Raps will make the playoffs, and 2nd round, if healthy

[pingpongrac]

Teams like the Kings have played 40 games. The Raptors have only played 35 games. Time will tell if they even make the play-in let alone survive the play-in tournament.

I'm not sure how that can be held against the Raptors. Regardless, most teams in the league have played 36-38 games and that 1-3 game difference is barely worth mentioning. Toronto had two games against the Bulls postponed and one against the Magic postponed, and two (1st Bulls game and Magic) were postponed because the opposition didn't have enough players before the league instituted the new hardship rules. If they played those three games, they're most likely at 20-18 right now which would bring them even closer to the Cavs and Sixers.

Their top players are healthy for the first time all season and they're taking care of business (blowing out bad teams and handling the undermanned Clippers and Bucks) while developing some much-needed chemistry. In the first 2+ months (32 games), the lineup of FVV+Trent+OG+Barnes+Siakam played just 3 games and 50 minutes together (+1.0 NetRTG) which were also Siakam's first games back from shoulder surgery and he was very rusty. In the last week alone, they have played 3 games and 30 minutes together (+14.5 NetRTG).

All 5 main guys (34+ MPG each) can score (15+ PPG each) and all 5 guys can defend -- a few of which at All-Defence level -- plus they have one of the best coaches in the league. The glaring issue is the hole at backup PG/scoring off the bench, but that can be rectified a bit by rotating the starters a bit...which is what Nurse has been able to do the last few games with all starters and Birch/Achiuwa healthy.

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[Got Nuffin]

Something is still missing from the Raptors team to be a serious playoff threat to any of the contenders. Gary Trent jr and FVV are a good defensive back court, while OG, Siakam and Barnes are sweet at the forward spots. However they are really lacking any kind of rim protection or even just a big man who is consistently in the right spots on either end and it makes them really vulnerable in the half court. Achiuwa is a work in progress and still has the bball IQ of a rookie.

Then they also have an atrocious bench which gets blown off the court when the starters are out.

I think Toronto is a mediocre team this season for those two reasons. The future of Toronto goes as Scottie Barnes goes however, and luckily that looks extremely bright. If Barnes can develop his game to an All Star level in 2-3 years time, and GTJ can continue to develop on both ends, that will fit well with the timelines of the other key players who should still be in their prime years.

We just need to find a legit big to play with us (i would bet on Siakam being the trade bait if we can't sign one outright) and develop the kids on the bench.

[AussieCeltic]

Do you think Blake griffin is the 3rd best defender in the league? Because that's what Draptor says

I do not utilize DRAPTOR by itself. I feel the Blake Griffin example is rather weak anyway. Blake only had 1 season where he was an absolutely atrocious defender in his career.

When I look at what he is asked to do in his limited role it is not at all a shocker to me he is being graded out as a plus defender in advanced metrics, plural.

No eye test is quantifiable, therefore it is nothing more than 2 people arguing their amateur opinions of breaking down film, absolutely pointless.

But you utilized DRAPTOR alone to condemn GTJ...

But you guys were using RAPTOR in the FVV thread to try prove he’s ALL NBA…

The irony is hilarious

[TheLand13]

Trent JR is absolutely a great defender, and it’s hilarious that people are trying to use stats to disprove that.

[DroseReturnChi]

raptors are hugely overrated typical 1st round solid team but no star power. siakam, vv, og are not all stars.

[everdiso]

Trent Defense

+0.8 D-epm
+0.4 D-bpm
+0.2 D-lebron
-0.9 D-dpm
-1.9 D-raptor

[Duffman100]

raptors are hugely overrated typical 1st round solid team but no star power. siakam, vv, og are not all stars.

Overrated by whom?

[JujitsuFlip]

Trent JR is absolutely a great defender, and it’s hilarious that people are trying to use stats to disprove that.

This must be sarcasm but GTJ has been a negative defender his entire career.

[Ballerhogger]

On 5 game winning streak playing the jazz tonight see how they do. The jazz are without Gobert so Pascal can have big night

[mumoy]

Raptors are -700 tonight lol

[nikster]

I do not utilize DRAPTOR by itself. I feel the Blake Griffin example is rather weak anyway. Blake only had 1 season where he was an absolutely atrocious defender in his career.

When I look at what he is asked to do in his limited role it is not at all a shocker to me he is being graded out as a plus defender in advanced metrics, plural.

No eye test is quantifiable, therefore it is nothing more than 2 people arguing their amateur opinions of breaking down film, absolutely pointless.

But you utilized DRAPTOR alone to condemn GTJ...

