OGT Mar 24: Raptors (42-28) @ Pistons (26-44)

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20150324/TORDET/gameinfo.html?ls=slt


Though Toronto is on the verge of winning back-to-back division titles for the first time, its only focus is to play well heading into the playoffs.

The visiting Raptors can secure a playoff berth as early as Tuesday night with a win over the Detroit Pistons.

Toronto (42-28) bounced back from Friday's frustrating 16-point loss at Chicago by rolling to a 106-89 victory over New York two days later. In the mix for one of the top 3 spots in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors have won three of four since losing 10 of 12.

DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and Tyler Hansbrough added a season-high 18 as Toronto shot 52.0 percent in playing its second straight contest without All-Star Kyle Lowry (18.1 points, 6.9 assists per game).

"That's our point guard, one of the leaders on this team," said DeRozan, who has averaged 24.4 points and shot 46.3 percent in 11 games this month. "It's definitely tough when you know you don't have him out there. That's when everybody else has to step up and do a little bit more to help us win."

While it's uncertain if Lowry will play Tuesday, the Raptors appear confident they can improve during these final weeks of the season by continuing to progress on the defensive end.

Toronto has held half of its last six opponents to fewer than 100 points after yielding an average of 109.6 over a 1-6 stretch.

"It doesn't matter (the opponent), just as long as we are doing the right things defensively," said Toronto coach Dwane Casey, whose team used a 12-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away Sunday. "We played with force on the defensive and that that's going to carry over no matter who you play."

Toronto, losers of eight of 10 on the road, has held the Pistons (26-44) to 96.3 and 42.1 percent during a three-game winning streak at Detroit. The Raptors opened the season series with a 110-100 win there Dec. 19 then split the next two at home.

DeRozan scored 25 in a 114-110 victory Jan. 25 in his only matchup against the Pistons this season. He's totaled 51 points and shot 20 of 39 in his last two at Detroit.

Though the Pistons are 12th in the East and appear set to miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season, they've won three of four since dropping 10 in a row.

"Totally cliche when you are as far back as we are with 12 games to go to talk about playoffs," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We'd have to go on a huge run and probably win 11 of 12, so we are just worried about the next game."

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored seven of his 27 in overtime, Andre Drummond had 18 with 22 rebounds and Reggie Jackson added 17, 11 assists and nine boards as Detroit even helped the Raptors move closer to the Atlantic Division title with Sunday's 105-97 win at Boston.

Toronto has an 11-game lead over the Celtics with 12 to play.

Pope has averaged 21.5 points and shot 52.4 percent in the last four games.

Teammate Greg Monroe, who totaled 43 points and 26 rebounds in the last two games with Toronto, could return after missing four straight with a knee strain.

[BurningHammer]

Northern Invasion Part 2!

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/285/files/2014/12/nba-toronto-raptors-detroit-pistons1.jpg

A Raptors win tonight and they will officially be in the playoff.


Cocked that joint back and banged on 'em.

[BurningHammer]

You usually make the game thread a lot earlier than today, L. :D

[Legends66NBA7]

You usually make the game thread a lot earlier than today, L. :D

Was a bit busy.

My dad was telling me that there are a lot of people from his workplace that are going to be at the game tonight.

[Legends66NBA7]

Oh damn, just seen the other GT that came late.

:oldlol:

[Kungfro]

Val has had his way in this match up this season, looking for a big game from him.

[Kungfro]

Wow those Raptor chants. :oldlol:

[BurningHammer]

Again, very loud "Let's go, Raptors!" chants, in the Palace. :oldlol: :rockon:

[Legends66NBA7]

JV looked gassed already, but Dre can't stay with him.

[Rake2204]

Is there a specific push to get Raptors fans to come south en masse? Like group tickets sales stuff? Or is there really just a fever that's making folks drive anywhere to support the Raptors?

I'll say, at least there's a little more of a Pistons fan contingent this time around. Still impressed with Raptor fans though.

[Kungfro]

7 threes in the first for Detroit. Just killing the Raps right now.

[Legends66NBA7]

7 threes in the first for Detroit. Just killing the Raps right now.

Better step it up on the defensive perimeter.

[BurningHammer]

Uh oh, Lowry ran to the locker room.

[BurningHammer]

Is there a specific push to get Raptors fans to come south en masse? Like group tickets sales stuff? Or is there really just a fever that's making folks drive anywhere to support the Raptors?

I'll say, at least there's a little more of a Pistons fan contingent this time around. Still impressed with Raptor fans though.
They said there are at least 5 buses carrying Raptor fans to this game. Don't know the whole details though.

[Kungfro]

Hansbrough has got to have some of the ugliest looking shots around the rim, but he sure has been making them lately.

edit: nice D on that play too.

[Finger Roll]

I'm a bit behind on the game right now.. but just came up on Lowry getting MVP chants a with 11 minutes left in the 2nd:oldlol:

[Twiens]

Such nonexistent defense...maybe we should give our best defender a minute or two :biggums:

[Legends66NBA7]

At least losing will guarantee the 4th seed.

[Rake2204]

They said there are at least 5 buses carrying Raptor fans to this game. Don't know the whole details though.Ah, that explains it. Props for Toronto for getting that together.

[DeuceWallaces]

Season is such a mess. Don't even know what to root for. I guess .500 ball the rest of the season and to miss the playoffs. Oh, and Reggie to turn it around. That's probably most important.

