1st Round Matchup: Raptors vs. Magic

[HarlemHeat37]

Raptors in 5, wouldn't be shocked if it goes 6, Orlando has been hot .

[resistanze]

Raptors in 5, would've said in 7 if DDR was there.

[lefty]

Raptors in 4
Maybe 5

[Killakobe81]

Sweep

[Robz4000]

Raptors in 6.

[apalisoc_9]

Raptors in 5
Raps in 6..

Nurse would play vanfleet way too many minutes

[Mr. Body]

Kind of amazing a suck-ass team like Orlando is in the playoffs. Fucking Eastern Conference.

[Rusty]

Spurs fans rooting for the Raptors?? What the hell:lol

[Trainwreck2100]

Spurs fans rooting for the Raptors?? What the hell:lol
nobody is rooting for nephew but we ain't idiots

[HarlemHeat37]

Orlando is 22-9 in their last 31 games and they're one of the few teams in the league with the players to match both Kawhi and Siakam..their inexperience and lack of depth will hurt, though..

[ElNono]

nephew in 5, IMVHO

[spursistan]

Raptors in 5. Orlando are playing enough to get game at home.

[ambchang]

Not going to sweep. Thinking 5 or 6.

[WallyTiger]

Magic in 7, quitter got aids and break legs , end career.

[mystargtr34]

Raps in 5.

Raps will win the 'ship this year imo.

[Dirks_Finale]

nephew in 5, IMVHO

[UZER]

Interested to see if the quad holds up with playoff intensity.

[Spurtacular]

Any contact like that called on the perimeter. NBA is so scandalous.

[Rusty]

LET'S GO MAGIC!!:ihit

[apalisoc_9]

Playoff kawhi is the best player in the league. Hands down.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

DJ Augustin has already outscored all but 4 Sixers today and has the same amount of points that Ben Simmons has.

[daslicer]

Lowry took a hard shot to his nuts. He looked like he was anally raped the way he was walking afterward.

[Robz4000]

Magic looking good.

[resistanze]

Raps bricking threes non stop

[Robz4000]

Choking is just in the Raptors' DNA, unfortunately.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

DJ Augustin can't be stopped.

[Laker_1995]

DJ Augustin aka Laker Killer is going ham lmao

[Robz4000]

:lol this is comical

[NickiRasgo]

Getting torched by DJ Augustin.

[Beartrucci]

Raptors still Raptoring :rollin

[Bynumite]

They're basically relying on playoff Kyle Lowry and another star who's got one foot out the door :lol Of course the raptors are not coming out the east.

[tmtcsc]

Green just fucking took 5 steps before launching that 3 pointer. No call. Cut the lead to 8.

[marinoman]

Fuck that run gottem in it, thought the green shot was a 2

[blah28]

Green traveled

[marinoman]

The only star worse than derozan in the playoffs is Lowry, 0 points and 2 missed free throws by mid 3rd

[blah28]

I wonder how fat Lowry will get once he retires.

[resistanze]

Should've traded for Conley too...

[blah28]

Should've traded for Conley too...

Who would they have to give up to get him? Don't the contracts have to match up?

[blah28]

Green keeps shuffling his feet but I guess the refs dont call travels anymore

[resistanze]

Who would they have to give up to get him? Don't the contracts have to match up?

Only 2M difference between him and Conley tbh

[blah28]

Only 2M difference between him and Conley tbh

That ain't bad, but if Kawhi leaves this would the Raps be stuck with Conley's contract? Or are they years about the same?

[resistanze]

That ain't bad, but if Kawhi leaves this would the Raps be stuck with Conley's contract? Or are they years about the same?

One more year on Conley's...but looking at Lowry probably not so bad :lol

[NickiRasgo]

Shows how valuable the length and athleticism in today's NBA. Bucks kinda went with drafting players with great length then Magic. Magic may be inexperience but it shows Raptors are struggling with it what more if it's the Bucks.

