Unofficial Toronto Raptors Thread (ESPN, Knicks, Pistons, Pacers)
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The Raptors will be well served by Casey's reliance on depth, because they can give DeRozan all the time he needs to heal, much like the Bulls re Taj Gibson.
It was really Popovich and the Spurs who pioneered the depth strategy. Casey deserves credit for recognizing and adopting it. He has to be rated in the top tier of current NBA coaches.
The good thing about this is that the division is so terrible, the Raps likely won't even get challenged that much, so they can afford to take their time with DeRozan. With that and the depth Casey has at his disposal, they'll be fine, even if DeRozan's out until January or February.
Kinda smelled this one coming. Raps returned from a west coast swing and delivered a post-Thanksgiving turkey to a full house. They were lethargic from the get-go and Cleveland's energy was consistent.
Only Amir Johnson, with 27 and Kyle Lowry with 22, had their game faces on. The usually-reliable Lou Williams, Greivis Vasquez and T. Ross had crappy nights, totaling only 16 points among them.
King James had a decent night with 24 and hometown boy Tristan Thompson put on a show for friends and family, compiling 21 points and 14 boards.
So Cavs get revenge for blowing a big lead to the Raps a couple of weeks ago. Raps get their chance for payback on Tuesday, when they return to Cleveland.
Looks to have been just a cold shooting night for the raptors. If they shoot their normal fg% of .458, and normal ft% of .801, they win the game (albeit barely) by my calculation.
Kinda smelled this one coming. Raps returned from a west coast swing and delivered a post-Thanksgiving turkey to a full house. They were lethargic from the get-go and Cleveland's energy was consistent.
Only Amir Johnson, with 27 and Kyle Lowry with 22, had their game faces on. The usually-reliable Lou Williams, Greivis Vasquez and T. Ross had crappy nights, totaling only 16 points among them.
King James had a decent night with 24 and hometown boy Tristan Thompson put on a show for friends and family, compiling 21 points and 14 boards.
So Cavs get revenge for blowing a big lead to the Raps a couple of weeks ago. Raps get their chance for payback on Tuesday, when they return to Cleveland.
How do you feel about the Raptors bench? It's a RARE night when Clevelands bench gets teh better of the other teams bench.
How do you feel about the Raptors bench? It's a RARE night when Clevelands bench gets teh better of the other teams bench.
It was disappointing but it wasn't just them. Valanciunas had one of his what-is-it-we're-doing-again? games he's prone to and as I mentioned, Terrence Ross was a non-factor. What's rare is JV, T. Ross, Williams and Vasquez all having crappy games. And of course, there was no DeRozan to take up slack.
But it's a long season and they're gonna have off games here and there. The trick, if they want to be real contenders, is to keep them occasional.
It was disappointing but it wasn't just them. Valanciunas had one of his what-is-it-we're-doing-again? games he's prone to and as I mentioned, Terrence Ross was a non-factor. What's rare is JV, T. Ross, Williams and Vasquez all having crappy games. And of course, there was no DeRozan to take up slack.
But it's a long season and they're gonna have off games here and there. The trick, if they want to be real contenders, is to keep them occasional.
Point of advice is that occasional doesn't matter when you are resting guys or have guys out hurt. Just doesn't matter.
It's all about year end who is healthy and can play long minutes.
The Bulls have been the opposite of this phenomenon in recent years....ending up hurt and then getting rolled out of the playoffs shorthanded.
Then we have to hear bandwagon morons talk about their team creating an upset or the bulls choking etc....but hey....we get a lot of moron bandwagoners around here from time to time.
A game, but tiring Nuggets squad took the Raptors to OT before running out of gas and letting the home team win a game they didn't really deserve. Denver was on the 2nd of a back-to-back and they very nearly took one from the lackadaisical Raptors.
Patrick Patterson was big and kept the Raptors in the game in the 4th, chipping in 19 points and 7 boards. Kyle Lowry and Valanciunas both had double-doubles and Lou Williams potted 26. Affalo, Arthur and Lawson stood out for the Nuggets.
I'm sure to a man they'd deny it - but I think the Raps were thinking ahead to Tuesday's tilt with LeBron.
If they're as sloppy on D in Cleveland as they were tonight, they'll be easy meat for the Cavs.
Looks to have been just a cold shooting night for the raptors. If they shoot their normal fg% of .458, and normal ft% of .801, they win the game (albeit barely) by my calculation.
Shot the ball a little better this time. I like the Raps- I underestimated them this preseason. I can see that squad getting better too and healthier of course.
What we had here, ladies and germs, is a pretty darn good basketball game between two pretty darn good teams.
Too bad we have to wait a few months for the rematch.
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