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

[6ixth_Man]

Gotta love DeMarre Carroll's (as Casey would say) disposition

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730802606705086464[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/730803045152526336[/tweet]

[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.

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.

Thanks man, just stuff I noticed a lot during the playoffs.

[1xkayz]

I hope we can close this series out in Miami because I'm not comfortable with a Game 7 in the early afternoon (we never won a game before a 5pm tipoff i believe) . Very reminiscent of the Brooklyn series

[Baashha]

this is going to be me and demar tomorrow

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Globies/status/729042194447761408[/tweet]

[cammac]

I try never to get down on players and last night was an overall good game by all. But it is time to man up for everyone and cruise to victory tomorrow. Miami is a old team and we need to run them into the ground we are bigger, younger and tougher so excuses. My wish was to get to ECF and not punk out against the Cav's.

Obviously they are healthy but if everyone is at 90% we can give them a bloody them and take a couple games.

[truth18]

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[protothe]

this is going to be me and demar tomorrow

This just brought sheer joy to my day. Thank you.

[Rare]

this is going to be me and demar tomorrow

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Globies/status/729042194447761408[/tweet]

that made me so happy lol **** man

[UnderdogRaptors]

BEAT THE **** HEAT

I know c's fans want to see this

[sycammer]

i have been on a business trip for past 3 days, so haven't posted the 2 games threads but I'm pleased how this team has performed again..what a season its been: we r a win away from being in ECFs....this is the result of continuity - raptors have stuck with a coach & group of players - even them a chance to get better...something that was lacking in the VC15 & CB4 years.

don't know about you guys - I'm watching the clips from yesterday -TNT's inside the NBA - it seems like the panel is upset as to why the raptors are winning games - spending the entire session on how the 1 of heat's players need to step up - joe Johnson primarily....

the raptors have come a long way from 1st rd series - with the exception of game 1 : the raptors have played this series really well..even game 4 - there were mistakes made by the coaching staff & players (it was a combination of both), we lost in OT..thats great a thing for us - I'm very hopefully that we will win this game...

1 more piece of advice - please stop this BS of our 2 players shooting badly - we are in the 2nd round of the playoffs - not regular season...more importantly yesterday damian lilliard had a bad shooting night against the warriors (FGA: 7-24 yikes) yet everyone seems to ignore that...the raptors are playing like we expected them to be..erratic at times & sometimes wonderful to watch...somestimes they want to make us throw things at our TVs

also the fans who want this team to tank - be lottery team, don't tell me you're not enjoying this playoffs - the raptors are playing in mid-May & chances of going into June if we are lucky)

[thunderforce]

I think no matter what happens the rest of this year this team has made a lot of new raptor fans , thats all we ever wanted a team that plays hard and gives it their all and these guys do . Most people know that you don't just go to the finals , it takes a few years . I sure hope the people that pay the bills keep this team together and add to it , because if there was ever a time to go over the cap now is it . If we have a good draft and our young guys get better we should be able to take the next step and be able to compete with anyone .

[Dsmooth15]

I hope we can close this series out in Miami because I'm not comfortable with a Game 7 in the early afternoon (we never won a game before a 5pm tipoff i believe) . Very reminiscent of the Brooklyn series

Given the circumstances on Sunday that there'll be a possible game 7 for both the Raps/Heat AND Spurs/Thunder series, I'm not so sure that we'll retain that 3pm prime time slot.

I notice various sites still have the game as "tbd" but NBA.com has the raps game being at 3pm on ABC and the Spurs game at 8pm TNT. Anybody know if this official already? Is it possible that ABC might switch and want that Spurs game to be at 3pm and the raps are relegated back to the 8pm slot again???

[Potential]

NBA rules that the phantom call that Wade drew on Lowry in the 4th Q was in fact an incorrect call.

Per Kevin GOATshidi twitter

[Hero]

Biz will carry us home. Well spoken young man who backs it up with his play on the court.

[ash_k]

things seem clear

3Ws : Lowry 25.3 ppg
2Ls: Lowry 8.5ppg

Kyle knows what he needs to do, tomorrow!

[Crazomali]

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This got 7 and1s before you edited it. What was it? If all it was a period then lmao it shows you the hospitality of the raptors board #WETHEAND1s

[Asif16]

I hope we embarrass em tomm night. **** the miami cheat

[Crazomali]

things seem clear

3Ws : Lowry 25.3 ppg
2Ls: Lowry 8.5ppg

Kyle knows what he needs to do, tomorrow!

He's going to secure another fake series win for us

[beachbean]

Teeny boppers on twitter are rooting for the raptors to lose so that their schedule doesn't interfere with the Justin Bieber concerts next week

Face friggin palm

[Detective]

We need to go into Miami and wreck their house like the following video displays:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk0kufx74Io[/youtube]

Especially stopping any runs they may have, as showcased from 3:04 thru 3:11 of this video

P.S: Why did I not know if it's existence prior to today? OMFG, those SFX dubs.