[phxspurfan]

Magic :monkey ing it up

[NickiRasgo]

Damn. MCW who is not a great shooter, shooting better than Lowry in a road game. :lol

[marinoman]

Stop rushing to Lowry, let him shoot

[DAF86]

Lowry is such a fucking choking faggot :lmao

[Robz4000]

Playoff Lowry's appearance makes me nervous for Playoff DeRozan.

[NickiRasgo]

Well atleast if DDR will suck later, he has an excuse (road game). :lol

[phxspurfan]

:lol NBA WWE refs ignoring obvious calls to get Kawhi to the finals

[marinoman]

Raptors getting all tacky tack calls Orlando keeps not getting obvious calls.
The refs you suck chants must really hurt their feelings

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Michael Carter-Wiliams is outplaying Kyle Lowry and MCW was a guy was on 10 day contracts for the Magic.

[blah28]

I would cut Lowry he is that bad.

[phxspurfan]

Magic get MCW on 10 day contracts and Spurs start Forbes 82 games and pay Mills 50 mills.

[Raven]

great game tbh

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Fuckin Kiwi

[Robz4000]

:cry Nephew :cry

[DAF86]

Kawhi is such a monster. :cry

[resistanze]

DeMar looking good this game. Wait...

[spursparker9]

Clutch Kiwi

[TheCultOfPersonality]

KAwhi with a difficult make.

[Spurs da champs]

Kawhi really fucked the Spurs over. Lol

[blah28]

Someone needs to go for the ankles

[Raven]

Kawhi takin over

[NickiRasgo]

Damn Kawhi so clutch. DDR will probably brick those or turnover and gives up a basket or foul on defensive end.

[marinoman]

I don’t get why they won’t double off Lowry who just hangs by the 3 line

[DAF86]

Danny wanting to post up but Kawhi was like "lol Nigga get the fuck out of the way" :lol

[Bynumite]

That guy used to be a spur if i recall correctly.

[Raven]

Damn Kawhi so clutch. DDR will probably brick those or turnover and gives up a basket or foul on defensive end.

pretty sure, maybe 3-4 players in the nba do that b2b.

[140]

This would be a blowout for the magic if the raps still had derozan :lol

[DAF86]

That guy used to be a spur if i recall correctly.

You used to think he was an overrated system player if I recall correctly.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

DJ FUCKING AUGUSTIN!!

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

DJJJJJJ

[phxspurfan]

HOOK EM DJ

[Robz4000]

:wow DJ Augustin

[resistanze]

:lmao Gasol and Kiwi

[NickiRasgo]

Wow DJ!

[Spurs da champs]

:lol DJ Augustin.

[Raven]

that was pretty dumb clock management

[blah28]

Now foul, dont let them shoot a 3

[spursparker9]

Haha Kiwi. Should have shot instead of passing to Gasol

[DAF86]

Raptors gonna raptor, no matter who's there.

[phxspurfan]

AIRBALL BITCH!

[Robz4000]

:lmao Nephew

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Leonard for 3!! AIRBALL!!!

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

:lol fuck Kiwi

[NickiRasgo]

I really admire how DJ is still surviving the NBA. He's like the taller and poor man's version of Jameer Nelson but still serviceable in any teams he played recently.

[blah28]

That was the play they called?

[resistanze]

:lmao Nephew

[UZER]

Danny wanting to post up but Kawhi was like "lol Nigga get the fuck out of the way" :lol

He was yelling for him to come set for a screen. At least that’s what it looked like to me.

[Reck]

Nets, now Magic.

Spurs will complete the 3some.

[phxspurfan]

so fucking happy to see that faggot lose games.

[DAF86]

that was pretty dumb clock management

lol son get the fuck out. If you get a wide open Jumper on that moment of the game, you take it regardless of shot clock management.

[marinoman]

Clutch airball, got that from Kobe

[Rusty]

kawhi:lmao

[TimDunkem]

LMAO

[phxspurfan]

He was yelling for him to come set for a screen. At least that’s what it looked like to me.

