PG: Raptors win in OT

[ArthurVandelay]

Great win. I'm not sure what Oubre was even thinking with a two handed shove on a bad angle. Just gave the game away. Why was Nurse even putting him in there in a defensive situation? Why didn't Darko put a shooter in? We got a little lucky, for sure.

If Bona was a Raptor, every time he got ragdolled and ended up on the floor would have been a no call. If 6 feet guards are dumping you that easily it's because you're not strong enough yet, and refs usually recognize that.

I think Gradey and Battle just really struggled with the physicality of the game. With Gradey, he tends to go too hard to compensate and rushes his shots or puts his body in harm's way. Battle is more of a shrinking violet and plays soft.

I think Scottie would have turned the corner for the dunk, if not for the shove.

100%

I still can't believe continuation wasn't called when you consider time, score, and he picked up his dribble at the point of the shove.

Also, the shove wasn't even a basketball play.

No consistency in the NBA with refs.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Also Martin was a great pick by Bobby. When can he realistically be in the rotation?

After today's performance?

Tommorow

We may be a better team if we stop giving any minutes to Gradey, or Walter, and Ochai, The injuries give us a chance to get some PG play into the SL without hurting the feelings of RJ or IQ. When RJ comes back, it will be even more competition for minutes. Will Lou today, thanked Bobby for Darko for playing production over politics, but you can't really take Will seriously, as he's an admitted access shill, and his job relies on it, but we will really see that when Gradey stops being gifted chances. He should be sitting and watching the useful players and not being given daily chances. I don't think a team really needs to play more than 8 guys per game. I don't know why we routinely platy 11. Battle should play more, Martin should play and if Gradey and Walter fell into a manhole and are lost for the remainder of the season, we probably win a few more games.

[lobosloboslobos]

To say IQ didn't stepp up today because he went 6-22 and totally disregard everything else is whats wrong with some ppls interpretation of things.

really? i am no hater but IQ made a lot of selfish plays tonight down the stretch. he took a lot of shots and made some but he definitely gets tunnel vision when he gets excited and that is not a winning mentality.

he's clearly having a major shooting slump lately, but that happens to everyone. his value will go back up a lot when he starts hitting his 3s. still, that tunnel vision is concerning.

best thing about Ingram and RJ being out is Scottie taking over offensively with the game on the line. he needs to know he not only can but should be the one to do this.

[johanliebert]

Saying Alijah Martin is better than Walter is treading on Malachi Flynn> fvv and Lowry territory. Let’s stop with the pseudo scout stuff.

[tsherkin]

To say IQ didn't stepp up today because he went 6-22 and totally disregard everything else is whats wrong with some ppls interpretation of things.

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

[Duffman100]

To say IQ didn't stepp up today because he went 6-22 and totally disregard everything else is whats wrong with some ppls interpretation of things.

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

The logo 3, the 3 on 1 fastbreak, and the baseline fadeaway were just awful awful decisions. The last one I have on Darko too, that's what we drew up out of the timeout? lol

[tsherkin]

To say IQ didn't stepp up today because he went 6-22 and totally disregard everything else is whats wrong with some ppls interpretation of things.

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

The logo 3, the 3 on 1 fastbreak, and the baseline fadeaway were just awful awful decisions. The last one I have on Darko too, that's what we drew up out of the timeout? lol

Those were some of them, for sure.

But yeah, I can't really bang the gong enough on shooting 27.3% on 22 FGA in that game. That was a PUTRID scoring performance. I'm all in for us giving a little more support to IQ as I've discussed in other threads, because we're very fickle based on his game to game performance, but that did suck a lot. We need to not let him shoot THAT much, because he's not that kind of player. ESPECIALLY on a night where he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with an artillery fusillade.

[Duffman100]

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

The logo 3, the 3 on 1 fastbreak, and the baseline fadeaway were just awful awful decisions. The last one I have on Darko too, that's what we drew up out of the timeout? lol

Those were some of them, for sure.

