Game #52: Toronto Raptors 112 - Minnesota Timberwolves 117

[Primer]

Oh trust me all know Scola is the weakest link in the starting lineup but isn't the lineup as a whole like +2.5 or something. So I mean they still aren't terrible. As long as the starters can keep the game close or a least have a slight lead and then our bench does it's thing I think we should be okay. Hey, I'm just trying to be positive here. Because if Scola in the starting lineup is really that bad and it's going to cause us wins then the little faith I had in this team come playoff time might have to just go out the window if he doesn't get traded. I know you said Patterson can just play most of the minutes but that's what happened tonight and we still lost so clearly that won't always work.

Trade Scola, JJ, and a pick (not Knicks) for an upgrade at PF.

[consmap]

He literally only matched up against Jokic.

Seriously, what the fuck have you been watching? Do you know what basketball is?

Probably works for BMO

[DanH]

Oh trust me all know Scola is the weakest link in the starting lineup but isn't the lineup as a whole like +2.5 or something. So I mean they still aren't terrible. As long as the starters can keep the game close or a least have a slight lead and then our bench does it's thing I think we should be okay. Hey, I'm just trying to be positive here. Because if Scola in the starting lineup is really that bad and it's going to cause us wins then the little faith I had in this team come playoff time might have to just go out the window if he doesn't get traded. I know you said Patterson can just play most of the minutes but that's what happened tonight and we still lost so clearly that won't always work.

See, this is all true in the regular season (give or take). But in the postseason when opposing starters will be playing 40 MPG? Ours will too. We'll have less and less chance to knock down opponents by crushing their bench.

It's not just Patterson playing more minutes, it's Patterson playing with the right players (and Scola playing with the right players too).

[DanH]

This now marks 9 straight games Scola has had a negative plus-minus.

[JWash]

I don't really think it comes as any surprise that Scola is the weak link on the team.

Honestly though I don't think he'll be on the court to close games when we're at full strength. Expect to see either

Lowry/CoJo/DD/Carroll/JV

or

Lowry/Ross/DD/Carroll/JV

Assuming we don't make a trade. But yeah that starting 5 is bad cause we've got a mediocre player who doesn't fit well (Scola) in it lol.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Scola is useless.

Perimeter defense was downright Matador-ish.

Hero ball will be the death of this team, for the third straight year. Why did the team-first passing attack stop at halftime?

How does JV only get 4 official shot attempts, when they didn't have a defender that could stop him? You need to establish an inside game to open up lanes for dribble-penetration, and to get guys open looks on the perimeter.

The team needs a real starting PF, or at least a more balanced starting lineup *cough* Patterson *cough*.

None of this is new or surprising. Every bad loss is a repeat of the same old same old.

[GLF]

Scola is useless.

Perimeter defense was downright Matador-ish.

Hero ball will be the death of this team, for the third straight year. Why did the team-first passing attack stop at halftime?

How does JV only get 4 official shot attempts, when they didn't have a defender that could stop him? You need to establish an inside game to open up lanes for dribble-penetration, and to get guys open looks on the perimeter.

The team needs a real starting PF, or at least a more balanced starting lineup *cough* Patterson *cough*.

None of this is new or surprising. Every bad loss is a repeat of the same old same old.

That's what's the most annoying. It's an 82 game season and shit happens, good teams lose to crappy teams all the time. That's not the issue. The problem is when we lose it's the same mistakes over and over and we don't seem to learn. ISO, No defense, crappy lineups are usually the culprits. How can one have confidence we will get out the first round with these issues? I think we really have to make a trade because Casey will not stop starting Scola if he's still on the Raptors. Also how are we letting crappy teams play more poised down the stretch of a tight game. We literally become the Sixers anytime a game gets close down the stretch. We go ISO or key guys disappear and our defense just becomes non existent. Y'all better pray we are up big down the stretch of close games in the playoffs because I guarantee we lose any game that is within 3-5 points with 3 mins left. Actually not even 10 points. We can't even hold a 10 point lead with 3 mins left to be honest.

[KHD]

No I'm not. No one on this team could guard Towns. Just like no one could guard Jokic. Like I always say the game is changing. This will keep happening. Raptors need bigs that can guard on the perimeter. 2pat is the only one. His too small cause they just end up posting him up on the block.

JV is starting to become a specialist. He can only be effective when there's another old fashion big like him. When he has to go up against guys like KAT, Jokic and PK(all rookies) his out of his comfort zone.

Jesus Christ dude, just stop. He wasn't even matched up against 2/3 of those players.

Not to be rude, but the stuff you post is honestly some of the dumbest shit i've ever seen on this board.

