2-14-21 Raptors GTD

[Lipoli390]

Listening to KAT's post-game interview tonight reminds me why I've been confident that it will be quite a while before KAT pushes for a trade. It's clear that KAT really likes being the team's leader. He likes playing the role of mentor to the young guys and having the team develop around him and under his leadership. I think that one of the reasons he didn't mesh with Butler was because KAT took the leadership mantle away from KAT.

Sure, at some point losing will prompt KAT to want out. But I think that possibility is still pretty far down the road, especially given the oddity of this season with KAT missing so many games and the whole Covid thing. The development of Edwards, McDaniels and Vando is evident. If that development continues, DLO comes back strong and KAT stays healthy, this team might be able to finish the season on an uptick. You can't write off the position of this team coming back strong and making the playoffs next season. If that happens, then KAT will likely be here for the duration of his contract.

[Lipoli390]

Fair, but does COVID affect decision-making on the court too? That would be a new discovery.

That wouldn't be a new discovery. Lasting impact on mental acuity, often referred to as brain fog, is a well documented residual effect of Covid. As I said in my post, I know at least one person still experiencing this phenomenon months after getting over her infection back in November. Two weeks ago, she was driving and completely forgot where she was going. As you know, even a very minor loss of quick mental reaction would be readily apparent at the NBA level. Add that to the fact that Ricky is adjusting to a new team with a bad head coach and a lot of really young players. I've been as critical of Ricky as anyone this season, but given that Ricky's decision-making has always been one of his a strong suits, it's perfectly reasonable the believe that at least some of surprisingly poor play we've seen from Ricky might be attributable to residential impacts of Covid.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Heck of a win against a solid Toronto team that has won 5 out of their last 7.

- McDaniels is getting close to putting the final nail in Okogie's coffin, no? I mean when you have a guy that can guard Siakam on one end and then swish an open corner 3 on the other, it's kind of a no-brainer. And he's only going to get better.

- Lowry's foul-drawing hacks were starting to get annoying. Pisses me off the way these little fire hydrant like guys are just allowed to throw themselves into the body of people and then blow a gasket if a whistle doesn't blow. Inevitably, the whistle starts to blow....

- Rubio was due. He couldn't possibly shoot the ball that bad all season. Still, I think the Raptors will live with those shots. He just finally made a few.

- KAT was getting swarmed. Wowzers.

- Reid was pretty bad again. Though he was the one guy that had kind of a crappy game in what was otherwise a really balanced team performance.

- Really would like to see Edwards develop that 3-ball. He will be so dangerous if that ever comes around.

- Thought Vando got back on track after a few iffy games. He still bobbles too many balls and doesn't make smart fouls, but he was good enough tonight.

We're still losing a bunch of games, but they have all been pretty close lately. Overall, the team has been playing competitive ball, but just weren't able to close many of them of late. We were due.

[Leado01]

Great team effort. Ball movement was really good at times. They went to KAT more in the 4th. Beasley, ANT ETC...

Okogie feels very much like odd man out as we are better defensively than have been and team defensive concepts have been coming together.

My biggest bitch is the same bitch I've thrown out way too many times....we have to get some calls. You can't win in general shooting 1/2 the free throws of your competition. Players and coaches need to figure out how to ride officials harder. It's really hard to get calls with young players but it's insane how few calls Kat and Beasley get and I do blame the coaches and even the front office for letting the officials off too easy.

[Coolbreeze44]

I can't remember if it was on this forum several years ago, but I read a post from a guy who went to college with Lowry. He said Lowry was notorious for cheating off his test papers. Kind of makes sense now.

[thedoper]

I can't remember if it was on this forum several years ago, but I read a post from a guy who went to college with Lowry. He said Lowry was notorious for cheating off his test papers. Kind of makes sense now.

Lowry is a bulldog and has been underrated his whole career. The flopping is annoying but he's tough as nails.

[Crazysauce]

One thing I didn't see pointed out is the wolves had lost 16 in a row to the raptors in Toronto. This win ends that terrible streak.

Really am enjoying watching edwards play. He's so aggressive going to the rim. Love McDaniels. Kat looked really sluggish tonight. As someone who has had covid, it's really hard to breathe at times.

I really want to see cook given the 2 way and have him come up and take juanchos minutes. That boys been ballin in the g league.

Nice to get a win but we need a new coach, but I think everyone knows that already.

[Lipoli390]

I agree with those who see Okogie as the odd man out give the way McDaniels has been playing his untapped upside. I've always been a huge Okogie fan, but there's no denying what McDaniels brings to the table on both ends and his potential going forward. His length on the defensive end and ability to hit open threes fit a desperate need on this team.

[kekgeek]

I agree with those who see Okogie as the odd man out give the way McDaniels has been playing his untapped upside. I've always been a huge Okogie fan, but there's no denying what McDaniels brings to the table on both ends and his potential going forward. His length on the defensive end and ability to hit open threes fit a desperate need on this team.

I've never been a big Okogie guy but I feel sort of bad for him. He seems like a good dude, seems like he likes Minnesota, has some NBA skill sets and can in theory change the game with his energy, he works his ass off but at the end of the day he might be out of the league because he just can't shoot. Teams don't guard him anymore and that is the kiss of death. He is so a good cutter, a solid defender, even a decent passer when he drives but he could never learn to shoot. I give you shit because he will be in year 15 and lip will be like he shot well in college. Haha. It is werid though he is a good FT and did shoot well in college but he can't make shots at the pro level.

Hope he gets a 2nd contract somewhere because he does seem like a good dude but I think his time with the wolves is done. Thibs 3 1st round picks shot a combined 238-825 from 3 28.8% gross!

[kekgeek]

After tonight's game, arguably Ricky Rubio's best of the season, Rubio spoke postgame about how his "spirit" was really down at the beginning of the season.

He credited one teammate for the shift in his spirit over the past few weeks... Anthony Edwards.

Per Dane Moore