobe goes down to the 905, I think Chucky is called up as a backup to Shead.

I think we should try out Chucky. A two PG line up might work well for us. We need POA defenders and creators.

[TheRaptor!]

Barnes playing All NBA level this season. Making the right reads and his defense has gone up to another level

This team with a bench of veterans instead of Abaji, Dick, and Walter could be top 4 in the east. If this team plays at a 45 win pace, I could see Bobby selling on our unproven young talent.

I'd use one Gradey or JKW plus Ochai for Gafford, just not sure what contract we could add. Personally I'd like to keep RJ.

I don't see a current star player that's available that's really worth the juice.

Gafford is 100% the guy we need to get

[DG88]

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[Yallbecrazy]

Need him to make 3s or else eventually everyone is going to go zone against us

Ingram needs to stop chucking so many 3s and stick with his mid range game.

Raptors destroyed the zone by getting Scottie into the middle of the floor with the ball around the free throw line. They put on a clinic on how to beat a zone.

[Yallbecrazy]

We got Pacers/Hornets/76ers no embiid?)/Wizards/Nets/Cavs/Pacers/Hornets

We could be 13-7 or 14-6 before our matchup against the Knicks on the 30th.

6 of the next 8 should be guaranteed wins.

That would put us at 13-7 at worst.

Long road trip followed by a home game and then a road game is really tough on the players. Don't be surprised by them looking poor in a game they should win in a vacuum.

[lobosloboslobos]

I think you still need RJ's skill set out there. You need someone that can get downhill and apply rim pressure on a team lacking in it. Perfect world, you are probably adding a Caruso/Dort type defender to play 25 mins a night as a rotation guy and occasional closing lineups. But, every team that has them are trying to hold onto them. We are probably still hoping Ochai or Walter can develop into that for us.

It’s a salary cap league. RJ is the most expandable and replaceable of the starting 5.

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

This board loves to trash certain guys. for whatever dumb reason RJ has been that guy, even though he has far surpassed expectations and has been a 20-5-5 guy since he got here. for those who don't know basketball those are excellent numbers.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

i love that the starting 5 outside of Poeltl can go off and sustain the offense in any game.

i love that Barnes wasn't really forcing anything and it mostly came to him naturally.Ingram was having a rough game but some of those ISO buckets were momentum killers for opposing teams.

[YogurtProducer]

I think our best line up is

Poeltl
Barnes
Ingram
IQ
Shead

I think so too. Makes everyone else in that lineup better.

Issue is, we don’t know if Shead is ready for that starting role nor do we have a back up PG to take his place.

There is no reason to start Shead. Even when we had Lowry/Fred during their best years, Fred came off the bench and still closed a lot of games. Shead can do the same.

Still wish we had last years version of Ochai because I think thats what the starting lineup needs and RJ would become a 6th man of the year candidate simultaneously. It’s just great to have enough skill on the team again where we can argue about what works best.

Just start Ochai and give him a dozen games to see if last year version is in there still.

There’s no reason to think he forgot how to play - he’s 25 ffs

[YogurtProducer]

The starting lineup so desperately needs another ball handling defensive guard in the line up.

It unlocks the 2 way potential for the starting lineup and unlocks IQ to become a lethal shooter.

If they could somehow find a 2025 version of Derrick White just like Boston did, that would really take them to the next level.

Well, you probably don't want the actual 2025 version of Derrick White so far this season.

A month ago he was a top 15 player around here…

[ATLTimekeeper]

The team's strength seems to be these bench units, with no drop off from Quickley to Shead, RJ to Gradey. I still think BI plays too long, and was hung out there for the entire 3rd Q.

[Boogie!]

i love that the starting 5 outside of Poeltl can go off and sustain the offense in any game.

i love that Barnes wasn't really forcing anything and it mostly came to him naturally.Ingram was having a rough game but some of those ISO buckets were momentum killers for opposing teams.

Ingram has generally been good, my only concern is he can’t seem to make any catch and shoot 3s…

[Boogie!]

The team's strength seems to be these bench units, with no drop off from Quickley to Shead, RJ to Gradey. I still think BI plays too long, and was hung out there for the entire 3rd Q.

Any of the starters to gradey is a drop off… I’m not sure why people are so high on him still.

[Boogie!]

It’s a salary cap league. RJ is the most expandable and replaceable of the starting 5.

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

This board loves to trash certain guys. for whatever dumb reason RJ has been that guy, even though he has far surpassed expectations and has been a 20-5-5 guy since he got here. for those who don't know basketball those are excellent numbers.

It’s not even just about the numbers, his skillset is something that’s different from anyone else on the team. His ability to attack the paint and draw fouls is something this team needs… his playmaking and on ball creation is also super underrated… the guy averaged almost the same amount of assists as Barnes last year

[Mikistan]

I told you guys a win here would have been expected

We may never lose again

[original fan]

If we want a significant upgrade RJ is on the move. Both from salary cap purpose and the skills he is able to provide.If we trade any of the young wings not only it will be hard for salary coming back, but it will also take away these cheap future rotation players.(can't pay your whole ball club 20 million plus)
In an ideal world RJ and unprotected 2026 pick for White or someone alike, then follow with Ochai and whole bunch of seconds for a good back up C.
or break RJ contract into 2 rotation players in position of need and get under the tax. e.i a good back up C and PG or combo guard, insert OChai in SL and hope he regains his last years form.
We need either a John Salmon trade for Rj Or RJ plus an unprotected frp in 2026 deep draft for an elite 3 and D SG, that will complement this team so well that we will easily be in that 50 win territory and 2nd round with a chance for more. While it does not make us contenders, it makes us very good for the present and it makes many of our young guys get better in winning environments .

[Hottie McShotty]

This pass by Scottie was a thing of beauty!

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