[R-Dot-13Participant]

The 2 Top teams in the East to this point play tonight as the Raptors take on the Bulls.
I’m a big Raptors fan and I am really interested to see what people outside of Canada think of this team. Off to a good start with a 7-1 record with a couple of comebacks against the Celtics and Magic who all though aren’t the strogest teams, it was something the Raptors wouldn’t have pulled off in the past. They also crushed a very good Wizards team.
The Bulls have been without Rose at times, but I’m hoping be will be in the lineup tonight to really see the two teams at their best. With the Cavs off to a slow start (they’ll pick it up) This is really for who’s been the best team in the East right now.

What do you guys think of these teams and the game tonight? Would love to hear your opinions.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 This is going to be a very good game. I hope everyone is healthy for it. I remember the last time these two teams played Toronto lost 94-92. Derozan scored or assisted on pretty much all of Torontos points in the 4th qaurter to comeback then got locked down by Butler to turn the ball over in the last seconds. I dont think Toronto stands a chance if Amir Johnson doesnt play healthy. Hes been injured early this year and has had his minutes limited recently. Hes the x-factor in my opinion.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 This is going to be a very good game. I hope everyone is healthy for it. I remember the last time these two teams played Toronto lost 94-92. Derozan scored or assisted on pretty much all of Torontos points in the 4th qaurter to comeback then got locked down by Butler to turn the ball over in the last seconds. I dont think Toronto stands a chance if Amir Johnson doesnt play healthy. Hes been injured early this year and has had his minutes limited recently. Hes the x-factor in my opinion.

[RUN TMCParticipant]

 The x factor for the raps will be all year is terrance ross,  if he is 13-14 pts 4-5 rebs and a steal or 2 to go along with lowry and derozen putting up their usual #’s they are a tough team to beat.  Amir is hard to replace defensively, but i think psycho t and patterson can combine to fill amir both on the d side and the o side if t-ross can step up

[RUN TMCParticipant]

 The x factor for the raps will be all year is terrance ross,  if he is 13-14 pts 4-5 rebs and a steal or 2 to go along with lowry and derozen putting up their usual #’s they are a tough team to beat.  Amir is hard to replace defensively, but i think psycho t and patterson can combine to fill amir both on the d side and the o side if t-ross can step up

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Hansborough and Patterson have good places in the teams system but Johnson is irreplacable. Neither can defend nearly as effective as Johnson. Hansborough is physical and energetic yet has no length or athletisism and no offensive game. Patterson is a good stretch big with offensive skills but lacks length and the quicks to be the defender Johnson is. Joh son is very versatile and can defend and score the way you would want your PF to.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Hansborough and Patterson have good places in the teams system but Johnson is irreplacable. Neither can defend nearly as effective as Johnson. Hansborough is physical and energetic yet has no length or athletisism and no offensive game. Patterson is a good stretch big with offensive skills but lacks length and the quicks to be the defender Johnson is. Joh son is very versatile and can defend and score the way you would want your PF to.

[kazamParticipant]

To me the X Factor has and will be Jonas all season long. Nights when he is involved early and out of foul trouble he is such a key cog on both ends of the floor. Without him the Raps have no big they can consistently throw the ball to on the block and expect any sort of result. Amir isnt a back to the basket scorer, Hansborough and Patterson arent much near the hoop either. 

Ross has been streaky and can definetly help, but I have to say Jonas’ production and ability to stay out of foul trouble is huge for the Raps success. 

[kazamParticipant]

To me the X Factor has and will be Jonas all season long. Nights when he is involved early and out of foul trouble he is such a key cog on both ends of the floor. Without him the Raps have no big they can consistently throw the ball to on the block and expect any sort of result. Amir isnt a back to the basket scorer, Hansborough and Patterson arent much near the hoop either. 

Ross has been streaky and can definetly help, but I have to say Jonas’ production and ability to stay out of foul trouble is huge for the Raps success. 

[R-Dot-13Participant]

The thing I love most about the Raptors is that we are incredibly deep.
Against Orlando DD and Vasquez struggled and others like Lou, and JamesJohnson stepped up huge.