Kawhi been yelling at his teammates all game. What a shitty person

[spursistan]

I was told Kawhi will lock in defensively in the playoffs :lmao

[TimDunkem]

lol son get the fuck out. If you get a wide open Jumper on that moment of the game, you take it regardless of shot clock management.

He shot it with essentially 1 second to shoot too. It was as good a shot as you could hope for. :lol

[baseline bum]

Autistic faggot airballs :lmao

[NickiRasgo]

pretty sure, maybe 3-4 players in the nba do that b2b.

I just missed Kawhi instead of DDR. :lol Raptors will do fine though if Kawhi leaves as they still have Pascal.

[DAF86]

Backstabber :lmao:lmao:lmao

Karma for being a fucking stabbing snake-bitch.

[Proxy]

https://media.giphy.com/media/1guRIRFV5gN4ikrUakg/giphy.gif

[Raven]

lol son get the fuck out. If you get a wide open Jumper on that moment of the game, you take it regardless of shot clock management.

i meant from kawhi on the possession before. wasted 10 secs and gave the ball to gasol with 26s left, basically giving orlando the last possession

[blah28]

lol son get the fuck out. If you get a wide open Jumper on that moment of the game, you take it regardless of shot clock management.

Exactly he waited until the clock was down to 3 seconds and shot it. It was perfect clock management. I don't know how he could have done any better

[HarlemHeat37]

Lowry 0 points, unbelievable:lol

[resistanze]

Horrible pick and roll D by Nephew and Gasol, then airball by Nephew. What a sequence.

[DAF86]

He shot it with essentially 1 second to shoot too. It was as good a shot as you could hope for. :lol

Yeah. I don't know what the fuck was he talking about. :lol

[140]

If there's one guarantee every year in the playoffs is watching those idiots in :cry Jurassic park :cry leaving disappointed after a game 1 :lol

[Spurs da champs]

Lol switching (wouldn't be so bad if it was Ibaka) results in so many dumb losses. Terrible play call to end the game as well.

[UZER]

Raptor fans :lol

[Kim Jong-il]

How did people think the Raptors were different? It’s the same group of chokers, just swapping Derozan for a guy who hasn’t done shit without Duncan.

[HarlemHeat37]

Orlando is probably the only team outside of Milwaukee who can throw legit defenders at both Kawhi and Siakam..impressive coaching, 23-9 in their last 32 games..

[marinoman]

The funny part is Lowry never takes accountability, he’ll just say I let the game come to me, not force it. Like he said last year

[DAF86]

i meant from kawhi on the possession before. wasted 10 secs and gave the ball to gasol with 26s left, basically giving orlando the last possession

Same reason applies. On that juncture of a game you just take the best shot available.

[Bynumite]

DJ Augustin is the new LeBron to the raptors apparently :lol

[blah28]

How much does Lowry get paid a year?

[HarlemHeat37]

Orlando fans have been asking for Augustin to get benched all season:lol

[DAF86]

Is Lowry the biggest choker of all-time? DeRozan needs to prove tonight who the Raptors choker had been all along.

[Raven]

Same reason applies. On that juncture of a game you just take the best shot available.

... and that shot suddenly becomes available by keeping the ball in your arm and standing still?

[DAF86]

Orlando fans have been asking for Augustin to get benched all season:lol

Why? Last time I checked, DJ's metrics were pretty good.

[Rosewood]

Lmao yikes. Isn't Orlando the worst team in the playoffs too? I don't really know much about them at all.

[Bynumite]

Drake about to abandon the raptors bandwagon like he abandoned his son.

[daslicer]

DeMar looking good this game. Wait...

Spoke too soon. That was a classic Demar ending by #2.

[DAF86]

... and that shot suddenly becomes available by keeping the ball in your arm and standing still?

Don't even know what you mean.

