Game day. Raptors looked mentally prepared in game 1 but failed to adapt to CAVS D, thus unable to establish transition then got into foul trouble. IQ questionable so another big ask of Jamal. TOR has a chance here--somehow stay out of foul trouble, hit those 3s. It's a very thin margin for error.
Raptors lose Game 1. Not what we were hoping for..but presumptive EC Finalist vs 5th seed without starting PG. CAVS came out prepared, rebounded the ball and got back any time the Raptors tried to push. Maybe some nerves by the young guys. Missed some easy ones, missed at the FT line. On to Game 2.
SUCH a smart play there by Jamal...did not have numbers on the break, stopped, surveyed the floor, waited for a beat--and the cutter--gorgeous dump off to CMB.
Game day. Back to the playoffs, first time since 22. 30 wins last year to 46, All Stars, eligibility for post season awards, player development-none of that matters now. TOR can expect a punch to start this game. Gotta come out prepared, weather the storm. 3-0 regular season record means nuthin.
www.buzzsprout.com/773015/episo...
We've been waiting a few years to say this---PLAYOFF PREVIEW EPISODE!!!!!
Windhorst: "Darko Rajaković is a straight up maniac." Says he'll have the team ready for Game 1.
Raptors win 136-101. They needed this W & got it with lock down D in the 2nd half. Proud of these guys and how far they've come. Highs and lows through the season but this group stayed together. Scottie huge, Ja'Kobe 🎯, BI/RJ ✅️, balanced scoring up & down the roster. Huge steps this year. We're in!
What we do know: The Raptors will finish the regular season with a record of 46-36, a 16-win improvement from a year ago. That's tied with Detroit for the fourth-largest year-to-year improvement in the NBA, behind San Antonio, Charlotte and Philadelphia.
We BEEN saying...AJ Lawson is an NBA player!! Congratulations. Well deserved.
Game day. Raptors @ MSG. A opportunity tonight to shift stark W/L column vs contenders, if only by 1 game. We really don't like this matchup and TOR has been completely ineffective on the boards v NYK. Robinson is a wrecking crew, keeping multiple possessions alive. Once again, gotta hit those 3s.
Raptors win 128-114. Took care of business. Miami had their runs, threw some punches but TOR punched back. Terrific game from BI, effective combatting doubles--1 T/O. Amazing how the offence looks when the 3s fall. CMB with SUCH a nice touch at the rim 45 wins!!!! And we slide in 5 seed. Knicks tom.
Game day. With the W vs MIA on Sun, the job was ½ done. Nice to control one's own destiny(to the extent that 5th or 6th seed in the EC is "destiny")but considering 30 W last year & the growth of this group, the future is bright. Nonetheless, gotta get this one. The Heat fighting for their lives too.
DeMar DeRozan only needs to average 18 PPG for another 105 games to surpass Shaq in career points and enter the all-time Top 10.
(via Carson Breber)
#NBA
And given CMB's versatility/smarts, this group, pending roster tweaks, is poised to become a defensive terror.
Nice piece by @fredkatz.bsky.social in The Athletic today. Scottie Barnes one of his picks for All-Perimeter Defence First Team.
Raptors 121 Heat 95. A really good W. Defensive swarming, timely rotations, contesting the long ball...it all started on the D end. Good to see IQ back. TOR holds MIA under 100, takes care of the ball, dominates the boards. Starters did the work, bench did their thing. Shout out Ja'Kobe--IMPRESSIVE!
Raptors lose. Not surprising. Hung for 3 Q but as Sherman Hamilton pointed out post game, different teams with different aspirations. Disappointing as the mistakes, turnovers and poor shooting are, we need to keep in mind that this was a 30 W team last year. Obv significant roster moves are needed.
Game day. TOR at the Garden. A big ask today. Couple of Raptor killers in Pritchard/White & a few other guys too😉. Nonetheless, any team can win on any given day, just ask the Kings. To have a CHANCE at this W, the 8th worst 3 pt shooting team has gotta hit at least league average. RJ/SB have been ♨️
@oobh.bsky.social what a great find Jenkins was! Gotta love an undrafted success story.
Raptors win big. It was the kind of game where Alvin was discussing what his mother sent for his school lunches. Not much to take away from this one. Unlike Wed, TOR took care of business against a group of rooks/prospects. Everybody else around us won tonight so the seeding is static for now. RJ!
Game day. Raptors have a big one on Beale Street tonight, staring at the play-in with 6 games remaining. Again no IQ, JB. Grizz have a long injury list but so too did the Kings. Lots of consequential matchups around the league tonight with implications for 5 seed through 10 in the EC. Go Raps!!
Game day. Raps host the Kings. The unfortunate Kings franchise-poster child for futility. Gotta feel for their fanbase. But there is no mercy. The Raptors are in a battle for positioning in the EC while ALT/ORL play tonight. Again no IQ, Battle. Gotta take of business, esp vs inferior teams.
Game day. Raptors @ Pistons. A tough one tonight. DET lost in OT on the road last night so TOR with rest advantage. And with the screws tightening in the EC, we need every advantage we can get. Multiple names on both injury reports but the Raptors pulled off a big W vs ORL with notable abscences...
Not directly related to anything but some of you haven't heard the story of Charles Barkley's friendship with Lin Wang and that's exciting bc you get to read about it today
www.wbur.org/onlyagame/20...
Raptors win 139-87. A beatdown. Both teams with injuries but this was unexpected. The brilliant Paul Jones said it best: "The 10-10-62 rule. Every year, every team has 10 games where everything goes right, 10 games where nothing goes right and the other 62." Scottie, Mamu were great. Lawson belongs.
Game day. ORL tonight, a perplexing team, projected preason to be an EC contender, instead middling, lurking in the play-in (& hopefully staying there). Under .500 on the road, worse eFG% than the Raptors and lotsa T/O. BUT big & mobile backcourt could be trouble on the boards. No Quiick. ? CMB, BI
Game day. Pels in town. If getting punked in NOLA on Mar 11 isn't enough to put a fire under the Raptors, difficult to know what would. Tough to watch games vs PHO and LAC leave us wondering about the team's fit or heart...or something. No IQ tonight so big ask from Shead/Fultz. Fallen to 6th seed.
Raptors lose. Emphatically. Never in this. Continues to be ugly vs .500+ teams, which the Clippers are now. Didn't get to the line but when they did, 4-11. Made 10 3s, LAL 16. TOR has been bottom ⅓ in the league in 3 pt shooting for 5 years now. Gotta ask, is this scouting coaching or development?
