Raptors

[blayze]

We don't have a shot without Barnes. What a bummer... I was looking forward to a tight series

[2014olympicgold]

The best part of the game is that Maxey won't get 38pts again like he did.

[2014olympicgold]

Barnes officially out
Thad Young was at the shoot around this morning, but is a doubtful Game time decision.
Gary Trent Jr is also a "doubtful game time decision"

Ugh.Raps are +7.5 odds. +260 for the ML win....ifffff Toronto gets out of this game with a win....thats such a huge momentum change but man those are some uphill battles tonight.

[blayze]

We ****ed

[2014olympicgold]

I don't know if this is good news or bad news but Toronto showed character to bring the game from down 29pts to within 11 or 10 I think. They had all the momentum, then a poorly timed turnover killed it all.

I have 2 points here:
- Raps will never get the call. It's embarrassing what was going on early. Toronto definitely doesn't deserve getting the same calls with their strategy with Embiid, but wow. It's a tough one out there on the road. Maybe home games flip it enough though. Big if.
- Raps were missing Gary Trent Jr hard. He has become the run stopper. And by that I don't mean defensively. I mean by Toronto going on a 0-4 run and needing a bucket to stop the snowball from rolling. Kawhi was doing this for them on their run, and Siakam just isn't that guy. FVF tries to. OG isn't featured in that role.

I don't think the strategy Toronto is doing is bad. 6'9" guys covering a 7'-0" isn't stupid. Toronto's wingspan typically makes up for it, but when Embiid goes into the paint and Siakam looks at him and gets a foul, it effects Siakam (and the team) defensively for the whole game. We've watched this with the refs vs Toronto for yrs. Early fouls in the 1st quarter destroy any plan of hard nose defense. And the way basketball is, they are mostly fouls these calls by the rulebook, it's just never called typically.

[blayze]

Raptors get no respect from the Refs. It has always been that way since we came into the league. Combine that with a team that lives off the charity stripe and I can see why Nurse is resorting to bitching in the media.

Having said that, they just don't stand a chance without Barnes versatility and defense - throw in Trent Jr and that's the nail in the coffin.

It's a really unfortunate set of circumstances - I think this would have been a very competitive series otherwise.

[Feenom]

It's a basic formality now. Without FVF, Barnes and others they stand no chance. Philly might end this in 4 but 5 seems realistic. If only Kawhi stayed....

[newfcollins]

Wait, Fred VanVleet isn't playing?

[2014olympicgold]

The only main guys on the injury report for the Raptors is GTJ (Questionable) and Barnes (Doubtful). Thad Young isn't on it anymore

For the 76ers, Thybulle can't play and Charles Bassey (Shoulder) are the only ones on their injury report.


There's so much wrong with the Kawhi statement because of the butterfly effect that it's not worth thinking about.

[2014olympicgold]

Wait, Fred VanVleet isn't playing?

THink he meant Gary Trent Jr and not FVV

[2014olympicgold]

Gary Trent Jr will play tonight
Barnes out of walking boot. Nurse was asked will he play and answered "maybe"

[Feenom]

THink he meant Gary Trent Jr and not FVV

Correct, and yes he actually is playing. I like butterflies and still wish he was here….(Kawhi that is)

[Feenom]

Wow, refs blew that call. FVF barely touched Embid so he flops to get the call and the T up Freddy on top of it all. Momentum is slowly shifting in this game and the refs are helping it go in a certain direction. Wow.

[blayze]

Pascal is such a shit number one option. guy can't create his own shot. Zero confidence.

[2014olympicgold]

They are def cooked. But it's pretty clear what happens when you don't call 10 fouls in the 1st quarter for the Raps D. it just opens so much more up.

The hate on Siakam reminds me about the hate on DeRozan. The fact fouls aren't called the same in the regular season changes all those star players (Not super star, but star) games to the point they don't get the extra room they need.

Teams are 143-0 when up by 3. Doc Rivers would be the first coach to end that streak wouldn't he?