PG: Raptors gut out a resilient win

[LoveMyRaps]

Scottie has been averaging like 23/7/6 last 7 games

23.9 / 7.0 / 7.3

Is that good?

[TOStateofMind]

Couple good bounce back games after that rough lakers game and losing cmb.

[HiJiNX]

Scottie has been averaging like 23/7/6 last 7 games

Crazy that some think Barnes hasn't improved because his PPG is similar to the last 2 years.

Barnes is way better this year than last year. His effort is way more consistent. He has more in his repertoire. He is more in control and has a more measured approach. He can dribble in the paint now. His pullup jumper is money recently. He’s playing like a refined version of rookie Barnes which I think is what we all wanted. The team stopped trying to jerk him into weird roles and is now letting him just play his game.

[Madvillainy2004]

Ugly first half, far better in the second. Bunch of impressive performances for us. Mamu was huge. Quick looked very good, and more spritely. Scottie had an excellent game. BI too.

And amid a rough overall performance, Gradey was 4/6 inside the arc and had some nice action in transition.

Gradey Dick is the guy that really needs to lock himself in the gym and work on his shot.

He needs to figure it out above the break so badly, for sure.

Hes at 29.7% from 3 on the year, Im kinda shocked its got this bad for his shot. Like this is lower than any projected ceiling i saw as a shooter

[AkelaLoneWolf]

Big win....at least got 2 wins on the trip in the bank. Getting the win vs Blazers would be huge since we know OKC is a loss.

if we win against the blazers, i would give ingram and scottie at least the okc game off. rj should be back and quickley should still be fresh from the couple games he took off.

[LoveMyRaps]

Quick’s defense has been pretty good this season.

Made some big defensive plays tonight as well.

(Schroeder did get the better of him on a couple occasions though)

[Dennis 37]

Did we win because the Kings just suck?

[tsherkin]

yeah his rim pressure was special, still impacted winning despite the below average efficiency on high volume during his prime

He had some record-setting shot creation in his heyday. Wild athlete. Used to suck less as a scorer as well. Had a mediocre 3, a middie, and could just blast to the rim. He's shooting the 3 better on the season this year (mostly from the corner), but he's just old now. It happens.

The willingness to drive over and over and actually get deep into the paint the last three weeks has been a revelation. His handle has improved and he’s using the rip through and step through more effectively while mixing in a pull up elbow jumper and a turnaround. He’s developing some stuff.

It is one of my favorite things about this season, watching him use the rip-through to just give 'er and go. He did it a couple times this game and I cheered every time. I enjoy his success.

[bape_lovers]

Also with BI/RJ, he can play his natural game which is passing, he tends still be floating sometimes like the first half but when he get his game on, he is really good.

Scottie has been averaging like 23/7/6 last 7 games

Crazy that some think Barnes hasn't improved because his PPG is similar to the last 2 years.

Barnes is way better this year than last year. His effort is way more consistent. He has more in his repertoire. He is more in control and has a more measured approach. He can dribble in the paint now. His pullup jumper is money recently. He’s playing like a refined version of rookie Barnes which I think is what we all wanted. The team stopped trying to jerk him into weird roles and is now letting him just play his game.

[beanbag]

Cardwell playing charades with the crowd when his team's about to lose. Classic random Kings scrub

Take it easy on the rook.
He’s just tryna carve out a career as an energy big.

I respect it.

I don't care what you respect

[HiJiNX]

Gotta give it up to IQ for pushing the ball today. He had lots of burst. Ingram played within the flow and didn’t hog too many possessions—I’m noticing a change in approach from him where he’s passing earlier in possessions and to guys who aren’t just Scottie, IQ, and RJ. Shead is getting better and better at the drive and kick game and continues to make momentum changing jumpers. Mamu is just a top bench player in the league. Dick I thought was good and played with confidence. Mogbo’s second half made up for his first half. Great game for everyone. Loved this win.

[littlerock2277]

So close to regaining the 2nd seed again.
Have Portland, OKC, New York, Magic then Jazz. The next 5 games.

Really interested to see how we play against new York again with them struggling recently.

[LoveMyRaps]

Can we re-sign Mamu and just go deeper into the tax?

[PushDaRock]

We have a better road record than home record this season which is interesting.

[tsherkin]

Gotta give it up to IQ for pushing the ball today. He had lots of burst. Ingram played within the flow and didn’t hog too many possessions—I’m noticing a change in approach from him where he’s passing earlier in possessions and to guys who aren’t just Scottie, IQ, and RJ. Shead is getting better and better at the drive and kick game and continues to make momentum changing jumpers. Mamu is just a top bench player in the league. Dick I thought was good and played with confidence. Mogbo’s second half made up for his first half. Great game for everyone. Loved this win.

Yeah, Quick had some light feet and good bounce today. Was awesome to see.

[bape_lovers]

To be fair, we play a lot of west teams at home, lakers/clips/nuggets/rockets

We have a better road record than home record this season which is interesting.

[HiJiNX]

nah Westbrook was really good in his prime

They'd be a lot better with prime Westbrook. He wasn't much better a scorer, but he was far better at gaining the paint and creating shots for others. Tonight, he had more turnovers than assists, though he WAS still carving us up inside. His issue was he took 8 threes and only made 2, which is also a fairly classic Westbrook move, but without all the shot creation.

yeah his rim pressure was special, still impacted winning despite the below average efficiency on high volume during his prime

Prime Westbrook was the most physically gifted PG I’ve ever seen. Super strong and fast and explosive. Coulda excelled in the NFL. Special athlete. People forget there was once a debate about whether he or Durant was the better player in OKC.

[Tripod]

Portland is 8-2 in their last 10 games...tied for tops in the league. Next game gonna be tough.

Speaking of last 10, Raps are 6-4 which is 2nd best in the East. Not bad considering all the injuries.

[kalel123]

Can we re-sign Mamu and just go deeper into the tax?

That would depend on if they can keep this up, finish top 6 in the East, and how well they do in the playoffs.

Currently, they are so scared **** about luxury tax that they won't fork over $140K to give Mamba a 10-day after the first go-around despite their plans to do so. A lot of good needs to happen for them to change that stance, which has to start with going under the tax line this season at trade deadline.

[pingpongrac]

Gotta give it up to IQ for pushing the ball today. He had lots of burst. Ingram played within the flow and didn’t hog too many possessions—I’m noticing a change in approach from him where he’s passing earlier in possessions and to guys who aren’t just Scottie, IQ, and RJ. Shead is getting better and better at the drive and kick game and continues to make momentum changing jumpers. Mamu is just a top bench player in the league. Dick I thought was good and played with confidence. Mogbo’s second half made up for his first half. Great game for everyone. Loved this win.

The first half was brutal after a really hot start, but the second half was really impressive. Balanced scoring from the starters, pretty solid defence overall and some timely plays late to seal the deal. A bit more contribution from the bench would have been nice, but a good win overall to gut out despite not really having their best stuff. Pretty crazy that we’re already just a few wins away from our total from all of last year considering the combined games we have missed from RJ, Poeltl and CMB.