PG: Notorious BI3 come thru (8-1 in last 9)

[Duffman100]

Also S/O Gradey - he's actually shown some flashes defensively in recent games. Hope it's a sign of a things to come.

He isn't making just insane mistakes lately too. Both offensively and defensively.

[TeamDisgruntled]

I don't expect a change in the SL until around the trade deadline when the team will likely make a concerted effort to move RJ (not my wish) - Gradey and/or Walter will probably get first dibs to fill the spot but I'd hope the team also consider a PG Shead / SG Quickley lineup or maybe one of the G-league guards like Lawson.

If RJ gets moved, it will be for an upgrade.

I think it’s easy when you watch the raptors to see that RJ’s spot is the one where an upgrade would do the most for this team. That’s not to say his skill set is easily replaceable, the pressure he puts on the rim is valuable but if you can get a guy who can be effective on offense while also being a good defender it’s obvious you have to make that happen. Is that guy out there to be had for what we have to offer though?

[PushDaRock]

I don't expect a change in the SL until around the trade deadline when the team will likely make a concerted effort to move RJ (not my wish) - Gradey and/or Walter will probably get first dibs to fill the spot but I'd hope the team also consider a PG Shead / SG Quickley lineup or maybe one of the G-league guards like Lawson.

If RJ gets moved, it will be for an upgrade.

I think it’s easy when you watch the raptors to see that RJ’s spot is the one where an upgrade would do the most for this team. That’s not to say his skill set is easily replaceable, the pressure he puts on the rim is valuable but if you can get a guy who can be effective on offense while also being a good defender it’s obvious you have to make that happen. Is that guy out there to be had for what we have to offer though?

How many good 2 way players are actually available on the market? These guys get hoarded by good teams or go for massive hauls (eg. Mikal Bridges)

[Appostis]

It's really weird.. one Facebook poster who comes across as abit of a RJ fanboy posts about RJ and his game winning basket.

Not sure how anyone comes away from this game wanting to post about RJ.

I mean, he did hit the game-winning shot. He had a bit of a rough game, but he also didn’t necessarily try to do too much aside from a few possessions in transition. He’d finish that game with 20+ points more often than not, but he (like the rest of the team) just wasn’t getting any calls while he also missed a couple of point-blank layups.

Aside from Ingram — who had his own struggles with 5 TOV — and IQ, no one really had a good game. It was pretty ugly most of the night outside of a few bursts, so it’s promising that we still found a way to beat the Hornets — and the refs — as well as overcoming our own mistakes.

Yeah, obviously he had a below average game. It's just probably not as terrible as people are saying. He smoked some easy lay-ups and then had some opportunities in transition that he didn't convert on or get the call. Maybe a couple were bad shots but most were very makeable.

Not terrible but definitely not up to the play he was showing earlier in the season.

[Grew]

Scottie/BI/RJ

They all had rough moments in that game, all got disrespected by the refs. Yet they all came through in the clutch. RJ's cut and finish, BI's block, Scottie's block. No quit. Dogs.

Winning like that was better than a 20 point blowout. That's a connecting type win for the guys. That's a win where Ingram realizes what he can do on defense, and how this team responds to a big play like that from him.

[Grew]

Honestly great game from the whole team. Everyone played with energy. If fairly reffed, all the stats look wayyyyy different. This was just a gritty win with a lot of heart on display.

[Childs]

It was weird. It was the first game in a long time that it was close at the end and I wasn’t really worried we would blow it. I even felt somewhat confident we would figure it out

It's a nice feeling, isn't it?

Yeah it's fun to be somewhat good again with depth and the ability to win games.

So far we've taken out some low hanging fruit (which is good). I'd like to see us beat a really good team. Cavs were without Garland, but they were our best win.

Blowing out Milwaukee with Giannis is up there for me too.

[sbsat]

if gradey can get his 3 pt shooting to 40% and just continue to modestly improved on defense, there is something. Just remember, norm had many start and stops early in his career before he figured it out! small steps is the key

[Tripod]

Fwiw, Walter was not moved down to 905 today. Only Mogbo and Lawson were. 905 play 2 b2b games on Wed/Thur then off for 9 games.

So Walter might have a 10 day short leash until any decision is made.

Obviously I want him to turn things around but also Battle DESERVES to be getting his minutes.

[ItsDanger]

Dick's defense is the same. Winning creates a false perception especially against poor teams. You pump up his value and trade him. Hopefully Bobby doesn't fall into Masai's trap of being reactive. Or maybe it was Bobby this whole time.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Dick's defense is the same. Winning creates a false perception especially against poor teams. You pump up his value and trade him. Hopefully Bobby doesn't fall into Masai's trap of being reactive. Or maybe it was Bobby this whole time.

How many trades have gone through so far? Drop this lame act. No one takes it seriously.

[rapsincr]

i dont dislike RJ, what i dislike is his process from play to play, he has stretches wheres hes the best player on the court. but when hes not, hes more often than not he one of, if not the worst. he just doesnt seem to have it in him to slow the game down enough to make the proper play alot of the time which is hard in this type of offense imo, hes just a bull in a china shop type player. hes improved since coming to toronto for sure, and give him credit for trying to pass more and be a better defender, but he always seems to revert back to NY RJ when he starts to struggle. just imo. still love him in general, i just dont see it working in this system if he cant maintain the changes.

