LJ2 wrote:
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Yes, it's just like the 2018-19 team to win between 6 and 8 straight games and then drop one. -
Isn't it just like the Raptors to get to the top and then have a let down like this?Leave a comment:
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November 26 - December 2:
ESPN (1) [-]:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...uper-deep-west
Wednesday's riveting overtime win over the Warriors headlined another undefeated week for Toronto, which owns the league's longest winning streak at eight games. Kyle Lowry missed Saturday's win at Cleveland with a back injury, with Fred VanVleet, his replacement in the starting lineup, and Delon Wright demonstrating the Raptors' strong depth. The NBA's second-best offense is an interesting amalgamation of tactics. The Raps are the league's fourth-most isolation-heavy team (Leonard ranks sixth in isolations per 100 possessions), yet eighth in percentage of field goal attempts from behind the 3-point line. -- Arnovitz
NBA.com (1) [+2]:
http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/201...=powerrankings
The Raptors have won eight straight games, with their victory in Memphis on Tuesday (in which they came back from 17 points down in the third quarter) qualifying as their best road win of the season. They did barely hold on at home against a Warriors team that was without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But how well their starting frontline held up, given the inexperience of one guy and the 2018 playoff performance of the other, was certainly encouraging. Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka combined for 46 points on 16-for-23 shooting on Thursday and the Raptors outscored the champs by 14 points in 35 minutes with the pair on the floor together. They are two of seven players who have shot 75 percent or better on at least 75 shots in the restricted area, and they've combined to shoot 50 percent elsewhere in the paint (where the league average is less than 40 percent). Their tough stretch of schedule continues with three great matchups at Scotiabank Arena this week.
CBS Sports (1) [+1]:
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings/
Is 24-year-old Pascal Siakam an actual star in the making? Two and a half years ago he was picked 27th out of New Mexico State before spending a solid chunk of his rookie season in the developmental league. Now Siakam is starting for the NBA's top team, averaging 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds and ranking third in the NBA in true shooting percentage. He scored a career-high 26 points in the Raptors playoff-atmosphere win last week over the Warriors. Kyle Lowry is this team's heart and soul, and Kawhi Leonard is this team's best player, but Siakam is the guy whose future I'm most excited about.
SI (1) [-]:
https://www.si.com/nba/2018/12/03/nb...-stephen-curry
“Nick Nurse know what he doing,” was a text message I received from a friend as he watched a replay of Raptors vs. Heat at 3:45 a.m. last week. Three games later, and it should be clear to everyone that Nick Nurse has this team clicking in a way that could make this a championship or bust year.
Of course, it’s a bit easier to look like you know what you’re doing as a coach when you have Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry putting together amazing seasons. And when you have a guy like Danny Green to light it up from deep and provide serious help on the defensive end. There’s also Pascal Siakam putting together a campaign worthy of earning him the Most Improved Player award. Serge Ibaka is still holding things down in the paint as the rim protector and versatile center against small-ball lineups. Add in Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Delon Wright and C.J. Miles and it’s even more understandable why Nurse feels so good about his first 24 games on the job. Life couldn’t be much better for his club right now.Leave a comment:
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Nice to see Nurse and Siakam getting heavy props throughout the summaries.Leave a comment:
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ESPN
1. Toronto Raptors
Record: 20-4
PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK
1 3-0 DEN, PHI, @BKN, MIL
Wednesday's riveting overtime win over the Warriors headlined another undefeated week for Toronto, which owns the league's longest winning streak at eight games. Kyle Lowry missed Saturday's win at Cleveland with a back injury, with Fred VanVleet, his replacement in the starting lineup, and Delon Wright demonstrating the Raptors' strong depth. The NBA's second-best offense is an interesting amalgamation of tactics. The Raps are the league's fourth-most isolation-heavy team (Leonard ranks sixth in isolations per 100 possessions), yet eighth in percentage of field goal attempts from behind the 3-point line. -- ArnovitzLeave a comment:
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If we aren't at the top of everyone's rankings today, then they're just trying to mess with us.Leave a comment:
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We have had a very easy schedule. I'm excited to see what we do in the next 12 games. I want us to finally be able to consistently beat the good-elite teams in the leagueLeave a comment:
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Golden... the raps are going to be picking pieces of various NBA teams ass off their shoes over the next stretch. You have to look hard for holes in this lineup.golden wrote: View Post
Remember when the discussions revolved around "if we could only get so and so and if so and so improved a shit ton we'd be a threat". This lineup is way past that.
When the big complaint is not holding 20 point leads all game long and only winning by 14...... you have the makings of a run to June.Leave a comment:
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One tough out, is still.... out. Next 11-12 games may tell us a little something. Are we satisfied just being plucky underdogs, or do we truly feel like we are championship material? Who steps up against better competition? Who shrinks? Has Nurse learned anything to help late game execution? Or maybe we learn nothing about this team until the playoffs actually start. December has usually been a good month for the Raps.Demographic Shift wrote: View PostLeave a comment:
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