But you guys were using RAPTOR in the FVV thread to try prove he’s ALL NBA…

The irony is hilarious

You guys as in us specifically or one of the thousands of Raps fan on this forum…if its the latter I dont need to tell you who stupid that is

[Los_29]

Which of the top 5 ranked teams could you see them beating in a 7 game series if both teams are healthy? I don't see them beating any of the current top 5 ranked teams

Aren't Chicago and Cleveland in the top 5? They'd annihilate Cleveland and give Chicago a really good series if not beat them. All Chicago has are question marks in Lavine, Demar, Ball and Vucevic who have either never played in the playoffs or performed poorly while there.

[pingpongrac]

Trent JR is absolutely a great defender, and it’s hilarious that people are trying to use stats to disprove that.

This must be sarcasm but GTJ has been a negative defender his entire career.

"Entire career" aka ~100 legit games with the Blazers -- who were 27th in DRTG in 19/20 and 29th in DRTG in 20/21 -- and 17 games with a Raptors team that was tanking post-trade deadline last season. It must be hard to have any kind of decent defensive numbers when no one on your team plays defence.

GTJ is T-1st in steals and 3rd in deflections in the entire league. He creates at least 3-4 turnovers almost every game. At the very least, he has been a good defender this season.

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[nikster]

I'm taking stats over the eye test 100% of the time

Do you think Blake griffin is the 3rd best defender in the league? Because that's what Draptor says

I do not utilize DRAPTOR by itself. I feel the Blake Griffin example is rather weak anyway. Blake only had 1 season where he was an absolutely atrocious defender in his career.

When I look at what he is asked to do in his limited role it is not at all a shocker to me he is being graded out as a plus defender in advanced metrics, plural.

No eye test is quantifiable, therefore it is nothing more than 2 people arguing their amateur opinions of breaking down film, absolutely pointless.

And advanced stats are just somebodies idea of what captures impact, and its just amateurs deciding which one to use and how much weight they will put on each one. Largely Just as pointless.

Is Fred a top 10 player? 3rd in Raptor, 16h in BPM, one of the best on/off in the league.

[Johnny Bball]

On 5 game winning streak playing the jazz tonight see how they do. The jazz are without Gobert so Pascal can have big night

The jazz are without almost everybody tonight. They added a boatload to the imaginary injury list. it's not going to be the game of the night by any means.

[JujitsuFlip]

Do you think Blake griffin is the 3rd best defender in the league? Because that's what Draptor says

I do not utilize DRAPTOR by itself. I feel the Blake Griffin example is rather weak anyway. Blake only had 1 season where he was an absolutely atrocious defender in his career.

When I look at what he is asked to do in his limited role it is not at all a shocker to me he is being graded out as a plus defender in advanced metrics, plural.

No eye test is quantifiable, therefore it is nothing more than 2 people arguing their amateur opinions of breaking down film, absolutely pointless.

And advanced stats are just somebodies idea of what captures impact, and its just amateurs deciding which one to use and how much weight they will put on each one. Largely Just as pointless.

At least one is quantifiable

[NBA Sheady]

No team that is starting a rookie is going anywhere deep in the playoffs.

I keep telling myself that Scottie modeled his game off of Magic who won a ring as a rookie who started. Raptors fans will hold on to any thread of hope.

[srhcan]

Right now I feel Raptors are the luckiest team in the league. All the opponents they have recently faced, were missing key players. Even today they will face a Jazz team missing key players.

[JujitsuFlip]

Trent JR is absolutely a great defender, and it’s hilarious that people are trying to use stats to disprove that.

This must be sarcasm but GTJ has been a negative defender his entire career.

"Entire career" aka ~100 legit games with the Blazers -- who were 27th in DRTG in 19/20 and 29th in DRTG in 20/21 -- and 17 games with a Raptors team that was tanking post-trade deadline last season. It must be hard to have any kind of decent defensive numbers when no one on your team plays defence.

GTJ is T-1st in steals and 3rd in deflections in the entire league. He creates at least 3-4 turnovers almost every game. At the very least, he has been a good defender this season.

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To the first paragraph, sounds a lot like excuses.

To the second paragraph, gambling on defense does not equal a good defender. Has he improved on defense this season, sure, I'm not sure anyone outside of Raptor fans would call GTJ a good defender though.

[nikster]

I do not utilize DRAPTOR by itself. I feel the Blake Griffin example is rather weak anyway. Blake only had 1 season where he was an absolutely atrocious defender in his career.

When I look at what he is asked to do in his limited role it is not at all a shocker to me he is being graded out as a plus defender in advanced metrics, plural.

No eye test is quantifiable, therefore it is nothing more than 2 people arguing their amateur opinions of breaking down film, absolutely pointless.

And advanced stats are just somebodies idea of what captures impact, and its just amateurs deciding which one to use and how much weight they will put on each one. Largely Just as pointless.

At least one is quantifiable

So what? Metrics aren't inherently useful. How Does it add value? How do you weigh different stats?

If you cant tell me where FVV ranks based on the stats then what are you using them for?