Still waiting for Godot ... | Staff writer for @RaptorsRepublic | Bylines: @Raptors, @Sportsnet, @ClutchPointsAPP | Host of @WritersWritePod
Toronto, Ontario
Joined August 2009
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“Fred giving a shoutout to Rockford with his busted tooth—I mean, that was half-hockey, half-basketball, all Rockford."
All NBA players have some level of impact. But few have had the effect VanVleet has had on Rockford. My final feature, for @Raptors: nba.com/raptors/joshua-howe/…
If you’re going to be a good team, you need to find myriad ways to win, and that includes grinding out ugly games.
We’re obviously far from the best version of this squad, but you’ll take a 2-0 start however you can get it.
I’m a big fan of Walter’s game, man. Sticky, poised. Still lots of room to grow. Can’t wait to see how things unfold for him this year.
The calling card of the 2019 squad was its lockdown defense. Completely different team now in a million ways, but just fun to see another Kawhi-led, defense-first Raps roster.
It’s early days, and the Raptors’ offense will improve over time. The defense, however, is already so good that it’s making up for all the clunkiness on the other end.
Less than two minutes into the game, Kawhi has hit a top-of-the-arc triple and made a steal that led to a Barrett fast-break bucket.
Raps up 7-0. Chicago timeout.
He’s back!
Finally. So ready to get back to basketball.
No severe punishment for Kawhi — no suspension, contract remains intact. If the Raptors were waiting (by all accounts, they were) to finalize the trade, there’s nothing stopping them now.
Kyle Lowry Over Everything. For a six-foot (at best) guard to play 20 seasons with such a level of physicality … Incredible.
Time to build the statue. Need it to be either him taking a charge, or the face he made when TOR beat MIL to go to The Finals.
I think the general discourse around Poeltl has been a bit disingenuous due to a season marred by injury. He's only 30 years old (he'll be 31 in October), and still has significant value in being an efficient, low-usage finisher and quality screener. Just needs to stay healthy.
I fully expect Kyle’s jersey retirement ceremony to be incredible. The Raptors will surely pull out all the stops.
Over Everything!
Per the team, Collin Murray-Boyles is changing his jersey number from No. 12 to No. 30. He wore No. 30 at South Carolina.
Only five players in the league last season took at least 10 pull-up jumpers a game and shot an EFG% of 50 or better:
- SGA (56.2%)
- Luka (53.2%)
- Kawhi (52.5%)
- Brunson (50.4%)
- Edwards (50.1%)
There were only three players in the NBA last season who played at least 60 games and averaged 30+ minutes, a 60+ TS%, a 30+ USG%, and a net rating of 7.0 or better:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Donovan Mitchell
- Kawhi Leonard