Game #19: Utah Jazz 110 - Toronto Raptors 130

[G__Deane]

I am so excited for Goldblum's Miami thread

You get a gif! And you get a gif! And you get a gif!

[RaptorsVictim]

It would improve our rebounding, he would give ~12ppg (he won't get as many points as he's getting in Memphis because he wouldn't be the primary scorer here), our defence would be worse and the paint would be more congested for our wings, hurting their production. Floor won't be as spaced. He would bring some good things, but all-in-all it would be a net loss imo.

That is only true though IF Gasol continues to keep defences honest by not passing up open perimiter shots (his raw score don't matter). If he doesn't do that I rather have JV.

I think right now, we are taken away due to the joy we are undergoing. I think Gasol is a very important part to this team right now. Yes, he has some weak aspects, but his presence and his passing is more than important.
Right now, the chemistry is on its peak, if we bring someone else, I do not know what will happen. Our best option is to use him this season.

[inthepaint]

I know it might look like a silly question, what if we could bring JV back, how would we look like ?

It would improve our rebounding, he would give ~12ppg (he won't get as many points as he's getting in Memphis because he wouldn't be the primary scorer here), our defence would be worse and the paint would be more congested for our wings, hurting their production. Floor won't be as spaced. He would bring some good things, but all-in-all it would be a net loss imo.

That is only true though IF Gasol continues to keep defences honest by not passing up open perimiter shots (his raw score don't matter). If he doesn't do that I rather have JV.

[planetmars]

Nurse likes 3&D C's. Guys that can shoot and stretch the floor. And guys that can be big and try to block shots, create deflections.

I'd take Aron Baynes if Phoenix was shopping him. He's learned how to shoot, and is a really good defender. But I don't see why Phoenix would shop him. He's a UFA next summer though. So maybe a guy Masai could sign in the off season if we lose one of Marc or Serge.

[KeonClark]

Let us assume we traded Gasol for another C, how would we look like ?

That would obviously depend on the center. Jokic would be awesome to get. Drummond would suck to get. And I'm out on all the zellers and all the plumlees.

[RaptorsVictim]

It would look like when Ibaka is on the floor. More pick n roll and paint shots, maybe stronger rebounding depending on who the new C would be, but there would be a more clogged paint for our wings because the opposing rim protector would be there, and there would be less back cutting to the basket.

The viariablity of styles alone that Nurse can go to when toggling Ibaka & Gasol can create problems for the opposing D.

I know it might look like a silly question, what if we could bring JV back, how would we look like ?

[inthepaint]

Let us assume we traded Gasol for another C, how would we look like ?

It would look like when Ibaka is on the floor. More pick n roll and paint shots, maybe stronger rebounding depending on who the new C would be, but there would be a more clogged paint for our wings because the opposing rim protector would be there, and there would be less back cutting to the basket.

The viariablity of styles alone that Nurse can go to when toggling Ibaka & Gasol can create problems for the opposing D.

[RaptorsVictim]

Let us assume we traded Gasol for another C, how would we look like ?

[inthepaint]

This was huge. Utah clearly wanted Gobert to protect the paint and be a bit of a roamer. Gasol starts drilling 3's and now Utah has to leave the paint open and Toronto's whole offence opens up. Give us layups or we hit 3's, either way you're getting 77 dropped on your head in the first half.

Bingo. You articulated the precise reason Gasol can't pass up open shots on the perimeter. Gotta keep the opposing defence honest of you're gonna play in the perimeter. To paraphrase another poster (Golden, I think), he embraced his inner Brook Lopez last night, at least on the first quarter, so that opened things up beautifully in the paint for everyone else. His raw score is secondary. For me personally, I'm happier with a 6pt Gasol game where he's gunninng and punishing defences for leaving him open, then a 12pt game generated by forced/contested/inefficient shots.

[S.R.]

Is anyone allowed to do anything but stand on the three point line and shoot threes? What a dynamic game!

Three point threats open up the floor for all kinds of fun things to happen offensively. I don't think Nick Nurse will ever Houston the offence. Great comment from I can't remember who on Twitter but to the effect of: analytics are built on large sample size data sets. The problem is the playoffs are a series of small sample sizes. So a team like Houston can shoot themselves right out of a playoff series, all the while believing all their 3PA have to work out for them at some point. Well it doesn't, not in a small sample size like 1 or 2 playoff games.

Nurse's offence is diverse and not just about guys jacking up piles of 3PA.

For Gasol in particular, his post game is clearly gone. I mean gone, gone. His post up attempts look horrible - the Raptors have tried giving him looks, but at some point here he's clearly a greater benefit acting as a 3 pt threat and at times an additional PG, quarterbacking the offence from the top of the perimeter. His impact there goes well beyond the box score (for the guys complaining about 5&5 games).

[S.R.]

I thought the biggest catalyst for it was just how open they were leaving him. Like, he's usually open. But Gobert was glued to the paint for the 1st Q, and only started coming out more later in the game. Marc just had literally a dozen feet of space and no one coming to him, he almost had to shoot. As compared to his usual "well, that guy is kinda close to me and is at least moving towards me so I can pass instead of shoot" situation. Would love to see him taking more of those medium-open shots, and hopefully this game with the incredibly-wide-open shots will be the catalyst for that. He took a couple more tightly contested ones in this one when they adjusted too, so might be a sign of readier shooting. Though hopefully he also doesn't swing too far the wrong way, he just needs to punish the defence, not take contested shots.

This was huge. Utah clearly wanted Gobert to protect the paint and be a bit of a roamer. Gasol starts drilling 3's and now Utah has to leave the paint open and Toronto's whole offence opens up. Give us layups or we hit 3's, either way you're getting 77 dropped on your head in the first half.

[GOLDBLUM]

Mr BLUM is currently with alex mckechnie getting treatment on his typing fingers

Giving me that shoelace treatment.

I'll be ready coach.

[DogeLover1234]

Gasol just plays to win. Some nights he needs to score 30 (in his prime) some nights less than 5. He just judges the game. Hes not sitting there thinking "shit I only have 2 points I better shoot more"..each possession is it's own situation and he decides what he thinks is best for the Toronto raptors.

now, has he hesitated on what would have been a good shot in the past? Absolutely. But there's no set number that Gasol needs to average x amount of points. That's not his role here. Siakam is a go to scorer. He needs to score over 20 efficiently. That's the pressure on his job. Gasol needs to make sure he team is winning, and the opposing center is not going off. That's the pressure on his job.

To start the season my two big questions would have been:

1) How good can Pascal become?

2) Who is the second/third option?

Obviously Pascal exceeded expectations, but I am not convinced there is enough offense to be a contender. The bummer is just that Gasol wont be that guy.

[KeonClark]

I am so excited for Goldblum's Miami thread

You get a gif! And you get a gif! And you get a gif!

Mr BLUM is currently with alex mckechnie getting treatment on his typing fingers

[can't teach wingspan]

I am so excited for Goldblum's Miami thread

You get a gif! And you get a gif! And you get a gif!