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  </channel><item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/08/raptors-overpower-short-handed-pelicans-with-leonard-on-target.html">
    <title>Raptors overpower short-handed Pelicans with Leonard on target | The Star</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-09T04:58:29+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/08/raptors-overpower-short-handed-pelicans-with-leonard-on-target.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Downtown I: The Raptors missed 10 of their first 11 three-point attempts, a slow start for a club that averaged 11.6 made threes per game entering Friday. They finished the first half 3-for-16 from deep.
Downtown II: Lowry drilled his first three-pointer midway through the second quarter to put the Raptors up 48-45. Tuesday night against Houston, the all-star point guard went 0-for-5 from deep, marking the first time since Dec. 9 that he had played a whole game without making a three-point shot. Lowry logged his 14th career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Downtown III: Backup point guard Jeremy Lin entered Friday riding a well-publicized three-point slump. Since joining the Raptors in mid-February, the 30-year-old Harvard grad had gone 0-for-17 from deep. But 11 minutes into the third quarter Lin broke that streak, drilling a trey that put Toronto up by 14.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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    <title>Raptors Practice: Nick Nurse - March 7, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:33:08+00:00</dc:date>
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    <title>Raptors Practice: Jeremy Lin - March 7, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:33:05+00:00</dc:date>
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    <title>Can Raptors Get Home Court Advantage In The Playoffs? | The Hangout - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:33:03+00:00</dc:date>
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    <title>Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Free Picks and Predictions 3/8/19 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:33:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/07/friday-nba-game-preview-toronto-raptors-at-new-orleans-pelicans.html">
    <title>Friday NBA game preview: Toronto Raptors at New Orleans Pelicans | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:31:43+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/07/friday-nba-game-preview-toronto-raptors-at-new-orleans-pelicans.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[KEY MATCHUP

Lowry/Jackson

Kyle Lowry logged 11 assists but just four points when the Pelicans defeated the Raptors 126-110 in November. He’ll look to rebound Friday, but he won’t face Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday, who suffered an abdominal injury in Wednesday’s loss to Utah and will miss the Raptors rematch. Frank Jackson, a rookie from Duke who is averaging 6.5 points per game, will replace Holiday.]]></description>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-running-time-build-cohesion-ahead-playoffs/">
    <title>Raptors running out of time to build cohesion ahead of playoffs - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:31:17+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-running-time-build-cohesion-ahead-playoffs/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[LIN STRUGGLES

One notable bench player — although he was placed in the starting lineup when Kawhi Leonard sat out Toronto’s loss against Orlando last week — who has struggled is newcomer Jeremy Lin. Handed over more responsibility and playing time than imagined in light of the Fred VanVleet injury, the reserve point guard has had difficulty adjusting to his new role and team.

Over his past five games, Lin is averaging five points while shooting a fairly dreadful 26.1 per cent from the field. What’s more, the floor general looks to be lost at times, something that Nurse was willing to shoulder some of the blame for.

“He’s just a little uncomfortable with me, more than anything,” Nurse said.

The first-year head coach wants Lin, like the rest of the Raptors’ point guards, to take more ownership over play-calling duties when he’s out there on the floor.

“I’ll say to him, ‘Jeremy, hey, call something. You’ve got the ball in your hands and you look like you don’t know what you want to do out there. You don’t have to look at me. Call this, this, or this,'” Nurse points to an imaginary clipboard in his hands. “‘Pick one.'”

“Even though I’ll try to shorten it down to three [options], he’s so new that sometimes he can’t quite come up with one.” Nurse acknowledged that, until he sees what he wants from his backup point guard, it’s the coach that will need to adjust his approach for now. “I need to give him more help until he’s more comfortable with that. That’s the first thing.”

The second thing, Nurse said, had to do with Lin adjusting to the intensity of virtually each and every Raptors game at this point in the season. “The way teams play us, and the games that we’ve been in here with really quality teams, they’re pretty high-level.”

Needless to say, for a team atop the East with a target on it’s back working to play at a finalist level, it’s been a far cry from what Lin was used to with the 22-44 Atlanta Hawks prior to signing with the Raptors after the trade deadline.

“And he will [adjust]. He’s tough. I don’t question that has the ability to do it, it’s just about getting him more used to it.”

]]></description>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/2019/3/8/18255668/nba-preview-new-orleans-pelicans-toronto-raptors-jrue-holiday-injury-anthony-davis-kawhi-leonard">
    <title>NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans must adjust to life without Jrue Holiday on fly against Toronto Raptors - The Bird Writes</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:30:08+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thebirdwrites.com/2019/3/8/18255668/nba-preview-new-orleans-pelicans-toronto-raptors-jrue-holiday-injury-anthony-davis-kawhi-leonard</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[So, what should we expect against the Toronto Raptors (46-19) without the Pelicans heart and soul lining up at tip-off?

Likely, a whole lot of tough sledding.

Not only will New Orleans dearly miss Holiday’s production (21.2, 7.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds), they’ll be without the one Pelican who sets the tone better than anyone else against the team sporting the league’s second best record.

When I asked Julius Randle at the conclusion of Thursday’s practice if he has ever played with a player like Holiday, who leads by example but through effort, he responded, “Uh, no. Not a guy that plays that hard every night — who competes like that. It’s pretty unbelievable.”]]></description>
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<item rdf:about="https://winnersandwhiners.com/games/nba/3-8-2019/toronto-raptors-vs-new-orleans-pelicans-prediction-5546/">
    <title>Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Preview, and Odds - Winners and Whiners</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:29:27+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://winnersandwhiners.com/games/nba/3-8-2019/toronto-raptors-vs-new-orleans-pelicans-prediction-5546/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[New Orleans Pelicans Try to Sweep Season Series
New Orleans ended up with a split of their home and home set with the Jazz as they dropped the home portion of the set. The Pelicans entered Thursday 12th in the Western Conference, 7.5 games behind the Spurs and Clippers, who own the final two playoff spots. New Orleans was down two after the opening quarter, trailed by 11 at the half and couldn’t get closer than four in the second half of the contest. The Pelicans shot 46.1 percent from the field, including nine of 24 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 17 times in the loss. Julius Randle led New Orleans with 23 points and six rebounds in the loss.

The Pelicans are 3rd in the league in scoring offense with 115.8 points per game. The Pelicans are 4th in rebounding with 47 boards per game while ranking 4th with 26.9 assists per contest. New Orleans is 26th in scoring defense as they give up 115 points per contest. New Orleans is 3rd in field goal percentage shooting 47.8 percent from the floor. The Pelicans are tied for 22nd with 10 made threes per game and stand tied for 21st in the league by converting 34.8 percent from long range this season. New Orleans is 5-5 in their last 10 games and ranked tied for 10th with 115.6 points per game. The Pelicans are 24th in scoring defense by allowing 117.1 points a night in that stretch. Julius Randle leads the team in the last 10 games with 24.4 points plus 6.9 rebounds a night while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor. Jrue Holiday puts up 22.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game: he is shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, including 35.8 percent from three-point range. The Pelicans have a lot of work to do in order to try and get back on track on both ends of the floor. Holiday and E’Twaun Moore are both out for this contest, dealing damage to the Pelicans’ rotation.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:d5690911edc5/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/tipoff-raptors-at-pelicans">
    <title>Tipoff: Raptors at Pelicans | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:28:45+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/tipoff-raptors-at-pelicans</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Kyle Lowry vs. Elfrid Payton
Kyle Lowry needs a bounce back game both from his recent stinker against Houston and the last time these two teams met when Jrue Holiday held him to just four points.
Holiday has been doing this to a lot of top flight talent this year, but the Raps and Lowry won’t have to deal with him this time around.
He’s been diagnosed with a lower abdominal strain and will be out at least a week. The likely means Lowry will be matched up against Elfrid Payton, who is no where near the defender Holiday is.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:6777e46b4a1b/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://sports.yahoo.com/the-day-kawhi-leonard-became-a-star-151439696.html">
    <title>Kawhi Leonard's odd path to stardom - Yahoo Sports</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:27:45+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://sports.yahoo.com/the-day-kawhi-leonard-became-a-star-151439696.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[It also helped that Leonard and several teammates had no fear of Mater Dei, having been part of a King team that a year earlier led the Monarchs until the final two minutes. The Wolves entered the Southern Section title game eager to gain respect for themselves and for basketball in the blue-collar Inland Empire, which they felt went perennially overlooked compared to their counterparts in glitzier Los Angeles and Orange County.

“We weren’t going to let an Orange County team beat us,” Mallory said. “We smelled that they were soft, so Kawhi purposely said he was going to look a little scruffy with his braids and I didn’t get a haircut. This was planned. We wanted to come into the game, hit them in the chest and scare the crap out of them.”

The game went back and forth until the late third quarter when King unleashed a decisive 15-0 run that left Mater Dei staggered. Future Milwaukee Bucks forward Tony Snell and guards Taylor Cunningham and Chris Harriel each connected on 3-pointers during the surge to help King pull away for a stunning, yet convincing 71-56 victory.

Harassed by multiple defenders throughout the game, Leonard tallied a modest 11 points and didn’t score during King’s game-changing run, yet he was unquestionably the best player on the floor.

His 20 rebounds were eight more than the taller, more heralded Wear twins had combined. He also blocked six shots, altered a handful of others, tallied three steals, defended multiple positions, led fast breaks and got to the foul line.

