Game# 69: Raptors @ Clippers, Wed March 16, 10:30pm EST

[slaw]

Scottie has a habit of pressing up too tight sometimes, and opposing players use that against him. That habit needs to be corrected. He has the length to back off to stop the drive, but still give a good shot contest. Needs to study Pascal and OG.

That's what Nurse wants them to do. He doesn't want them to back off. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Force the ball handler to make decisions under duress and don't let him breathe. The drives are balanced out by the turnovers, bad passes, stalled/delayed offense, etc. If a smart player starts to take advantage of it, Nurse will switch things up but not before then.

[golden]

That's what Nurse wants them to do. He doesn't want them to back off. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Force the ball handler to make decisions under duress and don't let him breathe. The drives are balanced out by the turnovers, bad passes, stalled/delayed offense, etc. If a smart player starts to take advantage of it, Nurse will switch things up but not before then.

Good point. It's a high risk, high reward approach for sure.

Will be interesting to see how opposing teams adjust to it in the playoffs. Casey seems to know how to exploit that aggression (into wide open 3s, dunks and layups) from the jump. I suppose the gambit is that role players will get stage-fright in the playoffs and start missing those wide open 3s.

[LJ2]

Fred is one of our top players, if he is out, Scottie gets more opportunities, same happened when Pascal was out at the beginning of the season. Thats not a new concept lol.

My point is towards the people who blame Fred. Its a Scottie thing. Like Kagemusha saying Scottie determined in his head the ball should go to Fred so he made a bad pass because of it. If thats the case, its Scottie's problem or he just made a bad pass.

I look at it as part of Scottie's development to learn how to play with the top guys and at their pace. He's a rookie and way ahead of where everyone projected he would be, but he's still not at the level of Fred or Siakam in terms of reading the plays quickly and getting getting into action. It's a good pressure to place on a young player who is evolving as quickly as Scottie is. If it shows up as hesitation for the time being, so be it.

[LJ2]

That's what Nurse wants them to do. He doesn't want them to back off. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Force the ball handler to make decisions under duress and don't let him breathe. The drives are balanced out by the turnovers, bad passes, stalled/delayed offense, etc. If a smart player starts to take advantage of it, Nurse will switch things up but not before then.

It reminds be a lot of how Kawhi would pressure players by swarming them, especially smaller ones. The thing is, Kawhi sort of pick and chose the time to do it so he could catch them off guard. He didn't allow the player to prepare for it.

[Jclaw]

Closer than it should have been but Raps have a habit of fading a bit at the end of games, not a good habit.
But you take that 5-1 roadie and run, great trip. Beating both the LA's is a highlight of the year.

As a long time Raptors fan, I hear you. But, as a counterpoint, the Clippers TV guy (Mike Fratello), was complementing the Raptors play in crunch time in the New Years eve game. He cited their "championship DNA" and was waiting to see how it would play out in last night's game towards the end. Still surreal to hear the Raps talked about that way

[slaw]

Good point. It's a high risk, high reward approach for sure.

Will be interesting to see how opposing teams adjust to it in the playoffs. Casey seems to know how to exploit that aggression (into wide open 3s, dunks and layups) from the jump. I suppose the gambit is that role players will get stage-fright in the playoffs and start missing those wide open 3s.

The philosophy won't change at all but Nurse is a very good defensive tactician, especially given time in a playoff series. If a team exploits a weakness he tries to close it off straightaway. And Nurse will have a different strategy for each opponent - he's very good at manoeuvering the pieces to get what he wants - it doesn't always work but he won't sit there and let them get killed by the same attack over and over.

[golden]

The philosophy won't change at all but Nurse is a very good defensive tactician, especially given time in a playoff series. If a team exploits a weakness he tries to close it off straightaway. And Nurse will have a different strategy for each opponent - he's very good at manoeuvering the pieces to get what he wants - it doesn't always work but he won't sit there and let them get killed by the same attack over and over.

Yep. Lack of in game adjustments are why Casey got fired and why Nurse got hired. He’s top tier when it comes to switching things up on the fly… even possession to possession, to keep offenses off balance.

