Game #69: Dalls Mavericks 115 - Toronto Raptors 122

[Gonzz]

I get pissed when the slackers win by less than 15.Good times indeed.

[tDotted]

Pretty well agree on this, except I won't find it understandable losing to the Cavs. Lebron will get his, he may play great, but we can and should beat his teammates.

Yeah even though they have LeBron, the Cavs will be a mid 40s win team this season while we'll be at or around 60 wins. It's a bad look to lose that kind of series in anything less than 7 games.

[3inthekeon]

I don't expect a ring, I would however be deeply disappointed if we lost in 6 or 7 in the 2nd round to Team X if Team X is Indiana, or even Washington, Philly etc.

We are known as playoff chokers. Fair or unfair, it's the teams current identity. Losing to Cleveland is understandable cause of Lebron (although still would suck). But we basically HAVE to win any series vs these mid card teams. The pressure is back kids, let's not fool ourselves. Just, win, baby.

Pretty well agree on this, except I won't find it understandable losing to the Cavs. Lebron will get his, he may play great, but we can and should beat his teammates.

[Raptor Jesus]

I think the rest vs rust argument has meat on the bone. Allow me to tuck in; I recall reading that the 6-7 mins a game Lowry and Demar have had shaved off their totals from the last few seasons had added up to something silly like 10-11 games worth of minutes off the body over the course of 82 games. When looked at in that context having a game off after a back to back or 3 days off in a row down the stretch hardly compares.

Add that to the fact in the last few seasons the rest seems to have added to the pressure and shooting woes they've had and the choice to rest seems like it's made in October not April.


Oh and any loss not to Lecrab is a disappointment. But still better a season than Vince's clanger vs Iverson.
A loss to Lecrab means I saw something heroic and I was entertained. Raps can't lose in my mind.

[GOLDBLUM]

Find this pretty spectacular, over our last 17 games.
Top 2 in the league during that span in both Offense and Defense.
Only 0.1 points behind Houston's vaunted offense - 115.6 to 115.5, virtually identical.
On D, only shy of Utah who are way out in front of everybody 94.9 to our 101.9.

The @Raptors have won 17 of their last 18 games, including 10 straight.

During that span, they lead the league in Net Rating (14.4) and are top two Offensive Rating (115.5) and Defensive Rating (101.1). https://t.co/skn8w3FMmz pic.twitter.com/JtqBumrK0V

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 16, 2018

[KeonClark]

Here's something to talk about. A poll about the members here. The scenario: We maintain this peak performance and style, the best in franchise history. However, somehow, we get out on the second round. We do it though, by fighting hard, never being blown out, in 6-7 games, playing the right way as a team, with strong dedicated defence, high level of assists, strong team effort with no hero ball, well timed adjustments by the coach, in other words, the way we've been playing so far. But with enough small kinks that in aggregate, It just happens to go the other way for Eastern Conference team X which was really hot in late April.

Do you believe the reaction here is:

a) Deep disappointment because this was our year, but a nod to their effort, and to a season that brought the most entertaining and winning basketball to this franchise in decades, possibly ever.

OR

b) A monumental hissy-fit, and a disregard for all this season has brought, particularly the implementation of what the fan based has been asking for years (Team basketabll, more assists, less hero ball etc..). This core is lumped together as the same as nine years ago, around the time Derozan was drafted ( even though this team has nothing to do with the 2009 team), and that somehow becomes the center argument for tanking the best Raptors in history, in the off-season.

My reaction: likely "a". The overall boards reaction: probably about 50/50, but sadly with maybe more "b"'s than I would think. I know ultimately it's about the end result, but man, what happened to this team between last year and this year is huge. I want the ring, but I don't want to forget what they are doing to get there either.

I don't expect a ring, I would however be deeply disappointed if we lost in 6 or 7 in the 2nd round to Team X if Team X is Indiana, or even Washington, Philly etc.

We are known as playoff chokers. Fair or unfair, it's the teams current identity. Losing to Cleveland is understandable cause of Lebron (although still would suck). But we basically HAVE to win any series vs these mid card teams. The pressure is back kids, let's not fool ourselves. Just, win, baby.