“It was absolutely incredible how he took the Wear twins out of the game,” Sweeney said. “He limited them to one shot, got the ball and went. That killed Mater Dei. They were very big and very skilled, but they couldn’t handle our speed and athleticism.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:d0632ff60dab/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/07/raptors-trying-to-eliminate-any-steps-back-as-season-winds-down.html">
    <title>Raptors trying to eliminate any steps back as season winds down | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:25:35+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/07/raptors-trying-to-eliminate-any-steps-back-as-season-winds-down.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Still, head coach Nick Nurse is confident progress will win out, and that the Raptors are still poised to play cohesive, winning basketball over the final phase of the regular season.

“I can really see ... big leaps forward, and then a step back,” Nurse said Thursday. “We’ve got to get to that point where it’s just steady steps going forward, and not that step back.”

The team’s consistency has suffered since a thumb injury sidelined point guard Fred VanVleet, who directed a second unit that normally is an asset for the Raptors. But Tuesday against Houston every Raptors non-starter finished with a plus-minus rating of minus-15 or greater.

Some Raptors thought it came back to the consistent effort required to beat playoff teams.

“We have to play harder as a group and continue to get better,” said starting point guard Kyle Lowry after Tuesday’s loss. “Nothing’s going to be given to you on any given night.”

Beyond that, Lowry said, the team’s coaches could decide which lineup permutations would yield the most consistent results.

Nurse told reporters Thursday that a heightened focus on defence would lead to baskets, and rhymed off a list of players — like Norman Powell, Patrick McCaw and OG Anunoby — who could ignite the offence by being more “disruptive on defence.”

And even as the club works to regain its upward trajectory, Nurse sounded confident the day before the weekend road trip.

“If the playoffs were starting this weekend, I’d be ready to go and excited about where our team is,” he told reporters.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:d12366c704c4/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.tsn.ca/raptors-lin-still-adjusting-to-his-new-team-1.1269644">
    <title>Raptors’ Lin still adjusting to his new team - TSN.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:24:39+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.tsn.ca/raptors-lin-still-adjusting-to-his-new-team-1.1269644</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[“We’ve gotta get him more comfortable,” Nurse said, as Lin was still taking jumpers on the other end of the Raptors’ practice facility. “He’s just a little uncomfortable with me, I think, more than anything. I like to let those guys [have freedom]. I say to him, ‘Jeremy, hey, call something. You know, you get the ball in your hands and you look like you don’t know what you want to do out there.’ I say, ‘You don’t have to look at me, just call this, this or this, pick one’. He’s got to get a little more comfortable. Even though I’ve tried to shorten it down to three things, he’s so new that he can’t quite come up with one. I need to give him more help. I need to give him more help until he’s more comfortable with that.”

“I’m seeing that I have to reverse a lot of my mindset in terms of just the freedom I have on the floor and the empowerment,” said Lin, later Thursday afternoon. “[Nurse] has done a great job of opening that up and I need to step into that. That’s my responsibility to step into the door he’s opened for me. It’s definitely a mindset shift in terms of how to play the game. It’s different. It’s been a while since I’ve had that kind of freedom. It’s a player’s dream, it’s a blessing and it’s my job and my time to capitalize on it.”

Lin says he hasn’t had a coach like Nurse, one that allows his players to freelance this much, since he played for Mike D’Antoni with the Knicks in 2011-12 – his second year in the league and the peak of the global sensation that became known as Linsanity. In 35 games that season, he averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists, both career-highs, so he’s capable of playing that style of basketball. In fact, he insists that it’s his strength; he just needs to get back to playing that way after years of running a more structured offence.

“That is kind of how I always played,” he said. “I was always more of a free space, free-flowing playmaker. That’s just kind of who I am by nature. That’s my personality. That’s probably what attracted me to this team and obviously vice-versa. We got to just make the pieces fit and [we] will.”

It’s been three years since Lin last appeared in a playoff game and he’s never made it out of the first round. The chance to go on a run and play into May, and maybe even into June, is one of the reasons he decided to sign with Toronto. But, after coming from the 22-44 Hawks, this level of competition is also something he has to get reacquainted with.

“I think the intensity with which our games are played at he needs to get used to as well,” Nurse said. “The way teams play us and the games we’ve been in here with really quality teams, they’re pretty high level and he needs to get used to the physicality of that. And he will. He’s tough. He’s tough. I don’t question his ability to do it, it’s just getting used to it a little bit.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:38ecefadaf76/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://theathletic.com/850291/2019/03/07/video-gamer-a-week-in-the-life-of-raptors-assistant-coach-adrian-griffin/">
    <title>Video Gamer: A week in the life of Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin – The Athletic [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:23:57+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://theathletic.com/850291/2019/03/07/video-gamer-a-week-in-the-life-of-raptors-assistant-coach-adrian-griffin/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Raptors play the Trail Blazers, and it is one of the games of the year. It features four all-star-level players performing, at various points, up to their ceilings. There are questionable calls that send both benches, not to mention the crowd, into a tizzy. There are multiple opportunities for both teams to fold, and neither does. The game is so intense that when Kawhi Leonard hits the game-winner, a baseline jumper that uses all of the rim to nudge itself through mesh, he lets out his version of a primal scream, which appears to be more of a delighted whoop.

About 10 minutes after the game is over, Griffin walks out of the Raptors’ locker room. He betrays none of that emotion.

“As a player, you’re supposed to cut it off at 11:59. As soon as midnight comes, you’ve got to start getting ready for the next opponent,” Griffin says of reacting to a big win. “For players, you have a little longer time to celebrate and enjoy. Coaches, you’ve really got to start thinking about the next game and getting your edits and clips ready for the next day. If we had practice tomorrow morning, I’d have to start getting ready for my drills, my film work. You don’t have a lot of time to celebrate.”

The defensive numbers aren’t great, with the Trail Blazers scoring 117 points on 49 percent shooting, 14 3-pointers and 23 free throws. The Raptors force an above-average 16 turnovers, but this is not their sharpest performance of the year.

Lillard, with his combination of shooting and speed, is especially dangerous in taking advantage of the Raptors’ uneven perimeter defence. However, it is McCollum, winding through screens, who torments the Raptors, hitting a career-best seven 3-pointers. Gasol makes the defensive play of the game, switching on to McCollum on the Blazers’ penultimate possession, and staying close enough to force an off-balance 3-pointer that falls short.

In a tight game in an electric arena, Griffin has to do a little bit of everything.

“It’s just to make sure our coverages are in tact in each timeout, and then communicating it almost on the fly,” Griffin says. “The timeouts get a little shorter, and there are a lot of voices, a lot of energy in the huddles. You’ve got to maintain your composure, but at the same time make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

The Raptors will not hold a practice before headed to Detroit tomorrow, which will allow Griffin to do his video work in the morning instead of tonight. The Raptors’ schedule is fairly spread out for the next little while, the product of having played the most game-packed slate earlier in the year. Still, four of the next five games are on the road. Griffin is planning to head back to the Four Seasons Hotel with Kathy.

“Me and the wife will probably get something quick to eat, talk and get a little quality time before we hit the road,” Griffin says.

Tonight, at least, Griffin can keep his laptop in his bag.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:21aa5bf80db1/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.tsn.ca/nurse-vanvleet-could-return-in-two-weeks-1.1269436">
    <title>Nurse: VanVleet could return in two weeks - TSN.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:21:26+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.tsn.ca/nurse-vanvleet-could-return-in-two-weeks-1.1269436</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said Thursday Fred VanVleet's return from a thumb injury could come earlier than originally expected. 

VanVleet reportedly underwent surgery on his left thumb in mid-February and was expected to miss five weeks. Nurse said Thursday the point guard could return within the next two weeks.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:6fd873cfee6d/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/simmons-cool-and-composed-coach-nick-nurse-is-raptors-rookie-of-the-year">
    <title>SIMMONS: Cool and composed, coach Nick Nurse is Raptors’ rookie of the year | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-08T11:21:09+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/simmons-cool-and-composed-coach-nick-nurse-is-raptors-rookie-of-the-year</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Leonard plays and sometimes he doesn’t. Sometimes Serge Ibaka starts at centre, now it’s a question each game if it’s him or Gasol. He thought back in June that OG Anunoby might start at small forward, but Siakam ended that thought process almost immediately. And, in between, it’s melding last year’s talent with this year’s talent, with the trade-deadline talent, while dealing with the health issues (Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet have both missed a lot of games). For a team this special in the standings, there are so many little matters that need to be attended to over these next five weeks.

This is where the coaching becomes a delicate practice. How hard do you push and who do you push hard? How much freedom do you give the veteran players while remaining in charge yourself?

On Thursday, before heading to New Orleans, Nurse ran an intense shooting drill in practice. Lots of pressure on the shooter. Large expectations on the defender.

“The veteran guys didn’t do as many reps, but the other guys really needed it,” said Nurse. Nurse knows he needs more from his bench, even with VanVleet hurt, more from Jeremy Lin, more from Norm Powell, more from Anunoby.

“It’s a delicate thing,” said Nurse. “You’ve almost got to individualize it a little bit.”

Every day there’s something else to work on, some new problem, some old problem — that’s coaching in the NBA. Or maybe just coaching anywhere.