[Kungfro]

Hate to see Caldwell-Pope go down like that, he's been really good tonight.

[Rake2204]

Did I just hear the Raptors haven't defeated a team over .500 since February 20?

[Legends66NBA7]

Man, what the hell...

Casey should be making more rotation changes right now. Stop getting your ego in the way of doing what's right here. Play more of the bench guys with Kyle out.

[Legends66NBA7]

Going to have to pull a great 4th to get this win.

[BurningHammer]

All the sudden, 5 points game! :rockon:

[Young X]

5 point game :applause:

[BurningHammer]

Drummond :applause:

[BurningHammer]

Raps' defense :facepalm

[BurningHammer]

Derozan is doing Lowry's jobs, slashing, passing, rebounding, etc.

And it is down to 3! :rockon:

[BurningHammer]

Slashing Derozan is the best Derozan, and he is getting that back in time for the playoff :rockon:

[Legends66NBA7]

This is turning out be a great ball game.

[Legends66NBA7]

Vasquez, what the **** man.

:facepalm

[FKAri]

lol Raptors fans invading the Palace

[Done_And_Done]

Don't think DD's feet were planted

[Done_And_Done]

lol Raptors fans invading the Palace

Five bus loads

[red1]

lol Raptors fans invading the Palace
http://www.virdiko.com/album/tracks/1176/2432_logo_wethebest1.jpg

[Legends66NBA7]

Vasquez shouldn't be playing, man.

[Young X]

You gotta pass that, Amir was right under the rim. :facepalm

[Done_And_Done]

Jackson lol

[Kungfro]

What the **** was that? All the time in the world to run a play and get and easy shot, and they go for iso Lou? :facepalm Why not give it to Derozan who has been lighting it up in the 4th.

[Done_And_Done]

Are you kidding me Lou... You trying to score from half court boy

Brutal

[Fudge]

:facepalm

[Done_And_Done]

I would have been more comfortable with a timeout + set play...

[Jameerthefear]

That was ****ing hilarious.

[Legends66NBA7]

Terrible shot selection.....


Whatever, works for the seeding.

[You Cant Ban Me]

man i know demar derozan is shaking with rage on the inside

[avonbarksdale]

no idea what demar didnt get that

[BurningHammer]

Lou wanted a big shot, but Reggie got him out of dangerous spots.

GG

[Young X]

WTF kinda possession was that? You're only down 2, with a 20 second timeout left and you wind the clock down to chuck a long 3? :facepalm

[Finger Roll]

21 seconds left. Down 2 points, with a timeout left.. We run down the clock for a spread iso lou Williams deep 3 :( he **** is that casey.

[BurningHammer]

WTF kinda possession was that? You're only down 2, with a 20 second timeout left and you wind the clock down to chuck a long 3? :facepalm
Lou was hot-handed for a while so the situation led to that play, Lou vs Reggie, and Reggie won.

[Kungfro]

Down 2 with like 20 seconds to go and a timeout and you run the shot clock down to 4 before taking a long 3. I'm speechless, that had to be the dumbest play call ever.

[Finger Roll]

WTF kinda possession was that? You're only down 2, with a 20 second timeout left and you wind the clock down to chuck a long 3? :facepalm


sometime I'd take Jack Armstrong over Casey it seems like

[Legends66NBA7]

What the **** was that? All the time in the world to run a play and get and easy shot, and they go for iso Lou? :facepalm Why not give it to Derozan who has been lighting it up in the 4th.

Coach is an idiot. It's clear who runs this team and it's not him.


You see Popovich or Rick Carlisle ever let something like that happen ? This is the 2nd time this happened this season. Raps win off their talent, purely... and that comes if their high volume guards make their shots and the bench shows up.

[Jameerthefear]

I just can't believe a professional basketball team just did that. Wow.

[BurningHammer]

It looks like the team has been laid back a bit with lazy defense and lazy play calls.

[Kujo]

Lou Will playing hero ball on that attrocious final possession.:banghead: :hammerhead: :mad:

[Legends66NBA7]

It looks like the team has been laid back a bit with lazy defense and lazy play calls.

More like over helping defense and primary ISO play calls.

Reasons like that is why I would rather see Nick Nurse run this team over Casey. I really don't know what Casey's value is on this team. It's clearly not defensive strategy. He doesn't even play his best defensive wing.

[red1]

https://vine.co/v/OxJMQwZQzxx

[Legends66NBA7]

https://vine.co/v/OxJMQwZQzxx

Too soon. :coleman:

[red1]

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/F2g.S3Sq.Kop._U48usaqQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTIzMDtxPTc1O3c9MzQ1/https://sp.yimg.com/j/assets/i/us/sp/v/nba_cutout/players_l/20141107/3971.png

[BurningHammer]

Do you still trust Lou's clutchness from this point on?

[Legends66NBA7]

I don't trust our defense, coaching, and plays we run that will eventually turn into an ISO.

These players are showing so much inconsistency.

[Finger Roll]

Does Casey get canned if the raptors have a terrible first round?

[Legends66NBA7]

Does Casey get canned if the raptors have a terrible first round?

That and along with a proper player personnel in the off season would be great.


Mike Malone and Alvin Gentry are available.

[Twiens]

Does Casey get canned if the raptors have a terrible first round?

Yes please. We have the dumbest team in the league, guards do whatever the **** the want and Casey only plays his favourites. Needs to go back to being a defensive assistant.