Everything Playoffs

[golden]

So tonight we again get to see a patchwork lineup with the Raps holding out Serge and Kyle... and who knows maybe even Leonard. JV is projected to be out till late Jan / Early Feb.

Thing is despite being short 2 or 3 starters at any given time in the last few weeks they are still winning. This helps the guys further down the depth chart to get real minutes in close games as opposed to garbage time run. They are getting better which is the segue to what do you think we see when the playoffs start....

This cheap seat believes that Nurse has seen what he needs to see from all his players now that the season is right there at the Christmas break. I think they go 9 deep in the playoffs... and those 9 are:

Bigs are going to be Serge , JV and Pascal.
Wings are going to be Kawhi, Green, Delon and OG
Ball Handlers are going to be Kyle and FVV

CJ is going to be situational if he gets in.
Norm is going to have to show a lot between now and April to dislodge one of Delon or OG.

This 9 has shown they can play inside or stretch it a bit at the 5 with JV and Serge. They as a unit are putting up close to 30 and 18 a night between them. Pascal is giving them a roadrunner on the break and some sustainable inside scoring going to the basket. Pascal also gives you very defense.

Leonard is going to be even better than we have seen in the playoffs. He really does it all.. Inside scoring on drives, 3 balls at a high rate, steals for run outs and he can rebound. This is the star that Raps have never had.

The rest of the wings and ball handlers have been very good as well. The "so what can we do better" line item is....as a group they have to shoot better than they have so far. Green and Lowry have been OK to good from the arc on catch and shoot and in transition. However my coach from the stands view is that while Fred has had a game or two and OG has made a couple now and again and Delon has made a couple of big shots .......the Raps wings need to give more 3 point cowbell as a group... They get that.... and its hard to see who is going to be able to win four before they do.

We're missing one more scoring guard, ideally a combo guard who create off the dribble & shoot 3s.... like an Eric Gordon type.

[Demographic Shift]

We're missing one more scoring guard, ideally a combo guard who create off the dribble & shoot 3s.... like an Eric Gordon type.

That would be nice.very nice to get Gordon.... but I think he is ungettable given how much he means to Houston. ....

Gettable players who fit that profile that come to mind...... and I am spitballing

Bellenelli if the Spurs fade... Maybe Wayne Ellington if the Heat give up now that Dragic is on the shelf for a couple months.....maybe Orlando parts with Fournier for the right deal.....

[JawsGT]

we got Leonard, Lowry, Fred and JV as shot creators. Delon can handle some of that responsibility as well, in small doses. But thats 4 reliable ball handlers and a solid shot creator out of the post. I'm satisfied with that group for that purpose, but as a team, they definitely need to pick up the 3pt percentage.

[Puffer]

we got Leonard, Lowry, Fred and JV as shot creators. Delon can handle some of that responsibility as well, in small doses. But thats 4 reliable ball handlers and a solid shot creator out of the post. I'm satisfied with that group for that purpose, but as a team, they definitely need to pick up the 3pt percentage.

After the Cavaliers game, both OG and Norm are back in the mix and what a relief THAT is.

Once again, incredible depth.

[Demographic Shift]

Boston lost in Denver last night. A lot of teams are going to lose in Denver this season so its not that noteworthy. What is of interest is that its now 10 games in and one Gordon Hayward doesn't look like the guy who made Utah relevant for a few years. He is playing in more games than Leonard is but he is not near the productivity level that Leonard has shown when he is playing.

Already he is getting the third most minutes on the wing behind both Tatum and Brown. I wonder if Trader Danny is having slight pangs of buyers remorse. Irving showed some emotion for the first time this year after Murray lit him up for 48 and tried to get the equivalent of an empty netter for the hat trick taking a shot to crack 50 with a second or so to go. Should have shown that kinda moxie and spunk during the game Kyrie.

Its still early... and if anyone can right the ship its the coaching deity that goes by only one name.. it seems Brads got some work in front of him.

Anyone else think the LebronCo. isn't going to make the playoffs as currently constructed. Firing Walton won't help. They should probably tell the new guy that the horse he is going to have to ride is blind in one eye and lame. Houston wants Butler. The Lakers need him if they are going to make the post season.

Houston with the return of Harden is now on a roll. Beating the Pacers in Indy is going to be pretty tough this year. Houston managed that.

