GAME #33: OKC Thunder 98 - Toronto Raptors 97

[MixxAOR]

MISSING MULTIPLE PLAYERS, BENCH STEPPING UP AND PLAYING WITH CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL EFFORT?

PROJECTED STARTING LINE UPS

TORONTO RAPTORS







OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER







TEAM NOTES

didn't even need everybody back

[GOLDBLUM]

[Jclaw]

This is the way
(epic thread start on a short rest back to back)

[planetmars]

Why the 6 start time? I mean we're on a back to back. Ugh.

OKC has a pretty decent team but I see that they have some big injuries to key players. Paul and Shai though are their best two players and will be playing. Will be fun to see our back court against theirs. Adams always gave JV fits.. not sure what he will do against Serge.

They are 7th in the West and above .500 (well 16-15) so shouldn't take them for granted. I don't think we will. Not a great road team so could use any advantage we can off a back to back.

Looking forward to seeing Shai play tonight.

[golden]

MixxAOR showing that championship DNA.

[G__Deane]

Game Day!
Gonna need Serge against Steven Adams tonight and then let Boucher run wild

[G__Deane]

Nurse kniws more about what McCaw can bring then RR? FVV sees more too?
Who knew?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/...h-win-celtics/

[bertarapsfan]

OKC has been the surprise of the season. They play hard every night. I think we win but think its still close even without Gallo and Dennis.
Shai is starting to rival Jamal for my favorite Canadian. Can't wait to watch those 2 play together in Victoria.

[007]

Weird start time. I’m happy SGA is doing great this season but would also be happy if he took his foot off the pedal this game

[golden]

Nurse kniws more about what McCaw can bring then RR? FVV sees more too?
Who knew?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/...h-win-celtics/

Easy there. Let’s hold off on the McCaw HoF induction just yet, Deaner. I mean the bar is set ridiculously low for McCaw now. Pretty much any fringe NBA player can have 1 good game out of 10 if the coach keeps throwing you out there and tweaks the schemes specifically to hide your weaknesses. And especially when you surround him with a guy like Lowry and other championship caliber role players, plus Nurse.

Let’s see if he can string together a few more decent games. I’d also like to see that next level defense McCaw is supposed to have to justify that starting role. Haven’t seen anything special yet.

Hopefully this is the beginning.

[slaw]

Nurse kniws more about what McCaw can bring then RR? FVV sees more too?
Who knew?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/...h-win-celtics/

Need to see like a 30-40 game stretch of him playing meaningful and consistent minutes. He has never had a run like that as far as I know. Again, team made an investment in him so it would be nice to pay it off.

[DanH]

Blows me away how good OKC has been. It shouldn't, my win projections had them 8th in the West, but that was a result that had me surprised. And here they are...

​

[Ebonhawke]

So.. Houston is resting Westbrook tonight against the Pelicans, and Capela has been downgraded to 'out', and Harden is 'questionable'

[Maury]

Blows me away how good OKC has been. It shouldn't, my win projections had them 8th in the West, but that was a result that had me surprised. And here they are...

​

I would like to say that I predicted that they would be very decent before the season started in one of the pre-season threads. Very happy with my prediction as I believe they'll get better as the year goes on. Chris Paul is still really good.

[RandomGuy]

Lowry always being fab in December, let's hope this play continues after the all-star break. Great to see that Raptors are finding ways of building chemistry with various line ups due to circumstances. When the playoffs come, opposing coaches won't know what hit them.