Everything (2016-2017) Regular Season Game Threads

[Sinbad]

Last year, Ross took 3.9 catch and shoot 3s, and 4.5 catch and shoot FGAs per game for us.(converted at a 58.3% eFG, 41.1% on 3s)

This year, through two games, it's 1 3pt attempt. DeRozan has taken 3 catch and shoot 3s. Someone needs to explain why this makes sense.

It's baffling. We quibble and tear our hair out over Ross, but the one thing he has always been able to do is knock down catch and shoot 3s. Why take that away? And I'm not sure where to look for it, but I suspect that the lion's share of his catch and shoot 3s came on passes from either Lowry or Cojo. Given DD's monstrous USG%, it makes sense that Ross isn't getting the looks he once did.

[ogi]

We need Lowry to be his usual self and we'll be fine. As far as derozan we know what to expect from him. Last night he was a little inefficient but no big deal.
What screwed the raps last night was not taking care of the ball. Way too many turnovers that just simply didn't need to happen. Without a few of those it's a w.

[golden]

I cringed when Jalen Rose said that, but there's a lot of truth to it. It's not as though the Raptors paid DeRozan because of his potential. They did that with Ross and JV. They paid DeRozan for what he does provide, not what he could provide as he matures. Money was never going to change who he was as a player. Thus far, it has made him an extreme version of what he was before-- a volume shooter with a penchant for going it alone at a moment's notice. While its great for him to get his numbers individually, it scares me that in Year 8 we're still hoping he develops the ability to hit bigs and shooters in a system he's played in for the last 5 seasons. He should have this down pat by now.

I'm trying not to be too pessimistic, but it does feel and look like more of the same approach that runs into difficulties in the playoffs thus far.

That was basically one type of game plan to beat Kobe - make him a volume shooter who takes increasingly difficult and inefficient shots and hope that he'll shoot his team out of games, playoff series, etc... DeMar has proven he can be on the cusp of elite scorers in the NBA, but he can't and shouldn't be expected to win most of the games by himself, like Kobe.

[Chr1s1anL]

Deebo on another level right now.

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[Sinbad]

That was basically one type of game plan to beat Kobe - make him a volume shooter who takes increasingly difficult and inefficient shots and hope that he'll shoot his team out of games, playoff series, etc... DeMar has proven he can be on the cusp of elite scorers in the NBA, but he can't and shouldn't be expected to win most of the games by himself, like Kobe.

Agreed. Opposing teams would cushion Kobe defensively, baiting him into taking long jumpers, though the moment he put the ball on the floor, the second defender would come over. Until the Pau trade and Bynum emerged, there was little chance he would give the ball up (though I don't blame him for not wanting to pass to Smush Parker, Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown). Whereas Kobe had the basketball IQ and passing skills to pick teams apart at will, DD doesn't, and defenders know it. Everyone knows DeMar can score, but the image I can't get out of my head is the coaches working on Lowry's hamstring during a 4th quarter timeout. If he's compromised and can't be his usual self, we could be in for more of this.

[lewro]

As far as DeMar's passing... through 2 games, he has passed to Lowry 20 times, JV 10 times, Carroll 7 times, CoJo twice, Pat twice, Poeltl once and Ross once.

So if you're saying that Lowry, JV, and Carroll aren't converting on DeMar's assist opportunities, you might be right.

But if you're saying anyone else isn't, you're way off base.

Those are pretty raw stats. Some of that is passing to jv in the high post to facilitate demar or Lowry coming off screens. Yesterday demar made a really half ass entry pass to jv that positioned him inside the corner three to start his post move. Demar was more focused on screening away from the ball after the pass to get himself open. Unacceptable. Forget Ross for now. Priority one is establishing jv as a legit #3 option, maybe even #2 until Lowry comes around.

[Lupe]

I don't really think DeRozan is the correct target for blame right now. He's basically just doing his job and he's doing it quite well.

Right now the problem is Lowry hasn't gotten going and it's stagnating our offense. He's usually the one initiating things, getting guys moving and getting shooters involved (you know, because that's what PGs are supposed to do). Right now he's turning it over almost as much as he's getting assists and he can't buy a basket. When your point of attack is struggling like that it affects the rest of the team which is why you're seeing the shooters not get involved as much as they need to be.

I think without DeMar's scoring last game we might've gotten blown out, so he was really just doing a job there keeping the game within reach.

Kyle looks like he's not in game shape or something, not really sure what's wrong with him right now. Hopefully just a slump.

