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2018/19 Raptors Power Rankings Thread

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  • #31
    golden wrote: View Post
    ESPN is right, though. There was an element of bad luck in all our losses. Pistons (Stanley Johnson) and Pelicans (Moore) were making crazy shots. Kawhi dribbling off his foot. Danny Green leaving before crunch time in 2 games. Rash of injuries.

    One thing that is clear reading the post-game quotes is that opposing teams are extremely focused when playing us and are calling games against the Raps "statement games". We are officially the hunted.
    Also, none of the top 4-5 teams are really on a tear right now. Everybody's been dropping games here and there (or worse).
    "We're playing in a building." -- Kawhi Leonard

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    • #32
      S.R. wrote: View Post
      Also, none of the top 4-5 teams are really on a tear right now. Everybody's been dropping games here and there (or worse).
      Yep. We're the best of the elite teams that sucked last week.... if that makes sense?

      Comment


      • #33
        2018/19 Raptors Power Rankings Thread

        The Raptors having third worst efficient defense and being second in opponent shot quality is interesting.

        Kyrie is a major reason for that. The amount of contested layups and mid range shots this guy hit in the game was ridiculous. Stanley Johnson hit a few contested 3s. Moore and Holiday made everything.

        Seems like overall Raptors defense has been good compared to what some people on these forums said.

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        • #34
          A.I wrote: View Post
          The Raptors having third worst efficient defense and being second in opponent shot quality is interesting.

          Kyrie is a major reason for that. The amount of contested layups and mid range shots this guy hit in the game was ridiculous. Stanley Johnson hit a few contested 3s. Moore and Holiday made everything.

          Seems like overall Raptors defense has been good compared to what some people on these forums said.
          Saw more than one journalist/commentator call that Irving's best game as a Celtic. I don't think the Raptors' defence was a problem, Kyrie just had a great, great game. Sometimes a guy attacks 3 players for a layup, gets a pile of contact, puts a ton of English on the ball, and makes the and-1 while laying out horizontal and drifting away from the basket just before landing on a cameraman. It's the NBA.
          "We're playing in a building." -- Kawhi Leonard

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          • #35
            November 12-18:


            ESPN (1) [-]:
            http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...s-ahead-week-6

            The Raptors took out their frustrations from their three-game losing streak -- including an excruciating overtime loss at Boston on Friday -- on a hapless Chicago team on Saturday. The numbers during the skid are downright weird. Toronto sported the third-least efficient defense over the streak, yet ranked second defensively in opponent shot quality. Victims of bad luck? Whatever the case, it's a get-well tour for the Raps this week: road dates at Orlando and Atlanta, followed by home games versus Washington and Miami. -- Arnovitz


            NBA.com (4) [-3]:
            http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2018-19-week-6

            The Raptors' three-game losing streak, in which Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry combined to shoot 3-for-26 from 3-point range (and which ended in Chicago on Saturday) was longer than any losing streak that they had last season. They're banged up on the wings. Their bench unit -- Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles and OG Anunoby with a center -- has played just 32 total minutes, 11th man Norman Powell is out for an extended time with a shoulder injury and they rank 16th in *aggregate bench NetRtg (after ranking first last season). But they still have the best record in the league, with what has been the league's easiest schedule remaining easy for another week.


            CBS Sports (2) [-]:
            https://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings/

            For the first time all season, I gave serious thought to elevating a team above the Warriors in these power rankings, and if the Raptors hadn't lost three in a row -- to the New Orleans Pelicans, and then two close ones to the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics -- I might have. But the way that Kyle Lowry got handled by elite defenders in two of those games should be at least a bit concerning for the Raptors as they think about how this team will fare in playoff time. Lowry shot 1-of-9 for four points against the Pelicans then 3-of-12 for 14 points against the Celtics. Point guard play is so key for this team. And while Lowry has been mostly magnificent this season -- I recently wrote about how Lowry's season has resembled MVP-era Steve Nash -- Fred VanVleet has struggled. The Raptors were 10.5 points per 100 possessions better than opponents last season when VanVleet was on the floor; this season VanVleet has a net rating (- 0.6) that's one of the worst on the team.


            SI (2) [-1]:
            https://www.si.com/nba/2018/11/19/nb...ond-green-feud

            Beating the Bulls by 39 points doesn’t mean Toronto’s three-game losing streak to start the week doesn’t matter, it just means they already moved past it. Not too many teams can shoot 54.5% against the Raptors like the Pelicans did. Not as many teams will be as jazzed up to be in Toronto as the Pistons were. And there’s only one Kyrie Irving. That’s one hell of a perfect storm to mess up a week, but nothing to fret over when you’ve handled business like this team has for the bulk of its games.

