Game #1. New Era Raptors at Pistons. Dec 30. Now. On tv

[G____Deane]

When everyone is on a rookie scale contract it's different. Your team is like a college run team that is trying to hang with the big boys but know deep down you have no chance at anything. Houston was the same way last year. Sure they had fun. But there is also a reason why they wanted Fred and Brooks as free agents. And why Detroit is looking to add vets to their roster based on rumours.

We're flogging a dead horse here. I gave Detriot as an example but two other teams previously. Our guys don't stand up at the bench when there's a big dunk, no enthusiasm when the other team calls a time out after we make a big play. Most other teams look more supportive of each other than we do.

[planetmars]

We're flogging a dead horse here. I gave Detriot as an example but two other teams previously. Our guys don't stand up at the bench when there's a big dunk, no enthusiasm when the other team calls a time out after we make a big play. Most other teams look more supportive of each other than we do.

Yup.. again because we had plans to make the playoffs/semi-contend, but just flat out suck. There was oodles of that stuff after that Minnesota win (game 1). The air got sucked out when we just started losing. Got below .500 and never looked back. And now we traded OG and Pascal has been on the block all season too.

[LJ2]

Yup.. again because we had plans to make the playoffs/semi-contend, but just flat out suck. There was oodles of that stuff after that Minnesota win (game 1). The air got sucked out when we just started losing. Got below .500 and never looked back. And now we traded OG and Pascal has been on the block all season too.

We started losing when we started playing to Pascal's strengths again. Let's see if they trade him and if they do then if this team reverts to the type of system Darko tried to run initially.

[golden]

lmao

Watch this video carefully.

After the Raptors embarass themselves by losing to the Pistons with all of the sports world watching...... ALL of the players and coaches head straight to the locker room without shaking hands with any Piston. Their body language is clearly pissed off and disgusted.

But wait! There are 2 Raptors who bolt quickly to the opposition bench to dap it up. One guy is in nice looking pink suit. Yup. Those are our vets (Thad & Temple), aka, career losers, who are teaching the young guys how to bend over and accept L after L with a smile on your face.

Fun fact: Thad was on that Sixers team that tied the record with the Pistons for most consecutive losses. And Garrett Temple? Well... I'm pretty sure he's lost the most games in the NBA of any active player. Truly a grim reaper of wins.

[golden]

We started losing when we started playing to Pascal's strengths again. Let's see if they trade him and if they do then if this team reverts to the type of system Darko tried to run initially.

The problem is that Pascal is saving his energy for offense and has stopped playing defense. Most scorers do that. And once your team leaders stop playing defence, it sets the tone for the whole team.

[Kagemusha]

Watch this video carefully.

After the Raptors embarass themselves by losing to the Pistons with all of the sports world watching...... ALL of the players and coaches head straight to the locker room without shaking hands with any Piston. Their body language is clearly pissed off and disgusted.

But wait! There are 2 Raptors who bolt quickly to the opposition bench to dap it up. One guy is in nice looking pink suit. Yup. Those are our vets (Thad & Temple), aka, career losers, who are teaching the young guys how to bend over and accept L after L with a smile on your face.

Fun fact: Thad was on that Sixers team that tied the record with the Pistons for most consecutive losses. And Garrett Temple? Well... I'm pretty sure he's lost the most games in the NBA of any active player. Truly a grim reaper of wins.

Good job Masai!

[LJ2]

The problem is that Pascal is saving his energy for offense and has stopped playing defense. Most scorers do that. And once your team leaders stop playing defence, it sets the tone for the whole team.

There's a number of problems, but they started to go away from the quick decision offense when they realized Pascal absolutely sucked at making quick decisions. They started to slow down at that point and it became more of a halfcourt offense that catered to Siakam. Maybe they did that to inflate his numbers for a potential trade but the losses started piling up around that point.

Leaders not playing defense isn't anything new but that combined with losses makes for a miserable bunch. They need to move off the final piece of that championship team and start fresh.