Amir is irreplacable though, but at least we do have adequate backups.

Really excited for this game.

[R-Dot-13Participant]

The thing I love most about the Raptors is that we are incredibly deep.
Against Orlando DD and Vasquez struggled and others like Lou, and JamesJohnson stepped up huge.

Amir is irreplacable though, but at least we do have adequate backups.

Really excited for this game.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Derozan is playing hero ball out there. Hes forcing the issue and thats what has mostly related to the Raptors struggles tthis season. I have full faith in Derozan leading this team going forward and believe he can be a great player but he really needs to become a better leader and make positive examples. During the big swing of the game in the 3rd qaurter where the Bulls made a push Derozan really struggled again with taking what the defence gave him and forces the issue. I watched multiple possessions where he ended up out of position reaching for steals after turnover or missed rebound, complaining when he thought he was fouled, or just simply frustrated. This and the fact that Toronto chose to double team Rose at times during the game but never Gasol led to a loss tonight.

Toronto is 7-2 and Im happy they have been succesful thusfar but they have had some very bad performances early in the season and have shown to be extremely careless even in thier wins.

Dwayne Casey has been preaching creating a team identity but the most painful identity the team has carried so far is having a sort of blissful youth you would expect from an inexperienced group.

Casey decided to play Gasol man to man and not double him in this game which shows Johnson and Valanciunas he is confident they could stop him on thier own. This is a good decision in a way because it shows the teams expectations. Dwayne expects his starters to be able to be defensively sound and not have to double team a teams 2nd option in order to create a system where doubling isnt necassary. Rose was double teamed at times during the game but not Gasol and what Casey failed to realize is that Gasol was thier number 1 option against Toronto because he was unstoppable.

From my perspective it just seemed ignorant and disrespectful not to double Gasol tonight and they lost the game because of it. Id rather have seen Toronto force others to make shots then let Gasol score. Johnson and Valanciunas played great defence but Gasol was on his A game and when a world class talent is on his A game in this sport he is usually unstoppable. You have to double in that situation feom the moment the mismatch is established.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Derozan is playing hero ball out there. Hes forcing the issue and thats what has mostly related to the Raptors struggles tthis season. I have full faith in Derozan leading this team going forward and believe he can be a great player but he really needs to become a better leader and make positive examples. During the big swing of the game in the 3rd qaurter where the Bulls made a push Derozan really struggled again with taking what the defence gave him and forces the issue. I watched multiple possessions where he ended up out of position reaching for steals after turnover or missed rebound, complaining when he thought he was fouled, or just simply frustrated. This and the fact that Toronto chose to double team Rose at times during the game but never Gasol led to a loss tonight.

Toronto is 7-2 and Im happy they have been succesful thusfar but they have had some very bad performances early in the season and have shown to be extremely careless even in thier wins.

Dwayne Casey has been preaching creating a team identity but the most painful identity the team has carried so far is having a sort of blissful youth you would expect from an inexperienced group.

Casey decided to play Gasol man to man and not double him in this game which shows Johnson and Valanciunas he is confident they could stop him on thier own. This is a good decision in a way because it shows the teams expectations. Dwayne expects his starters to be able to be defensively sound and not have to double team a teams 2nd option in order to create a system where doubling isnt necassary. Rose was double teamed at times during the game but not Gasol and what Casey failed to realize is that Gasol was thier number 1 option against Toronto because he was unstoppable.

From my perspective it just seemed ignorant and disrespectful not to double Gasol tonight and they lost the game because of it. Id rather have seen Toronto force others to make shots then let Gasol score. Johnson and Valanciunas played great defence but Gasol was on his A game and when a world class talent is on his A game in this sport he is usually unstoppable. You have to double in that situation feom the moment the mismatch is established.

 

[King CaluchaParticipant]

The Raptors are really really good, but there’s something (still don’t know what) that makes me think they’re note really going to contend. I can even see them going out in the 1st round, depending on the matchup.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

The Raptors are really really good, but there’s something (still don’t know what) that makes me think they’re note really going to contend. I can even see them going out in the 1st round, depending on the matchup.

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