GT: TOR (3-2) @ MIA (2-3) - GAME 6 - Fri 5/13 - 8:00PM - SN

[TheAlchemist]

I think that if we where able to change our style, yet keep the gritty defensive tenacity up, we'd have such an easy time cruising to the finals.

Albeit it's not all coaching and basketball philosophy holding us back, but our own players crumbling under relatively new playoff pressure. Lowry never played in the second round, neither did more then 70% of our team. It's understandable how we can worry and crumble to the pressure.

That being said, they should acclimate faster then this, and seeing how they took forever to adapt to the fact that Hassan Whiteside is out and Miami has no rim protection, we definitely need more motivation/confidence in our players.

I believe the ISO-centric basketball that we do play is a horrible system. That's why we see our leads dwindle down, we are always crumbling to the pressures of the other teams runs, and how our players are shooting historically low percentages.

If we did share the ball much better and had a more team game, I believe we would of easily cruised. Our defense is probably the best out of EVERYONE in the playoffs, I don't need a statistic to see that. We are disgustingly great at defense.

However, basketball is a multifaceted game where you have more then one dynamic, isolated at that, to it. I mean, it's not all about offence or strictly defense.

For example, a good defensive team gets break out and runs easier, via turnovers, steals, and stops. The defense there helps you get easy buckets.

Likewise the offence which gets better looks and shots, via offensive shot selection, lets you set up your defense easier. Just by making shots, you don't get break outs, run outs, and transition buckets because the nature of making your shots results in dead ball situations.

Now I understand why Casey chooses to slow the pace down; less turnovers (in our losses we have turned over the ball a LOT), set plays, slows the overall tempo of the game which leads to a more controlled style of basketball, and makes it harder for both teams to score.

Now although I'm okay with some parts of that philosphy, I believe he's looking at the game completely wrong for various reasons;

1. We are a team that does not run out as much and that leads to us grinding out for more offensive possesions. Have we run out more and fast break much more, defensive stops would become much easier. The turn overs from fast breaks are strictly (imo) from not practicing fast breaks.

2. Slowing down the pace puts enormous pressure on our own players to score. The defense of the opposing team is set, they don't need great defenders and they can stop our guys. This makes it harder.

3. Not sharing the ball stops our guys from getting good easy looks. It puts more pressure on us to sustain a defensive tenacity and we cannot for the life of us get easy buckets then.

A lot of work needs to be done by our coaches, whoever they are, next year.

[Crazomali]

Whiteside officially out.

Raptors in 6

Miami ESPN radio saying Raptors aren't good and they're still talking about Cleveland lol. They also called Biyombo Congolese Joel Anthony lmao

Lmao Congolese Joel Anthony? They're shook because of what BBC did in that goat sequence: putpack dunk, block on wade, and slam dunk.

[Rejected]

9 wins from a chip!

[Northface82]

9 wins from a chip!

[DreamTeam09]

With an adequate playoff offence, the Raptors could actually have fun, like the Golden State Warriors and other teams that run circles around bottom level competition.

It's not always heartache and stressful.

Dwayne Casey's defensive grind out style of basketball, or ugly ball is enormously stressful.

Just believe that this is a good team and the better team should win.

1st year we went to the final shot in game 7 to a vet BK team. (BK was like the 2nd best team in the new year that year)
2nd year we weren't a good team for many reasons.(personal, injuries, atmosphere)
3rd year we are a game away from the ECF as the 2 seed.

[Northface82]

Spoiler:

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Another memorable moment.

Biyombo stiff arm'd the hell out of Winslow. Holy crap.

LITERALLY right in front of the ref too.
Imagine if that was JV, though?? $25k fine.

[Dirk]

Spoiler:

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Another memorable moment.

Biyombo stiff arm'd the hell out of Winslow. Holy crap.

LITERALLY right in front of the ref too.

Speaking of Biyombo, check out the sound when he blocks Winslow.

https://streamable.com/l9lb

[Syd-TK3]

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Another memorable moment.

Pat Riley's reactions to Lowry's big shots have been hilarious.
Props to the camera man for always getting it

[The_Toro]

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Another memorable moment.

