Gt - 18/01/2015 - New Orleans Pelicans (19-20) @ Toronto Raptors (26-13)

[Done_And_Done]

........

[Fudge]

Any Pels fans know if Jrue Holiday is playing today?

[LoneyROY7]

Any Pels fans know if Jrue Holiday is playing today?

Your fantasy team is whack.

[Fudge]

Your fantasy team is whack.
Shut the fvck up bro. I'll put you in a headlock.

I got a lot of money on the line this year. Quit fvcking around.

[LoneyROY7]

Shut the fvck up bro. I'll put you in a headlock.

I got a lot of money on the line this year. Quit fvcking around.

:roll:

BG f*cking up your rebounding numbers bad doe.

[Fudge]

:roll:

BG f*cking up your rebounding numbers bad doe.
I know. That fvcking *****. Oh well, I have Z Bo and Chandler holding me down on the boards.

And fuuuuuuuuuck this niiiiiigggggaaaa Jew Holiday. Out again. :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021400608


The*Toronto Raptors*haven't been able to move past their recent struggles despite*DeMar DeRozan's return, though they could catch a break in the finale of a disappointing homestand.

With*Anthony Davis*and*Jrue Holiday*likely to be game-time decisions for New Orleans, the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors try to avoid their seventh loss in nine games Sunday by winning a seventh straight against the visiting Pelicans.

Toronto (26-13) owned the best record in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 28 following an 8-1 stretch. Since then, the club hasn't been able to win consecutive games thanks in part to its inconsistent play defensively.

The Raptors have given up 115.6 points per game -- 16.5 more than they allowed through 28 games -- over their last seven losses after letting Atlanta shoot 60.9 percent in Friday's 110-89 defeat.

They've surrendered an average of 90.0 points in their two wins on this six-game stay, though one of those victories came against Philadelphia.

"We just started to get a little overconfident," reserve forward*James Johnson*said.

DeRozan, the team's second-leading scorer, has scored a combined 45 on 20-of-32 shooting in two games since missing 21 due to a torn tendon in his groin. His 25 points couldn't keep Toronto from putting up a season-low total against the Hawks.

DeRozan finished with 31 points in the most recent meeting with New Orleans in a 107-100 road victory March 19.

Kyle Lowry*has averaged 13.0 points on 35.0 percent shooting in his last three games. However, he totaled 42 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds to help the Raptors take both meetings last season.

Holiday missed both and Davis sat out one due to an illness, and those two could be missing again after being sidelined in Friday's 96-81 loss at Philadelphia.

Alexis Ajinca*had 16 points and 14 rebounds but*Tyreke Evans*was held to eight points and had seven turnovers for New Orleans, which fell to 7-15 on the road.

After averaging 103.7 points and shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range in winning two of their previous three games, the Pelicans (19-20) shot 38.7 percent overall and missed 13 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc Friday.

Davis sat out with a sprained left toe suffered late in Wednesday's win at Detroit. Holiday missed a second straight game with right ankle inflammation.

"I still think the guys who are on the floor know how we are supposed to play," coach Monty Williams said after the Pelicans dropped to 0-10 when registering 18 assists or fewer. "Defend, play hard and share the ball. When we do it, we whip teams. When we don't, we look like we did (Friday)."

Perhaps Evans, who had scored 19.4 per game over his previous nine, can bounce back in this one. He's averaging 23.3 in his last four versus Toronto.

The Pelicans have been playing better defensively of late, allowing 95.1 points per game and a 29.7 3-point percentage in their last seven. They haven't forced more than 12 turnovers in any of their last six games, but the Raptors have committed 17-plus giveaways five times in their past six.

New Orleans has lost its last four trips to Toronto.

[SugarHill]

Davis + Raps = dis gon be good

[LoneyROY7]

Davis + Raps = dis gon be good

No Davis today. Gonna be the Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans show for the Pels. :roll:

[Legends66NBA7]

Davis + Raps = dis gon be good

Won't be in today.

Lucky I watched him live last year. The most interesting sequence was DeMar making a ridiculousy tough shot over Davis switched/closing out on him. I was sure as hell Davis was going to block his shot.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

No Davis today. Gonna be the Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans show for the Pels. :roll:

Davis isn't playing? Sounds like a wash, not gonna be worth watching.