[3inthekeon]

Vegas has a bit more faith in us tonight than a number of posters do. 11 point favourites

[inthepaint]

Here's something to talk about. A poll about the members here. The scenario: We maintain this peak performance and style, the best in franchise history. However, somehow, we get out on the second round. We do it though, by fighting hard, never being blown out, in 6-7 games, playing the right way as a team, with strong dedicated defence, high level of assists, strong team effort with no hero ball, well timed adjustments by the coach, in other words, the way we've been playing so far. But with enough small kinks that in aggregate, It just happens to go the other way for Eastern Conference team X which was really hot in late April.

Do you believe the reaction here is:

a) Deep disappointment because this was our year, but a nod to their effort, and to a season that brought the most entertaining and winning basketball to this franchise in decades, possibly ever.

OR

b) A monumental hissy-fit, and a disregard for all this season has brought, particularly the implementation of what the fan based has been asking for years (Team basketabll, more assists, less hero ball etc..). This core is lumped together as the same as nine years ago, around the time Derozan was drafted ( even though this team has nothing to do with the 2009 team), and that somehow becomes the center argument for tanking the best Raptors in history, in the off-season.

My reaction: likely "a". The overall boards reaction: probably about 50/50, but sadly with maybe more "b"'s than I would think. I know ultimately it's about the end result, but man, what happened to this team between last year and this year is huge. I want the ring, but I don't want to forget what they are doing to get there either.

[GOLDBLUM]

I think we'll play up to our competition and then hopefully beat them in the 4th when they really start trying.

Down. You mean, play down to our competition.

I think there should be ample motivation tonight, seeing as they embarrassed us last time we met.
Don't think anyone on this squad will be happy being swept by the Mavs.
I imagine Casey is really driving that home for them.

Assert your dominance. GO RAPS.

[Jclaw]

Doesn't help that the schedule is pretty uninspiring. Hard to get too pumped up for a team featuring Harrison Barnes.

OKC on Sunday but not sure anyone really cares. In Cleveland on Wednesday. That should be a good one. Then not much until the Celts-Cavs-Celts-Pacers at the start of April.

Gonna be a long wait until the first round...

Doesn't that just show you how far we've come. I could read that line and not even flinch at memories of a coin toss. Well, it's a much smaller flinch. This would definitely have been a motivator in previous years. Now..

[KeonClark]

One question worthy of discussion is whether Casey should start resting players. My view would be to just further reduce minutes for Kyle, Demar and Serge in particular but coaches seem to feel that entire games off (no warm up either...just sitting in street clothes) is the way to go. I suppose if you have Demar sitting there in his uni and the game becomes close the temptation to put him back in would be great. No one is looking tired at this point but there are back to backs ahead and the thought of an important player turning an ankle or breaking a finger before playoffs is horrible. A few more wins and first seed should be a lock.

I'd rest the fuck out of serge in April. I'd sit Kyle on b2b only. Is rest demar the final game. But everybody needs to stay in this current white hot rhythm

[Mitch P]

One question worthy of discussion is whether Casey should start resting players. My view would be to just further reduce minutes for Kyle, Demar and Serge in particular but coaches seem to feel that entire games off (no warm up either...just sitting in street clothes) is the way to go. I suppose if you have Demar sitting there in his uni and the game becomes close the temptation to put him back in would be great. No one is looking tired at this point but there are back to backs ahead and the thought of an important player turning an ankle or breaking a finger before playoffs is horrible. A few more wins and first seed should be a lock.

[KeonClark]

We probably won't. It's a back to back and the Mavs have been here since yesterday already. I think we'll play up to our competition and then hopefully beat them in the 4th when they really start trying. That strategy has worked lately and these games are so hard to get up for.. especially when the first seed is all but locked up now.

I think franchise record wins being 2 games away is decent motivation. Although the media hasn't mentioned it being a record at all

[planetmars]

I hope we come out a bit more hungry tonight than we did against Indy.

We probably won't. It's a back to back and the Mavs have been here since yesterday already. I think we'll play up to our competition and then hopefully beat them in the 4th when they really start trying. That strategy has worked lately and these games are so hard to get up for.. especially when the first seed is all but locked up now.

[KeonClark]

I find the Spurs really fascinating this year. Could be the first year in 2 decades where they don't make the playoffs. Or they could squeeze in and have Kwahi on their roster ready to face either the Rockets or Warriors in round one. Kwahi practically shut down Harden last year.. why not again?

This is the first time in like forever when I feel like there's zero easy series in the NBA. I honestly feel like warriors won't sweep anyone. Could be multiple upsets. Will be fun.