The Bucks look pretty effin good. We shall see how good as they embark on a 4 game western roadie. Unlike the Raps who drew Sun, Lakers and Kings in their trip.. The Deer get Portland, GSW, the Clippers and wind it up on the second game of a back to back in Denver at altitude. 2 and 2 would be outstanding ... 1 and 3 is likely and oh-fer is not out of the question.
If the Deer come back 3 and 1 then theres another big dog in the East for Les Raptors to watch closely.

A call for a spare spoon or fork ... and some ketchup... lots of ketchup. I will be dining on crow.

At 19-13 it looks like Lebron will again make the playoffs. I never learn I guess. This cast he has in LA is on a par with or weaker than the crew in Cleveland last year and its a tougher conference .... and yet there they are. Guys a cyborg.

Make that as much ketchup as you can spare as its a lot of crow.

[MixxAOR]

Yeah never bet against Lebron

[G__Deane]

This was in the last game thread discussion regarding the importance of the number 1 seed but belongs here:

It's not just playoff seating but the fact that any of Boston, 76ers, Bucks or even the Pacers can win any series in the East. As long as we're healthy, we have as good a chance or better than any of them but it wouldn't exactly be a shock if one of them represented the East in the end. The Pacers would be a surprise for sure but they could realistically take any first round series imo.

Yes, we want first in the East and it's important but not the end if they fall short. Fans act as if as long as we're healthy and have home court, we're in the finals. It's just not true and there's also future potential trades in play (particularly for the Celtics) that aren't going to be done in Toronto.

Playoffs are still a crapshoot ....

[Demographic Shift]

This was in the last game thread discussion regarding the importance of the number 1 seed but belongs here:

It's not just playoff seating but the fact that any of Boston, 76ers, Bucks or even the Pacers can win any series in the East. As long as we're healthy, we have as good a chance or better than any of them but it wouldn't exactly be a shock if one of them represented the East in the end. The Pacers would be a surprise for sure but they could realistically take any first round series imo.

Yes, we want first in the East and it's important but not the end if they fall short. Fans act as if as long as we're healthy and have home court, we're in the finals. It's just not true and there's also future potential trades in play (particularly for the Celtics) that aren't going to be done in Toronto.

Playoffs are still a crapshoot ....

Its true... anything can happen in the playoffs.... injury's .. cold streaks...officiating... all play a part in who is the last team standing....

Of the 5 who are in the mix.. i'd rate em like this...

Man Has Baby ! - Philly

Woulda - Coulda - Shoulda - Chowderheads

They are who we thought they were - Raptors - Bucks

The Charge of the Light Brigade - Valiant but doomed - Indy

[G__Deane]

Its true... anything can happen in the playoffs.... injury's .. cold streaks...officiating... all play a part in who is the last team standing....

Of the 5 who are in the mix.. i'd rate em like this...

Man Has Baby ! - Philly

Woulda - Coulda - Shoulda - Chowderheads

They are who we thought they were - Raptors - Bucks

The Charge of the Light Brigade - Valiant but doomed - Indy

One way to look at it is which team has the best chance all things being equal (health) and playing UP TO POTENTIAL. In that regard, it's easy to see the 76ers and Celtics being potentially above the Raps. But that's why they play the games and it's the Raps and Bucks as current frontrunners.

[Ebonhawke]

12/23 Update

With the bit of hand-wringing and hair-pulling over last night's loss to the 76ers - a bit of perspective.

The Raptors have 11 games remaining against the 'next 4' teams in the East, and the top 5 in the West (since the Lakers/Clippers are tied in the standings). Those games are 2xMilwaukee, 2xIndiana, 2xBoston, 1xPhiladelphia, 0xGolden State, 0xDenver, 2xOKC, 1xLakers, 1xClippers.

Milwaukee has 12 games against the 'next 4' teams in the East, and the top5 in the West. Those games are 2xToronto, 2xIndiana, 1xBoston, 2xPhiladelphia, 0xGolden State, 0xDenver, 2xOKC, 2xLakers, 1xClippers

Boston has 17 games. Those games are 2xToronto, 1xMilwaukee, 3xIndiana, 3xPhiladelphia, 2xGolden State, 1xDenver, 1xOKC, 2xLakers, 2xClippers

Philadelphia has 17 games. Those games are 1xToronto, 2xMilwaukee, 3xBoston, 2xIndiana, 2xGolden State, 2xDenver, 2xOKC, 2xLakers, 1xClippers. Included in those games is a run at the end of January of Minnesota/Indiana/OKC/Houston/Spurs/Denver/Lakers/Warriors/Kings/Raptors/Denver/Lakers/Boston leading up to the All-Star Break. Oof.