[SugarHill]

Won't be in today.

Lucky I watched him live last year. The most interesting sequence was DeMar making a ridiculousy tough shot over Davis switched/closing out on him. I was sure as hell Davis was going to block his shot.

No Davis today. Gonna be the Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans show for the Pels. :roll:


http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3eo9wj1jz1qbaywxo1_400.gif

[hawksdogsbraves]

The Pels are an abortion of a team without Davis

[SugarHill]

lol this offense and score

[Fudge]

Tyreke Evans is a terrible basketball player.

[Legends66NBA7]

This game literally sucks. I don't even know what I'm watching.

[SugarHill]

It's actually entertainingly bad

[Kungfro]

This game literally sucks. I don't even know what I'm watching.

Seriously. Pelicans at least have a reason to be playing poorly with Davis and Holiday out, Raps have no excuse.

[Fudge]

How is this dumbo lookin niga Eric Gordon still in the league? Sit down...for life.

[Legends66NBA7]

Casey not bringing in any subs in his first timeout is unacceptable.

[LoneyROY7]

How is this dumbo lookin niga Eric Gordon still in the league? Sit down...for life.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Getting that max money dooooeeee. :applause:

[Sakkreth]

Wow a game that it's not usual 3-4am for me and they play like that... :facepalm

[Legends66NBA7]

Lithuanian fans in the house today.

[Twiens]

Can't watch this one today but 9 points!?! What the hell is wrong with us lately. ISO ball so far today?

[Legends66NBA7]

That has to be one of the worst 1st quarters I've seen this team ever play.

[Legends66NBA7]

Can't watch this one today but 9 points!?! What the hell is wrong with us lately. ISO ball so far today?

They are missing shots they usually make. Turnovers continue to mount.

This is all without the Pelicans having Davis and Holiday.

[Legends66NBA7]

Leo's wife, though...

[Kungfro]

Getting blown out by the Pelicans without Davis or Holiday, gotta be the low point of the year so far. :facepalm

[Legends66NBA7]

Getting blown out by the Pelicans without Davis or Holiday, gotta be the low point of the year so far. :facepalm

I was actually thinking of going to this game live.

Better judgment saved me. :oldlol:

[Kungfro]

Finally the Raptors wake up, and it all happens with Ross on the bench.

[Legends66NBA7]

The 14 Raptors have come back. :applause:

[24-Inch_Chrome]

"Their first lead since Wednesday" :wtf:

At least the Raps have some momentum going now, starting to round into form.

[Legends66NBA7]

"Their first lead since Wednesday" :wtf:

At least the Raps have some momentum going now, starting to round into form.

Raptors were leading briefly during that AAtlanta game.

[Legends66NBA7]

For those not watching, Ross got benched. Vasquez started the 2nd half.

[yeaaaman]

Just because someone has a height advantage doesn't make it a mismatch. Someone needs to have the requisite skills to exploit that mismatch, or else it doesn't matter.

[Legends66NBA7]

Just because someone has a height advantage doesn't make it a mismatch. Someone needs to have the requisite skills to exploit that mismatch, or else it doesn't matter.

Who are you talking about ?

[LoneyROY7]

Tyreke Evans doe. :lol

[yeaaaman]

Who are you talking about ?

Vasquez on Ferdette.

He was also almost completely vertical on that last defensive posession where Evans scored :oldlol:

[Legends66NBA7]

Well, that was terrible. Bad homestand and now ?

Got a lot of work to do in trying to build this up again.

[Sakkreth]

Hero ball ends the usual way.

[Kungfro]

Another loss, is it time to panic yet?

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/303/578/2ea.jpg

[red1]

lmao brutal stretch lately

[Prodigy]

Literally numb from all the losing.

:facepalm

And losing to the 12th man that we cut 3 seasons ago. I don't even.

double :facepalm

[yeaaaman]

Another loss, is it time to panic yet?

I wouldn't say panic, moreso temper/revisit expectations.

[Legends66NBA7]

Another loss, is it time to panic yet?

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/303/578/2ea.jpg

Long season. I think I want to see a trade happen, though.