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            • #36
              Clippers rocket to #1 spot on NBA.com. smh. The NBA so badly wants the big markets to be relevant. That said, the Clippers are pretty annoying, though. With the West being up for grabs after GSW, it's looking like a pretty good destination for Kawhi next year, especially if KD leaves. Why did they have to be good and not injured this year?

              Comment


              • #37
                golden wrote: View Post
                Clippers rocket to #1 spot on NBA.com. smh. The NBA so badly wants the big markets to be relevant. That said, the Clippers are pretty annoying, though. With the West being up for grabs after GSW, it's looking like a pretty good destination for Kawhi next year, especially if KD leaves. Why did they have to be good and not injured this year?
                Still really early and the West is wild.. but Clippers are looking good. As is Memphis. But teams like Utah and Houston are still struggling.

                If the Clippers make the playoffs and can get to round two.. they'll be a lock for Kawhi in my opinion.

                Comment


                • #38
                  planetmars wrote: View Post
                  Still really early and the West is wild.. but Clippers are looking good. As is Memphis. But teams like Utah and Houston are still struggling.

                  If the Clippers make the playoffs and can get to round two.. they'll be a lock for Kawhi in my opinion.
                  Yeah, it's annoying. Even if we make the Finals, all the Clippers have to do is be "respectable" and they have a great shot at prying Kawhi away from us. Massive cap-space with the wealthest owner in the NBA. They drafted well. And their coach is Doc and we have Nurse, so there's that too. Damn, Jerry West.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    November 19-25:


                    ESPN (1) [-]:
                    http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...s-ahead-week-7

                    The Raptors had four games in which they were heavy favorites on the schedule this week, and they picked up four wins, making them the only undefeated team in the association in that stretch. Toronto's 17-4 start is the franchise's best, and the Raptors are one of only two NBA teams holding opponents to an effective field goal percentage under 50 percent (Clippers). The return of C.J. Miles only adds to Toronto's incomparable depth. -- Arnovitz


                    NBA.com (3) [+1]:
                    http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/201...=powerrankings

                    The Raptors have played the league's easiest schedule to date and their current five-game winning streak has come against teams with a cumulative record of 33-65 (.337). Things are about to get tougher, because their visit to Memphis on Tuesday begins a stretch of 12 games where 10 of the opponents are no worse than the 11-8 Pacers. With OG Anunoby and C.J. Miles both returning from injuries over the weekend, their top 10 guys are healthy. But their bench unit - Anunoby, Miles, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright and a center - was a minus-13 in 20 minutes against the Wizards and Heat. Their two starting lineups (with Serge Ibaka or Jonas Valanciunas at the five) have been two of the league's four best lineups (among those that have played at least 100 minutes) and they've also been really good with VanVleet mixed in with starters.


                    CBS Sports (2) [-]:
                    https://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings/

                    And the current NBA leader in both net rating and offensive rating is ... Danny Green? Getting a complementary player like Green in the Kawhi Leonard trade was a coup for the Raptors. Green is doing what he does, shooting 44 percent from three and playing elite defense.


                    SI (1) [+1]:
                    https://www.si.com/nba/2018/11/26/nb...-tobias-harris

                    Getting to play four games against the Southeast division is a great way to boost your record. The Raptors’ five-game winning streak has come against lesser competition, but it was still necessary after a three-game slump. You can only play who is on the schedule, and beating the teams you’re expected to will not always happen. But getting those wins following a few tough losses is sometimes all you need to get your mojo going.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      NBA.com is way too high on the Clippers
                      "We're playing in a building." -- Kawhi Leonard

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        nice summary capture

                        Yes sir those ad hoc personal opinion rankings based on my thoughts rankings are just soooooooo precise eh ?

                        This years raps......as constructed.....regardless of power rankings are a very real contender this year.

                        They can score on anyone... they can defend at a high level when they need to.... they possess the all important bona fide NBA star player... and they go a legit 10 deep. This guys are one tough out.
                        There's no such thing as a 2nd round bust.
                        - TGO

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Demographic Shift wrote: View Post
                          nice summary capture

                          Yes sir those ad hoc personal opinion rankings based on my thoughts rankings are just soooooooo precise eh ?

                          This years raps......as constructed.....regardless of power rankings are a very real contender this year.

                          They can score on anyone... they can defend at a high level when they need to.... they possess the all important bona fide NBA star player... and they go a legit 10 deep. This guys are one tough out.
                          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.

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                          • #43
                            golden wrote: View Post
                            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.
                            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.

                            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.
                            There's no such thing as a 2nd round bust.
                            - TGO

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Demographic Shift wrote: View Post
                              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.
                              My favourite part of this is that the Raptors have the second best team ppg differential in the league. Fans of 28 other franchises must really be pissed. Double shots in the egg nog might help.
                              "We're playing in a building." -- Kawhi Leonard

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                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 league
                                I relish negativity and disappointment. It is not healthy. Somebody buy me a pony.

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