[golden]

There's a number of problems, but they started to go away from the quick decision offense when they realized Pascal absolutely sucked at making quick decisions. They started to slow down at that point and it became more of a halfcourt offense that catered to Siakam. Maybe they did that to inflate his numbers for a potential trade but the losses started piling up around that point.

Leaders not playing defense isn't anything new but that combined with losses makes for a miserable bunch. They need to move off the final piece of that championship team and start fresh.

Offense hasn't been the problem, lately. Raps had a 59% TS% in December... that's pretty good.

Problem is they allowed opponents to shoot 61% TS%.

[Jclaw]

Just a reminder that before everyone is too wiped out tomorrow, we need a game thread for the Cavs. That is truly game 1 of the new era…for now. Happy New Year Republic (we could use it)

[MixxAOR]

[LJ2]

Offense hasn't been the problem, lately. Raps had a 59% TS% in December... that's pretty good.

Problem is they allowed opponents to shoot 61% TS%.

Not saying offense was a problem but the offense started to cater to Siakam more and less to the team as a whole. Now they are losing and not getting as much of the pie which impacts contracts so the effort on defense diminishes as well cause everyone is frustrated.

[golden]

Not saying offense was a problem but the offense started to cater to Siakam more and less to the team as a whole. Now they are losing and not getting as much of the pie which impacts contracts so the effort on defense diminishes as well cause everyone is frustrated.

The only guy who had a significant drop in PPG in December was Schroeder. Scottie and Pascal have both thrived as defacto 1/2 options. OG & Trent's PPG was the same in Nov & Dec.

Still... every NBA offense resolves itself into a 1/2 pecking order. It's par for the course. A slighty more Pascal centric offense should not be an excuse for a bad defense. I mean do the Sixers players stop giving effort because Embiid and Maxey dominate the ball? Even so, Pascal and Scottie are nowhere near the 30% USG of typical NBA stars. That's no excuse for role players to sulk and not play defense.

[A.I]

The poor defense seems to be a lack of on-court communication I think. Not even going to blame Darko. Many times they just miss the rotation and someone gets open. In the Pistons game near the end, everyone full court pressed, but there should have been some awareness and communication about Bojan getting behind the defense.

Of all of the negatives people have about Fred last season, he was still a leader/communicator. He goes to Houston, they brought in Brooks as well, who looks like a vocal guy, and their defense has been really good.

OG is a great defender, not much of a communicator. Poeltl isn't. Schroder should be the one, but doesn't seem like it. Pascal isn't. Scottie could be that guy, but he is still really young.

You could have good individual defenders, but defense is often just effort and communication. Just because you have good defenders on paper doesn't mean your defense will be good.

[Kagemusha]

Just a reminder that before everyone is too wiped out tomorrow, we need a game thread for the Cavs. That is truly game 1 of the new era…for now. Happy New Year Republic (we could use it)

Happy 2024 fellow losers!!!

[planetmars]

The poor defense seems to be a lack of on-court communication I think. Not even going to blame Darko. Many times they just miss the rotation and someone gets open. In the Pistons game near the end, everyone full court pressed, but there should have been some awareness and communication about Bojan getting behind the defense.

Of all of the negatives people have about Fred last season, he was still a leader/communicator. He goes to Houston, they brought in Brooks as well, who looks like a vocal guy, and their defense has been really good.

OG is a great defender, not much of a communicator. Poeltl isn't. Schroder should be the one, but doesn't seem like it. Pascal isn't. Scottie could be that guy, but he is still really young.

You could have good individual defenders, but defense is often just effort and communication. Just because you have good defenders on paper doesn't mean your defense will be good.

Yeah that's why I am hoping that if we trade Pascal we can find a defensive leader/communicator. Hence I'm on team Dejounte Murray because I think he has that ability. Although I have no real idea since Atlanta's defense is terrible (27th in the league).