“I’ve never won an NBA championship, but I’ve been part of a lot of championship runs, and they have season-long feels to them,” said Nurse. “That’s the way I’m trying to coach the team.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:cd87b926b25b/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/fate-canadian-basketballs-potential-rowan-barretts-hands/">
    <title>Fate of Canadian basketball's potential all in Rowan Barrett's hands - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:46:05+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/fate-canadian-basketballs-potential-rowan-barretts-hands/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[In his executive role with Canada Basketball, he helped develop a number of development programs that were entry points for several members of the rising class of Canadian talent into the national team environment, and helped lead Canada through the extended qualifying process for the FIBA World Cup in China, where 36 players and three head coaches went 10-2 over the course of six qualifying windows played out over 18 months.

But Barrett’s first job as the official general manager will be to deal with Canada’s present in a way that doesn’t offend it’s past.

Specifically, what is he going to do with the head coaching position ostensibly held by Triano — a national team icon as a player, twice the national team head coach, the only Canadian to ever hold an NBA head coaching position and a long-tenured NBA assistant coach with four organizations, now in Charlotte.

In an interview Wednesday, Barrett said that he’ll be evaluating everything on the basketball operations side, including the head coaching position.

“We’ll be evaluating … all the coaches that coached in our [qualifying] windows as potential head coaches as well as expanding our search outside our walls to look at the best available coaches around the world to see if they fit into the criteria and prerequisites we require from a head coach, and then do our interviews this month and [we’re] looking to do our hiring by the end of the month.”

According to Barrett Triano — who coached Barrett at the Olympics in 2000 — hasn’t been let go, but will essentially have to compete for a job he has never been told isn’t his.

Awkward?

“People can infer what they want, but I didn’t [say Triano won’t be back],” said Barrett. “We’re evaluating the coaching situation and want to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward to give our team the best chance to be successful. … We don’t have any problems here.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:dbb432134691/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/03/06/blogtable-early-favorites-kia-most-improved-2018-19">
    <title>Blogtable: Early favorites for Kia Most Improved Player? | NBA.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:43:18+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>http://www.nba.com/article/2019/03/06/blogtable-early-favorites-kia-most-improved-2018-19</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[But my top choice is Toronto’s Pascal Siakam, who has doubled-down as an impact player for the Raptors. Sometimes a guy’s improvement comes from greater opportunity, but Siakam has flipped that -- his handling of the added responsibilities heaped on him has earned the extra minutes and touches. Also, there are bonus points for doing this all as a No. 27 pick vs. No. 2 (Russell) or No. 6 (Hield). ]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:c48736a7ac56/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/good-show/concerned-raptors-bench/">
    <title>How concerned should we be with the Raptors' bench? - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:41:56+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/good-show/concerned-raptors-bench/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Raptors broadcaster Eric Smith gives his takes regarding the issues with Nick Nurse's bench, how deep the rotation will be in the postseason, the decision to move Greg Monroe, the importance of a healthy Fred VanVleet, the pressure on the top East teams to go far in the playoffs, and LeBron James possibly going golfing once the regular season ends.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:ed46ea05da56/</dc:identifier>
<taxo:topics><rdf:Bag>	<rdf:li rdf:resource="https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/t:RR"/>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/06/raptors-have-to-show-they-have-more-in-reserve.html">
    <title>Raptors have to show they have more in reserve | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:41:42+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/06/raptors-have-to-show-they-have-more-in-reserve.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Jeremy Lin has been abysmal since he arrived; he has missed all 17 three-pointers he’s attempted and is shooting 30 per cent from the floor. And his playmaking skills seem wasted when the likes of Norm Powell, OG Anunoby and, to a lesser extent, Patrick McCaw are on the floor with him.

Coach Nick Nurse stopped well short of suggesting there were any dramatic changes in the offing. “We’ve been through some ups and downs with our second unit this year and we’re going to still keep working it and taking a look at it and I’m sure they’ll bounce back. I’m sure they’ll play better,” he said Tuesday.

A lack of familiarity is an issue. The number of injuries that have affected who plays with whom has been difficult to overcome. But with only 17 games left in the regular season, that sense of urgency VanVleet demanded in December is exponentially bigger now.

“One time Marc (Gasol) is in (as a starter), one time Serge (Ibaka) is in there, some guys are hurt, guys are in and out … some guys still learning the plays,” Danny Green said after Tuesday’s loss. “We had Jodie (Meeks) here and then Jodie’s out, Patrick McCaw’s in, so many different lineups, so many different faces ...

“We still have to find ways to play better regardless of who is on the floor, we have to have to find ways to pick each other up. If we do a better job with that first group, we don’t put the second unit at such a disadvantage.”

The return of VanVleet will most certainly settle some things down. His versatility will allow Lin to move to a tertiary role, and VanVleet’s shooting will be a blessing. But he is still recovering from thumb surgery — he should have a hard cast replaced by a soft one this week — and is likely a couple of weeks away from playing.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:c88af3106a81/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/new-look-raptors-still-figuring-it-out-and-it-shows">
    <title>New-look Raptors still figuring it out and it shows | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:40:58+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/new-look-raptors-still-figuring-it-out-and-it-shows</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Last week, Raptors forward Pascal Siakam was asked whether he saw signs of the team finding some continuity and chemistry.

Too soon, was the gist of his reply.

“It’s still a little rough out there, just trying to figure out everyone,” Siakam said. “We have a lot of new players, so it’s definitely a little different. But I think we’re doing a great job and the guys we have are very high IQ, Marc (Gasol), Jeremy (Lin). Those two just understand the game, they’ve been playing for a while.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’ve just got to continue to play together … (but) it’s been fun so far just trying to figure things out.”

Not so much on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, though. Gasol was a stunning -30 and did not notch even a single assist for only the 25th time in his career. Lin was a -22, missing 4-of-5 shots and has still not hit a three-pointer as a Raptor.

“So many different lineups, so many different faces, trying to gel together is a big part of the reason why but at this point, no excuses,” Danny Green said.

“We still have to find ways to play better regardless of who is on the floor, we have to have to find ways to pick each other up.”

The starters who have been here all year looked fine, for the most part, following a bad start. The new-look bench was a mess.

There’s still work to do.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:926e713e03a8/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.tsn.ca/raptors-opting-for-late-season-rest-over-practice-time-1.1268998">
    <title>Raptors opting for late-season rest over practice time - TSN.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:40:18+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.tsn.ca/raptors-opting-for-late-season-rest-over-practice-time-1.1268998</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Truth is Toronto doesn’t have much left to play for over these final 17 games. First place is still within reach, though catching Milwaukee will be difficult. The Bucks have a 2.5 game lead atop the Eastern Conference, they own the tiebreaker with the Raps, and have been remarkably consistent – their current two-game losing streak is their first of the season. The Raptors will likely finish in second, where they hold a 4.0 game lead over Indiana.

Their priorities over the next five weeks are far less tangible. The checklist is as follows: continue to build chemistry and integrate their new players, establish a functioning rotation, go into the playoffs with momentum and confidence, and most importantly stay healthy.

While the games themselves are not crucial, the time and how they use it could be. So the question becomes, what are they doing to prepare for what lies ahead?

When Leonard said the games are his practices, he may have meant it more literally than you would think.

Since that win over Portland last Friday, the Raptors have declined three opportunities to practice. They had a session scheduled for Saturday afternoon but cancelled it late on Friday. They opted not to practice on Monday, following Sunday’s 112-107 overtime loss in Detroit, even though the game started at 6 p.m. ET and they flew back that night. Then, they took Wednesday off after a disappointing showing against Houston on Tuesday. They also chose not to hold a morning shootaround ahead of the Rockets game.

This approach isn’t entirely unusual, especially this late into the season. You see it around the league, as veteran playoff-bound teams look to maximize rest for their players where and when they can.

“It’s just that time of year,” said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. “I think we’ve played some really tough games lately, really tough, close, physical, good teams, high level. There’s just not much use [in practising some days]. We got home at 12:30 [a.m. Monday morning], you’re gonna drag ’em out of bed and what are you gonna get out of the main guys anyway? We do a lot of skill work on those days, anyway, and treatments, and just about every guy hits the gym anyway.”

Welcome to the new NBA. There’s been a meaningful shift in the way teams manage their players’ workloads over the last decade. We’ve seen it play out on the court, where stars are routinely missing games for rest, but it’s also going on behind the scenes. Studies across professional sports have revealed the toll a long season can take on an athlete’s body and mind. With a greater emphasis on physical and mental wellness, as well as all the money and jobs at stake in their business, teams are erring on the side of caution.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:4034b53d81d6/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/doug_smiths_sports_blog/2019/03/06/raptors-failings-were-obvious-to-all-in-latest-defeat.html">
    <title>Raptors failings were obvious to all in latest defeat | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:39:43+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/doug_smiths_sports_blog/2019/03/06/raptors-failings-were-obvious-to-all-in-latest-defeat.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Frustration personified

Norm Powell is such a tease.

He misses a handful of defensive assignments and rushes a couple of shots and then he locks down someone for a couple of minutes and makes one of his two baskets of the night, a nifty drive in traffic to finish with his left hand on the left side of the rim.

But if these games are about learning who can do what and for how long, it’s hard to see Powell working himself into the regular playoff rotation.

He was really good against Boston a week ago, really bad in the first half in Detroit and then he hit a couple of big three-pointers in the third quarter of that game.

Then last night he’s forcing stuff and missing shots and losing his man on defence.

Nick must be going crazy.

