Everything Round 1: Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks

[Bendit]

I've never understood that expression. I have plenty of cheap suits at home and they do not fold easily.

I swear that when I saw the score at 48-17, I thought of Super Bowl XXVI when the Cowboys beat the Bills 52-17. Last year when Raps were down a couple of touchdowns I knew there was a good chance they'd claw back in it but when you're down by 4+ touchdowns and the team is full of field goal kickers?

I'm not sure I like our chances anymore but awesome Cliff Claven reference.

Let me take a stab...cheap suit = cheap material ...when folded = crumpled = bad look

[Nilanka]

I found something.

In 2013 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat lost game 1 at home, won game 2, and then in game 3 in San Antonio, they lost by 36 points. They were absolutely demolished. Danny Green had a career game, while their stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were fairly quiet. Lebron was held to just 7 of 21 shooting from the field, finished with only 15 points, and did not shoot a free throw for the first time in his Miami playoff career. I mean it's kind of the opposite of DeRozan who was only able to score from the charity stripe, but it's an 0-fer nonetheless for both 'star' players. Wade led the team with just 16 points.

As we all know the Heat went on to beat the Spurs in game 7 for the championship.

So there's still hope.

Were they coached by Dwane Casey though?
Were their star players consistently terrible in the post-season?
Did Miami have a 3+ year history of playing down to the competition?

I'm the official Devil's advocate today....and I don't apologize for any of it

[ebrian]

Were they coached by Dwane Casey though?
Were their star players consistently terrible in the post-season?
Did Miami have a 3+ year history of playing down to the competition?

I'm the official Devil's advocate today....and I don't apologize for any of it

Haha.. you're barking up the wrong tree! I was actually being facetious.

I don't think we have a chance in hell!

[KeonClark]

He's J Claw, he's J Claw! he's Jaaaaaaaaaay CLAWW!

[S.R.]

I have typed and deleted so many posts in the last 12 hours, I feel like we just have to wait and see what happens.

One thing the Raps can control is their defence. It's true that their defence falls off when their shots aren't falling and it's unacceptable. Jason Kidd has their offence pegged, he knows the Raps are one of the lowest passing/assists teams in the league so he's blitzing the shit out of them, full court pressure, doubles on the pick and roll, doubles on DeMar, doubles on JV even when he's 18 feet from the basket - you beat that by passing, Kidd's daring the Raps to break down the D with ball movement, and I'm not at all convinced the Raps can do that consistently.

But - so the offence is going to be tough, then play your ass off on defence. Watching them scramble around because they can't even find their own man to defend off a missed shot, then giving up a layup on a missed assignment (also easy, easy finishes off the p'n'r for the Bucks) - absolutely, absolutely unacceptable for a team with the potential of a top 5 defence that has plans for 3 or 4 rounds of playoff basketball. Long Milwaukee defenders at one of the court should not be affecting the Raps' execution on defence at their own end.

Execute on the defensive end and win these games 85-80 if necessary.

[Pill]

How can you say this, that's not a bright side.

If we lose this series basketball is dead to me.

And we're only down 2-1 you donkeys, wtf. There's still a lot of basketball to played.

It is the way they have lost. If they were all super close games I would be with you but the losses have been embarrassing. They deserve to lose based on their level of play period.

[slaw]

Were they coached by Dwane Casey though?
Were their star players consistently terrible in the post-season?
Did Miami have a 3+ year history of playing down to the competition?

I'm the official Devil's advocate today....and I don't apologize for any of it

Raps got blown out in game 4 last year by Indiana and won Game 5. They got blown out in Game 6 and won Game 7. The got blown out in games 1 and 2 by the Cavs but managed to win games 3 and 4. So, there's a pretty strong Raps history of coming back.

[KeonClark]

I have typed and deleted so many posts in the last 12 hours, I feel like we just have to wait and see what happens.

One thing the Raps can control is their defence. It's true that their defence falls off when their shots aren't falling and it's unacceptable. Jason Kidd has their offence pegged, he knows the Raps are one of the lowest passing/assists teams in the league so he's blitzing the shit out of them, full court pressure, doubles on the pick and roll, doubles on DeMar, doubles on JV even when he's 18 feet from the basket - you beat that by passing, Kidd's daring the Raps to break down the D with ball movement, and I'm not at all convinced the Raps can do that consistently.

