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Is Evolution Enough for DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors?
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TLDR:
Of course, that’s the first question on everybody’s lips during these playoffs: Can things really change? Are the Warriors really vulnerable? Will LeBron really slip up before the Finals? Is DeRozan really more than a Kobe clone in the wrong era? Is Toronto not, in fact, Toronto anymore?
No, Toronto is very much still Toronto.
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On May 04 2018 13:46 andrewlt wrote: Raptors in playoffs form against the Cavs.
Maybe they should just sag off Lebron until he feels like he's shooting a free throw. He seems better at the off balance turnaround fadeaway while falling down shit. This always gets me lol.
Honestly they should trade Lowry. DD, JV and the mob bench can work it out with another superstar.
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On May 04 2018 16:33 MassHysteria wrote: Coach Brown needs to step it up a little. Stevens out-coaching him these games while exposing Simmons. Horford and Morris doing work on D on him and their switching on PnR's is on point. BOS knows Simmons don't wanna shoot and they executing that plan well. Wait and watch time now to see what Brown can do to adjust (should have already). Isn't the adjustment just telling Simmons, "ride or die" and hoping he can make enough to allow an offense to work? Its just not possible to run an offense against this defense if they can give the ballhandler free 12 footers. Other than that you could try Embiid inside out (but then you are playing 4 v 5) or a wierd iso style (but again those require your ballhandler to take an open 12 footer).
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BOS vs. MIL demonstrates that good coach + system > talent
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On May 04 2018 17:30 cLutZ wrote:Show nested quote +On May 04 2018 16:33 MassHysteria wrote: Coach Brown needs to step it up a little. Stevens out-coaching him these games while exposing Simmons. Horford and Morris doing work on D on him and their switching on PnR's is on point. BOS knows Simmons don't wanna shoot and they executing that plan well. Wait and watch time now to see what Brown can do to adjust (should have already). Isn't the adjustment just telling Simmons, "ride or die" and hoping he can make enough to allow an offense to work? Its just not possible to run an offense against this defense if they can give the ballhandler free 12 footers. Other than that you could try Embiid inside out (but then you are playing 4 v 5) or a wierd iso style (but again those require your ballhandler to take an open 12 footer). Yea you are right in that the coach can only do so much. It's more about just putting him in a better position to succeed.
This guy went into a lot of detail on this today; check out this thread if you can : + Show Spoiler +
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so how bad of a shooter was simmons when he got drafted. i feel like an entire year on the sidelines would have been enough time to develop a shot.
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did the DRs say Simmons could repeatedly jump and land while he was rehabbing his foot? if not then he could not practice his shot.
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On May 05 2018 05:06 MassHysteria wrote:Show nested quote +On May 04 2018 17:30 cLutZ wrote:On May 04 2018 16:33 MassHysteria wrote: Coach Brown needs to step it up a little. Stevens out-coaching him these games while exposing Simmons. Horford and Morris doing work on D on him and their switching on PnR's is on point. BOS knows Simmons don't wanna shoot and they executing that plan well. Wait and watch time now to see what Brown can do to adjust (should have already). Isn't the adjustment just telling Simmons, "ride or die" and hoping he can make enough to allow an offense to work? Its just not possible to run an offense against this defense if they can give the ballhandler free 12 footers. Other than that you could try Embiid inside out (but then you are playing 4 v 5) or a wierd iso style (but again those require your ballhandler to take an open 12 footer). Yea you are right in that the coach can only do so much. It's more about just putting him in a better position to succeed. This guy went into a lot of detail on this today; check out this thread if you can : + Show Spoiler +
I mean, IMO in that situation, the obvious play is to just pass to Embiid, and set a screen and Embiid should just manmode the 3 if the man goes under, if they switch/he goes over it plays right into Philly's hands and Simmons is going to the basket with a head of steam and a half step on his man. Still, the plan always will require someone to make shots or scare them.
I mean, heck, he could also just dribble straight at his man and see if he keeps retreating. If you have an open 2 from the elbow you just have to take that. Sure, Philly should be trying to win the series, but they also should be forcing Simmons to play playoff basketball and not coddling him. It would have to be a freak injury year ala the 2015 Warriors title for a team to win a title with a wing/guard as a top 2 (3 even) player on the team to win a title with that little natural shooting threat.
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On May 05 2018 06:32 JimmyJRaynor wrote: did the DRs say Simmons could repeatedly jump and land while he was rehabbing his foot? if not then he could not practice his shot.
![[image loading]](https://media.golfdigest.com/photos/5a009252c979d54140edbed5/master/pass/171106-gordon-hayward-th.png)
nah man cant do it.
he was ready to play at the beginning of the season, so i imagine he would've been healthy by july/august last year. u saying he cant have a decent shot by now? im not asking him to drain 3s like curry btw.
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Wow! How did GSW manage to come back and win that game being 20+ down early in the 4th!!!