It’s not like he was the lone transgressor last night – no, there was all kinds of blame to go around – but if you’re on the playing bubble and play like that, good things are not going to happen.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:a7b779641957/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/former-raptors-wright-valanciunas-miles-finding-success-grizzlies/">
    <title>Former Raptors Wright, Valanciunas, Miles finding success with Grizzlies - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:38:59+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/former-raptors-wright-valanciunas-miles-finding-success-grizzlies/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Jonas Valanciunas
Another homegrown Raptor and former Toronto draft pick, Valanciunas never struggled with finding that opportunity like Wright did. But he was placed into a timeshare with Serge Ibaka this season, albeit one that seemed to benefit both the team and the player. Valanciunas, in reduced minutes, was able to highlight his strengths in short spurts, owning the low-post, and since joining the Grizzlies has only continued that trend — but now with significantly more playing time.

In eight appearances with Memphis, the Lithuanian big man and former fifth-overall pick has posted five double-doubles. His minutes are up from 18 with Toronto to 25.5 minutes per game while carrying a bigger scoring load. As a member of the Grizzlies, Valanciunas is averaging 18.3 points 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting a scorching 60 per cent from the field.

While Wright is playing well with more responsibility, it’s even less surprising that Valanciunas would thrive with a bigger role on a team still displaying remnants of the Grit n’ Grind era.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:4e7ca77b9b4b/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18253173/toronto-raptors-temperature-kyle-lowry-bench-jeremy-lin">
    <title>Toronto Raptors Temperature: Does the squad need to stagger its best players? - Raptors HQ</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-07T11:38:28+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18253173/toronto-raptors-temperature-kyle-lowry-bench-jeremy-lin</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Bench Unit
The Raptors have a unique recent history of five-man bench units. The Bench Mob last season was one of the most enjoyable Raptors experiences to date. It was a beautiful display of basketball, showing the possibilities of simply playing on a string. This season however, has not been nearly as beautiful. The current iteration — typically Lin, Powell, McCaw, Anunoby, and Ibaka/ Gasol — suffer from a lack of efficient shot creation and shooting. To Nick Nurse’s credit he moved away from these all-bench lineups in the Houston game, getting Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam some run, but it still felt like a half measure. The temptation to group the starters together for long stretches isn’t a realistic option in the playoffs and has many fans clamouring over more aggressive staggering — something we have not seen this season.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:be843a6222dc/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsMUknDhBLw&amp;feature=youtu.be">
    <title>WE THE NORTH:Are you mad about Kawhi Leonard's lighter load thus far? - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T20:26:28+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsMUknDhBLw&amp;feature=youtu.be</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:4b0faf079fed/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://theathletic.com/852050/2019/03/06/harden-rockets-break-bench-in-what-has-become-an-ongoing-problem-for-raptors/">
    <title>Harden, Rockets break bench in what has become an ongoing problem for Raptors – The Athletic [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:57:11+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://theathletic.com/852050/2019/03/06/harden-rockets-break-bench-in-what-has-become-an-ongoing-problem-for-raptors/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[This year has been a return to earlier eras — and the normal, NBA-wide case — of the priority of the Raptors’ bench being to hold leads, if they can. The onus has fallen on starting-heavy units to drive success, and the Raptors’ starters have obliged. While they’ve rotated through 17 different starting lineups, a look at the four they’ve used most (for a total of 49 games) and two others they may look to highlights their relative success:



The takeaway here would seem to be that the centre in these lineups doesn’t matter a great deal and that it’s the combination of Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Pascal Siakam driving most of the team’s success. This is backed up by individual on-off marks for the year, although Leonard’s is a little less pronounced than the other three consistent starters, as the team has performed well without him until recently.



Solutions for balancing the units have been thrown around for most of the season, as this problem has persisted more or less all year.

The addition of Marc Gasol, to some, was a clear fix. Gasol’s playmaking can aid a bench that’s generally short on that skill and help bring up the performance of the team’s lesser rotation pieces. While Gasol also seems better off with the starters, where there is an exponential effect to his skill set with better players around him, Serge Ibaka plays poorly with the bench and better with the starters. The numbers have not yet revealed that Gasol is helping those bench groups.

No Core Four, Gasol at C: -39.9 net rating, 28 minutes
No Core Four, Ibaka at C: -10.6 net rating, 95 minutes
No Core Four, Valanciunas at C: -14.5 net rating, 112 minutes
No Core Four, Monroe at C: -9.7 net rating, 121 minutes

Who plays centre in those bench-heavy groups really hasn’t mattered much. Without some of the starters staggered with them, all of those groups have struggled.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:9344d049c9df/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18252341/toronto-raptors-hq-roundtable-jeremy-lin-buyout-add-lebron-james-playoffs">
    <title>Raptors HQ Roundtable: On Jeremy Lin, Toronto’s roster moves, taking a break, and more - Raptors HQ</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:12:36+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18252341/toronto-raptors-hq-roundtable-jeremy-lin-buyout-add-lebron-james-playoffs</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[1) Jeremy Lin was a solid addition (on paper) for the Raptors, but what happens to him once Fred VanVleet comes back from injury?
Mitch Orsatti: Ah, what a luxurious problem to have! As the question states, Lin has played perfect basketball for his role on this Raptors team, especially considering he was thrust into a pretty big role right after being signed. Does that mean Lin should be eating into Steady Freddy’s minutes?


The easy answer here is “probably not”. The Raptors made a significant investments in Mr. Bet On Yourself this off-season and to relegate him to a reduced role because he got hurt and the team signed a buyout vet to a minimum contract wouldn’t be a great look. That doesn’t mean that the team should just stash Lin at the end of the bench either.


So where do the minutes come from?

The sad answer here is “Patrick McCaw.” McCaw has had incredible defensive spurts and the occasional offensive burst, but the fact that he was playing some defacto point guard while Freddy’s been out probably means that the ax will fall on him first.

As I mentioned though, this is a good problem to have! When one of Norm, OG, Fred or Lin struggles (which is inevitable) the Raptors have an excellent release valve in McCaw.

 Embedded video

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Satbir Singh: Nick Nurse seems to be tightening up the Raptors rotation as the season winds down. Rightfully so, as the playoffs are a time when you need your best players to take on heavy minutes and a lot more workload. Fred VanVleet’s return won’t keep him out of the rotation even with Jeremy Lin involved. I think other players like Patrick McCaw and Norman Powell will have a tough time seeing minutes, or at least the minutes they’ve been getting lately.

In terms of how you play with Lin and VanVleet off the bench and 35-plus minutes per game for Kyle Lowry, well that’s why Nurse gets paid the big bucks. More than likely you try to ease Lowry’s workload in some of the games near the end of the season but keep him mostly around that 35-minute mark. With Lin and VanVleet on the court together, I’d prefer Lin as the ball handler and VanVleet as the standstill shooter. VanVleet is shooting 41.4 per cent on catch and shoot three’s, 28.7 per cent on pull up three’s and 45.2 per cent in the corner. Therefore, make VanVleet the shooter on the court with the amount of good passers on the team.

Daniel Reynolds: I think the Raptors have to give those minutes back to VanVleet. No offense to Lin, but the bench has been FVV’s to direct, and while Lin has perhaps more experience — or at least a more well-known pedigree — he hasn’t exactly shown himself to be an out-and-out world beater. At least not quite yet.

That’s not to say Lin wouldn’t have a role to play for the Raptors. Theoretically, Lin is a three-point shooter, and practically speaking he’s another ball-handler and perimeter defender for Toronto to trot out there. Unfortunately for the Raptors, while Lin’s has had a chance to show off his on-ball skills, he’s currently shooting [checks paper] zero percent from three since coming to Toronto. That alone means one thing: VanVleet should slide easily right back into his spot in the lineup. Case closed. (Please note this question was asked before Lin’s debacle against Detroit and Houston. As of right now, it’s not even a question: I would definitely give all of Lin’s minutes to FVV.)]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:eeb702b816c5/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://troymedia.com/2019/03/06/kawhi-leonard-march-out-toronto/">
    <title>Kawhi Leonard and his slow, painful march out of Toronto | Troy Media</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:09:08+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://troymedia.com/2019/03/06/kawhi-leonard-march-out-toronto/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The end game in this Leonard love is to convince him to stay in Toronto past this year, when his contract expires. The betting around the NBA is he won’t stay, preferring to go to his native southern California. Leonard isn’t letting on.

Were this an exceptional circumstance for Leonard, people might understand. But the skilled small forward has long exhibited self interest of a special type. In San Antonio, Leonard struggled with injures to his shoulder and right leg. When Spurs doctors told him he was healthy enough to play, Leonard sought a second opinion.

His teammates held a meeting to declare that they thought that Leonard should get his butt back on court pronto. But Leonard refused and didn’t play another game the rest of the 2018-19 season.

To say there was bitterness when the Spurs lost in the playoffs without their transcendent star would be an understatement.

So no one was surprised when the Spurs unburdened themselves of Leonard in the summer. The real surprise was in Leonard’s landing spot, in Canada with the Raptors. Few saw Toronto being that aggressive. But with LeBron James taking his talents to L.A., the Eastern Conference looked open to the management of the Raptors.

Leonard could be the Raptors’ equivalent of the Toronto Blue Jays’ acquisition of David Price, Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin. Just what they needed to jump-start a playoff run and a possible trip to the finals for slaughter at the hands of Golden State.