[marinoman]

Horrible pick and roll D by Nephew and Gasol, then airball by Nephew. What a sequence.
Lowry was your killer, but gasol for valenchunks and Wright, hasn’t worked all year. Not hating, am I wrong, they’ve looked worse 2nd half of season

[Raven]

Don't even know what you mean.

it doesn't matter, it's not that important

[Rosewood]

Drake about to abandon the raptors bandwagon like he abandoned his son. :lmao

[Mr. Body]

How the fuck do you drop your first game at home to the fucking Magic?

[marinoman]

How the fuck do you drop your first game at home to the fucking Magic?
0 points from their all star pg

[HarlemHeat37]

Lmao yikes. Isn't Orlando the worst team in the playoffs too? I don't really know much about them at all.

Detroit is by far the worst playoff team and it isn't even close when you consider Griffin can't walk..

Orlando has been surprisingly good in the last 30 games..they're still going to lose this series, but they match up fairly well against both the Raptors and Sixers..

[Holden_Caulfield]

lol fuck kawhi. glad i saw the end of the game

[resistanze]

Spoke too soon. That was a classic Demar ending by #2.

Definitely was :lol, but Demar wouldn't even give you the first 46 minutes.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

0 points from their all star pg

And no answer for DJ Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams.

[Rosewood]

Definitely was :lol, but Demar wouldn't even give you the first 46 minutes. How you think Derozan does tonight though?

[Millennial_Messiah]

Is it just me or do the Craptors lose Game 1 of Round 1 at home every single year in the playoffs? It seems it's been that way since 2007 every year they've made it.

[resistanze]

Lowry was your killer, but gasol for valenchunks and Wright, hasn’t worked all year. Not hating, am I wrong, they’ve looked worse 2nd half of season

Gasol has been decent and Ibaka cannot guard Vucevic. Wright and Valecuenas was never part of a long term plan so it made no difference since they're going for broke with one year of nephew.

[marinoman]

What's funny looking at the box score is he goes 0-7 (0-6 3pt, 0-2 FT) and yet is the only starter with a positive +/- at +11

Plus minus is a dumbass stat, proven by when mills plays like shit dabom makes a thread bragging about his plus minus

[resistanze]

How you think Derozan does tonight though?

I'm terrified for playoff DeRozan. For his and the Spurs sake I hope he can actually surprise me tbh. This is a guy who had to believe benched in the 4th quarter last season.

[AaronY]

1117210414360801281

[RD2191]

Lowry will be the raps downfall. What a fucking scrub :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

Why? Last time I checked, DJ's metrics were pretty good.

Teams target him every game, one of the worst defensive players in the NBA..too bad Lowry couldn't take advantage:lol

[Capt Bringdown]

Helluva game

[TDMVPDPOY]

raptors is a poor constructed team, outside of kawhi and green

they got chucker ibaka
they got monkey baller siakram, oyunabi
they got empty stats filler no defense players like lin, van fleet, lowry

powel and wright sometimes have their moments of hero ball off the bench with poor selection shooting

[koriwhat]

Ahahaha fuck kawhi! This loss couldn't have happened to a bigger retard than kawhi. :tu

[Chris]

Ahahaha fuck kawhi! This loss couldn't have happened to a bigger retard than kawhi. :tu

That airball :lol

[lefty]

:cry Fournier
:cry algerian legend

[TDMVPDPOY]

3.5seconds for final play... yet goes kobe fade away 3ft away behind 3pt line... why didnt he dribble closer to the line and pull up?

[marinoman]

https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-22-2015/6bkYAC.gif

[ElNono]

Any Spurms fans gonna discuss how DJ Augustin schooled both Danny Green and Kawhi throughout the game and especially in the final two possessions of the game? :lol

[skin27]

raptors is a poor constructed team, outside of kawhi and green

they got chucker ibaka
they got monkey baller siakram, oyunabi
they got empty stats filler no defense players like lin, van fleet, lowry

powel and wright sometimes have their moments of hero ball off the bench with poor selection shooting


nope..they are stacked..tbh

[Texas_Ranger]

Respect Orlando. Didn't think they can win on the road.