[rapsincr]

Fwiw, Walter was not moved down to 905 today. Only Mogbo and Lawson were. 905 play 2 b2b games on Wed/Thur then off for 9 games.

So Walter might have a 10 day short leash until any decision is made.

Obviously I want him to turn things around but also Battle DESERVES to be getting his minutes.

battle is criminally underused, if raps are serious about winning darko really should be explaining himself here lol

[YogurtProducer]

Dick's defense is the same. Winning creates a false perception especially against poor teams. You pump up his value and trade him. Hopefully Bobby doesn't fall into Masai's trap of being reactive. Or maybe it was Bobby this whole time.

Damn, 15 pages in and we finally had someone complain about Masai.

We almost did it guys.

[YogurtProducer]

Huh... we'd have to include at least one heavily protected 1st.

What would you realistically even offer?

Would be a BALLSY risky trade, but the upside of a IQ/Ball/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl lineup makes you almost WANT to risk it.

At worst - Ball is an oft-injured, low effort player
At best - Ball is an all-nba talent giving you 22/7/9 a night. Moves IQ to more of a spot up role, further lets Barnes focus on being a menace defensively and Ball and Barnes when running would be lethal.

I really think him in a new situation would unlock him to. He wouldn't need to shoot 19 times a night, he would have better guys to playmake for (and somehow he still is at 10apg in CHA with those bums in only 32mpg), etc.

ASK OUT BALL. I wanna see it happen

Edit: and, we would have IQ/Ball/Barnes/Poeltl all locked up on solid deals through 2029.

He's played 36, 22 and 47 games the last 3 years. He's made of glass and gives little to no effort on D. Maybe a change of scenario helps but he really hasn't shown much in his career to indicate these things will change.

His USG last 2 seasons is at 34% and 36%. He's needed to dominate the ball to put up the numbers he does which aren't even that amazing especially when done so inefficiently. His best skill is his passing but again if he's not dominating the ball, those assist numbers will drop a lot. That's really not a fit in this offense where we don't want anyone dominating the ball outside of when we need a bucket in the half court from Ingram. You would need to be extremely confident in him completely changing the way he plays for him to fit in. Then, there's the question of his effectiveness and production on a winning team even if he is willing to change his play style.

Yeah the injuries is a huge issue - but that is also a big reason why you get an all-nba potential talent for cheaper than you would if he was healthy. Definitely plays into why it would be such a massive risk.

Ball just screams to me a guy that is eventually gonna get onto a team that is not a complete freaking trainwreck and people are going to go "how did we not know this guy was elite?"

He has huge usage, and poor efficiency, but that is significantly because he teammates are ass. His organization he plays for is ass. Look at how much better guys like Barnes / Barrett / IQ / Dick look this year when they all go down a peg in the pecking order. I can only imagine what Ball might look like where he doesn't need to have a 35% USG. It isn't like he is selfish, hes 100% a willing passer and from what I have seen he doesn't hijack possessions.

But his impact is clear. Charlotte is constantly better with him on the floor. +6 last night to, just only played 28 minutes for some puzzling reason.

[PushDaRock]

Dick's defense is the same. Winning creates a false perception especially against poor teams. You pump up his value and trade him. Hopefully Bobby doesn't fall into Masai's trap of being reactive. Or maybe it was Bobby this whole time.

Well, he's rocking a 102 DRTG this season. The sample size is small but the eye test tells me he's being targeted a lot less this season or at the very least we are doing an incredible job of hiding him out there. Take your pick on which narrative to choose but only thing that matters is the team has been effective with him on the floor defensively.

[Son Goku 25]

One key skill that differentiates winners is their ability to be a plus rebounder for their position. I think it was Kobe who said it, we remember Kawhi being Boardman too.

Ingram can grab rebounds and so can Barnes. Surprisingly, they have played well together as a group and seems like they genuinely like to play together since Ingram is unselfish too and a good passer.

[ItsDanger]

Dick's defense is the same. Winning creates a false perception especially against poor teams. You pump up his value and trade him. Hopefully Bobby doesn't fall into Masai's trap of being reactive. Or maybe it was Bobby this whole time.

Well, he's rocking a 102 DRTG this season. The sample size is small but the eye test tells me he's being targeted a lot less this season or at the very least we are doing an incredible job of hiding him out there. Take your pick on which narrative to choose but only thing that matters is the team has been effective with him on the floor defensively.

There are more variables to consider: his next contract, declining potential label, depth at position, lack of depth elsewhere (3rd big), not enough minutes for others, etc. I'd rather go cheap at the spot he's currently in.

[ArthurVandelay]

Fwiw, Walter was not moved down to 905 today. Only Mogbo and Lawson were. 905 play 2 b2b games on Wed/Thur then off for 9 games.

So Walter might have a 10 day short leash until any decision is made.

Obviously I want him to turn things around but also Battle DESERVES to be getting his minutes.

battle is criminally underused, if raps are serious about winning darko really should be explaining himself here lol

Battle is on a minimum this year and next. He’s then a RFA.

Raptors not going to destroy Walter or Dick value or perceived value benching for a guy at such a low cost with so much team control for the next 2+ seasons.

I agree Battle should be playing more, but there is a lot more to it imo

[tms]

We're on pace to go 90-50. That's pretty good. 90-win team