Boston, because that’s where the Patriots play, and anything connected to the Patriots is worthy of our vitriol. Raptors G DeMar DeRozan had a game-high 27 points against the New York Knicks on Sunday to pass Vince Carter (9,420) for second on the team’s all-time scoring list. The Raptors are among the best at the rim but among the worst from outside and that averages out to be more or less average as far as percentages go. And no, Vince Carter does not play there anymore.
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Their chances look a lot better than previous year.
And the fact is, Canadians are so stinking nice. You’ve got to be real with yourself sometimes. You haven’t been to Canada, whose national motto is: “We’re sorry”. “I feel like with the exception of the last game, we’ve been in every game with them, we won one of those games, and have been in every game with them”. Great song. Alex Trebek?
DeRozan shot a glare toward Lowry, who was lurking mischievously in the hallway, and barked: “I’m not going to talk until you leave”.
The NBA playoffs tip off Saturday, beginning in Toronto and ending in Oklahoma City. Toronto captured a third straight Atlantic Division crown and enters the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s second seed behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors are deeper than the Pacers, and that depth should come in handy. Much of that is due to the defence of DeRozan himself, who says the two playoff exits were at least a learning experience. The Raptors have advanced to the postseason eight times in its 21-year history but only once – in 2001 – have they won a series. Defensively, the Raptors yield 98.2 points against the opposing teams.
He suggests the league continues to slight the organization, despite its strong regular season record. Yes, in Larry Bird’s first appearance, the Finals were considered so unappealing, they were shown on tape delay. We had like an 11-game lead and we weren’t going to go down so that set in on us.
Can the Pacers pull off the upset? Yes.
RHQ: Lastly, what’s your prediction for Raptors vs. Pacers?
From a fan’s perspective, I like the position the Pacers are in.
Carroll could end up defending George in the playoffs.
RHQ: What’s one area in which you worry the Raptors may be able to exploit the Pacers, and one area in which you think the Pacers may have an advantage over Toronto in this series? “I am very hopeful it will because he’s a defensive-minded coach”. That reminder cost him a $15,000 fine.
“I was just ready to go out there and play”, Powell said. If we reach in and there’s contact on the arm, it’s going to be a foul.
What was it Paul George said the other day about IN getting back into the National Basketball Association playoffs? Ian Mahinmi is one of the most improved players in the league.
If Casey slides Carroll back into a starting role and pushes Powell to the bench, it frees up DeRozan to perhaps target Ellis for postups – if (and it’s probably a big if) the Pacers decide to simply keep George on Carroll and avoid any cross-match confusion.
“It’s possible; it’s the playoffs, ” he said. “But this is the playoffs and hopefully they don’t reward cheap fouls”. There’s no mega-star on that roster. They’re the seventh seed, and nobody is expecting them to win. The Pacers played poorly this season when they assumed victory, whether it was after building a comfortable lead or playing a vastly inferior opponent. “But the last four minutes of the third period is when it ballooned out but we give them credit”. They’d lost any sense of rhythm, and the players knew it. The young kid Myles Turner has really come on. Does Ty Lawson make a difference in this series? Rodney Stuckey has attacked. “It’s kind of the story of our season where we play well for a few quarters, we’re up and things are going well and then teams start to turn it up a notch on us and go on a run and put the game away”. They’ve changed. They’re up.
“I think the pace of games now, with the wear and tear on guys, it’s prudent and smart, and it’s a new phenomenon”, Casey said Tuesday night. He’s picked up his game down the stretch and the Hawks have responded around him.
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“Evidently someone doesn’t respect us”, Casey said Thursday.