Toronto is lucky Siakam developed so much, cause without him they would be fucked.

[WallyTiger]

the north can still win the series
may the nephew break legs

[MultiTroll]

Any Spurms fans gonna discuss how DJ Augustin schooled both Danny Green and Kawhi throughout the game and especially in the final two possessions of the game? :lol
Looked like Fat Gasol was totally not ready to switch. Nephew was getting screened out and Fatty was no where near Augustin on the game winner.

After the shot he glared at Nephew and opened his arms like "Why did you expect me to switch?"

[ambchang]

Looked like Fat Gasol was totally not ready to switch. Nephew was getting screened out and Fatty was no where near Augustin on the game winner.

After the shot he glared at Nephew and opened his arms like "Why did you expect me to switch?"

This is what happens when you take a third of the season off. No rapport with your teammates, especially those who just joined.

[daslicer]

the north can still win the series
may the nephew break legs

Obviously they should still win this series. If they don't it's a massive choke job.

[MultiTroll]

This is what happens when you take a third of the season off. No rapport with your teammates, especially those who just joined.
I thought that other center (Euro) who got injured was better then Fat Gasol.
Also, total cheapshot by Donkey to put Euro out of action. Corrupt NBA can really suck balls often.

[daslicer]

I thought that other center (Euro) who got injured was better then Fat Gasol.
Also, total cheapshot by Donkey to put Euro out of action. Corrupt NBA can really suck balls often.

Draymond did the same dirty play to Harrell last night. Swiped hard at Harrell's hand when going for the ball. Lucky for Harrell he was ok.

[MultiTroll]

Draymond did the same dirty play to Harrell last night. Swiped hard at Harrell's hand when going for the ball. Lucky for Harrell he was ok.
And did you see Donkey flop and roll and put his hands out (like the ballerina he is) falling unforced to the floor after a Clipper cleanly stripped him on the way to an attempted lay up? Early in the game.

[ElNono]

Looked like Fat Gasol was totally not ready to switch. Nephew was getting screened out and Fatty was no where near Augustin on the game winner.

After the shot he glared at Nephew and opened his arms like "Why did you expect me to switch?"

So you have the two best alleged perimeter defenders in the NBA, but we're going to blame the center for giving up a 3? :lol

[MultiTroll]

So you have the two best alleged perimeter defenders in the NBA, but we're going to blame the center for giving up a 3? :lol
Circumstances Senor.
At times yes a switcheroo will require an immobile center to at least shuffle his feat faster then a glacier.

[ElNono]

Circumstances Senor.
At times yes a switcheroo will require an immobile center to at least shuffle his feat faster then a glacier.

There was no reason to switch, DJ has been burning them from the perimeter all game. You let the big defend the paint.

[MultiTroll]

There was no reason to switch, DJ has been burning them from the perimeter all game. You let the big defend the paint.
Denver center was standing at the 3 point line at the time of the screen. After the *switch* Fat Gasol actually backs up giving Augustine even more room to shoot. Were Fat Gasol truly staying on Center he would have been near the center. I think what happened is Fat Gasol guessed wrong, anticipated that Augustin was going to drive and he was dead wrong. Wide wide open set your feet set shot.

Fatty could have defended much better. Now could Kwa have fought thru the screen much harder? Yes. But I think Augustine still gets a clear shot off with Fat Gasols utter lack of foot movement.

[ElNono]

Denver center was standing at the 3 point line at the time of the screen. After the *switch* Fat Gasol actually backs up giving Augustine even more room to shoot. Were Fat Gasol truly staying on Center he would have been near the center. I think what happened is Fat Gasol guessed wrong, anticipated that Augustin was going to drive and he was dead wrong. Wide wide open set your feet set shot.

Fatty could have defended much better. Now could Kwa have fought thru the screen much harder? Yes. But I think Augustine still gets a clear shot off with Fat Gasols utter lack of foot movement.

Kawhi goes over and they don't need to switch. It was Kawhi's man.

