Game #64: Toronto Raptors 121 - Detroit Pistons 119

[MixxAOR]

now that's a pretty chart

[Shaolin Fantastic]

This is the best, Raptors are cruising and holding off the 1 seed while the Celts are also balling out. Meanwhile in the west Golden State looks like they will have to win out to make up the half game with the Rockets. And then you have the Pelicans and Blazers fighting it out for third which huge win streaks of their own. What a time to be a fan of the NBA

Problem is the Warriors are on cruise control.

They are going to rofl-stomp everyone in the playoffs.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

It's kind of funny how Minnesota basically plays exactly how we have the past few years.

[3inthekeon]

Yeah, the comparison people have drawn with our offence is Houston, but that chart makes it look a lot more like the GSW, and I'm sure golden's right, it's probably bench driven to a great extent.

And the same site has it's Week 20 in review headlined by the Raptors. Acknowledging our offensive changes and great bench, the biggest area of improvement is:

The Raptors have been a lot better on the defensive end. As you can see in the bar chart below, their improvement has almost entirely come from better shot defense (i.e. they’re allowing a much lower effective field-goal percentage.) They’re forcing slightly more turnovers, but rebounding less often. And they’re actually allowing more free throws. When you break it down further, that shot defense improvement is almost entirely coming from a decrease in opponent 3-point attempts. That’s a good sign because that’s a more stable stat. So yes, Toronto has improved this season not just from an awesome bench, but from realizing the power of the 3-point shot and learning to control attempts from both sides of the court. It remains to be seen how this translates to the playoffs — this is where people are most skeptical of them — but they’ve balanced their finely-tuned, deep offense with some truly great defense, and that’s traditionally been the make of a contender.

https://fansided.com/2018/03/07/nylo...nba-questions/

[S.R.]

#TrustTheSystem

[KeonClark]

#TrustTheSystem

Remember that nerd Sam hinkie? I trust Ujiris process way way more

[KHD]

Nylon Calculus has an article on offensive style changes and talks about the Raptors:
https://fansided.com/2018/03/07/nylo...017-18-season/



Most interesting to me is the chart highlighting the differences between offenses this year and last year:






Here is a chart comparing the Raptors style with the other top offenses this year:

lol @ Houston

[007]

lol @ Houston

My takeaway from that graph is that Minnesota is a lot like us from the last few years. Not sure whether that's a good sign for them in the playoffs, especially with Butler hurt

[rocwell]

lol @ Houston

[The Claw Reborn]

Yeah, the comparison people have drawn with our offence is Houston, but that chart makes it look a lot more like the GSW, and I'm sure golden's right, it's probably bench driven to a great extent.

And the same site has it's Week 20 in review headlined by the Raptors. Acknowledging our offensive changes and great bench, the biggest area of improvement is:



https://fansided.com/2018/03/07/nylo...nba-questions/

I totally agree with this assessment, they are more fluid on defense this year than years past. Overhelping used to be their calling card. Now players are much quicker on switches. We seldom see their tendencies of collapsing in the middle/ getting sucked in that little area closed to the basket thus they are better in defending the 3 point shooters as they scatter around. However as the article had pointed out, the rebounding suffers. It has to be a balance but very difficult to execute in a fast pace environment.

During the 2015-16 season, both Lowry and Derozan were so reliant on Bizmack that both were exposed last year in the playoffs when they don’t have that last anchor to mask their major flaw. Ibaka can be the guy but he is way too inconsistent, JV is JV. So why I think the first unit is giving up too many points in the first quarter.

Why IMHO, the bench are more balance. They have guards in FVV and Wright who are no slouch on defense and Yak and Siakam who can both anchor the middle. Miles provides an unlimited offense at the other end.

Two different teams within one. Crazy as that sounds.

[Mack North]

Another nationally televised game in the US. Game is on ESPN tonight.

Unfortunately, tomorrow's headline will likely read "lowest rated nationally televised game of the season - Toronto vs Detroit"

They'll have to pay attention in June though.

[rocwell]

"It's cool to be with the fans, the fans have been a big part of what we're trying to do in Toronto." - Masai pic.twitter.com/evH0mmkDtG

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 7, 2018

[The Claw Reborn]

Unfortunately, tomorrow's headline will likely read "lowest rated nationally televised game of the season - Toronto vs Detroit"

They'll have to pay attention in June though.

Bingo!

And yes Americans would have no choice but to watch the other team.

Sad to say that majority of Canadians outside of the GTA would also prefer to tune in to watch playoff Hockey between two American based teams. Plus the headlines of most Canadian papers, radio and local tv are all about pucks.

RR would still thrive though.

[rocwell]

When you're on National TV (@espn) you gotta bring the reinforcements.

Masai Ujiri, 5 buses of Raps fans, Detroit we're comin'! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/3rT27OcGVl

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 7, 2018

[007]

Excited for the "Let's go Raptors" chants