[Kujo]

It was tough trying to watch this game with football on. Good thing I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it.

Why did James Johnson only play 4 mins? :confusedshrug: Did he get hurt?

Unacceptable loss with Davis & Holiday out. T-Ross has to go. Enough.

[PsychoBe]

garbage raptors losing makes it harder for okc to grab that final playoff spot :facepalm

[Done_And_Done]

Well I got my monies worth for the second half alone but my goodness we should have secured this one after the third quarter.

Something isn't working here and it's apparent. The way we handled certain players defensively just played into their strengths. It doesn't take a genius to force a guy like Reke to shoot the ball yet we consistently closed in on him all game.

We got shredded by Alexis fricken Ajinca all damn game. I wanna say his strong play was the result of horrid defense but the guy made some crafty shots. It's pretty disappointing knowing our "depth" bigs are guys like Steimsa in comparison.

[Kungfro]

Long season. I think I want to see a trade happen, though.
Yea I was mostly joking, but I do agree on the trade part. Would like to see an upgrade at the SF spot, Ross has not been fun to watch this year.

[Legends66NBA7]

It was tough trying to watch this game with football on. Good thing I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it.

Why did James Johnson only play 4 mins? :confusedshrug: Did he get hurt?

Unacceptable loss with Davis & Holiday out. T-Ross has to go. Enough.

James didn't really play well today, but Casey always brings him in the game late and seems to have a problem with him.

[Legends66NBA7]

garbage raptors losing makes it harder for okc to grab that final playoff spot :facepalm

Are you a Thunder fan ?

[Legends66NBA7]

Yea I was mostly joking, but I do agree on the trade part. Would like to see an upgrade at the SF spot, Ross has not been fun to watch this year.

I'm waiting for this too. Wilson Chandler is on the market, might go after him ?

[Done_And_Done]

I'm waiting for this too. Wilson Chandler is on the market, might go after him ?

He'd be a definitive upgrade but I've personally never been a fan nor would I be compelled to give up a nice package for him.

Just a personal preference I suppose.

I realize he's no longer the player he once was but I'm curious to see what Prince is asking. Buh...

[PsychoBe]

Are you a Thunder fan ?

no but i'm anti-suns

[Twiens]

We play just like the Thunder, just less talented. Too much hero ball, chemistry doesn't seem the same anymore...too many agendas.

[Done_And_Done]

/\

Agreed. Our over use of iso's has been excessive recently. Active ball movement is key.

[Hotlantadude81]

Toronto plays too much ISO ball. It was bound to catch up with them sooner or later.

[Done_And_Done]

Toronto plays too much ISO ball. It was bound to catch up with them sooner or later.

It's a head f*uck because when we stray from this inefficient brand of basketball we usually get it done on the scoreboard. The third quarter was a product of that today. Unfortunately, it's not sustained for long periods of time.

[Legends66NBA7]

The SF position and defense are bigger problems than the offense.

I'm figuring there will be lineup change tomorrow. If not, why is Ross even starting ? It's just time to make a change. Start JJ.

[Twiens]

The SF position and defense are bigger problems than the offense.

I'm figuring there will be lineup change tomorrow. If not, why is Ross even starting ? It's just time to make a change. Start JJ.

Agreed but Casey doesn't like JJ. He's gonna start Lou or Vasquez because he's obsessed with small ball.....

[ArbitraryWater]

no but i'm anti-suns

Then your post makes absolutely zero sense since PHO didn't win and no one chasing them lost...

[PsychoBe]

Then your post makes absolutely zero sense since PHO didn't win and no one chasing them lost...

new orleans won but if we had to choose between seeing the suns/pelicans/thunder in the playoffs, i think we'd rather see the thunder than the others. but i honestly don't want to see the suns. i don't think they are ready for it to be completely honest.

[Sakkreth]

Agreed but Casey doesn't like JJ. He's gonna start Lou or Vasquez because he's obsessed with small ball.....

Small ball lost the game for us as well. We had what +12 with 7 minutes left ? JV benched, Asik and Ajinca goes ham, game is tied, JV enters with less than minute left. Too late, as Lowry DeRozan hero ball started way before that, hard to come back that way.