This is usually the NBA Hangover, when we jot down thoughts about the league from the previous night. No Stupid Power Rankings today due to the events of 8 days ago. But we’ll be back to a regularly scheduled program tomorrow, complete with Bullet Passes and possibly other new (or returning!) features here. Please stay tuned. Thanks!
The Raptors just keep winning.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images.)
I’m trying my best to refresh myself after all that has happened. The last time I talked about the Raptors was the 23rd when I said it was business as usual.
They had won five straight games when I wrote that entry. Since that time? They won another six straight.
Skeptics will always bring up strength of schedule. But the fact of the matter is that they’re getting it done. They continue to play excellent defense (2nd in defensive rating as they’re allowing 104.7 points per 100 possessions). They did lose Norman Powell yet again (due to an injured finger) but goodness, the Raptors are so good at having a reserve player ready to go. Pascal Siakam is back to where he left off when he got hurt. Fred VanVleet continues to prove everyone wrong. Kyle Lowry is still steady. Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka continue to stop everyone in the paint.
And then there are the guys that don’t get much publicity. Terence Davis scored a career-best 31 points against the Bulls. OG Anunoby continues to be a menace defensively. Patrick McCaw, Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Matt Thomas all have gotten looks. The Raptors, along with Eastern Conference all-star coach Nick Nurse, are doing all the adjustments possible depending on their opponent. Their versatility and adaptability have really helped them throughout that season. And we all saw those attributes when they were facing the Golden State Warriors in last year’s Finals.
The Raptors continue to impress in a post-Kawhi Leonard world (some will remind you right now that the Raptors have a better record than the Kawhi-led Clippers). Maybe it’s the championship swagger. Maybe it’s the disrespect that they feel from everyone else. Or maybe they’ve really been that good all along. After all, they’ve made the postseason the last 6 seasons. A lot of pundits still probably won’t pick them to win the championship. But teams will have to figure them out first.
Here’s your scoreboard and play:
The Scoreboard
DEN 123 (34-16) @ DET 128 (18-33) (OT)
NO 109 (20-30) @ HOU 117 (31-18)
PHX 108 (20-29) @ MIL 129 (42-7)
CHI 102 (19-33) @ TOR 129 (36-14)
Watch This Play
Ben McLemore took Jaxson Hayes to the thrift shop.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Chaz Clavant NBA.)
WHAT? I THOUGHT THE REFERENCE WAS FUNNY.
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
For the rest of the season, I will sign off with GG, which usually means “Good Game.” But we also know “Gigi” is Gianna Bryant’s nickname. This will be my tribute to her.