[HarlemHeat37]

Kawhi goes over and they don't need to switch. It was Kawhi's man.Nurse said Kawhi was supposed to fight through, but didn't .

[resistanze]

Of course that was Kawhi's fault, why would your two-time DPOY switch off the guard that's been torching your team all night in an end-game situation? :lol

[MultiTroll]

Of course that was Kawhi's fault, why would your two-time DPOY switch off the guard that's been torching your team all night in an end-game situation? :lol
Also weird how Kawhi back up. Well before the sideways jaunt by Augustine and subsequent launch. When Aug was dribbling in place between the half court line and the trey line. WTF is up with Kwa backing up a good 10 feet?

Maybe Donaghy was spot on. Half these games are farking fixed.

[spursistan]

Of course that was Kawhi's fault, why would your two-time DPOY switch off the guard that's been torching your team all night in an end-game situation? :lol

His defensive decline is real. If he is really not making an impact on that end, his offense isn't much of a game changer since he can't make his teammates better with the ball in his hands.

Kawhi offense is methodical and super efficient but isn't explosive enough to merit slacking off on D if his team want maximum value from him....

[140]

Lowry in game 1 of the playoffs, last five years:

0 pts
11 pts
4 pts
11 pts
7 pts

[TDMVPDPOY]

raptors starting more aggressive, but not hitting them open shots

[Texas_Ranger]

orlando offense looks ugly...

[TDMVPDPOY]

nephew with 2 quick fouls...

refs still dictating games with late bail out calls

[TDMVPDPOY]

raptors wasting energy and possession

magic slowly getting into the game

[TDMVPDPOY]

fleet is a fkn scrub, why does he play like he has the green light to chuck or over dribble the ball

[Rusty]

Vucebitch:lol

[resistanze]

Nephew going nuclear

[MultiTroll]

Nephew going nuclear
and Augustine not having another career night.

Nephew Haters gonna have to pick another night to sling.

[Rusty]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1118345197933551621

[Laker_1995]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1118345197933551621


Kawahi 70% healthy is the best raptor in history.

[Beartrucci]

Damn Kawhi is trash to start the game, killing team's momentum as he can't even get a shot over Isaac

doesnt matter right now though as Magic can't generate any offense

[resistanze]

Damn Kawhi is trash to start the game, killing team's momentum as he can't even get a shot over Isaac

doesnt matter right now though as Magic can't generate any offense

Nephew is just forcing shit up plus he's getting hacked quite a bit.

[Beartrucci]

Nephew is just forcing shit up plus he's getting hacked quite a bit.

Finally right now he played with real force. That was awesome. You're right they're letting guys hack him

[Beartrucci]

Magic finding their offense

[resistanze]

Ibaka's defense has fallen off a cliff.

[LkrFan]

Siakam is nice.

[Beartrucci]

Siakam is nice.

Future all star easily

[DC23]

Magic have 8 turnovers already. I'd love to see this series go at least 6.

[DC23]

Siakam is nice.
Will get a lot of votes for most improved, although I can't imagine D-Lo not winning.

[resistanze]

:lmao Get Ibaka the fuck off

[Raven]

this looks like a regular season game, with the crazy pace and tournovers

[Beartrucci]

God damn Kawhis shoulder strength :lol that was just funny

[resistanze]

smh KawhISO ball

[spursparker9]

Kawhi unstoppable

[140]

Vuc finally acting like somebody in this series

[D-Wade]

Damn Pascal all over the court. Looks like Russ and Ibaka are the first of the OKC brass to decline.

[Texas_Ranger]

Siakam saving Penis from the Magic.... pathetic. Raptors should be winning this games by 30.

[spursparker9]

Damn, Spurs should have ask for Pascal instead of DDR.

[resistanze]

Fat Ass saves Nephew's atrocious night.

[daslicer]

Number #2 with his typical garbage game after having a great game. Happened a lot during the playoffs when he played with the Spurs.