+ Show Spoiler +jk. GSW seems out of it this game. maybe championship fatigue or spill over of being lazy all season. This year's championship is really wide open, it's just too bad BOS dont have GH and Kyrie, Sixers look raw, Houston looks beatable, Toronto is back to their true form. So it might be GSW vs CLE again.
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LOL Houston. Is this shit even legal? Gotdamn.
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I expected Houston to beat us down but this is rough. We've been straight booty this game.
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Slamonline Top 100 All-Time
1. MJ 2. Kobe + Show Spoiler +although Slamonline misspelled #2 as #5 3. Magic 4. Kareem 5. Lebron + Show Spoiler +could be #3, but he is ok here with all the Laker love by Slam. To be reassessed after he retires 6. Shaq 7. Russel 8. Wilt 9. TD 10. Bird
TBH, MJ is sure #1 with #2.5 to Kobe and LBJ, depending on your taste. Magic is overrated, I can't imagine a valid reason putting him above Kareem, Shaq, TD, or Bird. Kareem is tricky. If you go all traditional on the metrics, he is clearly #1, even bumping off Jordan, But with all the modern expectations of a player, he always gets the short end of the stick. His only real negative is that he was neither popular nor spectator-friendly.
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Welp, he's all but officially gone.
It's just sad that money/fame was even part of the discussion, it's such an anti-Spurs thing. If Kawhi indeed leaves, good luck to him and I hope he achieves his superstar potential, and I hope the Spurs get a good deal out of his exit.
A league source told Business Insider that Leonard’s agency and family have never been fond of Texas and feel that San Antonio, a small market, has hurt Leonard’s marketability when it comes to sponsors. The same source said Leonard’s shy personality is more to blame for his inability to get more sponsorships than San Antonio’s market size. Lebron, KD, and now Kawhi, all legit super superstars, are chosing to control of their careers and we can't blame them. It's also criminally backward to fantasize the bygone eras when players just shut up and played under team owners and coaches. But Silver needs to find a balance to ensure at least a semblance of parity within the league.
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On May 05 2018 20:56 Twinkle Toes wrote:Welp, he's all but officially gone.It's just sad that money/fame was even part of the discussion, it's such an anti-Spurs thing. If Kawhi indeed leaves, good luck to him and I hope he achieves his superstar potential, and I hope the Spurs get a good deal out of his exit. Show nested quote +A league source told Business Insider that Leonard’s agency and family have never been fond of Texas and feel that San Antonio, a small market, has hurt Leonard’s marketability when it comes to sponsors. The same source said Leonard’s shy personality is more to blame for his inability to get more sponsorships than San Antonio’s market size. Lebron, KD, and now Kawhi, all legit super superstars, are chosing to control of their careers and we can't blame them. It's also criminally backward to fantasize the bygone eras when players just shut up and played under team owners and coaches. But Silver needs to find a balance to ensure at least a semblance of parity within the league.
this isnt some new trend, every player can control their careers (the one exception is when they get drafted, but even then we've seen cases where they can still dictate where they end up), but most take the financial security when given the choice.
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On May 05 2018 07:16 cLutZ wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2018 05:06 MassHysteria wrote:On May 04 2018 17:30 cLutZ wrote:On May 04 2018 16:33 MassHysteria wrote: Coach Brown needs to step it up a little. Stevens out-coaching him these games while exposing Simmons. Horford and Morris doing work on D on him and their switching on PnR's is on point. BOS knows Simmons don't wanna shoot and they executing that plan well. Wait and watch time now to see what Brown can do to adjust (should have already). Isn't the adjustment just telling Simmons, "ride or die" and hoping he can make enough to allow an offense to work? Its just not possible to run an offense against this defense if they can give the ballhandler free 12 footers. Other than that you could try Embiid inside out (but then you are playing 4 v 5) or a wierd iso style (but again those require your ballhandler to take an open 12 footer). Yea you are right in that the coach can only do so much. It's more about just putting him in a better position to succeed. This guy went into a lot of detail on this today; check out this thread if you can : + Show Spoiler + .. Sure, Philly should be trying to win the series, but they also should be forcing Simmons to play playoff basketball and not coddling him. It would have to be a freak injury year ala the 2015 Warriors title for a team to win a title with a wing/guard as a top 2 (3 even) player on the team to win a title with that little natural shooting threat. Adjusting to how a team is defending you is not coddling, it's the very definition of playoff basketball. It's a series for a reason. You have all summer and regular season to work on stuff you are weak at. Maximizing your team's chances of winning in the playoffs should be the main focus.
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Ibaka on the bench and starting FVV? 
ball movement sounds great in theory and great in Kobe's Detail series. But, when guys without a soft touch are asked to frequently handle, dribble and pass under duress you end up with a bazillion live ball turnovers like the Raptors have coughed up during this playoff season and like Philly has all season. ISO ball does have its benefits.
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that was a fun game 3! Those killer TO's by PHI though.
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