No matter, the deal was a shocker. Toronto has been in the NBA since 1995 but to many players it might as well be Mars for its attraction to free agents.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:40623f86e67c/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/3/6/18252296/2019-nba-playoff-matchups">
    <title>Five Dream NBA Playoff Matchups to Root For - The Ringer</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:08:41+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/3/6/18252296/2019-nba-playoff-matchups</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Milwaukee vs. Toronto
Any combination of the top four teams in the East would make for a great Eastern Conference finals, but the matchup between the two best regular-season teams would create the most interesting story lines on the court, even if it drives TV executives to nightmares. A battle between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard could tell us who will replace LeBron as the new King of the East. The era of the big-man battle is over. The wing positions are where the heavyweight fights happen these days.

Giannis and Kawhi have not matched up much in the regular-season games between their two teams, but there would come a point in the series when the best two-way player on each team would have to guard the other. It would be the rare one-on-one matchup that would be equally as compelling on both sides of the ball. Could Kawhi, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, slow down Giannis, who has been playing like a new-age version of Shaq? And could Giannis take his defensive reputation to the next level and use his length to erase Kawhi, like LeBron used to when he was in his prime?

The series could come down to which head coach in his first year on the job (Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee and Nick Nurse in Toronto) does a better job of manipulating matchups. They both have the luxury of deep rosters, but having more lineup options also creates more opportunities to choose the wrong ones. Both now have a Gasol brother on the second unit. Which one will blink first and go small? Will we see a T-800 frontcourt of Kawhi, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby before we see Giannis reach his ultimate destiny as a point center?]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:d651e8b52dac/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/jeff-blair-show/raptors-need-continuity-dont-much-time/">
    <title>Raptors need continuity - and they don't have much time - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:08:19+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/jeff-blair-show/raptors-need-continuity-dont-much-time/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Raptors need continuity - and they don't have much time]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:809a13d971e0/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18252941/five-thoughts-recap-houston-rockets-107-toronto-raptors-95">
    <title>Five thoughts recap: Houston Rockets 107, Toronto Raptors 95 - Raptors HQ</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T19:08:10+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/6/18252941/five-thoughts-recap-houston-rockets-107-toronto-raptors-95</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Leonard-Lowry PnRs are Creeping In
Something we’re seeing a little bit more of — just a little bit! — lately are some Kyle Lowry-Kawhi Leonard pick and rolls. We got one early one last night, that freed Leonard for a drive, and we got one on Leonard’s game-winning shot against Portland the other day.

This is something I’ve been wanting to see more of, but I also understand why Nick Nurse might not want to show it too much — you don’t want to give away too much of what might be your best late-game offense. Similarly, the Golden State Warriors can unleash an even more devastating combo — the Kevin Durant-Stephen Curry pick-and-roll — but Steve Kerr saves it for high-leverage situations.

If you can get a smaller point guard to switch onto Leonard (like Lillard in that Portland game) or a slower big to switch onto Lowry, obviously, that’s hugely beneficial to the Raps. So let’s see how much more of it we see down the stretch, and into the postseason.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:9bc01d33f26d/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RurpSRavcRs">
    <title>Coach Mike D'Antoni Postgame Reaction to Rockets Win over Raptors! March 5 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:24:33+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RurpSRavcRs</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:fd0529d16765/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkV-3QecTfc">
    <title>Raptors Post-Game: Nick Nurse - March 5, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:18:37+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkV-3QecTfc</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:68e394ef46b3/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Cgn6YjuQ4">
    <title>Raptors Post-Game: Kyle Lowry - March 5, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:18:33+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Cgn6YjuQ4</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRAx5XIfT2A">
    <title>Raptors Post-Game: Pascal Siakam - March 5, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:18:30+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRAx5XIfT2A</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGivUjKWU6s">
    <title>Raptors Post-Game: Danny Green - March 5, 2019 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:18:27+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGivUjKWU6s</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQUjfIUGl0&amp;t=32s">
    <title>[LATEST NBA] James Harden (35 Pts, 12/30 FG) PostGame Interviews | Rockets def. Raptors 107-95 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:18:09+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQUjfIUGl0&amp;t=32s</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYS_T76jtU">
    <title>Rockets defeat Raptors 107-95 Post Game analysis NBA - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:17:24+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYS_T76jtU</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0cYFoxfuO4">
    <title>Inside The NBA crew reacts to James Harden 35 Pts, Houston Rockets beat Toronto Raptors 107-95 - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:17:21+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0cYFoxfuO4</link>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7RUOUtN8k">
    <title>Raptors Rundown E19 - Northern Invasion, Presented by Coors Light - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:17:16+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7RUOUtN8k</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/1103074923403231232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1103074923403231232&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fraptors-news-nick-nurse-expects-fewer-load-management-final-stretch-regular-season%2F">
    <title>Josh Lewenberg on Twitter: &quot;Nurse says he doesn't anticipate a lot of load managing for his team down the stretch of the regular season. &quot;We've had so many injuries that we've load managed ourselves into perfect load management.&quot;&quot;</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:09:07+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/1103074923403231232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1103074923403231232&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fraptors-news-nick-nurse-expects-fewer-load-management-final-stretch-regular-season%2F</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://theathletic.com/852944/2019/03/06/jeremy-lin-and-norman-powell-are-faltering-offensively-off-raptors-bench/?redirected=1">
    <title>Jeremy Lin and Norman Powell are faltering offensively off Raptors’ bench – The Athletic [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:08:33+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://theathletic.com/852944/2019/03/06/jeremy-lin-and-norman-powell-are-faltering-offensively-off-raptors-bench/?redirected=1</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Lin and Powell have done little to inspire faith lately. Since Lin joined the team, the Raptors had scored just 92.1 points per 100 possessions when he has been on the floor, and the Raptors have been outscored by 15.4 points per 100 possessions. Powell’s individual numbers have been slightly better, but not much. In the 80 minutes they have played together, the Raptors were scoring a perfectly dreadful 84.8 points per 100 possessions, outscored by 26.5 points per 100 possessions during that stretch. For a point of reference, Memphis has the league’s worst offensive rating at 104.1, while the Cavaliers have the worst net rating at minus-10.1 points per 100 possessions.

They reached a nadir on Tuesday. Lin was a minus-22 in 11 minutes against the Rockets in a 107-95 loss, while Powell was a minus-16. Marc Gasol and OG Anunoby were both minus-30, but to say they were at the core of the issues would be a stretch. More to the point, at least they have had very good games recently — Gasol against Boston and Portland, and Anunoby in Detroit on Sunday.

The Lin-Powell reserve backcourt has been a problem repeatedly, which is a shame as Powell had been thriving in January and Lin was finally slated to be a big part of a legitimate contender. They certainly still have a chance to return to stability, but Fred VanVleet’s return, probably in two weeks or so, should likely push one out of the regular rotation.

Lin has missed all 17 of his 3-pointers as a Raptor, and that is not giving him any space to operate. Houston was extremely physical with him as the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll, and Lin was unable to adjust on the fly. Powell also took a few bumps on drives, and had trouble finishing despite that.

“They were physical with everybody, they were really riding us. … For me, at this point, yeah, I would have certainly liked to win the game and have those guys play a little bit better. But it’s really good to get used to this kind of stuff, ‘cause we all know that’s kinda what it looks like here in six weeks or (however far) away (the playoffs are).

“My only advice is play through it. Man up and play through it. Start knocking someone around at the other end if that’s the way the referees are calling it.”

Nurse might have to become more stringent in staggering the minutes of his stars — Mike D’Antoni had James Harden or Chris Paul on the floor for every minute on Tuesday — but it was not as if Nurse was throwing irresponsible lineups out to the slaughter for minutes at a time. In the second quarter, Lowry started with the bench, and the Rockets started the frame on a 19-4 run. In the fourth, Siakam was on with the reserves, and the Rockets started that quarter off with a 10-2 spurt.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thedreamshake.com/2019/3/5/18252676/houston-rockets-rock-toronto-raptors-behind-tough-defense">
    <title>Rockets rock Raptors behind tough defense - The Dream Shake</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:06:35+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thedreamshake.com/2019/3/5/18252676/houston-rockets-rock-toronto-raptors-behind-tough-defense</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[James Harden spearheaded the offensive attack with 35 points, and though he struggled for a big part of the night and shot just 12-30 overall, he turned on the gas in the fourth quarter when it mattered most. The Beard scored 17 of his points in the final frame to help break open a close game and seal the deal on the sixth consecutive Houston win.

The Rockets almost let another one get away, however, after jumping out to a big 55-37 halftime lead. The first half featured perhaps the best defensive ball we’ve witnessed Houston play all year, and they had a balanced offensive attack with three players in double-digit scoring by halftime, but as been the case time and again throughout the season, they couldn’t hold the advantage.

The Rockets layed an egg after halftime, giving up 34 points in the third period and scoring just 14 themselves, and they actually went into the fourth period with 71-69 deficit. They cranked the intensity back up in the fourth, however, and Harden’s offensive burst closed the show.

In addition to The Beard, the Rockets got 18 points from Gerald Green on 4 three-pointers, 13 points from Austin Rivers, who played an extremely effective game, and 13 from Eric Gordon. They also got 5 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals from Chris Paul, who was efficiently running the offense and whipping passes about despite some ugly 1-10 shooting, and they got 9 points and 15 boards from Clint Capela.

Nene also looked good off the bench tonight, to the tune of 6 points, 5 boards and a +16 in 14 minutes.

