Raptors HOOPS
Raptors fire Dwane Casey
By Marco Della Pia May 11 2018
After leading the Raptors to a historic regular season with 59 wins, the Raptors have fired Dwane Casey.
Dwane Casey was awarded the Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year, voted by his peers.
However, this was not enough to save his job after the letdown versus the Cavaliers.
"After careful consideration, I have decided this is a very difficult but necessary step the franchise must take" - Raptors president Ujiri said in a statement.
As the news unfolds, we'll have more updates.
Game Day!
They fought, they scraped, and they showed heart. As a Raptors fan, at the end of the day, all you want is for your team to give 110%.
King James was King James, and his buzzer beater statistics surpasses Michael Jordan’s at 5 vs MJ’s 3.
What went wrong? Yes, Serge had a foul call reversed in the first half which points proved crucial. And yes, DeMar had an off day. All superstars have them, but couch Casey was rolling with momentum and what was working best at the time. The Raptors certainly had momentum in its favour, especially if they were forced to go to OT.
But what went wrong was the defensive collapse in the last play of the game. OG and Siakam had LBJ pinned in the corner of the court, and Siakam quickly collapsed to run back on defense. If both Siakam and OG had maintained their position and cornered LBJ, he would have been forced to pass off to Kevin Love. The end result may have changed. This should have been reinforced in the huddle.
At this point, it’s in the past.
We look forward to an outburst from DeMar in game 4. We also look forward to Poeltl leaving more of an impression this game, as he was a DNP in game 3. Poeltl brings fundamental offense and a presence in the defensive paint.
Look for the Raptors to continue to push the ball, and put full court pressure and create turnovers with active hands in the lanes.
Let’s get that W!
Welcome to LebronTO
By Marco Della Pia May 4 2018
There’s no doubt about it, Toronto Raptor fans are on tilt. After the fourth quarter collapse in game 1 and the game 2 second half disappearance act, die hard fans have a lot to question right now.
Lebron’s god-like performance in game 2 was one for NBA history. The fadeways was reminiscent to Jordan’s fluidity and clutchness versus the Utah Jazz. Now can the Raptors beat Lebron James? The answer is no. We don’t have to. Can the Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, yes! Lebron James can continue with his 40 point performances ad the Raptors can still win, as long as his assists remain in the single digits.
So how can we beat the Cavaliers?
Kyle Lowry played stellar in the first half of the first half. The Raptors need to see more of this. Early foul trouble halted Kyle, but he still shot 7 of 10. The Raptors need to ride the hot hand in each game, we certainly have the depth to do so. We need more shot attempts from Kyle.
Serge Ibaka. It’s no secret that Serge’s play has been very inconsistent as of late. We need to see more out of Serge offensively, 0 of 5 is not a stat that lead to a victory for the Raptors. More importantly, we need to see a Biyombo-esque defensive approach from Serge. He needs to be the main defensive cog in the paint. He needs to be blocking shots and fouling players hard, creating fear for anyone trying to score an easy bucket.
DeMar “I Am Toronto” needs to enjoy the spotlight and let his offensive game flow. We haven’t seen his high percentage corner free throw pull up jumper since the Washington series. His mid-range game is one that opens up the entire game, making it easier for him to drive to the paint, or to find an open 3. More importantly, a more offensive DeMar, means that Lebron can’t take any plays off. He’ll have to expend more energy on the defensive front, limiting his offensive game.
Raptor’s fans, hang tight. The Raptor’s were down 0-2 heading to Cleveland 2 years ago, and guess what, they game back home with the series tied.
This is not LebronTO, this is #wethenorth
Prediction: Raptors 115 : Cavaliers 108
Raptors vs Cavs Keys to Winning Game 2
By Marco Della Pia - May 3rd 2018
Well Raptors fans, we hope you recovered from the emotional rollercoaster of game 1. We came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders, but the fourth quarter proved to be our downfall. The fourth quarter is where championships are won and from here on out in the playoffs, our mental fortitude, decision-making and shooting percentages need to be at a higher caliber.
As we mentioned in our game 1 tips to winning article, the Raptors downfall stemmed at the Cavs proficiency beyond the 3 point arc, and the inability to manage Tristan Thompson inside the paint.
With game 1 in the books, it’s now time for the true chess game to begin. We'll see Lue and Casey will make modifications to their match ups and defensive/offensive schemes.
Tips to winning game 2:
1) Be more DECISIVE on the offensive end! The Raptors passed up one too many high percentage offensive opportunities that resulted in multiple turnovers. In a game where ever possession determines a victory, that Raptors need to take the SHOT instead of looking to pass in traffic that leads to a TO.
2) It’s safe to say that KING James, will be KING James. The inability to stop James scoring is not just a Raptors problem, but a league wide problem. This is where the Raptors will have to accept the fact that the Lebron will score 30-40 points at a high percentage. OG played effective defense against James. James settled for a high degree of difficulty fade away shots (which he of course hit). But this is okay. The James that drives to the basket, is one facet of his skillset that the Raptors do not want.
In saying this, the Raptors have to stay content with the man on man defence vs James and not peel away from their man to help. This is where James found an open J.R. or Kyle Korver, that ultimately sank 10 treys on us (the difference maker).
3) Be more up tempo! The Raptors only had 8 fast break points in Game 1. The Raptors are at a different level when there are running and gunning more often. With a larger disparity in this category, look for this to be the difference maker in game 2.
This is Kyle Lowry will play a big factor. It’ll be up to him to force the offense and create the tempo. It’s safe to say that LBJ looked tired in game 1. This will help tire his legs, affecting his jump shot in the fourth quarter.
Let’s go Raptors! PS. Drake watch out for Perkins!
Raptors VS. Cavs Series
By Marco Della Pia - May 1st 2018
The Toronto Raptors kick off the Eastern Conference Semifinals tonight versus their dreaded rivalry, Cleveland Cavaliers.
This will be the 3rd playoffs in a row that the Toronto Raptors have squared off versus Lebron James.
This time around, the Raptors have a new aura around them, a confidence in stride due to their depth with their "MOB bench" and team first offense.
What are the key points for the Raptors to win the series versus KING James and the Cavs?
1) Win the advantage in rebounds. This may have to be done with JV getting more late game court time.
2) Limit Tristan Thompson's scoring and productivity in the paint. The Raptors will have to watch out for the high pick and roll in the paint. The Pacers lost game 7 of their series particularly because of Tristan's productivity.
3) Ensure the Cavs don't catch fire beyond the arc. When the Cavs start hitting their 3's, they're a very different team. Their offense opens up, with the extra hockey pass, and they become less reliant on LBJ's iso ball. The Raptors will have to hold Kevin Love and Kyle Korver to a limited amount of 3s made per game.
Now Toronto, let's stand up and create some noise. Go Raptors Go!
Where's the D
By Marco Della Pia - March 25
The Toronto Raptors have won 29 of their past 23 games coming into their home game vs the LA Clippers. They will most likely breeze into the playoffs as the #1 seed representing the Eastern Conference.
However, their play over the past week or so has not been up to their solid form.
Specifically their defense. Although boasting a team efficiency rating of 5th best within the entire league, their defense has slipped lately.
Over the coarse of the past 5 games, the Raptors have let opponents score an average of 113.4 points allowed. Not including the Orlando output, who had struggled only in the 4th, the Raptors allowed 120.3 points over those past 4 games.
Yes, these are the dog days of the NBA where legs are tired, and the body recovers slower. But, with the playoffs around the corner, defensive patterns need to come together and tighten.
The upcoming next 5 games vs playoff contenders (DEN, BOS, CLE, BOS, IND) will be a great test for the Raptors.