All Star Weekend Thread

[B-Ball Freak]

That 4th quarter shows you how elite defensively those guys can really be when they try.

[will]

Overall, this was a fun All Star weekend!

[raptor jesus]

Giannis put his trust in Pascal to get something done on a horrible defender in Harden and he couldn't score. Pascal really needs to get in the weight room this off-season and go see The Dream.

Tbh I’m wondering how pascal struggled so much to go one on one against harden. Usually pascal is able to destroy small guys with ease. It seemed like he was trying to do to much. Idk why he didn’t just take a few dribbles and shoot a hook shot over him. I’ve seen him do that before. It seemed like he kept trying to spin baseline to bank in a layup but he couldn’t get it to happen. I’m sure harden fouled him numerous times as well but siakam never gets foul calls regardless.

Harden's a very good defender when motivated, especially in the post where his strength and quick hands make up for his size. He's also not bad on the perimeter. I think the viral videos of his lapses make people think has a bad defender all the time. It even seems to affect coaches. Last season the Raps tried to get him on a switch on the final possession, and Harden shut down Kawhi.

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[B-Ball Freak]

Atlanta sports fans, theres no need in arguing with those poor souls.

[2019nbachamps]

Lost in the heat of the moment was someone on Team Giannis advising Embiid to miss his 2nd free throw. They could've retained the ball and gone for a 3 to win the game.

Overall the format was great. They can just change the rule so that the game has to end on a made shot (rather than a FT). If a team gets fouled, they get the ball back with a new shot clock. Opposing team can't keep fouling because they will need a stop to get the ball back. Problem solved.

[Van_Trump]

Overall I liked the fourth quarter being a first past the post format.

Added competitive spirit that was lacking in the past.

As far as everyone having the same jersey number, it didn't bother me because I know the players, but it was very confusing for the casual fan.

[bluerap23]

I loved it when Chuck asked Kawhi if the cyborgs have mantels so he can put up his Kobe MVP award...

I have been watching Raptors since the beginning in '95 and Leonard is the first ex player who I really follow after he is gone.
He is after all the best player leader Raptors ever had and arguably the best current 2 way player in the NBA.

Really hurts that he left. A little extra sting watching him v Lowry and Pascal. Painful reminder that, oh yeah, we would have had 3 all-stars and would have been championship favourites by a pretty wide margin.

[LoveMyRaps]

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man that pic warms my heart.
Raptor legends

[LoveMyRaps]

Overall, this was a fun All Star weekend!

Wade is a hoe for what he did, but hey it did add some drama to the weekend which is always entertaining.

[LoveMyRaps]

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This photo will get be depressed until I see Giannis on the right in June of 2022.

What if its Kawhi on the right again instead of Giannis...

[ratul]

Loved this game. Amazing to watch. Amazing that Kyle took two charges.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Giannis put his trust in Pascal to get something done on a horrible defender in Harden and he couldn't score. Pascal really needs to get in the weight room this off-season and go see The Dream.

Tbh I’m wondering how pascal struggled so much to go one on one against harden. Usually pascal is able to destroy small guys with ease. It seemed like he was trying to do to much. Idk why he didn’t just take a few dribbles and shoot a hook shot over him. I’ve seen him do that before. It seemed like he kept trying to spin baseline to bank in a layup but he couldn’t get it to happen. I’m sure harden fouled him numerous times as well but siakam never gets foul calls regardless.

To me it looked like he didn't have the room to "take a few dribbles" because of the spacing issues other have mentioned. Because of where Embiid and Giannis were, Lebron and Davis were always lingering nearby whenever Pascal tried to take Harden. He didn't have many options but to try to back him down, and then once he got near the basket, Harden was obviously trying to get him to turn into the paint towards Davis, and so Pascal thought his best option was to turn back towards the baseline.

I'm not saying Pascal played it perfectly. I think he could have tried to turn towards the middle to draw Davis and find Embiid for a pass. It would have been difficult though, because there wasn't much room for that either. But overall I don't think Pascal had as many options for moves as he normally does with the Raptors. So I'd place part of the blame on Pascal, and part of the blame on the poor spacing. Also, Harden deserves some credit. As others have pointed out, his post defence is easily the strongest part of his game at that end of the court. It's in space and in team defence that he gets lost.

[whoknows]

I loved it when Chuck asked Kawhi if the cyborgs have mantels so he can put up his Kobe MVP award...

I have been watching Raptors since the beginning in '95 and Leonard is the first ex player who I really follow after he is gone.
He is after all the best player leader Raptors ever had and arguably the best current 2 way player in the NBA.

Really hurts that he left. A little extra sting watching him v Lowry and Pascal. Painful reminder that, oh yeah, we would have had 3 all-stars and would have been championship favourites by a pretty wide margin.

I know, if he stayed it would've been a sure walk into another championship.
But still love and wish well to Leonard both as a player and human being.

[will]

Loved this game. Amazing to watch. Amazing that Kyle took two charges.

Had another that was not called.

Technically, it was 3. Actually, I think it was 4 in total he took.

Was only a matter of time before we all knew Kyle was gonna try to take a charge

[Boogie!]

