Him and DeRozan have been quite terrible in the past playoffs, no way you can be successful with these guys as your go-to guys. They'd be great secondary options and able to take the load off the main guy, but that's it.
But if the Raptors keep most of this core together(not sure they can afford all of them), then they're still a 45-50 win team in the joke that is the Eastern Conference. Maybe they're one of those franchises content with just making the playoffs every year.
I think that's closer to the truth. The Raptors have enough talent to be a contender. Maybe the talent does not fit perfectlytogether. Maybe they need to replace one of their bigs with a shooter to space the floor. But the biggest flaws are the complete lack of movement on offense and lack of aggression on defense. They are so reliant on DeRozan/Lowry isos and long 2s. While I am impressed with the Bucks, the Raptors have so much defensive talent that they should be making it tougher for Milwaukee. Casey should gamble more on defense, the Raps have so many big and long bodies that they can recover. In terms of talent: Joseph as your 3rd guard is not good enough. They have 5 bigs that can contribute (Ibaka, JV, Tucker, Carroll, Patterson), but none of them is a lights out shooter. Tucker and Carroll have similar skill sets. JV is perhaps better as bench guy. Now for the summer: Re-sign Ibaka and start him at C. Sign a true stretch PF like Gallo. Let Patterson and Tucker go. Trade JV for a bench scorer like Bogdanovic/Reddick. Re-sign Lowry but not for max. Ibaka/Gallo/Carroll/DeRozan/Lowry with Bruno/Powell/scorer/CoJo off the bench.
The coach? Casey is not the problem, he doesn't wear a uniform. What you are seeing is length and athleticism dominating a very good team. If the raps lose this series it doesn't mean they suck it just means they got outplayed by probably the most athletically gifted team in the league and that's without Parker. Ppl had been saying the Bucks are three years away from taking the east from LeBron and they might still be but they're going to wear a lot of teams out with their pure athleticism and make these playoffs very interesting
It's not just this year, the Raptors always seem to underperform in the playoffs. They did get to the ECF last year I guess but they always just look worse than they were during the RS. He just hasn't been a good playoff coach.
The Raptors aren't that bad, it's just that the Bucks are that good. Giannis along with Brogdon, Maker and Middleton are taking the league by storm a year or two earlier then expected. Toronto better pray the Buck's youth shows up in the next game, or else they are toast. Cleveland better watch out too. How many teams can comfortably throw 3 seven footers out there and still space the floor and defend the perimeter? (I hope our boy Joe Chee turns out to be something)
Nothing has been achieved. Raptors may win tonight and then we're back to 0-0. I hope the youngsters stay grounded and keep playing their defence. (Which btw I hate, but against the Raptors is working). As for Lowry..regardless of the final result a lot has to be said for his lack of leadership. Game 1 postgame: I guess I have to force shots next game since my teammates (dared to) called me out. Game 3 postgame: We have to follow the coach plan sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, but we still have to follow it. Great leader to inspire his team!
I'm with you. The fact the Raptors have come out flat in the playoffs so many times pins the tail on him. They need a change of direction.
DeRozan cannot even dribble against Snell's length. Makes you appreciate what Harden is doing against Roberson