The Raptors were led by Kawhi Leonard, who finished with 26 points, and they also got 17 points and 10 boards from Pascal Siakam, 14 points from Danny Green, and 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots from Serge Ibaka, who was an absolute monster on the defensive end for Toronto.

The Rockets now move to 39-25 on the season, and with the losses tonight by the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are now tied with both of those teams for the number three seed in the Western Conference.

Houston is now off until Friday, when they’ll return to action at the Toyota Center against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets just beat the Raptors and Celtics back-to-back, and they’ll look to down another of the east’s best as they round into shape for a playoff run.

MORE FROM THE DREAM SHAKE
Rockets vs. Raptors game thread
Harden My Take Episode 7: Winning Ways
Houston Rockets vs. Toronto Raptors game preview
Rockets to re-sign Terrence Jones to second 10-day deal
Eric Gordon, James Harden on fire in win over Celtics
Game thread: Rockets vs. Celtics


MOST READ
]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/5/18252446/toronto-raptors-houston-rockets-final-score-recap">
    <title>Recap: Raptors fall behind, catch up, then lose to Houston, 107-95 - Raptors HQ</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:05:18+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/5/18252446/toronto-raptors-houston-rockets-final-score-recap</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Still, that third quarter, man. The Raptors came out of the half down 55-37, after two sub-20-point quarters. There was absolutely no reason to assume things would turn around, not with Harden just warming up, and the Rockets bench beating up Toronto’s squad of subs. Except the Raptors’ defense picked up, and they actually hit shots, going on a 15-2 run in the five minutes before Houston’s first field goal of the quarter. For comparison’s sake: in the first half Toronto mustered 34 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent from three. In that third quarter? 59 and 38, respectively. The end result: suddenly, it was Houston’s turn for a meagre sub-20-point quarter.

The hero of those minutes was Pascal Siakam, who finished the night with a double-double of 17 points (15 in the third) and ten rebounds. Siakam also buzzed around on defense, helping to hold Harden to a 1-for-7 frame. At the same time, the Raptors were aided by Kawhi Leonard (contending with the fridge-like P.J. Tucker for most of the night), who muscled in 26 points while grabbing six boards. They also got a nice bounce-back half from Serge Ibaka, who started the game looking every one of his years, but finished with five blocks and a 10-15 double-double. For their parts: Danny Green hit some big threes for 14 points and Kyle Lowry whirred around the court, but finished with just 8-and-6 on 4-of-16 shooting.


If we could just talk about that third quarter there’d be no problem here. The Raptors were down 22, turned it around over those 12 minutes, and actually went into the fourth with a two-point lead. Gunning with the Rockets is no easy feat, not with with Harden juking his way to 35 points (on 12-of-30 shooting, but still), and not with the team shooting 15-of-34 from deep overall. And yet there was a moment when it felt like Toronto could get it done. Chris Paul was frustrated, Clint Capela was bottled up, Eric Gordon looked mortal — anything was possible. So then, what happened?

As has been the case throughout Toronto’s season, the bench is what happened. Despite changes in personnel, despite it being Marc Gasol’s turn to ride the pine, despite the addition of Jeremy Lin, despite even the hopeful recent signs from OG Anunoby and Norman Powell, the Raptors’ bench just did not have it tonight in the biggest of ways. Along with Patrick McCaw, Toronto’s five-man bench unit finished between -15 and -30 on the night and managed to help the Rockets’ blow up the game not once... but twice!]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-face-intriguing-questions-following-loss-rockets/">
    <title>Raptors face intriguing questions following loss to Rockets - Sportsnet.ca</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:04:50+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-face-intriguing-questions-following-loss-rockets/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Continuity was the Raptors calling card the last few seasons. A year ago, they won a team-record 59 games and made their fifth straight playoff appearance with a 10-man rotation that missed 55 games – combined – over the course of the season.

As the Raptors head down the stretch, only four of those 10 players from a year ago were even on the roster and with Fred VanVleet (thumb) out, only three were available to play. As the Raptors opted for talent, pedigree and hoops IQ over familiarity, the hope is they can figure it all out on the fly.

Against the Rockets – who came within a game of the NBA Finals a year ago and look every inch a team that can get over the hump this season – the Raptors looked like they have a long way still to go.

The starters came out flat, the second-unit got man-handled and a single near-perfect quarter – the Raptors out-scored Houston 34-14 in the third to storm back from an 18-point half-time hole and briefly stake their claim to the game – was undone by a tentative fourth as the Rockets quickly reasserted themselves and left the Raptors reeling.

With the trade deadline a month in the rear view and the playoffs still a month ahead, the Raptors sound like a team coming out of training camp, trying to figure things out, with centres Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol flipping back and forth as starters and the ever-present Leonard load management questions adding an additional element of complication.

“Just the chemistry, lineup changes – one time Marc is in, one time Serge is in there, some guys are hurt, guys are in and out, still figuring it out, some guys still learning the plays,” said Raptors guard Danny Green. “So many different lineups, so many different faces, trying to gel together is a big part of the reason why but at the is point, no excuses. We still have to find ways to play better regardless of who is on the floor, we have to have to find ways to pick each other up.”

It’s hard to knock the Raptors’ hustle too much at this stage. They made the big move to acquire Leonard in the off-season and then doubled down at the trade deadline when they acquired Marc Gasol on Feb. 7. Jeremy Lin has picked up major minutes after being bought out by the Atlanta Hawks. Leonard has sat out 18 games. They’ve managed all that change well as their 46-19 record suggests.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
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<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/simmons-raptors-siakam-no-longer-a-secret-around-nba">
    <title>SIMMONS: Raptors’ Siakam no longer a secret around NBA | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:04:10+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/simmons-raptors-siakam-no-longer-a-secret-around-nba</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[In his first 10 games of the season, Siakam scored 11.3 points a game. In the last 10 games, he’s averaging 21.4. If someone beats him out for Most Improved Player in the league, that’s probably an injustice. And Tuesday night’s game against Houston showed just how important Siakam can be for the Raptors.

He scored just two points in a rather dismal, sloppy, turnover-filled first half by the Raptors. In the second half, the Raptors took the lead 60-59 on a Siakam basket, the first lead they had since holding an 11-10 advantage in the first quarter. It still wasn’t enough to get the Raps a win.

The NBA may be surprised by Siakam’s emergence, but no one who saw him in summer league is. The last person surprised is Siakam himself.

“I always get that question,” he said, almost perturbed by having to explain his new-found celebrity. “I don’t think I’m surprised. This is what you work for. If I didn’t think (I could succeed) I wouldn’t be at this level.”

Thinking it is one thing. There’s a player on every NBA bench who believes he’s just an opportunity away from being a star. All they need is a chance — and they’ll make it big.

Most of the time, it doesn’t happen. Stars are stars for a reason. Bench players are bench players for a reason. Siakam is now closer to being a star than he’s been before and he’s just scratching the surface of his vast capabilities.

“I’ve always had confidence,” said Siakam. “Obviously, that’s growing. When you play and get a chance to compete and have the trust that I have from my teammates and coaches, the confidence is always there.”

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Houston Rockets guard...


Raptors’ Marc Gasol looks to make a pass from the ground as Houston’s...

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13)on Tuesday March 5, 2019....

Raptors vs Houston on Tuesday March 5, 2019. The Toronto Raptors host...

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) and Houston Rockets guard...

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Houston Rockets guard...

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) and Houston Rockets guard Austin...

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) and Houston Rockets center Nene...

Toronto Raptors guard Jeremy Lin (17)on Tuesday March 5, 2019. The...

Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol (33)on Tuesday March 5, 2019. The...

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Houston Rockets guard...

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) and Houston Rockets guard Austin...

Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9)on Tuesday March 5, 2019. The...

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43)on Tuesday March 5, 2019....

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Houston Rockets guard...


1/15
The confidence also comes from Fred VanVleet, Siakam’s good friend. In the draft in which Siakam was taken late in the first round, VanVleet was passed over. That’s been a topic of conversation between the two over the years. What amazes Siakam is VanVleet’s utter confidence. If he misses a shot, he just keeps on shooting. He knows he’s that good. He’s tried to get Siakam to feel the same way — most of the time it’s working.

“I didn’t get to see him play much last year,” said Kawhi Leonard. “I didn’t know too much about him.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
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<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-show-their-best-but-mainly-their-worst-in-loss-to-rockets">
    <title>Raptors show their best, but mainly their worst in loss to Rockets | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:03:12+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-show-their-best-but-mainly-their-worst-in-loss-to-rockets</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The second unit, this time with Marc Gasol instead of Serge Ibaka — who got the start at centre — is a problem. It’s a problem for the time being.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Whether it remains a problem will depend on how soon Fred VanVleet returns from his thumb ligament injury.

“Obviously, Fred has been there,” Pascal Siakam said when asked how much he is being missed. “He knows what he’s doing. Leadership, just being able to control the game. That’s what we miss without him.”

Nurse tried offsetting things by putting Siakam in with that bench unit and it didn’t work. He tried Kyle Lowry earlier with a few bench guys and still the Rockets feasted.

With 17 games remaining getting that unit sorted out, or a rotation that keeps that group from giving games away has to be the priority.

Lowry, who has been good in stints with the bench, wanted no part of the question about what can be done with that second unit.

“I don’t know, man. I think it’s a coaches question,” Lowry said. “For us as players, we’ve just got to go out there and play harder and move the ball, share the ball better and get back on defence. That second unit, whoever that group is, they’ve got to continue to follow the gameplan and just play harder, honestly.”

