Game #15 Toronto Raptors 104 (12-3) - Detroit Pistons 106 (7-6)

[LJ2]

Lol I thought I stumbled into the "Fire Casey" thread. God damn.

I'm thoroughly impressed at how hard some posters still go at him

It may have been the most successful stretch in franchise history, but for some it was more traumatizing than any of us knew.

[LJ2]

Yeup, he was a top candidate alongside Stackhouse and Bud.

Probably went:

- Bud
- Nurse
- Stack

He fit the "Brad Stevens" mold that seems to be the most appealing to analysts, media, fans, etc. nowadays. Some innovation on the offensive end.

That makes sense since everyone's favourite Spurs assistants couldn't land any gigs.

[ReubenJRD]

That makes sense since everyone's favourite Spurs assistants couldn't land any gigs.

Borrego got a landing spot.

Hindsight is 20/20; not hiring Messina looked like the right move. Messina was reported to be pretty close to sealing the deal and landing the gig. Stack was said to have a lack of experience that hindered him from getting the head coaching gig... anywhere.

While Nurse has no head coaching experience in the NBA, he has a plethora of experience dating back at least three decades if I'm not mistaken. At the time he was appointed head coach at Grand View University, he was the youngest head coach at the time at 23 years of age. He's currently 51. Insane.

... Nurse was also known for his ability to deal with an ever-changing roster in the D-League (now G-League). Plug in random guys and have success despite a lack of cohesion.

[bertarapsfan]

Borrego got a landing spot.

Hindsight is 20/20; not hiring Messina looked like the right move. Messina was reported to be pretty close to sealing the deal and landing the gig. Stack was said to have a lack of experience that hindered him from getting the head coaching gig... anywhere.

While Nurse has no head coaching experience in the NBA, he has a plethora of experience dating back at least three decades if I'm not mistaken. At the time he was appointed head coach at Grand View University, he was the youngest head coach at the time at 23 years of age. He's currently 51. Insane.

... Nurse was also known for his ability to deal with an ever-changing roster in the D-League (now G-League). Plug in random guys and have success despite a lack of cohesion.

i was high on messina but glad he didnt end up with the job. Who knows how kawhi feels about him. woulda been akward for KL2 to show up only to see a guy he might have burned bridges with and hated from whatever went down in SA.

[Nilanka]

I'm thoroughly impressed at how hard some posters still go at him

It may have been the most successful stretch in franchise history, but for some it was more traumatizing than any of us knew.

For me, it just felt like the most successful stretch in franchise history....that SHOULD'VE been more successful. Despite all the good Casey did, it always felt like he came up short.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

Can't believe we're still having this silly discussion of Ibaka playing the 4 next to JV.

He's not a fucking 4 in the modern NBA. He's a 5. He's too slow to play the 4. Plus if you start playing Ibaka at the 4 that's less minutes for Pascal and OG.

JV's minutes are fine where they are. Like I said last year, now that he's with the bench his usage is way up to the highest of his career at 26%. He's basically functioning as a Lou Williams type except at the center position. In games where his defensive liabilities are less likely to be exposed and/or Serge isn't playing well he can get more PT.

This obsession with starting him and playing him 30mpg doesn't make sense. He's dominating in the role he's in right now and Ibaka is arguably having the best season of his career.

[ReubenJRD]

i was high on messina but glad he didnt end up with the job. Who knows how kawhi feels about him. woulda been akward for KL2 to show up only to see a guy he might have burned bridges with and hated from whatever went down in SA.

Yeah, pretty much my line of thinking.

I think any remnants of San Antonio aside from Green (who has been both visible and vocally supportive of Kawhi since the quad tension) and Castleberry (best friend), would've soured any potential advantages to keeping him in Toronto.

An underrated thing during the trade in not getting Gasol or Mills, is the fact those two were apparently just as vocal with Parker/Ginobili in questioning Kawhi's status. Had they been the throw-ins, Kawhi probably wouldn't enjoy a season in Toronto with the looming opinion of a veteran around him.

[golden]

For me, it just felt like the most successful stretch in franchise history....that SHOULD'VE been more successful. Despite all the good Casey did, it always felt like he came up short.

It's because of the way we exited the playoffs. 3 out of 4 were humiliating sweeps. Would have been 4 for 4 except the story is now coming out that the Cavs partied hard in Toronto that weekend where Biz went nuts and we stole 2. If not for those sweeps, Casey & DeMar would still be here and we'd all be relatively happy about it.

[Jclaw]

Do you think Zaza is going to try to injure Kawhi

An underrated narrative of this game. Have they faced each other since?

[bertarapsfan]

An underrated narrative of this game. Have they faced each other since?

i dont think so. he only played 9 games last year so unless on of them was vs G.S then no. I say we send Moose out there to start a fight with ZAZA. Kawhi will sign for under the max at half time

[ReubenJRD]

Raptors PR tells us Serge Ibaka OUT tonight vs. Pistons. Right knee soreness

[MixxAOR]

Raptors PR tells us Serge Ibaka OUT tonight vs. Pistons. Right knee soreness

Sell high

[rocwell]

Raptors PR tells us Serge Ibaka OUT tonight vs. Pistons. Right knee soreness

Age-related disease. Understandable.

[Jclaw]

Raptors PR tells us Serge Ibaka OUT tonight vs. Pistons. Right knee soreness

Lowry/Green/Kawhi/OG/Siakim may make an appearance

[bertarapsfan]

Raptors PR tells us Serge Ibaka OUT tonight vs. Pistons. Right knee soreness

time to unleash the moose. good matchups for big moose tonight. i expect a decent game from him as long as he can still run up and down the court without much PT this season.