Where Do The Raptors Rank In The East?

[golden]

Nurse is playing McCaw a lot so we don't peak too soon. Teaches them how to play through adversity. Bucks won't know what hit 'em.

[G__Deane]

Look at the Bucks game again last night, they destroyed OKC 133-86 and were able to coast for half the game and rest Giannis again too. That's what's so frustrating with all these Raptor injuries because we can't gauge where they truly sit with Gasol/Serge/Power/FVV etc regularly out of the lineup.

Still have to prove it yes, but one the face of it, nobody (especially in the East) is gonna take out the Bucks. They are absolutely dominating like seldom seen.

[golden]

Look at the Bucks game again last night, they destroyed OKC 133-86 and were able to coast for half the game and rest Giannis again too. That's what's so frustrating with all these Raptor injuries because we can't gauge where they truly sit with Gasol/Serge/Power/FVV etc regularly out of the lineup.

Still have to prove it yes, but one the face of it, nobody (especially in the East) is gonna take out the Bucks. They are absolutely dominating like seldom seen.

Meh... I still don’t trust Middleton, Bledsoe and Lopez in the playoffs. They’ve got a lot still to prove.

[Demographic Shift]

Meh... I still don’t trust Middleton, Bledsoe and Lopez in the playoffs. They’ve got a lot still to prove.

Lopez and especailly Bledsoe can vanish in the playoffs like they were dropped off in the Bermuda triangle...Middelton showed up big on Tuesday night.. he may have crossed the rubicon on playoff meltdowns

[golden]

Lopez and especailly Bledsoe can vanish in the playoffs like they were dropped off in the Bermuda triangle...Middelton showed up big on Tuesday night.. he may have crossed the rubicon on playoff meltdowns

Was Tuesday a playoff game, or did I miss something?

[Jclaw]

Still second by the hair on Harden’s chinny-chin-chin. F”*^ Boston.

[Demographic Shift]

Was Tuesday a playoff game, or did I miss something?

Clearly not but none the less let’s call it a “focus” game.
Middelton showed...the other two not so much.

[The Great One]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets lose in the 1st round. They almost blew it tonight because Harden for whatever reason kept chucking up off balanced 3 late in the 4th. They were up 5 with a min left in the 4th and the guy kept flopping and chucking up step back 3's. The guy plays like an idiot. There's a reason why Harden doesn't get the respect like all the other great scorers of the past.

I'd place a bet on their first round opponent this year.(even if it's the Nuggets) Not sold on the Rockets at all.

[S.R.]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets lose in the 1st round. They almost blew it tonight because Harden for whatever reason kept chucking up off balanced 3 late in the 4th. They were up 5 with a min left in the 4th and the guy kept flopping and chucking up step back 3's. The guy plays like an idiot. There's a reason why Harden doesn't get the respect like all the other great scorers of the past.

I'd place a bet on their first round opponent this year.(even if it's the Nuggets) Not sold on the Rockets at all.

The offence from both teams down the stretch and in OT was awful. They just go 5 out and ISO, but when both defences were keyed in they weren't getting good looks. They'd occasionally set half hearted screens but often slip them, which doesn't make any sense when none of the screen setters are roll threats and the ball handler never looked to hit them anyway. There was a lot of chaotic dribbling away from pressure, bail out passes, and contested shot attempts.

It's the NBA and you give a star the ball and let him work at certain points, but still. It was ugly.

[Demographic Shift]

A sunday morning look ahead to the upcoming week as the horse race for seeding in the East heats up. Come next Sunday there will most likely be a larger degree of separation from tthe current inhabitants of the 2&3 slots and a fantastic race for the 4,5 6 seeds.

The road warriors in Philly head out for 4 games on the west coast in the slipstream of the Raptors. Philly draws both LA teams, the playing much better Kings and the humbled Warriors. Given the Hinkies are 9 and 21 on the road and of those 9 only 1 is against a 500 or better team it looks like a 1 and 3 trip..Could they kaak one up against the Warriors ? Embiid and Simmons won't be playing and Steph might be. An oh-fer is possible.