But that’s where you need super high IQ players to actually execute those complexities, or else you end up with blown coverages, dunks and layups. Having a guy like pre-washed Gasol directing traffic on the back line was probably more important than any scheme.

[chris]

One other thing: we should probably all agree that Achiuwa was fucking fantastic last night. He definitely doesn't want to get left out of the playoff rotation like he did last season in Miami. Precious is probably the most improved Raptor since the season began (even Barnes).

i had the same thought last night, specifically on a play in the first half where he pump faked at the 3 point line and drove into the paint, drew a crowd, and kicked it to thad young in the left corner for a three. i couldn't believe my eyes. that was a charge or a missed layup earlier in the season, he had zero awareness where any of his other teammates were

[The Great One]

Stud

[G__Deane]

As a long time Raptors fan, I hear you. But, as a counterpoint, the Clippers TV guy (Mike Fratello), was complementing the Raptors play in crunch time in the New Years eve game. He cited their "championship DNA" and was waiting to see how it would play out in last night's game towards the end. Still surreal to hear the Raps talked about that way

Doris Burke said the same thing the other night. "Raptors championship DNA, guys who have been there, Nick Nurse coaching"

But collapsing a dozen points in the 4Q won't fly against the better team in the playoffs. Clippers are plucky/hard working but shouldn't be able to close out on us like that.

[G__Deane]

Stud

Achiuwa and OG can help Barnes play even better D while Barnes can help them both (primarily OG) with better handles.
I've been very critical of Achiuwa (while always being sure to note he's just 22) but he's improved on both ends of the floor this season.

Looking forward to seeing what Barnes (20), OG (24), Achiuwa (22) and GTJr (23) can become in a few years. Maybe even Malachi (23). Siakam and FVV are suddenly the older statesmen of the core and one might have to go with filler to land our next disgruntled superstar.

[KeonClark]

Achiuwa and OG can help Barnes play even better D while Barnes can help them both (primarily OG) with better handles.
I've been very critical of Achiuwa (while always being sure to note he's just 22) but he's improved on both ends of the floor this season.

Looking forward to seeing what Barnes (20), OG (24), Achiuwa (22) and GTJr (23) can become in a few years. Maybe even Malachi (23). Siakam and FVV are suddenly the older statesmen of the core and one might have to go with filler to land our next disgruntled superstar.

Why do we need a disgruntled superstar, this team could he way better than the 2018 raptors on internal growth alone. We're a 46 win team already, if scottie, precious, Flynn grow as players we could be a 50 plus win team next year with 2 all Stars and a 21 year old up and coming all star.

[G__Deane]

Why do we need a disgruntled superstar, this team could he way better than the 2018 raptors on internal growth alone. We're a 46 win team already, if scottie, precious, Flynn grow as players we could be a 50 plus win team next year with 2 all Stars and a 21 year old up and coming all star.

Disgruntled elsewhere superstar ie the Kawhi that takes that 50 plus win team over the top.

[A.I]

Why do we need a disgruntled superstar, this team could he way better than the 2018 raptors on internal growth alone. We're a 46 win team already, if scottie, precious, Flynn grow as players we could be a 50 plus win team next year with 2 all Stars and a 21 year old up and coming all star.

Well if that option becomes available, getting a superstar is kind of a no brainer. Obviously if its within a reasonable price.

[Hotshot]

Looking forward to seeing what Barnes (20), OG (24), Achiuwa (22) and GTJr (23) can become in a few years. Maybe even Malachi (23). Siakam and FVV are suddenly the older statesmen of the core and one might have to go with filler to land our next disgruntled superstar.

Few years?! try next season and then the core might break up because they might not be able to afford a whole team.

Why?! cause FVV and GTJ are free agents in summer of 2023 - Fred will demand near max contract ($150 -$180 million) and GTJ will demand somewhere in the ($100 million-$150 million)

2024- Siakam SUPER MAX contract (over $200 Million dollars), OG probably similar to what GTJ will get and Achiuwa new qualifying offer contract $50-100 million.

Raptors bench will all be 905 players lol