Author Topic: Toronto Raptors  (Read 2137 times)

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Offline cybercoma

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #30 on: April 30, 2018, 09:42:55 am »
That narrative kills me. They lost to the champs two years ago. And last year they lost to the Cavs again, who went on to lose in the finals to GSW.

The only team to knock them out of the playoffs in the last couple of seasons were the Cavaliers, who have the greatest player of this generation on their team.

You didn't say they "choked" but a lot of people do. This is silly, since that would mean they expected the Raptors to beat Lebron. I mean, I guess that's a compliment, but everyone knows Lebron is one of the greatest of all time. They've got their work cut out for them, as does ANY team that plays the Cavs. The only team to beat them in the playoffs are the Golden State Warriors and 4/5 of their starters are All-Stars. To criticize the Raptors for not doing it is a bit silly, imo.

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #31 on: April 30, 2018, 10:27:58 am »
That narrative kills me. They lost to the champs two years ago. And last year they lost to the Cavs again, who went on to lose in the finals to GSW.

The only team to knock them out of the playoffs in the last couple of seasons were the Cavaliers, who have the greatest player of this generation on their team.

You didn't say they "choked" but a lot of people do. This is silly, since that would mean they expected the Raptors to beat Lebron. I mean, I guess that's a compliment, but everyone knows Lebron is one of the greatest of all time. They've got their work cut out for them, as does ANY team that plays the Cavs. The only team to beat them in the playoffs are the Golden State Warriors and 4/5 of their starters are All-Stars. To criticize the Raptors for not doing it is a bit silly, imo.

It's the Patrick Ewing vs Jordan effect. Or Dan Marino vs the Buffalo Bills.  Not getting over the hump will be seen as a failure.

Kyle and Demar have not consistently been amazing in the playoffs. They got swept by the Wizards 3 years ago, they made it to the conference finals but they needed 7 to win the first two series while the Cavs got two sweeps. Winning 2 games at home that series was a consolation prize.

Now the Cavs were great. . . last year.

This Cavs team is Lebron and a bunch of guys. Jose Calderon is getting lots of minutes for this team. (he started for the Raps in 2006!!!)

A team that the Raptors handled very well in the regular season (Indiana) took the Cavs to 7 games. If they lose this series, it'll be a massive failure. I would trade Lowry and Serge if they lose, let the bench mob take if from here with Demar.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2018, 10:33:55 am by Boges »

Offline cybercoma

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #32 on: April 30, 2018, 11:10:05 am »
Kyle and Demar have been fine in the playoffs if you actually look at their stats, save for Kyle literally being injured last year.

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #33 on: April 30, 2018, 11:14:56 am »
Kyle and Demar have been fine in the playoffs if you actually look at their stats, save for Kyle literally being injured last year.

Not really.

https://raptorsrapture.com/2017/04/22/kyle-lowry-demar-derozan-have-playoff-curse/

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The Raptors shot an awful combined 33.8% and couldn’t get much help from DeRozan or Lowry. Together Toronto’s backcourt combined for 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 turnovers. In Lowry’s 10 attempts he made 4 baskets and DeRozan in 8 attempts made absolutely 0—the first time this has happened since 2015. This is unacceptable from the Raptors stars if they hope to advance to the next round.

In the regular-season Lowry and DeRozan are pictured as a serious threat in the east ready to overcome LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. In the post-season, it seems more like a duo trying to overcome their inconsistencies.

This season Lowry is shooting 46% from the field and a career-high 41% from the three. He still hasn’t been able to carry this into the post-season. Lowry is currently shooting 36% from the field and 25% from the three. He’s also a 42% career regular-season shooter, and with the post-season spotlight on him, Lowry’s numbers begin to diminish only shooting 38% in his career.

This year Demar adding a 3-point game has helped and Kyle is becoming more of a playmaker, leaving the penetration game to Delon Wright.

Offline cybercoma

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #34 on: April 30, 2018, 05:53:18 pm »
And again, you're cherry picking the year that Kyle was playing injured.

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #35 on: April 30, 2018, 09:07:08 pm »
That article was written before the Cavs series last year.

Here's an article from 2016.

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Through the first four games, Lowry is averaging just 15.5 points, 7.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on 32.2 percent shooting from the field, 18.5 percent shooting from downtown and 70.4 percent shooting from the foul line.

DeRozan, meanwhile, has been even worse, putting up 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on putrid .296/.000/.733 shooting splits. He’s missed all eight of his three-point attempts in the series and has only gotten to the foul line 15 times in four games.

It’s only fair to wonder whether the Raptors’ backcourt can handle the pressure of the postseason, especially after Game 4 added them both to the kind of historic list you don’t want to be on:

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #36 on: May 01, 2018, 06:21:27 am »
Chances for the Raptors moving on ?

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #37 on: May 01, 2018, 07:29:04 am »
Chances for the Raptors moving on ?

Dunno, sports are unpredictable. The Cavs have the best player in the sport, but the supporting cast is wafer thin. If the Bench Mob can show up like they did in Game 6 against the Wizard, this series should be a breeze.

Lebron can get points whenever he wants. But does he have the stamina to get 4, 40 plus point games after being taken to the brink against a lesser team than the Raptors.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2018, 10:57:44 am by Boges »

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #38 on: May 01, 2018, 10:42:31 am »
Very informative !  It looks like I will miss games 1 & 2 but I still intend to watch.

Offline cybercoma

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #39 on: May 01, 2018, 10:45:02 am »
Very informative !  It looks like I will miss games 1 & 2 but I still intend to watch.
Wrong games to miss. Those are the home games.

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #40 on: May 01, 2018, 10:50:04 am »
Wrong games to miss. Those are the home games.

Sigh.  I am in a show tonight and have some other bullsh*t - I think a Burner meeting later this week.

Offline cybercoma

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #41 on: May 01, 2018, 10:50:31 am »
Jazz hands.

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #42 on: May 01, 2018, 09:59:27 pm »
Choke job! What an embarrassing display by Kyle and Demar. Kyle was just holding the ball down the stretch. Demar couldn't hit a shot and JV missed multiple lay ups, especially one that could have won the game.

The only thing I can see as optimistic is that the Cavs role players played out of their mind. But LeBron also wasn't dominating. So it's a push.

They lost the game, the Cavs didn't win.


Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #43 on: May 02, 2018, 05:55:13 am »
With home court gone, doesn't this mean the Raps are done ?

I missed the whole game as expected :(

Offline Boges

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Re: Toronto Raptors
« Reply #44 on: May 02, 2018, 07:08:08 am »
With home court gone, doesn't this mean the Raps are done ?

I missed the whole game as expected :(

It's not smart to make definitive conclusions on one game sample sizes. The Raptors choked this game away, meaning they should have won, meaning they could win. But win 4 of the next 6? Now they have to at least win one games in Ctown to advance, they weren't able to do that this season.