But yeah, I can't really bang the gong enough on shooting 27.3% on 22 FGA in that game. That was a PUTRID scoring performance. I'm all in for us giving a little more support to IQ as I've discussed in other threads, because we're very fickle based on his game to game performance, but that did suck a lot. We need to not let him shoot THAT much, because he's not that kind of player. ESPECIALLY on a night where he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with an artillery fusillade.

Usually I'd agree except with who we were missing. Ingram, RJ, Poeltl and then Walter. We sort of need him to shoot at that point, for better or worse. Looking at the boxscore, I'm not sure how we spread it out much more.

Shead shot 15 times, Martin 11, Barnes 19, Boyles 12.

Outside of Martin, our bench didn't really show up last night.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

I'm not the usual IQ defender but let me just say I believe he's a valuable talent as an above the break shooter. Now, in a perfect world, he'd be my change of pace 6th man. Its not his fault we signed him to a big deal while also being over loaded with Shooting Guards. He has tried very hard to make it work because he's high character. Because financially Masai set him up for life, he'd dont really have to sweat, but he is because he wants to make it work. The genesis of all his struggles is feeling the need to change his game. if we try and trade him without every using him at his best, that will be on us. But this org has a decision to make with IQ, and RJ still. Because it's become as clear as Gradey's lack of development as a shooter, that IQ doesn't have it as a PG. And continuing to force it will not help us or IQ. I don't care who startrs or has their name called out. But I think Shead needs to play more. I think Martin is making a case for minutes too.

[PushDaRock]

Who's the 7 ft version of Martin?

I don't know that a 3rd string C counts as a real "need", but I would be surprised if it doesn't get addressed at the deadline or on the buy-out market nonetheless.

I would say another scorer off the bench that can create their own shot is the far more pressing need, but I think there's a decent chance that doesn't get addressed this deadline.

If Poeltl can stay healthy, we don't even need another C with the additions of CMB/Mamu. Problem is Poeltl can't stay healthy.

I'm hoping we get a large on-ball guard in the draft considering that seems to be the deepest archetype so far.

If you were to look at my posting history, you would see that I have had this opinion for awhile.

I have had the opinion that we need another "big" C on the roster BECAUSE common sense says Yak won't play 82 games a season in any year.

I 100% was for adding Mamu and even suggested it(and Bassey) before he ever signed. I thought he would be a good small ball backup C who could shoot to give us a different look. Him added to Barnes and CMB, lots of small ball guys we can throw at C while another plays PF with that C.

But we never prepared for if Yak got hurt AND we needed a big C to go against guys who are just too physically big or strong for Mamu, Barnes or CMB. Having the OPTION of throwing in a different guy for those matchups is what I wanted....and have for awhile.

I don't think it's unreasonable to want 2 7ft guys out of your 18 guy roster in case you NEED another big body at C. Even if it's to save some wear and tear on Barnes, Mamu, and CMB.

We have so many guards and forwards...a bunch that don't play...wishing for 1 less while having 1 more big C in case we need it, isn't a crazy ask.

Yak will miss more games after he comes back and every year after. We are equipped to play small ball in his absence with lots of options. We however are not prepared to replace his size and be big. I just want to to have that option when the matchup dictates it. That's all.

Sure, but it's also not a pressing need. If we're needing to play a scrub big in the first place, that's already not good for us. Anything a Nick Richards gives you in rebounding and some rim protection is given back up in the various other ways that he sucks. That basically applies to practically all 3rd string C's. Playing the 5 here requires more than what these scrub bigs provide, you need to make reads in this offense and have some flexibility to guard on the perimeter. Anyone actually useful is going to cost more significant assets and likely has a cap number hard to fit in and then you have to ask whether it's worth allocating those kind of resources for a 3rd string C in the first place. I still expect us to do something but I also expect whoever we get to basically never play.