[Jclaw]

Ugh...no game til Halloween

[Lupe]

Those are pretty raw stats. Some of that is passing to jv in the high post to facilitate demar or Lowry coming off screens. Yesterday demar made a really half ass entry pass to jv that positioned him inside the corner three to start his post move. Demar was more focused on screening away from the ball after the pass to get himself open. Unacceptable. Forget Ross for now. Priority one is establishing jv as a legit #3 option, maybe even #2 until Lowry comes around.

Judging from JV's usage, shot attempts, points and play so far, he's been the #2 option so far. He has Lowry beat in all of those categories.

[rocwell]

Ugh...no game til Halloween

[golden]

Deebo on another level right now.

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32 pts on 28 shots isn't really next level.

[Joey]

Game #3: Denver Nuggets 102 - Toronto Raptors 105

vs.

Projected Starters

Denver	Toronto
PG - Emmanuel Mudiay	PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - Will Barton	SG - Demar Derozan
SF - Danilo Gallinari	SF - DeMarre Carroll
PF - Nikola Jokic	PF - Pascal Siakam
C - Jusuf Nurkic	C - Jonas Valanciunas

Last Meeting
GAME 48 - FEBRUARY 1, 2016 DENVER 112, TORONTO 93
Nikola Jokic had season highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets ended Toronto’s 11-game winning streak with a 112-93 victory. Will Barton scored 20 points and Randy Foye had 16 for the Nuggets, who swept the season series. The Raptors entered with the NBA’s longest current winning streak but couldn’t duplicate the success they had in January. They led by one midway through the second quarter but trailed by double digits for most of the second half. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 24 points. His All-Star backcourt mate, Kyle Lowry, scored just nine and went 1 for 6 from the foul line.

**We gotta avenge last seasons performance against these guys!


Noteworthy
• DeMar DeRozan became the first player in franchise history to start a season with back-to-back 30-point games. DeMar also set a franchise-record with his eighth consecutive opening-night start Oct. 26 vs. Detroit.

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, DeMar DeRozan joined Russell Westbrook (2015), James Harden (2012), Carmelo Anthony (2009) and Tracy McGrady (2007) as the only players in the last 10 years to start a season with a 40-point and 30-point performance; And is the first player in the NBA since Kobe Bryant in 2012 to score 40 points without a three-pointer

• Jonas Valanciunas scored a career-best 32 points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds Oct. 26 vs. Detroit. He followed it up with 10 points, and 17 rebounds against Cleveland.

• Valanciunas earned his third opening-night double-double, tying him with Chris Bosh for the most double-doubles to start a season in team history.

• Rookie Jakob Poeltl became the first Austrian-born player to appear in an NBA game Oct. 26 vs. Detroit. Poeltl played 11 minutes Oct. 28 vs. Cleveland and recorded seven points and seven rebounds. The Raptors have six players representing five different counties on the 2016-17 roster.

• Toronto will open the 2016-17 regular-season with five of the first six games at Air Canada Centre. This has happened twice in team history - 2005-06 (0-5) and 1996-97 (3-2).

• The Raptors first four games of the regular-season are against teams they have already faced in the preseason (Detroit, Cleveland, Denver and Washington).


Injury Updates
Jared Sullinger had surgery on his left foot Oct. 24 and is out indefinitely.
Delon Wright had arthroscopic surgery to fix a labral tear in his right shoulder in August and is out indefinitely.
Lucas Nogueira has missed two games (Oct. 26-28) due to a sprained left ankle.


GO RAPS!!

[ogi]

32 pts on 28 shots isn't really next level.

It also isn't as bad as many are making it seem nor is it the reason we lost to Cleveland

[Demographic Shift]

32 pts on 28 shots isn't really next level.

Thats a Harden like performance on most nights.....and that guy gets slotted at the next level..
Westbrooke put up 51 last night.. think he took 44 shots to do it...

So DD should be considered in that genre ... maybe not at the top tier but in the tier . no ?

Westbrook put on an amazing Jr.B tough guy pose at the end of the game as called out the Suns bench...Seriously juvenile stunt.... Surprised no one challenged him

[The Great One]

Just re-watched the game. 2nd chance points, turnovers + inability to make open shots(Patterson, Carroll) really killed us.

I also thought taking out Joseph late in the game was a mistake. His defense on Irving was excellent.

LOL at people blaming this loss on DeRozan. Smh....