[GLF]

The last 3-5 mins of a tight game where we choose to go ISO and play no defense EVERY single time, to me is a much much much bigger concern that Scola because Scola normally isn't even in the game at those points. It's more than half way through the season and we STILL do it so trust me nothing is going to change when playoffs come. And almost every game comes down to the last 3-5 mins in the playoffs. I honestly don't like Cory running the team in those situations. It just causes Kyle to be less aggressive and cory just pounds the ball into the ground until there is very little time left and THEN gives it to Demar who then doesn't have much time to do anything and he ends up going ISO. And then for some reason our defense goes to shit as well every time. If we aren't going to score at least play defense. We don't even do that. So while you guys are worried about Scola I am worried about the last 3-5 mins which trading Scola will not change. At least not come playoff time. Scola not being here is not going to stop the consistent ISO play.

[peanutwoozle]

That's what's the most annoying. It's an 82 game season and shit happens, good teams lose to crappy teams all the time. That's not the issue. The problem is when we lose it's the same mistakes over and over and we don't seem to learn. ISO, No defense, crappy lineups are usually the culprits. How can one have confidence we will get out the first round with these issues? I think we really have to make a trade because Casey will not stop starting Scola if he's still on the Raptors. Also how are we letting crappy teams play more poised down the stretch of a tight game. We literally become the Sixers anytime a game gets close down the stretch. We go ISO or key guys disappear and our defense just becomes non existent. Y'all better pray we are up big down the stretch of close games in the playoffs because I guarantee we lose any game that is within 3-5 points with 3 mins left. Actually not even 10 points. We can't even hold a 10 point lead with 3 mins left to be honest.

you forgot not showing up for work.

[special1]

Jesus Christ dude, just stop. He wasn't even matched up against 2/3 of those players.

Not to be rude, but the stuff you post is honestly some of the dumbest shit i've ever seen on this board.

Not to be rude... lol

Whenever you see that, you know it's gonna be real rude.

I agree that Scola has to be replaced in the starting lineup. He's doing his best, but it's just not good enough.

I'd like to see him in Chuck Hayes' role from last season.


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[DanH]

Meh.

For all of our terrible play in the clutch offensively our efficiency is actually pretty good (not crazy elite or anything but a positive net rating at least). And the sad reality is that most teams' team offence disappears a bit late, we are worse than most but not exactly a rare sight in that regard.

Scola/lineups are a far bigger concern in my eyes, because they are hurting us for 40+ minutes every night - clutch play will hurt for 5 minutes a night.

[S.R.]

Meh.

For all of our terrible play in the clutch offensively our efficiency is actually pretty good (not crazy elite or anything but a positive net rating at least). And the sad reality is that most teams' team offence disappears a bit late, we are worse than most but not exactly a rare sight in that regard.

Scola/lineups are a far bigger concern in my eyes, because they are hurting us for 40+ minutes every night - clutch play will hurt for 5 minutes a night.

Yeah some statements on the last couple of pages about the Raptors being terrible in the clutch are just straight made up. They're okay, not terrible and not elite.

In the last 5 minutes of games with a 5 point or less differential, the Raps are 19-12 with a win % that's still top 10 (#9 - a slight drop off from their overall 5th ranked win %, but still very much in the company of teams like Cleveland, the Clippers, Houston, Miami, OKC, and Dallas).

It's so close that one more clutch win in those 31 qualifying games would put the Raptors in the top 5 in the league.

[JWash]

Scola is useless.

Perimeter defense was downright Matador-ish.

Hero ball will be the death of this team, for the third straight year. Why did the team-first passing attack stop at halftime?

How does JV only get 4 official shot attempts, when they didn't have a defender that could stop him? You need to establish an inside game to open up lanes for dribble-penetration, and to get guys open looks on the perimeter.

The team needs a real starting PF, or at least a more balanced starting lineup *cough* Patterson *cough*.

None of this is new or surprising. Every bad loss is a repeat of the same old same old.

Towns? Dieng?

Not saying that JV got enough shots, he obviously didn't, but let's be a bit more realistic here.

[JWash]

Meh.

For all of our terrible play in the clutch offensively our efficiency is actually pretty good (not crazy elite or anything but a positive net rating at least). And the sad reality is that most teams' team offence disappears a bit late, we are worse than most but not exactly a rare sight in that regard.

Scola/lineups are a far bigger concern in my eyes, because they are hurting us for 40+ minutes every night - clutch play will hurt for 5 minutes a night.

How can a Scola lineup hurt us for 40+ minutes a night when Scola plays 23mpg?