While they don’t exactly match the feeling one gets from a captivating playoff series, or the adrenaline rush we all got from watching Serge Ibaka (somewhat) connect with a right hand to the side of Robin Lopez’s face, there’s certain times of the year that aren’t far behind:
1. The Draft and Free Agency: I’ll lump these two together since there’s not much time in between them. But even more so than managing your fantasy roster (complex dynasty leagues included), nothing satisfies our collective hunger to play the role of GM more.
2. The season’s first 25 games: What’s old is new again, debates are in full swing, and our collective enthusiasm is more than enough to overpower anything the regular season grind eventually throws at us. And speaking of fantasy leagues: everyone’s still got a shot.
3. The Trade Deadline: You can basically flip a coin as to whether it will be eventful or not, but with limited options available to a team after the fact, we stay engaged by default.
4. Last but not least, when the NBA’s stretch run (look no further than LAST NIGHT’S OVERTIME THRILLER!) intersects with the NCAA Tournament:
Even though college basketball isn’t the draw it used to be (a subject I covered in Part 1 of this column), a Game 7 type of atmosphere at every turn still gives March Madness an abundance of intrigue and entertainment value. Throw in the fact that the Raps, for the most part, have been in a hot/cold holding pattern while waiting for the return of Kyle Lowry, and I can only assume even hardcore fans temporarily adjusted their priorities over the weekend.
However, yesterday’s curse-lifting victory over the Bulls served as a reminder that the NBA, as it has so often this season, can offer a better brand of drama on any given night. Perhaps the better way to put would be: I suggest we savor the moment, cause as Basketball fans, we’re currently being spoiled.
With that said, and with both levels currently having so much in common, it only made sense to give the Raptors their very own bracket — which you may have seen in Part 2. Besides, college ball can’t have all the fun.
For an on-page reference point, though, here’s a snippet of said Part 2…which includes how the rankings were done, what they’re actually playing for, followed by the seedings themselves:
“The bracket seedings are a reflection of where each player, coach or GM currently sits in the team’s hierarchy. Better yet, it’s a combination between my own personal opinions and my take on how the masses have viewed this organization in the past and where they are now. Keep in mind that the purpose of this bracket is to find out who’s future worth is the most valuable — whether you value the not-so distant future over the long haul or vice versa.”
- 1) Kyle Lowry vs. 16) Pascal Siakam
- 8) DeMarre Carroll vs. 9) Norman Powell
- 5) Dwane Casey vs. 12) Jerry Stackhouse
- 4) Masai Ujiri vs. 13) Delon Wright
- 6) Jonas Valanciunas vs. 11) Cory Joseph
- 3) Serge Ibaka vs. 14) Jakob Poeltl
- 7) Patrick Patterson vs. 10) P.J. Tucker
- 2) DeMar DeRozan vs. 15) Bebe Nogueira
Since half of the opening round was previously touched on, let’s focus on the not-so obvious/yet to be decided matchups:
DMC vs. Norm:
Will we ever get to see DeMarre in true form? Well, when we’re still celebrating anytime he plays in back-to-back situations, it’s not happening anytime soon. He still offers plenty, though, simply by being one of the Raps’ best movers without the ball. But with Tucker now in the fold and Powell occasionally emerging from the pack, the Raps have become too versatile for him to be a necessity in any given lineup. Carroll’s experience will surely be an asset in the playoffs, and that’s a relief considering Norm’s out-of-control nature can lead to mental mistakes, but until Carroll becomes less of a streaky shooter, and considering the gap between the two isn’t wide enough for the present to separate itself from what Powell means to the future, Norm advances.
Casey vs. Stackhouse:
I have to admit, I cheated a bit with this one. I purposely slid Stackhouse in as the 12-seed just to bring up this discussion — an “at large” bid, if you will…and we all know how much trouble 12-seeds cause on an annual basis.
Masai has always backed Casey, but if déjà vu strikes and the Raps take a step back after a taking a step forward (à la the Wizards’ series sweep following the franchise-altering clash with Brooklyn), especially with Ujiri at the forefront of the team’s makeover, that backing will likely start to crack.
Then again, due to Kyle Lowry’s unknown timeline, the risk of this team missing the boat on what they could have accomplished otherwise is very much alive. Mix that possibility with Masai’s history of being patient, and this could very well end up being a moot point.
On the flip side to the flip side, however, trying to decipher Ujiri’s thought process is like walking a city block in Toronto’s downtown core and not find yourself having to maneuver through another condo construction site.
Still, he’s always built with this club with one hand in the now and the other protecting the big picture. So with the success of Raptors 905, both competitively and on a developmental level, it’s stands to reason to suggest Stackhouse was always considered to be a candidate to eventually take over the reins. It’s a much more seamless transition when that candidate’s already in-house.
Winner: There’s no other answer but to say Casey moves on but don’t forget the asterisk attached.
JV vs. Cojo:
It’s funny how fandom has transformed. Nowadays, there’s little wiggle room that allows a player to evolve. I get it, though, JV is justifiably polarizing. Even though I still reside in the camp that preaches more involvement, at least when the schedule allows for it at this point, there’s too much tread on his tires for me not to join forces with the other side from time to time.
Cojo on the other hand, is new to the game of fluctuating support. He’s a prime example of the aforementioned quick trigger. Yes, he’s had an up and down campaign, and last night was another episode where one quarter was worthy of praise and the next an uninspiring deviation. Bottom line: His short track record says he deserves a much longer leash.
To add to the intrigue surrounding these two, one of them could very well end up on the outside looking in when it comes to who’s sticking around in the near future.
This matchup is a relatively close call when you add in the uncertainty of Lowry’s injury, but what tips the scale is this:
There’s a big difference in terms of when a player gets his opportunity to reinforce his value. Lowry’s absence has been a blessing in disguise for Joseph but the likelihood of JV having a much bigger stage (the postseason) to prove his worth is enough to push him through to the next round.
PP vs. PJ:
Man, I’m tempted to automatically advance Tucker just because of last night’s post-game interview. I still have chills. But a pair of defensive stats with/without Tucker on the floor coming into the game are even more encouraging:
Opponents 3-point% (their usual achilles-heel): With: 30.5%, Without: 43.4%
Opponents points in the paint per 100 possessions: With: 35.3, Without: 43.4
Add in the fact that his immediate credibility allowed him to motivate DeRozan to give his defensive prowess a shake instead of his challenge causing friction, and well, Tucker should have gone for a much higher price at the trade deadline.
In the same breath, though, let’s not discount what Patterson brings to the table. Problem is, although he owns similar characteristics as PJ (he’s a just a shot-maker first, underrated defender second — Tucker’s the other way around) PJ has simply provided both with consistency.
PP’s past puts up a fight but the future, both the not-so distant and long-term, favor PJ.
So, where does that leave us:
The Elite Eight:
1) K-Low vs. 9) Norm
4) Masai vs. 5) Casey
3) Serge Mayweather vs. 6) JV
2) DeMar vs. 10) PJ
Stay tuned..
https://youtu.be/Lko-MVJZwBQ
