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2016-2017 Around The NBA

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Bullets handled Thunder, Celtics handled Mavs.

If we drop our next two (Wednesday is a b2b), Celtics could be tied with us, going into the ASB.
 
Rob said:
BREAKING: @Raptors to acquire Serge Ibaka from @OrlandoMagic for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick.

Raptors just got better.
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Ibaka is going to be a problem for us... I still think we win in six, but this makes sense if the Raptors are banking on a Love injury. They have been in free-fall for about a month, but before that, they looked outstanding. They may be hoping this move brings them back up to where they were previously.
 
If Love is out or significantly degraded and the Raptors have Ibaka that is a problem. Probably we pull it out but it drains Lebron for later rounds for sure.
 
Sort of weird delayed three team deal when you consider Biyombo signed with Orlando and Orlando traded for Ibaka and now Orlando trades Ibaka to Toronto.

Terrance Ross is actually a pretty solid wing player for them though. His loss shouldn't exactly be seen as non-impactful.

Toronto's biggest problem when it comes to a Cavs series is that they don't have anyone to slow down LeBron.

DeMarre Carroll is not in that category.
 
Soar said:
Sort of weird delayed three team deal when you consider Biyombo signed with Orlando and Orlando traded for Ibaka and now Orlando trades Ibaka to Toronto.

Terrance Ross is actually a pretty solid wing player for them though. His loss shouldn't exactly be seen as non-impactful.

Toronto's biggest problem when it comes to a Cavs series is that they don't have anyone to slow down LeBron.

DeMarre Carroll is not in that category.
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The reason they traded Ross is that Norman Powell has looked excellent while DeMar has been injured. Furthermore, Patrick Patterson has emerged as a huge piece for the Raptors as a 6th man this year. Not many minutes left for a stretch four who is a mediocre defender like Ross. Ibaka will start at the four, but I imagine a lot of his minutes will come as a small-ball five while Jonas sits.
 
jking948 said:
The reason they traded Ross is that Norman Powell has looked excellent while DeMar has been injured. Furthermore, Patrick Patterson has emerged as a huge piece for the Raptors as a 6th man this year. Not many minutes left for a stretch four who is a mediocre defender like Ross. Ibaka will start at the four, but I imagine a lot of his minutes will come as a small-ball five while Jonas sits.
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Ross is an uber athletic wing with a good shooting stroke - not really a stretch 4.

Ibaka is definitely an upgrade over Patterson and has a very similar offensive skillset (read: catching and shooting).

His defensive presence has slipped quite a bit recently though.
 
Cassity14 said:
Ross is an uber athletic wing with a good shooting stroke - not really a stretch 4.

Ibaka is definitely an upgrade over Patterson and has a very similar offensive skillset (read: catching and shooting).

His defensive presence has slipped quite a bit recently though.
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Ross was playing as a stretch four. Raptors rarely play Jonas in the 4th quarter, and only a bit in the 2nd, and during those minutes Ross plays as a stretch four. This move was made to give the Raptors a small-ball five when Jonas sits while allowing Norman Powell an increase in minutes.
 
I like this trade for the Raptors to be honest. Sure, they gave up a shitty first-rounder (but they had 2 of those, 1 is theirs and another was the Clippers one). And Powell pretty much made Ross obsolete. It really doesn't make sense for them to just keep treadmilling with a glaring hole at PF and very sub-par defense (add the fact that Lowry is over 30 and will start declining soon). They might as well try and gamble with Ibaka to be as competitive as possible this year. Serge likely doesn't move the needle very much for them though, not enough to beat the Cavs anyway. But I imagine Masai is giving this Raptor core one more shot. If they fail this year, he might blow it all up during the off-season and start from scratch, since most of this core is Bryan Colangelo's legacy.
 
Raptors addressed a major hole.

They got a all in one excellent role player they needed so badly. Patterson, Sullinger isn't Ibaka. Ibaka makes this roster. It's expanded, more flexible, Ibaka also brings winning experience, big game experience, yes i believe theyre a bigger threat than Boston.

I think it's a perfect fit considering Toronto's starting PF has been a black hole.

Oh yea, Norman Powell is damn good and will fill the Ross spot just fine.
 
I'm not even sure the Raptors are done. I don't think it's a coincidence that this move came seemingly right after Love's injury was announced.

They might decide to push all their chips in the middle and part with that other 1st rounder for a gritty wing defender a la PJ Tucker.

Still think they're going to be left in the undesirable position of paying 3 30+ guys max money in the offseason or losing key guys, but that's not exactly a team I want a vulnerable Cavs playing.

In other news, Warriors players are complaining about stubbing their toes on lockers.
 
Naa, I doubt Raptors add anything more. They could definitely add another wing but with Lowry's and Ibaka's contract ending this summer, they are up for a massive salary hike overall.
 
And while Ibaka's defense has declined, he is still a solid/good defender. He may not be the First Team All-NBA Defender he used to be but still someone who can restrict stretch 4s and be a solid rim-protector. He did a good job against Draymond in the Western Conference Finals last year.
 
Lol iblockA is past his prime

That old geezer is older than the King. Might be older than Jefferson

You heard it here first.

Cavs in 7, because they don't give a fuck. More money for Gilbert
 
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