Tweet
Geez. Getting PTSD flashbacks from this one. The Raptors used to turtle like that all the time, run garbage offence to run out the clock, barely set screens, then jack contested jumpers. Never thought I'd see it again. No idea what Casey was thinking. Somehow ran out a decent rotation this game and still found a way to throw the game away. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
On the rotation note, loved starting Poeltl. He's definitely capable at PF. Better option than Siakam or Sully next to JV, though offensively you still have some spacing issues. With BeBe carrying backup C minutes, need those minutes from Poeltl until Pat comes back. Didn't like Poeltl beside BeBe - not enough rebounding or inside scoring with that pair, and they kind of clash stylistically. Did not like the small ball lineups with BeBe either - definitely would have given Siakam some run as a bench PF. JV and BeBe looked good together as ever, except late but that was because Harris shifted to the 4 - I'm all for forcing matchups and not changing to match the other team, but if the Raps aren't going to exploit it at the other end, you'd be better off throwing Carroll on Harris and getting Norm some more run late.
Plenty of guys actually looked good until the Raptors abandoned the radical idea of playing actual basketball down the stretch. Carroll, Ross, Powell, DeMar early on, Lowry was quietly solid as ever, JV was solid. BeBe struggled as the lone big but overall was decent, Poeltl was very good. CoJo struggled defensively, but hit a few shots at least.
Pat would fix so many issues. He'd have saved the Raps in this one, for sure. Cannot wait for him to be back.
On the rotation note, loved starting Poeltl. He's definitely capable at PF. Better option than Siakam or Sully next to JV, though offensively you still have some spacing issues. With BeBe carrying backup C minutes, need those minutes from Poeltl until Pat comes back. Didn't like Poeltl beside BeBe - not enough rebounding or inside scoring with that pair, and they kind of clash stylistically. Did not like the small ball lineups with BeBe either - definitely would have given Siakam some run as a bench PF. JV and BeBe looked good together as ever, except late but that was because Harris shifted to the 4 - I'm all for forcing matchups and not changing to match the other team, but if the Raps aren't going to exploit it at the other end, you'd be better off throwing Carroll on Harris and getting Norm some more run late.
Plenty of guys actually looked good until the Raptors abandoned the radical idea of playing actual basketball down the stretch. Carroll, Ross, Powell, DeMar early on, Lowry was quietly solid as ever, JV was solid. BeBe struggled as the lone big but overall was decent, Poeltl was very good. CoJo struggled defensively, but hit a few shots at least.
Pat would fix so many issues. He'd have saved the Raps in this one, for sure. Cannot wait for him to be back.
Comment