Don’t Sleep on the Raptors

[Hoopvortex]

The Raptors are 6-3, riding a five-game winning streak. They are currently fourth in the East. A lot can change in the long NBA season, but so far they’ve out-performed most of the prognosticators’ predictions.

How have they done it? Is it sustainable? Coming out of pre-season, I predicted that they’re a playoff team. I’m feeling VERY good about that prediction right now. They aren’t leading the league in defense yet (currently sixth), but I’m predicting that, too.

Their tempo is 29th in the league.The conventional wisdom coming into the season was that since Kawhi departed they had a bottom-quarter-of-the-NBA half-court offense - so a slow tempo should have been strategic suicide. And yet they’re 12th in offense - with Pascal Siakam still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and Scottie Barnes only at the beginning of his rookie season. How’s that happening?

They lead the league in offensive rebound %, and they’re seventh in TOV%. More of both of those stats slows down the tempo by lengthening possessions; but the Raps are also second in the league in TOV% on defense.

Sidebar: Gary Trent leads the league in per-game deflections, Fred is fifth, OG is 13th, and the precocious Scottie Barnes is 27th. No coincidence, those four get the most minutes. Turns out, Trent is an ace defender... who would’ve guessed? Not Portland fans, at any rate, and spotting his potential and getting him at the deadline last year is yet another coup for Masai Ujiri.

Intriguing: only four Raptors are getting starters’ minutes - but TEN of them are getting rotation minutes. Weird. Including Dalano Banton, and if you saw that coming I’ll give you lunch at your favorite Back Bay restaurant. He’s the 10th in a ten-man rotation, relegating Malachi Flynn to spot minutes.

The return of Pascal likely won’t upset the balance of the team defense (on the contrary), but it will add a versatile scorer. The team is deep and unselfish. This is sustainable.

[celticsclay]

The Raptors are 6-3, riding a five-game winning streak. They are currently fourth in the East. A lot can change in the long NBA season, but so far they’ve out-performed most of the prognosticators’ predictions.

How have they done it? Is it sustainable? Coming out of pre-season, I predicted that they’re a playoff team. I’m feeling VERY good about that prediction right now. They aren’t leading the league in defense yet (currently sixth), but I’m predicting that, too.

Their tempo is 29th in the league.The conventional wisdom coming into the season was that since Kawhi departed they had a bottom-quarter-of-the-NBA half-court offense - so a slow tempo should have been strategic suicide. And yet they’re 12th in offense - with Pascal Siakam still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and Scottie Barnes only at the beginning of his rookie season. How’s that happening?

They lead the league in offensive rebound %, and they’re seventh in TOV%. More of both of those stats slows down the tempo by lengthening possessions; but the Raps are also second in the league in TOV% on defense.

Sidebar: Gary Trent leads the league in per-game deflections, Fred is fifth, OG is 13th, and the precocious Scottie Barnes is 27th. No coincidence, those four get the most minutes. Turns out, Trent is an ace defender... who would’ve guessed? Not Portland fans, at any rate, and spotting his potential and getting him at the deadline last year is yet another coup for Masai Ujiri.

Intriguing: only four Raptors are getting starters’ minutes - but TEN of them are getting rotation minutes. Weird. Including Dalano Banton, and if you saw that coming I’ll give you lunch at your favorite Back Bay restaurant. He’s the 10th in a ten-man rotation, relegating Malachi Flynn to spot minutes.

The return of Pascal likely won’t upset the balance of the team defense (on the contrary), but it will add a versatile scorer. The team is deep and unselfish. This is sustainable.

I think they could make the playoffs, but making it is going to be a lot harder than years past.

Nets
Philly
Bucks
Hawks
Bulls
Knicks
Celtics
Raptors
Heat all probably think they should make it. That is already 9 teams.

But wizards and cavs and hornets are all playing surprisingly well. Some good teams are probably gonna be left out.

[Goldstar88]

You mean, “Don’t sleep on the Raptors, again.”

[Hoopvortex]

The Raptors are 6-3, riding a five-game winning streak. They are currently fourth in the East. A lot can change in the long NBA season, but so far they’ve out-performed most of the prognosticators’ predictions.