[MiamiSPX]

To say IQ didn't stepp up today because he went 6-22 and totally disregard everything else is whats wrong with some ppls interpretation of things.

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

The logo 3, the 3 on 1 fastbreak, and the baseline fadeaway were just awful awful decisions. The last one I have on Darko too, that's what we drew up out of the timeout? lol

The 3-on-1 fastbreak bothered me the most, because he threw away a guaranteed 2 points.

[ash_k]

Those 2 Jayhawks boys just dont want it enough..Alijah is a man out there!!

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

Am I weird for thinking at full strength we have a legit shot against any eastern conference team in the playoffs?

Only worried about the west.

No way we get past the Knicks. The rest.. winnable

EDIT: Actually I don’t see how we even beat Celtics in a 7 game series. Everyone on that team shoots the 3 very well. They are legit a lock for the finals next year with Tatum

[Duffman100]

Honestly, man, he made some good plays at times, but that was an epic masterclass in poor decision-making and dreadful shot selection. He also made a SERIES of poor plays in the 4th. He didn't step up. He had a horrendous volume shooting performance with some exceptionally untimely gaffs.

That he also did some good stuff is worth noting, but doesn't dominate the narrative of his game performance.

The logo 3, the 3 on 1 fastbreak, and the baseline fadeaway were just awful awful decisions. The last one I have on Darko too, that's what we drew up out of the timeout? lol

The 3-on-1 fastbreak bothered me the most, because he threw away a guaranteed 2 points.

Especially with Martin trailing.. he robbed us of a highlight dunk.

[MiamiSPX]

Maxey seems to talk a fair bit of trash.

By all accounts he's a squeaky clean choirboy, but this kid bothers me so much. It's probably my irrational hate of all Philly teams, coupled with him always torching us, but I just don't like Maxey.

I figured it out. Scottie’s groupies have found one person to displace all blame to(Quickley).

Lot more than that. IQ is fraying my every last nerve lately. He hits the game winner, but for the hour before I was steaming lol. He's played well enough to keep me from even commenting and spoiling the vibe.

Too often I'm yelling at my TV because some plays are spectacularly stupid. And at this point in his career those should be less frequent mistakes.

Sums up the IQ experience better than I could. Last night he was doing what many accuse Scottie of.....which is....playing like an idiot because he was trying to outduel Maxey, who was badly outplaying him.

[causal_fan]

In his career, Maxey eats the Raptors for breakfast. Will be interesting to see what happens tonight especially if the Raptors have to worry about Embiid.

[Jerry Lucas]

Bobby became the big boy this year, he can get a s/o for Mamu

Bobby has been a gm since at least the kawhi tried and was the one who orchestrated it through his connections. What are you talking about man.

We have no idea who to give or not give credit to between Masai and Bobby.

Alright Duff, since you said this, I guess that means you won't be praising them anymore either? If credit can't be assigned (either positively or negatively) that means you can't blame them for anything, OR praise them for anything either.

[NinjaBro]

Did we just have the most enjoyable month of Raptor's basketball not including our championship year? Every game has been a banger.

[Duffman100]

Bobby has been a gm since at least the kawhi tried and was the one who orchestrated it through his connections. What are you talking about man.

We have no idea who to give or not give credit to between Masai and Bobby.

Alright Duff, since you said this, I guess that means you won't be praising them anymore either? If credit can't be assigned (either positively or negatively) that means you can't blame them for anything, OR praise them for anything either.

IMO, I think you sort of praise them as a unit or criticize them as a unit during the last few years. It's so hard to extract if the blame/praise belongs to Masai, Bobby or both. Now that Bobby seems to be on his own, future moves can clearly be assigned to him.

I think if we had someone in this forum with a direct line of sight into the decision making process, then it would be easier?

[PushDaRock]

Kind of funny that IQ is catching all these strays and hardly anyone is talking about Shead dropping 22 this game