Game #24: Toronto Raptors 106 (20-4) - Cleveland Cavaliers 95 (4-18)

[G__Deane]

Still wondering what the craziness will be like on here when (if) the Raps go a very respectable 12 and 8 in the next 20 games against better competition. RR goes off the deep end in a WIN never mind 8 losses

[3inthekeon]

With the modern NBA, if your team hits 50% of their threes, any team can win. Teams shoot so many 3s now that if they go on fire for one night - anything can happen.

I did a search on BBRef. Teams are 33-8 this season when shooting 50% from 3. We've only done it once, in Memphis. GSW with 5, Indy and Clips with 4 each have the most and they were all wins.

The win against the Bucks was the second time the Knicks have done it, they also beat the Celtics. Cavs have done it 3 times, all wins.

On the other hand, the TWolves have done it 3 times, but they lost all 3. The Magic twice and they lost both. Heat and Bulls also lost the only game they shot 50% from 3. SAS were the other team that lost, but they've also won 2 such games.

[G__Deane]

I did a search on BBRef. Teams are 33-8 this season when shooting 50% from 3. We've only done it once, in Memphis. GSW with 5, Indy and Clips with 4 each have the most and they were all wins.

The win against the Bucks was the second time the Knicks have done it, they also beat the Celtics. Cavs have done it 3 times, all wins.

On the other hand, the TWolves have done it 3 times, but they lost all 3. The Magic twice and they lost both. Heat and Bulls also lost the only game they shot 50% from 3. SAS were the other team that lost, but they've also won 2 such games.

My head hurts ....

[G__Deane]

"Lowry missed his first game this season with an unspecified back injury. Raptors coach Nick Nurse didn’t provide any details about Lowry’s back other than to say it flared up earlier in the day."

It sounds like more than general soreness or a maintenance day

[Jclaw]

I did a search on BBRef. Teams are 33-8 this season when shooting 50% from 3. We've only done it once, in Memphis. GSW with 5, Indy and Clips with 4 each have the most and they were all wins.

The win against the Bucks was the second time the Knicks have done it, they also beat the Celtics. Cavs have done it 3 times, all wins.

On the other hand, the TWolves have done it 3 times, but they lost all 3. The Magic twice and they lost both. Heat and Bulls also lost the only game they shot 50% from 3. SAS were the other team that lost, but they've also won 2 such games.

In truth, that's what's changed the game. If you take a more variable shot, where one of the variables can have a greater outcome, you're going to get less consistent results. Hopefully not over a playoff series but it definitely could happen. Maybe Beal is on to something

[inthepaint]

I did a search on BBRef. Teams are 33-8 this season when shooting 50% from 3. We've only done it once, in Memphis. GSW with 5, Indy and Clips with 4 each have the most and they were all wins.

The win against the Bucks was the second time the Knicks have done it, they also beat the Celtics. Cavs have done it 3 times, all wins.

On the other hand, the TWolves have done it 3 times, but they lost all 3. The Magic twice and they lost both. Heat and Bulls also lost the only game they shot 50% from 3. SAS were the other team that lost, but they've also won 2 such games.

Translation: It helps a lot getting a high 3P%, but you also need to have good defence (which helped us a lot this season), with low turnovers and good rebounding to give you extra possessions (both of which have been kinda of sketchy for us this season).

All in all the team is doing well though. With over a quarter of the season in, there's no team that can claim they have more going for them than the Raps (except Golden State, but even them have been struggling quite a bit with injuries and locker room quarrels, which is reflecting on their record)

No team looks perfect this year, and that's a good thing. This is probably the most parity there's been in the league in 4 or 5 years.

[slaw]

Still wondering what the craziness will be like on here when (if) the Raps go a very respectable 12 and 8 in the next 20 games against better competition. RR goes off the deep end in a WIN never mind 8 losses

This team isn't going 12-8. This isn't a good team. It's a great team.

[slaw]

"Lowry missed his first game this season with an unspecified back injury. Raptors coach Nick Nurse didn’t provide any details about Lowry’s back other than to say it flared up earlier in the day."

It sounds like more than general soreness or a maintenance day

Sounds more like Raps need an excuse not to play him.

[G__Deane]

Sounds more like Raps need an excuse not to play him.

Hope so. I don't like the term "flared up"