How have they done it? Is it sustainable? Coming out of pre-season, I predicted that they’re a playoff team. I’m feeling VERY good about that prediction right now. They aren’t leading the league in defense yet (currently sixth), but I’m predicting that, too.

Their tempo is 29th in the league.The conventional wisdom coming into the season was that since Kawhi departed they had a bottom-quarter-of-the-NBA half-court offense - so a slow tempo should have been strategic suicide. And yet they’re 12th in offense - with Pascal Siakam still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and Scottie Barnes only at the beginning of his rookie season. How’s that happening?

They lead the league in offensive rebound %, and they’re seventh in TOV%. More of both of those stats slows down the tempo by lengthening possessions; but the Raps are also second in the league in TOV% on defense.

Sidebar: Gary Trent leads the league in per-game deflections, Fred is fifth, OG is 13th, and the precocious Scottie Barnes is 27th. No coincidence, those four get the most minutes. Turns out, Trent is an ace defender... who would’ve guessed? Not Portland fans, at any rate, and spotting his potential and getting him at the deadline last year is yet another coup for Masai Ujiri.

Intriguing: only four Raptors are getting starters’ minutes - but TEN of them are getting rotation minutes. Weird. Including Dalano Banton, and if you saw that coming I’ll give you lunch at your favorite Back Bay restaurant. He’s the 10th in a ten-man rotation, relegating Malachi Flynn to spot minutes.

The return of Pascal likely won’t upset the balance of the team defense (on the contrary), but it will add a versatile scorer. The team is deep and unselfish. This is sustainable.

I think they could make the playoffs, but making it is going to be a lot harder than years past.

Nets
Philly
Bucks
Hawks
Bulls
Knicks
Celtics
Raptors
Heat all probably think they should make it. That is already 9 teams.

But wizards and cavs and hornets are all playing surprisingly well. Some good teams are probably gonna be left out.

Well-timed comment - Cleveland won in Toronto last night. They've also won road games against Denver, Clippers, and Charlotte.

[Hoopvortex]

You mean, “Don’t sleep on the Raptors, again.”

LOL...

We carry over assumptions from past seasons (I heard an announcer the other night repeating the old idea that the West is the superior conference, for example). And Toronto has not added any big names.

Pascal Siakam, who likely will be playing again in the next few weeks, had a rough season, with a torn labrum and Covid; but the pundits don't seem to have accounted for that, solemnly pronouncing him overrated.

OG Anunoby is one of the top wing defenders in the league; but he's also emerging as a workhorse scoring wing who shoots with range and gets to the rim against good defenders. He's also underappreciated by fans and commentators, since he made his mark first as a defender.

Add Scottie Barnes, whose game is unusual but NBA-ready, and you've got the makings of a 'Big 3'. Most people had penciled-in Jalen Suggs for them; and while he's looked terrific for Orlando, Barnes is more of a Raptors-type. AND he's a shot-creator off the dribble, a play-maker who's also an offensive rebounder.

[Jvalin]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

[Goldstar88]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

[nickagneta]

I am going to sleep on every other team but the Celtics until the Celtics actually play that other team. Just too much going on with my Celtics to worry about or give a crap about any other team in the league.

[Jvalin]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

I asked some Raps fans whether they'd consider a deal with the Celtics for Siakam. Here's what one of them had to say:

''I could see us (=the Raps) considering something based around Robert Williams, a first rounder and Nesmith. Williams is a great fit at center for us, though his injury record is terrifying. Maybe Smart goes to a 3rd team and we get something, since the Celtics need more money out''.

That said, most posters would consider it only if Brown/Tatum were part of the deal.

PG: don't care (ideally, a pass-first, low-usage, oversized PG)
SG: Brown
SF: Tatum
PF: Siakam
C: don't care, but I'd love us to keep Horford

Btw, Siakam is expected to make his season debut today against the Nets.

https://twitter.com/AaronBenRose/status/1457016403949760516?s=20

[Hoopvortex]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

If he's available, I'd be for it.

There were reports of friction between him and Nurse last season, but who knows what that means? Those things are usually blown out of proportion by journalists who find it easier to get eyeballs with gossip than with actual basketball.