That the bench was outscored 37-22 was just part of the story. They don’t seem to be any better at stopping anyone. The five Toronto non-starters were a combined minus-113 for the game with no one better than Patrick McCaw’s minus-15.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.tsn.ca/nba/video/second-unit-struggles-costs-raptors-comeback-bid~1627613">
    <title>Second unit struggles costs Raptors comeback bid - Video - TSN</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:02:26+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.tsn.ca/nba/video/second-unit-struggles-costs-raptors-comeback-bid~1627613</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Raptors battled back from 22 points down against the Rockets, but Toronto's second unit gave up an 11-2 run in the fourth which helped Houston pull away. The NBA on TSN panel discuss Toronto's bench struggles and the amount of good looks the Raptors passed up.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:e15c7f750a49/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823712-james-hardens-dominance-propels-rockets-past-kawhi-leonard-raptors">
    <title>James Harden's Dominance Propels Rockets Past Kawhi Leonard, Raptors | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:00:50+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823712-james-hardens-dominance-propels-rockets-past-kawhi-leonard-raptors</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[James Harden scored 19 of his 35 points in the final 7:08 as the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 107-95 on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Kawhi Leonard had 26 points for the 46-19 Raps, who have lost three of their last five games. Pascal Siakam (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Serge Ibaka (10 points, 15 boards) both finished with double-doubles. Ibaka also blocked five shots.

Clint Capela grabbed 15 rebounds for the 39-25 Rockets, who have won six straight. Gerald Green dropped 18 points off the bench.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:4225bc5f66e1/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/concern-trolling-the-eastern-conference-contenders-biggest-hurdles-for-bucks-76ers-celtics-raptors-and-pacers/">
    <title>Concern-trolling the Eastern Conference contenders: Biggest hurdles for Bucks, 76ers, Celtics, Raptors and Pacers - CBSSports.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T12:00:21+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/concern-trolling-the-eastern-conference-contenders-biggest-hurdles-for-bucks-76ers-celtics-raptors-and-pacers/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Part of the reason Marc Gasol makes sense with the Raptors is that they have struggled to maintain an attack where the ball is moving as much as they want it to be and Leonard gets the opportunities he needs to create one-on-one. Gasol has made them a better passing team, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be as cohesive as they need to be. To win at the highest level, Toronto will need almost all of its important players to play well at the same time.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:6bb5a677211d/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://tipofthetower.com/2019/03/05/toronto-raptors-should-want-dwane-casey-pistons-in-playoffs/">
    <title>Toronto Raptors should want Dwane Casey, Pistons in playoffs - Tip of the Tower</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T11:59:30+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://tipofthetower.com/2019/03/05/toronto-raptors-should-want-dwane-casey-pistons-in-playoffs/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Really the only concern for Raptors fans should be Leonard’s health because he is getting more games off than anticipated (the team expected him to be able to play on back-to-back nights) but that doesn’t seem to be a big issue at the moment since he is still performing when he’s in the lineup.

The reason why the Raptors should want the Pistons in the playoffs is for the comments being made by Casey about his former team. After winning in overtime, he made it a point to take a shot at Toronto when discussing his desire to play the Raptors in the playoffs.

While Casey has every right to speak his mind and shouldn’t holding back on Toronto it is ironic to hear him say that Detroit knows what winning a championship is all about when he had his chances to do the same.

Sure he won coach of the year but in his seven years as coach, he only made it to the conference finals once and got swept by LeBron James two straight years in a row after that. If I’m Nick Nurse I would want to send a message to his former colleague that he is capable of taking this team to another level and what better way then to beat them in the first round.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:4e2e6ebf0f09/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/opinion/2019/03/04/harden-and-leonard-load-up-for-nba-playoffs-in-very-different-ways.html">
    <title>Harden and Kawhi load up for NBA playoffs in very different ways | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T11:58:38+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/opinion/2019/03/04/harden-and-leonard-load-up-for-nba-playoffs-in-very-different-ways.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[That’s the right answer, of course. The regular season, with its TV rights and gate receipts, happens to be a big part of what makes the NBA a multibillion-dollar basketball business. And it’s that kind of expression of affection for the nightly pursuit that will endear Harden to observers who believe it’s honourable and significant that, say, Michael Jordan played all 82 regular-season games in four of his six championship-winning seasons, missing a combined six starts in the other two.

The sport’s economy is built on the idea, illusory or not, that every game matters — that everyone who buys a ticket or makes the league appointment viewing is owed a reasonable facsimile of the state of the art. The Raptors have their reasons for ignoring that foundational principle this season. And hey, given that they’re 13-5 without Leonard in the lineup — this while holding down the No. 2 seed in the East — it hasn’t been a particularly difficult sell. (Kawhi, mind you, ought to give Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam a percentage for keeping the heat off by deftly holding down the fort.)

Speaking before Monday’s practice, Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said the Rockets, sitting in fifth in the West, have considered the merits of giving Harden more rest, too.

“Yeah, but he won’t allow it,” said D’Antoni. “I don’t know all the scientific stuff behind it. We talk about it a lot. We try to keep the minutes down.”

They try. But Harden is leading the league in minutes per game. On account of the MVP’s insatiable appetite for hooping, the coach said he’s decided it’s best to get Harden rest on the days when a game is not scheduled. So the Rockets will forego practice or skip the traditional morning shootaround — as they planned to do Tuesday — to limit cumulative fatigue. In other words, minutes per game and games played isn’t the only way to measure the management of a player’s load.

“So you’re telling me that if I’d have practice and shootaround and I play him two less minutes (in a game), then it’s better?” D’Antoni said. “What if we don’t have practice and James plays two more minutes? So you’re trying to trade it off. And if he needs an extra day or he needs a day off, we’ll give him a day off. But he will not ask for it.”

D’Antoni, for his part, will not join the long-assembled chorus calling for a shorter schedule.

“The owners are not going to, ‘Oh yeah, let’s cut down 10 (games off the schedule).’ And the players are not going to have it, either. ‘We’ll just pay you less.’ No, that’s not happening,” D’Antoni said. “So get used to it. It’s going to be 82.”

Eighty-two practices before they lace ’em up for the actual games.

“He’s right to a certain extent. I understand why he’s saying (that),” D’Antoni said of Leonard’s assessment. “But we’re just trying every game to be better. And in the playoffs, you can’t do that. You’d better be better or you’re out.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:59b3c09b7aa3/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/05/rockets-pull-away-as-raptors-bench-falls-to-earth.html">
    <title>Rockets pull away as Raptors’ bench falls to Earth | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T11:57:17+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/05/rockets-pull-away-as-raptors-bench-falls-to-earth.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Unable to even sustain what the starters had done in erasing a deficit as large as 22 points, the backups faltered in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter at the Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday in what turned into a 107-95 loss to the Houston Rockets.

A resurgent starting group, which was far from blameless in Toronto getting behind, had outscored the Rockets 34-14 in the third quarter to take a two-point lead into the fourth.

But with starters getting necessary rest, the Rockets went on a 25-9 run in the first seven minutes of the fourth to take back control of the game.

“We let ‘em shake free,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

The backup backcourt of Jeremy Lin and Norm Powell struggled all night, going a combined 3-for-11 from the field while being ineffective defensively. OG Anunoby was only marginally better and Marc Gasol was unable to get things going with the subs as Toronto dropped its second game in a row.

James Harden led Houston with 35 points but needed to take 30 shots to get them.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:803edfa8d58d/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/05/danny-green-isnt-always-been-in-the-spotlight-but-me-might-be-the-raptors-rock.html">
    <title>Danny Green isn’t always in the spotlight but he might be the Raptors’ rock | The Star [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-06T11:56:45+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/05/danny-green-isnt-always-been-in-the-spotlight-but-me-might-be-the-raptors-rock.html</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Green has played more games than anyone other than Siakam and more minutes than anyone other than Siakam and Lowry. Green has started all 63 games he’s played in, he has averaged more minutes per game (28.4) than he had in all but one of his previous nine seasons (28.5 per game in 2014-15) and his three-point shooting going into Tuesday’s game with Houston (43.4 per cent from distance) has only once been higher (43.6 per cent in 2011-12).

He entered Tuesday with the third-best individual plus-minus in the NBA (plus-452) and he was eighth in the NBA in three-point percentage. Green has hit them in flurries, too, with six games of five or more three-pointers.

“He’s made a lot of big threes that have gotten us back in games or jump-started us or even won us games,” Nurse said. “He’s pretty good, pretty fun to coach.”

So will the Raptors try to cut back his minutes a little in the run-up to the playoffs, which begin in mid-April? The emergence lately of OG Anunoby as a defensive presence might allow that. While the second-year Anunoby is not nearly the shooting threat that Green is, his defensive versatility gives the Raptors a different look. He can’t check shooting guards nearly as well as Green can, but he can cover bigger forwards with his size, bulk and athleticism.

There doesn’t seem to be a plan to rest Green, or anyone for that matter, much in the final month of the regular season. There are sure to be some “load management” nights with two back-to-back sets remaining, and it’s conceivable that some veterans might not make the one-game trip to Minnesota for Game No. 82, but other than that?

