[OhCanada-Participant]

 Toronto is in a huge slump right now and the Ibaka trade should help turn things around but I think the major issue is the mentality of the players and the personnels positions. Most of the year Casey had had to play players one position up or down and sometimes two. Joseph and Van Vleet have played a lot of SG, Ross and Powell at SF and believe it or not but sometimes even PF, Carroll is our only real SF playing at PF a ton and Poeltl and Nogueira  have also played out of position at PF. We are never matched up defensively and although a lot of these guys are dubbed as two position players they really aren’t. When you are getting beaten constantly on the defensive end it hurts your confidence offensively and Toronto has suffered huge morale issues due to this thus our frustrating slump.

I think Toronto should go all in for PJ Tucker. He could really be a glue piece Toronto needs to get us back to 2nd place in the East and the Conference Finals. He can guard 3 positions effectively, hit the outside shot, crash the boards but most importantly brings a tough mentality and accountability to the team.

I’d go all in for him even if it cost a young guy like Wright or Cabo’clock and a 1st round draft pick. The Suns were trying to draft Caboclo on his draft night and scouted him heavy so there maybe an easy deal there.

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

Ah if only you had kept James Johnson.

You wouldn’t need much to secure PJ tucker, could even go Shabazz for a bit of scoring as he is not much of a glue/defenisve guy.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Yeah PJ Tucker will put them over the top…lol

[OhCanada-Participant]

 That’s not what I’m saying at all. Tucker would allow everyone to play their natural positions.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Don’t watch the Raptors but a playoff rotation for them seems pretty simple

Lowry 36 Joseph 12

DeRozan 25, Powell 15, Joseph 8

Carroll 30, DeRozan 12, Powell 6

Ibaka 32, Patterson 16

JV 30, Poeltl 12, Patteron 6

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

[dmo21Participant]

First off, you forgot Nogeueira all together. He’ll probably play 15-20 minutes or even more as Casey likes to go with him more often than JV nowadays.

Probably see Ibaka play the 5 more than Patterson.

The main thing is that this team can’t really afford an injury to a guard or wing now as they have no depth. I’d like to see them swap a big for a decent, veteran wingman. Sully has an expiring deal and Siakam or Poeltl are young talent that could fetch a decent wing player.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Those Utah kids really bring an edge this team needs. I would like to see them get more minutes after the Allstar break. Wrights length and athleticism at the initatial point of attack for opposing teams guards has really helped the Raptors contain perimeter penetration  which has been the biggest problem during this slump. Lowry just cant be leading the league in minutes and give you his all at both ends of the court which has resulted in him taking plays off on D.

I think when it comes to the backup C and guard positions Casey will ride the hot hand and minutes will have to be earned. Only minutes that will be gauranteed are Lowry, Derozan,  Ibaka, Patterson and Carroll everyone else is basically on watch.

 

[dmo21Participant]

I definitely liked what I saw out Wright and Poeltl last night. But I just think once playoffs come you don’t want a bunch of young, inexperienced playing out of position (Wright at SG, Powell at SF). A solid backup wing with size that can play both SG and SF would be ideal. I think you were the one that mentioned Tucker, and I think that would be a great fit.

[DolanCareParticipant]

 The Raptors need to remember that their best player is Kyle Lowry.  Derozan is over hyped in my mind because he’s such a unique player. He has flawless footwork and a great midrange game. But the Raptors suffer if he ends up touching the ball more than Lowry, which has been happening a lot this season. This needs to change. 

[dmo21Participant]

 I agree that Lowry is the better player right now, but the team doesn’t do good when either of them become dominant with the ball and try to go ISO too much (I give Casey some of that blame too). Almost in every loss, you’ll see Lowry or DeRozan shoot 30% or lower with 15-20+ shots. It’s like they forget how to play team ball and try to win the game on their own in the 4th.

Another thing I notice (not really related to this thread) is that in pretty much every Raps loss, there is a technical foul or two. I always believed that you have to know how to lose to know how to win games. This just shows that they are petty, immature and quick to blame others (refs, other team) when they are losing. You can visually see it as Lowry and DeRozan get so whiny and complain every play near the end of the game. I wish they could get a veteran presence on this team to smarten them up. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The body language is terrible. Every call they seem to complain this needs to stop.  Derozan had the 3rd most techs in the league he has been ejected twice and this funnels down. Valanciunas raise his hands in the air like the cops are pointing a gun at him after every play in the post foul or no foul. Nogueira who really is in no position to say anything is always sulkinh like a baby. It’s everyone really except for Powell and Patterson. As much as I love Casey he really is responsible for this and I hate firing coaches and feel they need to ride this out and keep him as Head Coach but when I’m marking his report card at the end of the year I take into account that he is kind of losing his guys.

Hopefully Ibaka changes that and from listening to Ujiris interviews it seems as though they are not done making moves.

 

[dmo21Participant]

I thought he was a good hiring when they first got him, but after year 1 I have been down on him. I do not like his in game decisions, how he controls his rotations and play calling. Sometimes coaches can only get you so far and then you have to go to a higher tier of coach to get you to that next level. I think that’s where Toronto is right now. They need that veteran coach who has been in and won in the playoffs before to push this team to the next level.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 They have forgot Lowry is the best player. It will cost them. Derozean is overhyped. 

[xJumpManxParticipant]

Than Lowry forgets how to shoot.  I have wondered if its when the games slows down and his lack of natural ability catches up to him. Hard Worker not blessed with skills of the other pgs.

[r377Participant]

Matt Barnes was waived by the Kings. Do the Raps pick him up cheap ?

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