Boston Celtics playmaker Isaiah Thomas should be the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year – CelticsBlog
Thomas leads in three of the five stat types, with the best average rank of all 10 players. Toronto’s Lou Williams is close behind Thomas in multiple categories, though he far exceeds him in Real Plus/Minus. Jamal Crawford will probably receive votes for the same reason Derek Jeter won so many Gold Glove awards, but his average stats suggest he shouldn’t receive any. The top five players should be: Thomas, Williams, Nikola Mirotic, Manu Ginobili, and Andre Iguodala. But none of them are as impressive as Thomas is compared to the entire pool of NBA players.
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Metal detectors coming to Air Canada Centre
A day after tens of thousands of Blue Jays fans waited outside Rogers Centre in the rain while a sold-out crowd filed into the home opener through metal detectors, fans of the Maple Leafs and Raptors will reportedly face the same fate. According to a report in The Toronto Sun, Air Canada Centre will introduce stepped-up security featuring metal detectors. An official with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment told the newspaper that NHL and NBA security measures will call for the airport-style metal detectors next season.
Lou Williams has earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
Williams is locked in the race with Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics. While both players have had a season deserving of the award, Williams should narrowly escape the race as the recipient. To understand why, we must look beyond raw statistics. A player’s candidacy for Sixth Man goes much deeper than points, rebounds and assists. Instead, team success, past performances and overall qualitative impact are held supreme. Williams is having the best season of his 10-year career, which is particularly notable since he came second in voting for Sixth Man of the Year in 2011/12. He has a reputation for being a spark plug off the bench, and he has certainly lived up the hype in his first year as a Raptor. He has been a saviour for the team, which badly needed a volume scorer off the bench during the playoffs last year.When the starters slump, Williams is always ready to put the team on his back and make clutch shots from almost anywhere on the court.
NBA Preview – Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics – Apr 14, 2015 – CBSSports.com
The Raptors, who are trying to complete a 4-0 trip for the first time in franchise history, have won six of eight but one of those defeats came at home to the Celtics on Feb. 4. Marcus Smart hit a buzzer-beating layup in overtime in Boston’s 117-116 win. That victory sparked a four-game winning streak for the Celtics, who have won six of seven while averaging 109.0 points – 7.6 better than their season average. Thomas is leading the offensive surge and seems to have regained his shooting touch after sitting out eight games with a bruised back. He is averaging 23.2 points and shooting 51.4 percent in the last five contests after scoring 11.8 on 29.4 percent shooting in his first five back. Thomas had 25 as Boston snapped a four-game losing streak to the Raptors just over a week ago.
Raptors Dance Pak’s Nina Embodies Toronto’s Energy « Man Cave Daily
JL: What’s the best part about basketball?
N: I love the constant entertainment basketball has to offer. There is always so much happening at a Raptors game that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Raptors fan base gets bigger and better every season. Feeling the energy from the fans makes my job that much more rewarding. We recently performed a Britney Spears tribute routine and I got to be Britney! Fun routines like that are really enjoyed by all the fans. Every game day is surreal!
Raptors won’t rush back Amir Johnson | Home | Toronto Sun
Johnson has missed the past four games due to a badly sprained ankle and it has bugged him to be on the sidelines, but he knows it is what is best for him and the team. The good news, then, is Johnson will be back soon, maybe as quickly as Tuesday’s game in Boston. After a practice on the Miami Heat’s practice court on Monday (the Raptors wisely soaked up the sun for an extra couple of days in Miami), Johnson said that the situation is now day-to-day. “It’s a process and it’s definitely getting better. If I had to play, or if the playoffs started today, I’d probably definitely get in there,” Johnson said.
Jonas Valanciunas won’t go to a club because he’s married
Should the Toronto Raptors Trade Jonas Valanciunas? | Triangle Offense
Or maybe Valanciunas is the next Brook Lopez or Roy Hibbert: a very large, very respectable name handcuffed to undeniable flaws that don’t blend seamlessly with a modern game that values versatility and speed over power and height. Other scenarios exist, but these two feel as likely as any to actually come true. With that in mind, here’s a thought to ponder: Should the Raptors trade Valanciunas this summer? The question is tricky and borderline offensive. Dealing a former lottery pick in his early 20s, who possesses real potential and hasn’t been lazy trying to reach it, before you have to, isn’t smart. Toronto GM Masai Ujiri is bold, though, and with the opportunity to mold his team’s long-term direction this summer, could be in position to make a headline-grabbing move.
Wrapping up the Raptors game along with the rest of the weekend mail | Toronto Star
2. RAPTORS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Toronto matched last year’s 48 win mark and their 22 road win mark, which are both franchise records. Good stuff. I’ve said all along that they’ll be defined more by their postseason success than anything else. I also felt they could finish with less regular season wins yet win a playoff series. Now they can do both which would be really cool and another growing step. Realism is an important factor. They’re right in the area of where their development is supposed to be. Enjoy the process.