[Texas_Ranger]

you can tell that nephew didn't have rest in quite some time.

[spursistan]

Fat Ass saves Nephew's atrocious night.

Said it upstairs, but i don't think it is an unpopular opinion to say that if you look beyond PPG. Kawhi has regressed as a basketball player..

His defense has fallen off a cliff and that was not replaced by an sort of improvement in play-making ability now that he is soaking higher usage..

[mystargtr34]

Ibaka's defense has fallen off a cliff.

Yep.. dude is definitely 33-35 minimum. He had a hit of a resurgence the last two seasons but it’s more his offensive game that’s come around.. defense has been on a downward spiral for 5 years now.

[mystargtr34]

Btw getting Gasol was a huge pickup (and underrated). You need a smart guy like that in crunch time of important playoff games. Relying on Ibaka and JV in the playoffs would have been suicide.

[resistanze]

Damn, Spurs should have ask for Pascal instead of DDR.

They wouldn't even give up Anunoby (who's regressed terribly)...no way they were doing Siakam.

[resistanze]

Said it upstairs, but i don't think it is an unpopular opinion to say that if you look beyond PPG. Kawhi has regressed as a basketball player..

His defense has fallen off a cliff and that was not replaced by an sort of improvement in play-making ability now that he is soaking higher usage..

Yup. He has free reign to showcase his offense talents (since he's holding the Raps hostage), but his defense has been slightly above average all year. And he's not a good enough play-maker to be focusing that much on his offense (hence why he struggled against hard double teams tonight)

[apalisoc_9]

Said it upstairs, but i don't think it is an unpopular opinion to say that if you look beyond PPG. Kawhi has regressed as a basketball player..

His defense has fallen off a cliff and that was not replaced by an sort of improvement in play-making ability now that he is soaking higher usage..

Still the same. Just lazier on defense which is to be expected when you practiclly have 0 accountability.

In stretches this RS he looked even better.

Problem really is that no one holds him accountable now. The amount of braindead defensive decisioms hes made this RS is crazy relative to his old self in San antonio where he was held accountable for his mistakes

[DPG21920]

This game is off to a great start. Great energy and both teams dialed in. Should be a fun one.

[apalisoc_9]

Kawhi is like the 4th best defender out there. That raptors starting lineup is scary good defensively.

[DPG21920]

Kawhi is like the 4th best defender out there. That raptors starting lineup is scary good defensively.

They’ve been really good at creating TO. ORL is actually getting good looks when they are not coughing it up, but TOR is so disruptive

[spursistan]

Kawhi is like the 4th best defender out there. That raptors starting lineup is scary good defensively.

He is done as an All-NBA defender. Just running on reputation now..

[apalisoc_9]

He is done as an All-NBA defender. Just running on reputation now..

The tools are there. Hes had stretches this year where he looked even better defemsively than his SA days, but hes never going to putting in the same.effort anymore night in qnd night out.

[Rusty]

he'll start playing defense again once he gets that max contract

[TDMVPDPOY]

vf is a fkn scrub, why does he play like he thinks he has the green light to chuckk?

[LkrFan]

Siakam >> Kuz >Tatum

[LkrFan]

Said it upstairs, but i don't think it is an unpopular opinion to say that if you look beyond PPG. Kawhi has regressed as a basketball player..

His defense has fallen off a cliff and that was not replaced by an sort of improvement in play-making ability now that he is soaking higher usage..

^ still in DENIAL stage of grief :lol

[Spurtacular]

"Took a long time" to get healthy, Kawhi said in the postgame interview. :lol

[LkrFan]

He is done as an All-NBA defender. Just running on reputation now..

1120136940748038145

:claw

[mystargtr34]

The Raptors were crazy good on D tonight.. so in tune with rotations and switching. Green-Kawhi-Siakam basically switch everything on D which is a big advantage because all three can guard on the perimeter and in the post. Will be huge against Golden State in the Finals switching between Steph, KD and Klaynus.

Lowry for all his choking still takes charges, gets deflections and makes big 1% plays.

