Since Barrett’s injury Raptors offensive rating has plummeted to last in the league

[MiamiSPX]

It just shows we are not a good and deep enough team yet to be plus and play. People legitimately thought we could remove RJ and his 19+ PPG and sub in anyone, like even Ochai, and the team wouldn't miss a beat. Oops.

[MEDIC]

I wouldn't say expected to this extent where we go from elite top 5 ish offense to worst in the league with RJ out. Certainly doesn't bode well for what to expect when Ingram misses time either.

I expected the team to miss him & expected the team to struggle more.

They looked more like last years team. Just a struggle to take control of the game.

But, does struggle more equate to worst offensive in the league bad? RJ alone shouldn't be the difference between top 5 offense and worst in the league is what I'm saying.

Most people expected them to miss RJ and what he does but you still expect some guys to step up in his place and seize the opportunity of more mins available.

I wasn't expecting that, but it's a small sample size.

RJ's rim pressure has always been undervalued and misunderstood on this board. Look at the shots that were taken late in the game. Mostly tough perimeter shots.

Knowing when & where to cut is a massively underrated skill. Not every player has those instincts.

His 3 point shot has been good enough to contribute to scoring and spacing as well.

He's a great complimentary scorer.

[LoveMyRaps]

Really disappointed in Jakobe and Gradey.

I thought this was their chance. They are just tanking their trade values at this point.

And unfortunately Battle didn’t even get a chance

[Saul Goodman]

So glad he’s coming back in a week or two. He’s the key to them being a playoff team. Hopefully he can even get back for the NBA cup. He and Ingram really started to get some chemistry together

[Sandman88]

Shame that our 2 guard depth is useless. Dick and Walter have been too inconsistent, and Ochai looks like he can’t do anything right out there. For some reason, coach just doesn’t wanna give Battle consistent minutes

[C_Money]

Bobby calls these bench guys “two way players” but if they can’t get a bucket to save their lives they aren’t two way players.

[ItsDanger]

Because nobody on the bench has stepped up consistently to replace production. This is more of an indictment on them as a group.

[HiJiNX]

This was to be expected. RJ is a talented offensive player & this starting lineup is kind of "sum of all parts".

We don't have anyone remotely close to RJ coming off the bench. RJ's cutting and transition play is missed for sure.

I still think this team needs a more experienced/ proven bench guard. I think even Lawson would be better than Walter and Dick, but we are still partially in development mode.

I wouldn't say expected to this extent where we go from elite top 5 ish offense to worst in the league with RJ out. Certainly doesn't bode well for what to expect when Ingram misses time either.

I think if Ingram was hurt and RJ wasn’t that we win last night. And that our offence doesn’t plummet to nothing.

[HiJiNX]

Last 2 games Dick, CMB, Shead and Ochai are shooting 4-28.

That's not from 3, that's EVERYWHERE.

Getting nothing offensively from 4/5 bench guys is going to kill you. Mamu meanwhile 13/26 last 3 games....doing his part.

Ingram getting a lot of heat and he is doing TOO much, but these guys pulling disappearing acts is a big part of why he's been forcing more shots.

Then add in IQ shooting 37.7% overall and 22.7% from 3 while taking 5 more shots than normal.

Hardly anyone is making shots.

It’s the process. Ball is sticking too much. Some guys don’t pass to some other guys.

[Boogie!]

He's a mediocre player but the function that he does provide is extremely unique to our roster and subjectively adds a lot of value to our offense.

Again why do we need to keep undermining what he brings to the table by calling him a mediocre player. He’s scoring 19 points on 50/36/73. His ts is 60. The guy is a very efficient scorer and there are not many players in the league that can score like him especially in his role off the ball. Give him his **** credit. He is not as easy to replace as people make it out to be and I’m tired of being called crazy or like some erratic fanboy because I’m objectively trying to argue against the actual “haters”.

[Veepy]

Why can’t Battle get some legit run?

Unfortunately its political. The team will always invest more time into Dick/Walter/Ochai because of draft status, potential and contracts. Its a shame, Battle has earned the right to play more.

[Anticon]

A very useful data point.

And another reason why CMB, despite being an interesting player, wasn't the ideal fit for this team and this point. They need someone with punch off the bench.

No need to point out the obvious with Gradey and Walter.

Obvious opportunity there for Battle.