[Hoopvortex]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

The Raps desperately need a long-term solution at Center. It seems that Achiuwa ain't the answer to their problem. I asked some Raps fans whether they'd consider a deal with the Celtics for Siakam. Here's what one of them had to say:

''I could see us (=the Raps) considering something based around Robert Williams, a first rounder and Nesmith. Williams is a great fit at center for us, though his injury record is terrifying. Maybe Smart goes to a 3rd team and we get something, since the Celtics need more money out''.

That said, most posters would consider it only if Brown/Tatum were part of the deal.

PG: don't care (ideally, a pass-first, low-usage, oversized PG)
SG: Brown
SF: Tatum
PF: Siakam
C: don't care, but I'd love us to keep Horford

Raptors fans are some of the smartest observers in the league.

Giving up Nesmith, Smart, and TL is a lot. Oh, and a first-rounder thrown in for good measure. I wouldn't do it. The point about more money out is well taken, though.

[Hoopvortex]

I am going to sleep on every other team but the Celtics until the Celtics actually play that other team. Just too much going on with my Celtics to worry about or give a crap about any other team in the league.

Pleasant dreams!

LOL.

[Jvalin]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

The Raps desperately need a long-term solution at Center. It seems that Achiuwa ain't the answer to their problem. I asked some Raps fans whether they'd consider a deal with the Celtics for Siakam. Here's what one of them had to say:

''I could see us (=the Raps) considering something based around Robert Williams, a first rounder and Nesmith. Williams is a great fit at center for us, though his injury record is terrifying. Maybe Smart goes to a 3rd team and we get something, since the Celtics need more money out''.

That said, most posters would consider it only if Brown/Tatum were part of the deal.

PG: don't care (ideally, a pass-first, low-usage, oversized PG)
SG: Brown
SF: Tatum
PF: Siakam
C: don't care, but I'd love us to keep Horford

Raptors fans are some of the smartest observers in the league.

Giving up Nesmith, Smart, and TL is a lot. Oh, and a first-rounder thrown in for good measure. I wouldn't do it. The point about more money out is well taken, though.

I'd do it in a nanosecond, but we'd have to shed more salary. For instance, we could throw in Juancho's expiring. Assuming the Raps don't like Smart, we'd have to find a 3rd team for him. Personally speaking, I believe FVV, Trent Jr. and Smart would form an intriguing 3-man backcourt rotation.

[Hoopvortex]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

To your first question, I'd call him an excellent complementary player who can fit on any team. He's versatile defensively, guarding up or down, and adds a lot to the team D with his length and quickness. On offense he's hard to match up with because of his combination of size and skills with the ball, gets to the rim off the dribble - especially in early offense - has a range of moves, takes good care of the ball, and can make a play.

To your second question... good question! Boston has plenty of assets; but it's hard to see Toronto trading Pascal unless there's a personality issue.

[Hoopvortex]

Hope they suck big time cause I want us to trade for Siakam.

Where exactly would Siakam fit into this lineup? Who are you trading away for him.

The Raps desperately need a long-term solution at Center. It seems that Achiuwa ain't the answer to their problem. I asked some Raps fans whether they'd consider a deal with the Celtics for Siakam. Here's what one of them had to say:

''I could see us (=the Raps) considering something based around Robert Williams, a first rounder and Nesmith. Williams is a great fit at center for us, though his injury record is terrifying. Maybe Smart goes to a 3rd team and we get something, since the Celtics need more money out''.

That said, most posters would consider it only if Brown/Tatum were part of the deal.

PG: don't care (ideally, a pass-first, low-usage, oversized PG)
SG: Brown
SF: Tatum
PF: Siakam
C: don't care, but I'd love us to keep Horford

Raptors fans are some of the smartest observers in the league.

Giving up Nesmith, Smart, and TL is a lot. Oh, and a first-rounder thrown in for good measure. I wouldn't do it. The point about more money out is well taken, though.

I'd do it in a nanosecond, but we'd have to shed more salary. For instance, we could throw in Juancho's expiring. Assuming the Raps don't like Smart, we'd have to find a 3rd team for him. Personally speaking, I believe FVV, Trent Jr. and Smart would form an intriguing 3-man backcourt rotation.

As I mentioned, Trent and FVV are currently 1st and 5th in the league per game in deflections; Smart was 12th last I checked. I wouldn't be surprised if Ujiri was intrigued by that idea as well.