[apalisoc_9]

1120136940748038145

:claw

Raptors vs Warriors finals would be like a a dude confused about his sexuality with spursfans. :lol

They wont know who to cheer :lol

[UZER]

Raptors vs Warriors finals would be like a a dude confused about his sexuality with spursfans. :lol

They wont know who to cheer :lol

I’ll root for Kawhi. I despised they way the dude left and called him a bitch for it, but it would be naive to think that Pop was not a big part of the problem. Just look at how he coaches. We can all see how he loves ruling with an iron fist. We can all see how he tries to bend every player to his system regardless of their skill set. Hell how many times recently was it brought up hoe he tried to change Manu over and over. Why? Who does that? We all can see the ridiculous micromanaging and complete disregard for what players are actually bringing during a specific game, and instead going with “well it wouldn’t be fair...” I’m mean, even Aldridge asked for a trade because Pop was trying to change his game.

Kawhi winning a ring would be a big FU to Pop and his senile ways these days. It would shine a light on how stupid he was to let his ego be so big that he could alienate a player of Kawhi’s caliber.

[LkrFan]

Raptors vs Warriors finals would be like a a dude confused about his sexuality with spursfans. :lol

They wont know who to cheer :lol

:lol

[mystargtr34]

I'm a Raps fan these playoffs.. because of Kawhi.. only the real Spurs homers hate Kawhi because they think the Spurs can do no wrong. but like Uzer said.. the Spurs are a military camp and won't bend to anyone, unfortunately its a players league and Tim Duncan was the exception as a superstar and not the norm. What worked with Tim probably didn't work with Kawhi. Plus, Kawhi bought the Spurs a championship and basically changed the direction of the franchise when he was drafted in 2012.

IMO the Raps and the Rockets are the only teams that can beat the Warriors. If Houston doesn't do it in the second round.. it'll have to be the Raptors.

Lol Milwaukee.

[Rusty]

Raptors vs Warriors finals would be like a a dude confused about his sexuality with spursfans. :lol

They wont know who to cheer :lol
:lol

[ambchang]

I’ll root for Kawhi. I despised they way the dude left and called him a bitch for it, but it would be naive to think that Pop was not a big part of the problem. Just look at how he coaches. We can all see how he loves ruling with an iron fist. We can all see how he tries to bend every player to his system regardless of their skill set. Hell how many times recently was it brought up hoe he tried to change Manu over and over. Why? Who does that? We all can see the ridiculous micromanaging and complete disregard for what players are actually bringing during a specific game, and instead going with “well it wouldn’t be fair...” I’m mean, even Aldridge asked for a trade because Pop was trying to change his game.

Kawhi winning a ring would be a big FU to Pop and his senile ways these days. It would shine a light on how stupid he was to let his ego be so big that he could alienate a player of Kawhi’s caliber.

Pop’s style changed 4 to 5 major times during his tenure with the spurs to adjust to the rosters strength.

The comments around manu was how he wanted him to tone down and cut the silly TOs. He eventually realized that to reign him in would cut the positives that the hectic style would bring so he worked that into the game plan.

The spurs offense is all built around the mid range game now, which is opposite to the leagues trend but the style for Aldridge and derozan.

[Raven]

honestly, I have trouble believing Toronto wont win it all. The defensive potential is just unheard of..

[D-Wade]

Somehow, Siakam is playing even better under the bright lights. Still, I think the Eastern Conference champ is coming out of the Bucks v. Celtics

[DAF86]

Raptors vs Warriors finals would be like a a dude confused about his sexuality with spursfans. :lol

They wont know who to cheer :lol

lol what? Warriors all the way son.

[Johojowhite]

Somehow, Siakam is playing even better under the bright lights. Still, I think the Eastern Conference champ is coming out of the Bucks v. Celtics
Raptors are way better than the Celtics lol.

[mystargtr34]

Raps in 5.

Raps will win the 'ship this year imo.

Bump. Had to.