Pat Riley's reactions to Lowry's big shots have been hilarious.
Props to the camera man for always getting it

lets hope that is not a flagrant foul on BB

[LLJ]

lets hope that is not a flagrant foul on BB

Aw ****. Thanks for ruining my day.

That said, he doesn't swing his elbow Artest style. It looks more like BB's arm is already on his chest for a while and then he flops, and BB loses balance. Masai can certainly make a case of unintentionality if they do a flagrant 2, which would be outrageous.

[Hero]

9 more wins!!

[0 - 100]

I think that if we where able to change our style, yet keep the gritty defensive tenacity up, we'd have such an easy time cruising to the finals.

Albeit it's not all coaching and basketball philosophy holding us back, but our own players crumbling under relatively new playoff pressure. Lowry never played in the second round, neither did more then 70% of our team. It's understandable how we can worry and crumble to the pressure.

That being said, they should acclimate faster then this, and seeing how they took forever to adapt to the fact that Hassan Whiteside is out and Miami has no rim protection, we definitely need more motivation/confidence in our players.

I believe the ISO-centric basketball that we do play is a horrible system. That's why we see our leads dwindle down, we are always crumbling to the pressures of the other teams runs, and how our players are shooting historically low percentages.

If we did share the ball much better and had a more team game, I believe we would of easily cruised. Our defense is probably the best out of EVERYONE in the playoffs, I don't need a statistic to see that. We are disgustingly great at defense.

However, basketball is a multifaceted game where you have more then one dynamic, isolated at that, to it. I mean, it's not all about offence or strictly defense.

For example, a good defensive team gets break out and runs easier, via turnovers, steals, and stops. The defense there helps you get easy buckets.

Likewise the offence which gets better looks and shots, via offensive shot selection, lets you set up your defense easier. Just by making shots, you don't get break outs, run outs, and transition buckets because the nature of making your shots results in dead ball situations.

Now I understand why Casey chooses to slow the pace down; less turnovers (in our losses we have turned over the ball a LOT), set plays, slows the overall tempo of the game which leads to a more controlled style of basketball, and makes it harder for both teams to score.

Now although I'm okay with some parts of that philosphy, I believe he's looking at the game completely wrong for various reasons;

1. We are a team that does not run out as much and that leads to us grinding out for more offensive possesions. Have we run out more and fast break much more, defensive stops would become much easier. The turn overs from fast breaks are strictly (imo) from not practicing fast breaks.

2. Slowing down the pace puts enormous pressure on our own players to score. The defense of the opposing team is set, they don't need great defenders and they can stop our guys. This makes it harder.

3. Not sharing the ball stops our guys from getting good easy looks. It puts more pressure on us to sustain a defensive tenacity and we cannot for the life of us get easy buckets then.

A lot of work needs to be done by our coaches, whoever they are, next year.

I think you're spot on for everything you just said. A good point was the fast break points; we had that big lead in the 1st half last night because our defense was exceptional and the team finally started to run and get easy bucks off their misses and turnovers. We HAVE to continue this. This was the difference in the game last night.

As well, the offensive system does need a major shake up and more accountability. Charles Barkley and different media guys are asking why we are always doing nothing with the ball until the last 5 seconds before we heave up a ridiculous shot. One or two times okay but geeze, this has been happening many times throughout the playoffs, especially in the fourth quarter which is the most crucial. Casey who obviously will be back next season has to get these guys to move the ball more. It definitely needs to go inside a lot more with JV emerging when he's finally healthy because it will just open up the rest of the court.

[0 - 100]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730807625298874368[/tweet]

[LLJ]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730807625298874368[/tweet]

Volleyball isn't a walk in the park for your body either.

[djsunyc]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730807625298874368[/tweet]

[Rare]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730807625298874368[/tweet]

Volleyball fans in shambles

[Scooby Snax]

Just make the thread for game 7

[SpiderMunn]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNo2d6yp0JQ[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNFTLhpItfk[/youtube]

[duppyy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730807625298874368[/tweet]

Volleyball isn't a walk in the park for your body either.

Can die from a heat stroke playing golf.

[duppyy]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNo2d6yp0JQ[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNFTLhpItfk[/youtube]

Carroll is a gentleman.