Was going to watch until I saw the early lead and just been checking in on outside chance the game gets good. Box score suggest all starters but Kawhi playing like ass.
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Good summary. Klay’s offensive talents seem to similarly be built about the same movement and picks pre KD as well but to a lesser extent since he’s not Curry.
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I'd be more concerned when a guy hands Kyle Lowry 3 years/$100 million. That's beyond stupid.
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Let's hope it's the Lakers.
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Raptors don't beat the 76ers without Gasol completely shutting down one of the best scorers in the NBA.
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I disagree. I still think they could’ve beat them even if they didnt make that trade.
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Bucks forced other players than Kawhi to make shots to beat them with their traps. They didn't make the shots. Siakam has become a non-factor and Lowry went back to being who he (quite often) is.

Series comes down to Sunday. Raptors will likely regret choking that game 1 away after outplaying the Bucks for nearly its entirety.
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We'll never know, but Embiid was an offensive non-factor entirely because Gasol was there.
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True.

But its not like they bad paint defense prior to getting him?

I would’ve been just fine w/ Ibaka playing centre. In fact, I think their best starting lineup throughout the season was: Siakam, Ibaka, Leonard, Lowry, Green

They should’ve kept it that way. That lineup was clicking. The fact that they traded for Gasol not only put them at a disadvantage offensively bit also depleted their bench.

The Raptors had a good balance of defense, scoring, depth and a good mix of youth and veteran leadership.

Masai tore that apart at the expense of the Gasol trade. And now if it doesn’t work out and Leonard dips in the offseason, I think they have no other option but to blow this thing up.

But the question is, who do you build around? Theyre left w/ Siakam, Powell and Anunoby thats it. Would’ve been nice instead if it was Siakam, Anunoby, Powell, JV and Delon Wright.
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I think the Raptors would’ve had a better chance competing against Milwaukee had they not made the Gasol trade.

I’d bench him. He is so terrible offensively. He needs to get out of town. They gave up too much for a rental player who wasnt even here for half a season and plus he is making what? $24 mill?? Clearly not worth it. They sacrificed part of their future and rebuild for a 34 year old rental player that played like trash. Ha! Bad bad trade Masai. Shame on you.

I don’t care how good he has been defensively. Its not enough. He was brought there to be the influential piece but clearly hasn’t shown it enough. Because he is proving he is nothing but a one-dimensional player. The Raptors got him to play a two way game. What difference does it make from him compared to Biyombo 2 years ago? He did what Gasol did if not better and at much less of a fraction of the cost. That how I see it.
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He also seemed to have some other weird health stuff going on but no disagreement Gasol matched up very well with him.
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How has Gasol slowed down Embiid so much every time they play? I don't remember Gasol being that great of a defender, and Embiid with his talent should score 30 on him every single time. I guess Gasol just has his number?
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https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...ds-kryptonite/

Yeah but wasn't just that series, though. Embiid was also still more or less the same incredibly impactful defender he always has been.
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Gasol won DPOY in 2013. He was elite then, still is very good. And if you think about it, there just aren't that many good defensive post bigs in the NBA any longer. Embiid's able to have his way with most guys.
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I agree with you.

I don’t like the contract myself and sadly I think he was their best option.

The money he got was top elite player money. He thinks he is worth that but he is clearly not. Thats the way the economics of the game is today or in any sport for that matter. 2nd tier players are going to get paid and over valued.

They could’ve signed a superstar with that money but none of them want to play in Toronto and so the Raptors are stuck w/ Kyle Lowry.
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