[Agimat]

RJ haters silent as a mouse.

nada zilch

[dagger]

Shame that our 2 guard depth is useless. Dick and Walter have been too inconsistent, and Ochai looks like he can’t do anything right out there. For some reason, coach just doesn’t wanna give Battle consistent minutes

In both the Indiana game and last night, the team failed to score for long, long stretches in the fourth quarter. I put that down to RJ's absence as his slashing and bullying to the basket is a great counter to the mid-range and outside shooting of his teammates. When defences tighten, his is a different look from what they get from IQ and BI in particular, and that makes defending the whole team harder.

[dagger]

A very useful data point.

And another reason why CMB, despite being an interesting player, wasn't the ideal fit for this team and this point. They need someone with punch off the bench.

No need to point out the obvious with Gradey and Walter.

Obvious opportunity there for Battle.

Battle is just not a good defender, too easily beaten for straight line drives or along the baseline. He's just not fleet enough of foot.

[Anticon]

A very useful data point.

And another reason why CMB, despite being an interesting player, wasn't the ideal fit for this team and this point. They need someone with punch off the bench.

No need to point out the obvious with Gradey and Walter.

Obvious opportunity there for Battle.

Battle is just not a good defender, too easily beaten for straight line drives or along the baseline. He's just not fleet enough of foot.

Yeah, and I'm assuming that's the reason he doesn't play. But seems like it worth testing if the trade off is worth it given how the offense has gone.

[PushDaRock]

This was to be expected. RJ is a talented offensive player & this starting lineup is kind of "sum of all parts".

We don't have anyone remotely close to RJ coming off the bench. RJ's cutting and transition play is missed for sure.

I still think this team needs a more experienced/ proven bench guard. I think even Lawson would be better than Walter and Dick, but we are still partially in development mode.

I wouldn't say expected to this extent where we go from elite top 5 ish offense to worst in the league with RJ out. Certainly doesn't bode well for what to expect when Ingram misses time either.

I think if Ingram was hurt and RJ wasn’t that we win last night. And that our offence doesn’t plummet to nothing.

Well, obviously we should win that game if RJ plays his normal game replacing the stinker Ingram put up.

But, this offense was also ranked 25th last year so it had it's own problems scoring the ball. Obviously the injuries affected things too.

[PushDaRock]

Last 2 games Dick, CMB, Shead and Ochai are shooting 4-28.

That's not from 3, that's EVERYWHERE.

Getting nothing offensively from 4/5 bench guys is going to kill you. Mamu meanwhile 13/26 last 3 games....doing his part.

Ingram getting a lot of heat and he is doing TOO much, but these guys pulling disappearing acts is a big part of why he's been forcing more shots.

Then add in IQ shooting 37.7% overall and 22.7% from 3 while taking 5 more shots than normal.

Hardly anyone is making shots.

Yeah, it's been bad timing with a lot of guys slumping at the same time.

[PushDaRock]

I expected the team to miss him & expected the team to struggle more.

They looked more like last years team. Just a struggle to take control of the game.

But, does struggle more equate to worst offensive in the league bad? RJ alone shouldn't be the difference between top 5 offense and worst in the league is what I'm saying.

Most people expected them to miss RJ and what he does but you still expect some guys to step up in his place and seize the opportunity of more mins available.

I wasn't expecting that, but it's a small sample size.

RJ's rim pressure has always been undervalued and misunderstood on this board. Look at the shots that were taken late in the game. Mostly tough perimeter shots.

Knowing when & where to cut is a massively underrated skill. Not every player has those instincts.

His 3 point shot has been good enough to contribute to scoring and spacing as well.

He's a great complimentary scorer.

You don't have to tell me about RJ's impact, I've been saying it since last year even when he was miscast in a higher USG role he wasn't suited for that he was going to be better in his more ideal role like we saw when he first got here.

I was also saying it was nonsense to move RJ to the bench for guys that haven't proven anything in the league.

I can believe those things to be true and still be disappointed with these young guys not taking advantage of their opportunity here.

[PushDaRock]

A very useful data point.

And another reason why CMB, despite being an interesting player, wasn't the ideal fit for this team and this point. They need someone with punch off the bench.

No need to point out the obvious with Gradey and Walter.

Obvious opportunity there for Battle.

You draft BPA at #9 not based on need. I didn't expect them to pick CMB either because of the obvious positional and skill set overlap with Scottie, but they must have loved his upside that much that they picked him anyways.