Round 1: GT #4: Raptors @ Bullets 6 PM (TNT/NBCSW/1500 AM)

[FAH1223]

YOUR WASHINGTON BULLETS WON'T GET SWEPT!

Friday night may have been the best game the home squad has played all season. It was definitely the best one I've seen in person during this year. The defense was solid, shots were being made, and the Bullets were confrontational with the Raptors.

Can this play be sustained? Will Mohawk-less Gortat play with the same energy and defensive vigor that we saw Friday? Can John Wall keep hitting mid-range shots? Will guys like Satoransky and Otto be more assertive?

Will the Raptors keep turning it over?

Will the Bullets tie this at 2-2?

I had the Raptors in 5. Sunday night will determine that.




-------------------------VS-------------------------



LAST GAME

Raptors @ Wizards - 103-122 (W)

Lineups:










Bench:

[miller31time]

If we come out expecting Toronto to play the same way they did in game 3, we’ll lose.

If we come out knowing for a fact (because it’s virtually a fact) that Toronto will be balling from the get-go, and match their intensity, we have a good shot to tie this thing up.

For me, it’s less about the X’s and O’s and mostly about mentality and preparedness.

[dlts20]

Well the good thing for us is that we are due for a great start, right? I think that depends on if Gortat continues on the great final 3 quarters from last game.

Toronto has some nice long talent but the longer the series goes, the more you see that they are just some role players in LeBron'so body type. They shouldn't be feared.

Also at the end of the day the day, that bench mob is truly just a "bench" mob. They are just a bunch of role players. We can win this

[FAH1223]

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[Halcyon]

Need Otto to have a few big games. He can't be a role player for us to win this series.

[nate33]

I think the Raptors win this one. The Wizards played a great game Friday in a must win scenario, but they had to play balls out for 48 minutes and it required really good shooting out of Wall, Beal and the bench. My guess is that this time, they let up on the intensity just a little bit, and one of Wall or Beal has a mediocre game. Toronto wins in a close one.

[MelosSoreWrist]

Game 3, line opened at Wizards -2 and closed at Wizards -1.

Game 4, line opened at Raptors -1 and is currently at Raptors -2.

[ducler]

[dlts20]

We might not need them because I think all 3 max guys will show up but if Gortat and Oubre play well then we will definitely win

[MelosSoreWrist]

I think the Raptors win this one. The Wizards played a great game Friday in a must win scenario, but they had to play balls out for 48 minutes and it required really good shooting out of Wall, Beal and the bench. My guess is that this time, they let up on the intensity just a little bit, and one of Wall or Beal has a mediocre game. Toronto wins in a close one.

And the Wizards blew the Raptors out. The Raptors didnt even play bad. They still shot over 40% from 3. It was Lowry's best game. Derozan had a good game. Washington doesnt have to play perfect to win.

An extension of conversations at the end of the game 3 thread... Wall and Beal doesnt negate Lowry and DeRozan. High end Wall and Beal trumps high end Lowry and DeRozan. Extend that to Wall, Beal, Porter and Lowry, DeRozan, Anunoby. Washington is better on both sides of the ball if all play to their potential.

Raptors cannot stop Wall from getting to wherever he wants to on the court. And there was a discussion about his jumpers. His midrange shots are in rhythm uncontested jumpers. They arent Beal/DeRozan tough, contested, body contorting fadeaways. Toronto has to give it to him and Wall should take them and should hit a good percentage of them. That also helps to somewhat limit his drives to the basket throughout the game, which he seems to be able to do at any time, to keep him fresher at the end.

[dlts20]

I think the Raptors win this one. The Wizards played a great game Friday in a must win scenario, but they had to play balls out for 48 minutes and it required really good shooting out of Wall, Beal and the bench. My guess is that this time, they let up on the intensity just a little bit, and one of Wall or Beal has a mediocre game. Toronto wins in a close one.

I don't understand that line of thinking. That's what people said about the Cavs after game 2 because LeBron had 46 but Oladipo still had a chance to tie with a wide open 3. We blew Toronto out

[dlts20]

We also must not forget that even though down 0-2 with big defecits, we still led by 4 with 6-8min to go in game 1 and only trailed by 5 midway through the 4th quarter of game 2 until Miles hit that prayer and that is with Beal looking like butt. Idk why everyone keeps up this inferiority narrative

[nate33]

We also must not forget that even though down 0-2 with big defecits, we still led by 4 with 6-8min to go in game 1 and only trailed by 5 midway through game 2 until Miles hit that prayer and that is with Beal looking like butt. Idk why everyone keeps up this inferiority narrative

Because one team had 59 wins and the other had 43.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I predict....

Actually, one can’t predict anything at all (from game to game, possession to possession) with this team.

[dlts20]

We also must not forget that even though down 0-2 with big defecits, we still led by 4 with 6-8min to go in game 1 and only trailed by 5 midway through game 2 until Miles hit that prayer and that is with Beal looking like butt. Idk why everyone keeps up this inferiority narrative

Because one team had 59 wins and the other had 43.

One thousand percent true and no doubt that they should be favored but one huge separation between the 2 teams is that one teams franchise guy was an MVP candidate and ours literally missed half the season and was clearly playing hurt for the other half. How many post did I make this year saying that you can blame Ted, EG, Brooks, or even scrubs like Gortat but you literally have 0 chance to be a great team if your Franchise player isn't playing well. Just cue Portland in the Pelicans series.

Wall has just played 5 games in a row against the Cavs, C's, and Raps. Those may have been 5 of his 8 best games all year. Wall had long stretches where he would average like 13 & 8. Looked like he couldn't score 20 unless he shot 50 times. Now he can easily score a solidily efficient 25 & 14 against the best teams

[JWizmentality]

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I recall Ibaka nearly chucking a ref across the court for something Wall said. Where's his fine? That Wall tech bothered me. So all someone has to do is react to provocative to get someone a tech?

[benb331]

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I recall Ibaka nearly chucking a ref across the court for something Wall said. Where's his fine? That Wall tech bothered me. So all someone has to do is react to provocative to get someone a tech?

That was a coach, not a ref. And Ibaka bearhugged him while jawwing at Wall "If it wasn't for this portly guy half my height holding me back, why I would..."

[dlts20]

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I recall Ibaka nearly chucking a ref across the court for something Wall said. Where's his fine? That Wall tech bothered me. So all someone has to do is react to provocative to get someone a tech?

That was a coach, not a ref. And Ibaka bearhugged him while jawwing at Wall "If it wasn't for this portly guy half my height holding me back, why I would..."

He definitely shoved a ref

[closg00]

Aren't Sunday games like a voodoo hex on us? I'd like to see our W/L on Sundays.

[FAH1223]

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