Game #53: Boston Celtics 91 - Toronto Raptors 111

[slaw]

On a basketball note, we always give credit to opposing teams for making a good adjustment on Derozan or Lowry or whatever but I'd like to give a nod to Raps staff for a very subtle tactic they used against the Celtics offense.

Boston loves to use Horford to initiate action in its offense and the Raps snuffed it out with ball pressure and denying hard on the passing lanes inviting difficult passes on back cuts that would then run into the teeth of the defense. Celts had to reset on numerous occasions as a result. Anyway, just a very small thing that threw a wrench into things for Boston.

[slaw]

I could see the Raps winning a bunch in a row right now. At least they should. The Houston game (but at home) looms but isn't it nice that literally every game now seems really winnable? A lot of little things went our way tonight (though not the whistle) and Kyrie missed some open shots but there is no question that things are really coming together for this team. Jack Armstrong seems to think we need another shooter and perhaps he's right but I wouldn't give up any of the bench mob right now and I'm not sure who I'd want to take minutes from either. If ever you wanted to "stand pat" with a team this might be the one because it's so dependent on chemistry rather than just talent.

I would love to add a shooter as well but the question is where do you play that guy and at who's expense? You take FVV off the floor (hurt your offense)? Wright (hurt your defense)? Miles (which replaces one shooter with another)? And what does it do to that second unit's chemistry? If you start him, does OG fit with that second unit at this point?

I guess Siakam is the obvious one to replace but I don't see a lot of mobile, sharp shooting PFs being available at the deadline and, even then, how does that impact your defense?

[G__Deane]

It's a great win worth celebrating and it feels goooooood. That doesn't mean fans don't realizewe haven't made it to the ultimate goal but for one day, we're allowed a little excessive exuberance.....

[Chr1s1anL]

I’m totally fine with it. It’s just the way it is, we’re a newer franchise experiencing the most success we ever have. I’m just as excited as everyone else.

Raptors have had 5 straight successful regular seasons now. In all 5 seasons they have won more than 48 games. This is not new to the raptors. They are used to dominating the regular season. If the Celtics won by 20 tonight would you be calling it just another game? Pretty sure the fire Casey thread would be back out.

[Maury]

Who's treating this like a championship? Raps have now beaten both of the media's favorites to win the East by 20+ each. Of course there's going to be excitement here

I’m totally fine with it. It’s just the way it is, we’re a newer franchise experiencing the most success we ever have. I’m just as excited as everyone else.

[tDotted]

I feel like this is why celtics fans rightfully make fun of us. We’re acting like we just won the championship and more importantly worried way too much about rubbing in to Boston fans’ faces. If we want to continue to progress as a franchise and fan base we should stop acting like the biggest game in franchise history is playing the Celtics in the regular season and winning.

I hate Boston as much as the next guy but this is just a bit of a rant I felt like going on. Good win. On to the next.

Who's treating this like a championship? Raps have now beaten both of the media's favorites to win the East by 20+ each. Of course there's going to be excitement here

[S.R.]

This was a big win - the Raptors have to really believe they can beat anybody in the East. They didn't think they could beat Lebron the last two years and it showed.

Thing with Boston is their perimeter-heavy defence would have killed the old Raptors. The new offence was designed to beat teams like this.

Also the Raps' D does not get enough credit. It's much more mobile and switches a lot now (#2 overall in blocks is fun too), but most of all they sustain high intensity for much more of the game than they ever used to. They used to show flashes but they never sustained it. The crazy bench is a big part of that. I swear this is like watching two teams play on the same team. Crazy. Second game in a row the bench closed out the entire 4th quarter.

And as long as fan comment updates are being passed back and forth, feel free to tell Celtics fans to kiss my white Irish ass. That game was fun.

[Mitch P]

I could see the Raps winning a bunch in a row right now. At least they should. The Houston game (but at home) looms but isn't it nice that literally every game now seems really winnable? A lot of little things went our way tonight (though not the whistle) and Kyrie missed some open shots but there is no question that things are really coming together for this team. Jack Armstrong seems to think we need another shooter and perhaps he's right but I wouldn't give up any of the bench mob right now and I'm not sure who I'd want to take minutes from either. If ever you wanted to "stand pat" with a team this might be the one because it's so dependent on chemistry rather than just talent.

[Maury]

Game #53: Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors, February 6 2018, 19:30 pm EST on TSN1/4

I feel like this is why celtics fans rightfully make fun of us. We’re acting like we just won the championship and more importantly worried way too much about rubbing in to Boston fans’ faces. If we want to continue to progress as a franchise and fan base we should stop acting like the biggest game in franchise history is playing the Celtics in the regular season and winning.

I hate Boston as much as the next guy but this is just a bit of a rant I felt like going on. Good win. On to the next.

[007]

Also, I'm really glad we won this game because now we're the ones that get to talk mad shit

[007]

Just watched the highlights of this game and the Cavs game back to back. I'm feeling good right now

[Chr1s1anL]

players overrated

team overrated

coach overrated

The Boston Celtics

[planetmars]

That was one hell of a victory.. Defensive intensity was there.. Lowry hit some shots. CJ was on fire. The bench mob was so fricken good. Was worried about some Celtics come back.. but the Raptors were just too good.

Ibaka made some really dumb plays. JV and DD had horrible games and it didn't matter. We still kicked their asses.

Gonna have to watch this one again. Adding it to my collection. So far have the Cavs game, Bucks game, the first Portland game, and now this one.

[Zainab]

I read it on reddit, and dunno why I find it so hilarious:

Raptors and their fans are on some serious blow, look how pumped up they are and stuff. My goodness......they aren't winning a title anytime soon but they really are kinda terrifying with their mindset against us. I had no idea we were this important.

[S.R.]

Here's the thing. We all want the Raps to finish 1st right? so that they can avoid the Cavs in the 2nd round. The thing is right now, we don't know where the Cavs are going to finish. I could easily see them finishing 4th/5th/6th.

Just aim for home court for 3 rounds, can't worry about the lower seeds. At their current rate, Cavs could easily end up 7th or 8th.