Giannis put his trust in Pascal to get something done on a horrible defender in Harden and he couldn't score. Pascal really needs to get in the weight room this off-season and go see The Dream.

Tbh I’m wondering how pascal struggled so much to go one on one against harden. Usually pascal is able to destroy small guys with ease. It seemed like he was trying to do to much. Idk why he didn’t just take a few dribbles and shoot a hook shot over him. I’ve seen him do that before. It seemed like he kept trying to spin baseline to bank in a layup but he couldn’t get it to happen. I’m sure harden fouled him numerous times as well but siakam never gets foul calls regardless.

To me it looked like he didn't have the room to "take a few dribbles" because of the spacing issues other have mentioned. Because of where Embiid and Giannis were, Lebron and Davis were always lingering nearby whenever Pascal tried to take Harden. He didn't have many options but to try to back him down, and then once he got near the basket, Harden was obviously trying to get him to turn into the paint towards Davis, and so Pascal thought his best option was to turn back towards the baseline.

I'm not saying Pascal played it perfectly. I think he could have tried to turn towards the middle to draw Davis and find Embiid for a pass. It would have been difficult though, because there wasn't much room for that either. But overall I don't think Pascal had as many options for moves as he normally does with the Raptors. So I'd place part of the blame on Pascal, and part of the blame on the poor spacing. Also, Harden deserves some credit. As others have pointed out, his post defence is easily the strongest part of his game at that end of the court. It's in space and in team defence that he gets lost.

To me it looked like he took forever to get into his move. Should've attacked quicker.

[VancouverRaps]

Giannis put his trust in Pascal to get something done on a horrible defender in Harden and he couldn't score. Pascal really needs to get in the weight room this off-season and go see The Dream.

Tbh I’m wondering how pascal struggled so much to go one on one against harden. Usually pascal is able to destroy small guys with ease. It seemed like he was trying to do to much. Idk why he didn’t just take a few dribbles and shoot a hook shot over him. I’ve seen him do that before. It seemed like he kept trying to spin baseline to bank in a layup but he couldn’t get it to happen. I’m sure harden fouled him numerous times as well but siakam never gets foul calls regardless.

Harden's a very good defender when motivated, especially in the post where his strength and quick hands make up for his size. He's also not bad on the perimeter. I think the viral videos of his lapses make people think has a bad defender all the time. It even seems to affect coaches. Last season the Raps tried to get him on a switch on the final possession, and Harden shut down Kawhi.

Watch on YouTube

I’ve seen multiple Rockets comment on how Harden is a surprisingly solid post defender despite being outsized on switches. Very similar to Lowry, especially when Kyle was in his physical prime.

Harden’s strength in general is underrated by some people.

[supra2k8]

I would have an adjusted target score, for each freethrow made in the 4th quarter. You don't move any closer, interms of differential, but the other team still loses ground.

This way, the game has to end on a non-freethrow.

That's a solid solution, I didn't like the free throw end either

[Raps_Fan7]

That last play was all on Embiid though. He got totally lost on defence, which forced Kyle to end up on Davis. Not much they could do from there.

And yeah, I guess Nurse felt like he needed to play both Giannis and Embiid, but it ended up with the same offensive problems that the 76ers have with Embiid and Simmons. It got too mucked up in the paint, and there weren't enough shooters to be able to spread the floor.

You're right Emiid should have switch back to AD but decided to guard CP instead. Chris Paul ended pulling him out to the 3 point so AD can iso against Kyle. Even still Lowry could have fronted AD & force him into a jumper instead of letting him get in front of him & giving himself no choice but to foul.

[BoyzNTheHood]

That last play was all on Embiid though. He got totally lost on defence, which forced Kyle to end up on Davis. Not much they could do from there.

And yeah, I guess Nurse felt like he needed to play both Giannis and Embiid, but it ended up with the same offensive problems that the 76ers have with Embiid and Simmons. It got too mucked up in the paint, and there weren't enough shooters to be able to spread the floor.

You're right Emiid should have switch back to AD but decided to guard CP instead. Chris Paul ended pulling him out to the 3 point so AD can iso against Kyle. Even still Lowry could have fronted AD & force him into a jumper instead of letting him get in front of him & giving himself no choice but to foul.

There were multiple mistakes made. It seemed like Kyle and Embiid didn't communicate on defense at all. The play where Harden was wide open for the game winning layup but passed it out was one where Kyle switched, but Embiid did not. And then the same thing happened at the end and it resulted in Kyle guarding AD.

The funny thing is Giannis talked post game how they agreed they would be switching everything, yet Embiid chose to stick on his man. But of course, Lowry is the annoying one for opposing fans so he gets all of the blame when he should be praised.

Also, on a bit of a side note. I listened to the Bill Simmons podcast last night and in case you didn't know, he's the biggest Celtics homer outside of Tommy Heinson. He said he thought Kyle was "indispensable" and Kemba Walker was terrible. But again, Kyle is the guy you hate to play so all the casuals on the General Board are calling for his head. Clowns.

[Psubs]

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I miss Kawhi!