But - so the offence is going to be tough, then play your ass off on defence. Watching them scramble around because they can't even find their own man to defend off a missed shot, then giving up a layup on a missed assignment (also easy, easy finishes off the p'n'r for the Bucks) - absolutely, absolutely unacceptable for a team with the potential of a top 5 defence that has plans for 3 or 4 rounds of playoff basketball. Long Milwaukee defenders at one of the court should not be affecting the Raps' execution on defence at their own end.

Execute on the defensive end and win these games 85-80 if necessary.

I see no way we can hold this team to under 90 in the Bradley center. They are currently playing with the most zip, skill and confidence they've had since ray allen walked the halls.

That's not to say they can't beat them, and with good defense. But we HAVE TO score. In addition to moving the ball, the same story for every playoff year remains: guys are bricking open 3s and layups. Demarre "the useless tit" carroll needs to be replaced immediately by powell and or wright. Nut up, execute, and play the guys who have earned it. Stop bricking long 2's and 3's because transition basketball is murdering us.

Woke up today still behind the team. Or maybe taking solace in the silver lining of a series loss FINALLY ridding us of coach case and a chunk of the core

[S.R.]

I see no way we can hold this team to under 90 in the Bradley center. They are currently playing with the most zip, skill and confidence they've had since ray allen walked the halls.

That's not to say they can't beat them, and with good defense. But we HAVE TO score. In addition to moving the ball, the same story for every playoff year remains: guys are bricking open 3s and layups. Demarre "the useless tit" carroll needs to be replaced immediately by powell and or wright. Nut up, execute, and play the guys who have earned it. Stop bricking long 2's and 3's because transition basketball is murdering us.

Woke up today still behind the team. Or maybe taking solace in the silver lining of a series loss FINALLY ridding us of coach case and a chunk of the core

It's true, I don't think I'm quoting Casey but shots didn't go down in games 1 and 3 that would usually go down. Game 1 I think there were jitters, game 3 they just missed early shots, the Bradley Center was amped, the Bucks rammed the ball down their throats in transition, and they lost control of the game in the first 5 minutes. All I'm saying is that can't affect the defensive execution. The defence should still be there, it has to be, both in games where those shots go in and in games where they don't. The Raptors are also capable of ratcheting up the defensive pressure, turning teams over, and scoring in transition. We haven't seen that because they spend most of the game shell shocked. They can't be deflated by shots rimming out.

[The Claw Reborn]

It's funny were talking about defense until our faces are blue. Derozan was guarding Middleton who looked like he was the next coming because of Derozan inability to defend.

We hear Derozan during interviews neck vein bursting speaking about defense but he does not fucking practice what he preaches.

Ujiri already got him Ibaka and Tucker who both are defensive specialist and can cover the deficiency of Derozan but if you as a team is playing 4 vs. 5 on defense, it's pointless.

The golden boy after 8 years in the league is still a pylon.

Offensively, you play pick and roll but he get exposed because he naturally doesn't know how to pass and shoot the three. So when you hedge him up high with 2 or three players he goes back to mediocre status.

He excels in the regular season but when it matters most, he flops

[The Great One]

Well, i'll be in Calgary this weekend with my girl so i'm going to miss the game and i'm not even going to check the boxscore. This team is a COMPLETE waste of time.

Prediction - another blowout loss. Bucks by 15+.

[KeonClark]

Derozan absolutely deserves to be called out for his defense. The old adage that he needs to "conserve his energy" to carry the offense is pretty laughable when he scores 8 points and ZERO makes from the field. Harden gets a pass. You don't when you're a glaring liability on both ends. He contributed as much as carroll last night, 2 useless tits starting opposite their 2 studs, yeah lights out.

[jacobdr4]

Lets win this one for one reason at least.
So i dont have to listen to GLFs doom and gloom for a couple weeks.

[KeonClark]

Lets win this one for one reason at least.
So i dont have to listen to GLFs doom and gloom for a couple weeks.

Nothing can stop the glf gloom and doom train

[Nilanka]

What surprised me the most, wasn't the Raptors no show, but just how raucous an environment the Bradley Center was. Man, were they loud. Louder than the ACC through the first 2 games, easily.

And they didn't let up either. They were up 30 in the 2nd half, and it was still deafening while we're shooting free throws.