NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 4

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A backup C better than Mahinmi

[Kanyewest]

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A backup C better than Mahinmi

Well not anymore since Okafor is a starting center.

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[Shanghai Kid]

I gotta say, Toronto has been straight blowing out teams consistently. They haven't looked that impressive against the Wiz, but against the rest of the league it looks like they've taken a step to that elite level.

It's only the regular season, but it's impressive that they legit have a higher point diff then Golden State.

[nate33]

Toronto's bench crushes opposing benches. That advantage will be minimized in the playoffs.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Toronto's bench crushes opposing benches. That advantage will be minimized in the playoffs.

This is true, and I feel the Wizards match up pretty well against the Raptors, and the Wizards bench is pretty awful and that weakness will also be minimized.

I do think the Raptors have been consistently improving the past couple seasons and have a better starting lineup this season, though. They aren't as vulnerable outside of their bench as they previously were. Losing to Cleveland is no different than any other eastern conference team. I expect they'll lose to Cleveland again because Cleveland got rid of their biggest weakness, Isaiah Thomas, but not for the Cavs, this is the strongest Raptors' team ever pretty significantly.

It isn't just the bench blowing other teams out, it's the starters, too. Lowry always has an amazing RPM and is hurt by the playoffs, but this season they've held his minutes back for the first time ever and he's managed to avoid too many bumps thus far. Demar has added a 3 which has opened up passing lanes for him and he's gone from consistently a negative out there to a top 10 SG by RPM as well. Anunoby offers nothing on offense besides the occasional 3-pointer, but he doesn't have to do anything else and his defense is solid and he's still an upgrade over what Demarre Carroll was giving them in years past. Ibaka is really the weakest link in their starting lineup and while he isn't amazing, he's pretty darn good and much better than whatever junk they trotted out at PF in the past, and while Patterson would play starters minutes off the bench for them and was alright, honestly, he's worse than both Ibaka and Siakam, who has taken over his role on the bench. Valanciunas is, like most Cs nowadays, a situational player, and Gortat is a pretty good matchup to throw against him, but Gortat is a bit older and Valanciunas adding a 3-pointer and slimming down on defense eases that gap a bit.

Wall will start caring come playoff time, so that's a decided advantage for the Wizards, and they're clearly a better playoff team than regular season team. I think they stand a better chance against the Raptors than any other non-Cleveland team in the east. I do think the Raptors would win, though. Frankly, I think it's really only the Raptors and Cavs that would beat the Wizards in the playoffs. If there is some way the Wiz can get 3rd, or have the Celtics catch the Raptors for 1st, I think they stand a pretty good shot at making the ECF, and I wouldn't totally count them out against the Raptors, either, I just wouldn't think it the most likely outcome is all.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I gotta say, Toronto has been straight blowing out teams consistently. They haven't looked that impressive against the Wiz, but against the rest of the league it looks like they've taken a step to that elite level.

It's only the regular season, but it's impressive that they legit have a higher point diff then Golden State.

Golden State without Kevin Durant two seasons ago was better than Golden State now.

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[ClutchDJ]

Looking back, that Clippers loss doesn’t seem bad now. They have been very good as of late. Utah has caught fire the past 11 games as well.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Toronto's bench crushes opposing benches. That advantage will be minimized in the playoffs.

I believe playoff rosters shouldn't be shorter. It makes more sense to keep running fresh players at players who play 40-44 minutes. Fatigue makes players have physical and mental lapses.

I truly believe it is better to play the same rotation in the playoffs.


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[FAH1223]

Toronto's bench crushes opposing benches. That advantage will be minimized in the playoffs.

I believe playoff rosters shouldn't be shorter. It makes more sense to keep running fresh players at players who play 40-44 minutes. Fatigue makes players have physical and mental lapses.

I truly believe it is better to play the same rotation in the playoffs.


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That's how the Spurs ran Miami out of the gym in the NBA Finals 2014.

[Ruzious]

Jokic - 30 points, 15 boards, and... 17 assists... against Milwaukee. Holy mother of Giannis!

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Jokic - 30 points, 15 boards, and... 17 assists... against Milwaukee. Holy mother of Giannis!

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Jokic is taking that next step. He's a really good passer. And his shot is wet.

[nate33]

Toronto's bench crushes opposing benches. That advantage will be minimized in the playoffs.

I believe playoff rosters shouldn't be shorter. It makes more sense to keep running fresh players at players who play 40-44 minutes. Fatigue makes players have physical and mental lapses.

I truly believe it is better to play the same rotation in the playoffs.


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That's how the Spurs ran Miami out of the gym in the NBA Finals 2014.

Not really. In that series, Parker, Kawhi and Duncan each averaged 34-35 minutes per game. And that's despite several blowout wins and some foul trouble for Kawhi. If those games were close, they probably would have averaged 37-38 minutes.

In most situations, you don't play the end of your bench in the playoffs. There are enough TV timeouts and rest between games to ride your best players 36-40 minutes before fatigue makes them worse than your 2nd string. Obviously that applies more for star players who have a larger talent gap over the second string. It would not apply to playing Gortat over Mahinmi or Morris over Scott because there isn't much talent disparity there in the first place.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I believe playoff rosters shouldn't be shorter. It makes more sense to keep running fresh players at players who play 40-44 minutes. Fatigue makes players have physical and mental lapses.

I truly believe it is better to play the same rotation in the playoffs.


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That's how the Spurs ran Miami out of the gym in the NBA Finals 2014.

Not really. In that series, Parker, Kawhi and Duncan each averaged 34-35 minutes per game. And that's despite several blowout wins and some foul trouble for Kawhi. If those games were close, they probably would have averaged 37-38 minutes.

In most situations, you don't play the end of your bench in the playoffs. There are enough TV timeouts and rest between games to ride your best players 36-40 minutes before fatigue makes them worse than your 2nd string. Obviously that applies more for star players who have a larger talent gap over the second string. It would not apply to playing Gortat over Mahinmi or Morris over Scott because there isn't much talent disparity there in the first place.

TV timeouts or not, you can't convince me it's better to play 8 players than it is to play 10.

[JWizmentality]

Interesting to see if Beal does well in the 3pt shootout or has a mental breakdown.

[nate33]

Interesting to see if Beal does well in the 3pt shootout or has a mental breakdown.

Mental breakdown. He missed 9 of his first 10 shots before catching fire late. But it was too little too late. Finished with 13 points.