Indiana has 18 games. Those games are 2xToronto, 2xMilwaukee, 3xBoston, 2xPhiladelphia, 2xGolden State, 2xDenver, 2xOKC, 1xLakers, 2xClippers.

[Puffer]

12/23 Update

With the bit of hand-wringing and hair-pulling over last night's loss to the 76ers - a bit of perspective.

The Raptors have 11 games remaining against the 'next 4' teams in the East, and the top 5 in the West (since the Lakers/Clippers are tied in the standings). Those games are 2xMilwaukee, 2xIndiana, 2xBoston, 1xPhiladelphia, 0xGolden State, 0xDenver, 2xOKC, 1xLakers, 1xClippers.

Milwaukee has 12 games against the 'next 4' teams in the East, and the top5 in the West. Those games are 2xToronto, 2xIndiana, 1xBoston, 2xPhiladelphia, 0xGolden State, 0xDenver, 2xOKC, 2xLakers, 1xClippers

Boston has 17 games. Those games are 2xToronto, 1xMilwaukee, 3xIndiana, 3xPhiladelphia, 2xGolden State, 1xDenver, 1xOKC, 2xLakers, 2xClippers

Philadelphia has 17 games. Those games are 1xToronto, 2xMilwaukee, 3xBoston, 2xIndiana, 2xGolden State, 2xDenver, 2xOKC, 2xLakers, 1xClippers. Included in those games is a run at the end of January of Minnesota/Indiana/OKC/Houston/Spurs/Denver/Lakers/Warriors/Kings/Raptors/Denver/Lakers/Boston leading up to the All-Star Break. Oof.

Indiana has 18 games. Those games are 2xToronto, 2xMilwaukee, 3xBoston, 2xPhiladelphia, 2xGolden State, 2xDenver, 2xOKC, 1xLakers, 2xClippers.

What a lovely dose of perspective Ebony. If Toronto takes care of the Bucks on their next two games, they can largely control their own fate. Indiana, Boston and Philly have to play Golden State twice.

Go Raps

[Demographic Shift]

So here we are closing in on the half way point....teams have played anywhere between 35 and 38 games..

And..

Please let explain to me why New Orleans still is coming up a buck short and a day late. They sit at 15 and 20..in 14th..4 games back of 8th with 6 teams to leapfrog over to get to 8th.

They have Top 5 ..MVP candidate in Anthony Davis. They have a bona fide big time NBA PG in Jrue Holiday. Julius Randle is a very good 2nd big upfront and Etwan Moore not only torches the Raps he torch’s everyone else as well as a consistent 3 point shooter. Mirotic is streaky but he too has ability to hit from the arc. Alvin Gentry is a solid coach but not in NBA genius category.

Yet they suck lke shop vacs.

Why?

[G__Deane]

So here we are closing in on the half way point....teams have played anywhere between 35 and 38 games..

And..

Please let explain to me why New Orleans still is coming up a buck short and a day late. They sit at 15 and 20..in 14th..4 games back of 8th with 6 teams to leapfrog over to get to 8th.

They have Top 5 ..MVP candidate in Anthony Davis. They have a bona fide big time NBA PG in Jrue Holiday. Julius Randle is a very good 2nd big upfront and Etwan Moore not only torches the Raps he torch’s everyone else as well as a consistent 3 point shooter. Mirotic is streaky but he too has ability to hit from the arc. Alvin Gentry is a solid coach but not in NBA genius category.

Yet they suck lke shop vacs.

Why?

Davis wants to play in Toronto and hopes we don't sign Giannis first .... why can't we have 2 superstars in Toronto? Why are we so hard up against the cap? .....

[DanH]

Davis wants to play in Toronto and hopes we don't sign Giannis first .... why can't we have 2 superstars in Toronto? Why are we so hard up against the cap? .....

We are currently lined up to have room to re-sign Kawhi and still have a max slot to offer Davis when he's a free agent in 2020. So if he wants to play here there won't be an issue.

[Demographic Shift]

We are currently lined up to have room to re-sign Kawhi and still have a max slot to offer Davis when he's a free agent in 2020. So if he wants to play here there won't be an issue.

Pretty much everyone falls off the books that year...
Kyle@30...Serge@22....JV@15.....Miles@8 and Freddy@9

So Let’s say Kawhi signs....and the raps chase both of Giannis and Davis hard...and for arguments sake they land one..
Who of The guys falling off besides FVV who do you want or need back ?