The team the Hinkies are pursuing for 4th, The Heat, likely go a game up on the Hinkies for sure as they draw the Bucks and Orlando at home then hit the road against the New Orleans Zions and the Wiz on the road. 2 and 2 is likely but if the Heat can steal one in Nawlins they can go 2 up on the Hinkies for the week and stretch their lead to 3 games in the loss column with only 18 to go. Miami would love homecourt for round 1.

The Pacers who get less press than the Raps have a tough week coming up as well. with 4 on the road. They get the desperate Spurs who are still holding out hope to make the 8th seed out west, the Bucks, the tanking hard bulls and Luca in Dallas. 2 and 2 would be good and would tie them for 5 with the Hinkies.

In the race for 2 to get one of the Nets or Orlando.

The Raps get Denver, Phoenix, perhaps a fully Curryed Warriors and the improving Kings. Along the way they will get Freddy and Serge and maybe Marc back. 2 and 2 is in the cards but 3 and 1 isn't out of the question. Where the 1 loss comes from is anyone's guess after the Charlotte steamer.

The Chowders are the latest team to get flumoxed by the small ball 7 seconds or less Rockets. The Rockets are like seeing a kunckleballer after a couple weeks of fastball curve ball pitchers. Its clearly working ... but have to think in a playoff series where the 27 coaches can focus on how to stop it and exploit the Rockets in a 7 game series the Rockets may prove less of a force in the post season than the regular one. But we digress. The Chowders get a good week with 3 at home vs the Nets, the Jazz who need to post some W's to avoid their nemisis Hourston in round 1 and the Thunder. A back to back awaits them with CLeveland in CLeveland their lone roadie. Think the Chowders go 3 and 1 to either stay a game behind the Raps or tie come Monday morning.

So next week with only 18 left we might be able to land on a more definitive view of who the Raps first round opponents might be. Its shaping up to look like one of the Nets, Magic, Pacers or Hinkies.

[golden]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets lose in the 1st round. They almost blew it tonight because Harden for whatever reason kept chucking up off balanced 3 late in the 4th. They were up 5 with a min left in the 4th and the guy kept flopping and chucking up step back 3's. The guy plays like an idiot. There's a reason why Harden doesn't get the respect like all the other great scorers of the past.

I'd place a bet on their first round opponent this year.(even if it's the Nuggets) Not sold on the Rockets at all.

It's not hard to see why people are skeptical about Harden in the playoffs. He has been averaging almost 15 FTA per game in the regular season the last 2 years. But in the playoffs, that drops to about 8 or 9 FTA. It's basically the same problem we had with DeRozan.... relying on the refs, which is out of your control.

[Demographic Shift]

A bit of channel surfing tonight as Mrs shift is out .... caught some of the Knicks Rockets game and just can’t help thinking that if Bobby Portis didn’t have basketball....he would likely be wearing orange somewhere as a guest of the state...Charley Manson eyes on that guy.

[golden]

Clearly not but none the less let’s call it a “focus” game.
Middelton showed...the other two not so much.

Middleton and Bledsoe folded under the playoff level defense the Heat play all season long. I trust the little Italian kid more than those 2 guys.

[bertarapsfan]

Middleton and Bledsoe folded under the playoff level defense the Heat play all season long. I trust the little Italian kid more than those 2 guys.

>Insert: "They are who we thought they were, if you want to crown them already crown their asses, but Bucks are who we thought they were, and we let em off the hook"

[LJ2]

Where did this idea of Bledsoe, Middleton and Lopez choking in the playoffs come from? Is it because the Raptors beat them in the playoffs last year? A Kawhi lead Raptors team? Bucks ran through the competition in the first two rounds last year, one of which was Boston a fairly good team.