“Maybe a little bit,” Nurse said. “I don’t see a lot of load management going on for us here down the stretch. We’ve had so many injuries that we’ve load managed ourselves right into perfect load management.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:eae87825528e/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGwlu7LkKI">
    <title>How The Raptors Became An Elite NBA Team With Only Non-Lottery Players - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:46:46+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGwlu7LkKI</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:afe6ebc21e70/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lngtRZ4EhIU">
    <title>Would A First Round Matchup Against The Detroit Pistons Be A Concern For Toronto Raptors? - YouTube</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:46:40+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lngtRZ4EhIU</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:5856cf62220e/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://twitter.com/WolstatSun/status/1102752774373236736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102752774373236736&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.raptorshq.com%2F2019%2F3%2F4%2F18250957%2Fnba-toronto-raptors-houston-rockets-2019-2020-preseason-games-japan">
    <title>Ryan Wolstat on Twitter: &quot;Raptors president Masai Ujiri on team heading to Japan next October: “You have only to look at our organization to know that we truly believe basketball is a global game. We come from all over the world, and we are all connecte</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:43:53+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://twitter.com/WolstatSun/status/1102752774373236736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102752774373236736&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.raptorshq.com%2F2019%2F3%2F4%2F18250957%2Fnba-toronto-raptors-houston-rockets-2019-2020-preseason-games-japan</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:6bb27c551a28/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26106848/nba-power-rankings-houston-utah-battle-waging-west">
    <title>NBA Power Rankings - Houston, Utah and the battle waging in the West - ESPN</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:43:49+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26106848/nba-power-rankings-houston-utah-battle-waging-west</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[3. We know the Raptors are dangerous, and with the recent acquisitions that has never been more true. The question that has loomed for much of the season has surrounded whether a unit that has been together only sporadically has logged enough time on the floor to fully realize its potential. Load management aside, the quartet of Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam have outscored opponents by 21.9 points per 100 possessions since the All-Star break, whether Marc Gasol or Serge Ibaka is the man in the middle. -- Arnovitz]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:75ef23205fa6/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://theathletic.com/844849/2019/03/04/the-athletics-nba-power-rankings-ive-got-a-question-edition/">
    <title>The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings: I’ve got a question edition – The Athletic [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:43:13+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://theathletic.com/844849/2019/03/04/the-athletics-nba-power-rankings-ive-got-a-question-edition/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[3 Toronto Raptors (Previously 3rd), 46-18 (+4.9 net rating)
Question: Can the Raptors make a final push for the 1-seed while also resting Kawhi Leonard?

A lot of teams face a bit of a conundrum down this final stretch of the season. They want to get into the playoffs healthy, but they also want to get themselves the best positioning possible as they hit their stride. Coaches and front offices are often left playing the guessing game of knowing when to sit out their stars on any given night in the NBA without sacrificing too many wins in the process. The Toronto Raptors have been trying to find this balance all season long with Kawhi Leonard. Their star they hope to re-sign has missed 17 games this season for various reasons, but most of them have been because of rest and load management. The Raptors have been great in these games, going 13-4 without Leonard playing.

They might find themselves in a position to fold on the East’s No. 1 seed soon, as they sit 2.5 games (three back in the loss column) behind Milwaukee for the top spot. They’ll probably make one more big push for the top seed before deciding whether or not to pack it in. Toronto is still trying to prove Kawhi, Danny Green, and Marc Gasol are going to reverse these Raptors failures in the postseason. Having home court advantage throughout the East isn’t paramount to the Raptors’ future success. They’re good enough to win games on the road. But my guess is they keep Kawhi out several more games this season. It may cost them the No. 1 seed or any shot at putting pressure on Milwaukee for it, despite how well Toronto has survived without its star player all season long.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:dddb40a78bda/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.si.com/nba/2019/03/04/nba-power-rankings-lakers-warriors-celtics-rockets-lebron-james-stephen-curry">
    <title>NBA Power Rankings: Lakers freefall, Warriors stumble | SI.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:42:37+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.si.com/nba/2019/03/04/nba-power-rankings-lakers-warriors-celtics-rockets-lebron-james-stephen-curry</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[7. Raptors |  Last Week: 2-1 | Overall: 46-18 | Previous Ranking: 7

During his first two seasons, Pascal Siakam’s career high was 20 points, and he reached that mark once. In 63 games this season, Siakam, who now averages 16.3 points and 7.0 rebounds, has shown he’s improved by leaps and bounds as a scorer, and he’s looking more and more like the perfect third wheel to Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:f8196be849ab/</dc:identifier>
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</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2018-19-week-21">
    <title>Power Rankings, Week 21: Handful of West teams keep rising | NBA.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:42:14+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2018-19-week-21</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[3 With their easy win over the Celtics last week, the Raptors remained undefeated (now 9-0) on Tuesdays and finished a somewhat inconclusive 8-7 (5-4 in games with both Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard) against the four other good teams in the East. They blew the Boston game open with a formula borrowed from a couple of seasons ago: Kyle Lowry and the bench at the start of the second quarter. That second unit included Marc Gasol, who started games against the Blazers and Pistons later in the week, missed a great look to win the game in Detroit, and has still played just 51 total minutes (and only eight against potential Eastern Conference playoff teams) alongside both of the Raptors' two All-Stars. Leonard continues to have his load managed, but, with his game-winner against Portland on Friday, now leads the league with seven buckets (on 14 attempts) to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:ddbc3bc67419/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-top-ranked-bucks-also-seasons-biggest-overachievers-lakers-celtics-falling-way-short-of-projections/">
    <title>NBA Power Rankings - CBSSports.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:41:42+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-top-ranked-bucks-also-seasons-biggest-overachievers-lakers-celtics-falling-way-short-of-projections/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[3 RaptorsPreseason projected win total: 58.0. Currently on pace for: 58.9. Difference: +0.9 wins. Still my pick to make the NBA Finals from the East. This team feels built for the postseason.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:cc9e77056aef/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://theathletic.com/846518/2019/03/04/wade-baldwin-hopes-raptors-905-puts-him-back-on-nba-path-after-career-detours/">
    <title>Wade Baldwin hopes Raptors 905 puts him back on NBA path after career detours – The Athletic [subscription]</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:40:12+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://theathletic.com/846518/2019/03/04/wade-baldwin-hopes-raptors-905-puts-him-back-on-nba-path-after-career-detours/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[At the trade deadline, Portland needed salary stability to acquire Rodney Hood, and so Baldwin became inseparable from Nik Stauskas for a few strange days. First, Baldwin, Stauskas and a pair of second-round picks were routed to Cleveland for Hood. Cleveland then included both players with Alec Burks and a second-round pick in a three-team trade involving Sacramento to land Marquese Chriss, Brandon Knight’s contract, a first-round pick and a second-round pick from Houston. Looking to shed salary under the luxury tax, the Rockets then flipped Baldwin, Stauskas, a second-round pick and the draft rights to Maarty Leunen to Indiana for cash.

The Pacers were simply eating salaries and getting a pick in return, and so they waived Baldwin and Stauskas; Stauskas landed with Cleveland as a free agent and Baldwin opted to enter the G League player pool. The journey of Baldwin and Stauskas isn’t novel, though it was supposed to be the relic of an earlier collective bargaining agreement. You used to see a fair amount of the re-routing of players for accounting reasons back when non-guaranteed contracts could be used for salary matching in trades, a wrinkle that saw players like Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson spending their summers as currency. It’s unusual for a player to be moved this much in a short period in-season — especially since that wrinkle was removed from the CBA. Baldwin has managed to take it in stride.

“It’s the business I chose, so you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt. You know, hearing your name going from one team to another, it is what it is. It’s nothing personal. It’s not a reflection of your ability, it’s just the business and numbers,” Baldwin said. “I think every time you step foot on the court, there’s something to prove. You’ve got 60-plus people coming in the next year with the draft picks, you’ve got free agents from all over the world trying to get in, so I think it’s wise for everybody to get in where you fit in and never feel comfortable, ’cause anything can change.

“Look at a situation like Toronto. They had DeMar DeRozan for his whole career and next thing you know he’s on the Spurs, you know what I’m saying? It’s billionaires versus millionaires in a sense. So you never know, and you just continue with the pride that you play with, continue working hard, and see where the chips fall.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:5c249cd8f478/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-anunoby-was-in-peak-form-in-loss-to-detroit">
    <title>Raptors’ Anunoby was in peak form in loss to Detroit | Toronto Sun</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:36:40+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-anunoby-was-in-peak-form-in-loss-to-detroit</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[To put the game in perspective, Anunoby had a game score of 11.2 for the game. It was just the eighth time in 53 games that he has reached into double figures in that stat that is used by Basketball Reference and gives a rough measure of a player’s productivity for a single game.

The eye test, watching Anunoby bounce from one defensive assignment to another with impact was far more impressive a measure of the man than any stat was on this night.

At 6-foot-8 and a chiselled 235 pounds and as athletic as he is, Anunoby, even in games when the three-pointer isn’t falling for him should have a large impact on the game. He had that Sunday.

It was felt particularly in the second half when he and Pascal Siakam shared the floor switching off on Griffin and basically reducing him to ordinary in the final two frames and the overtime.

Nurse has by times this year been sympathetic to Anunoby’s off-court issues and at other times demanding of more of him on the court.

It’s a fine balance with a young man who has been dealing with some rather big off-court life issues this season.

Right now Nurse likes what he is seeing.

“Listen we have talked about him the past few weeks and one of the things we talked about was him just getting on the glass,” Nurse said. “Let’s get on the glass and play hard and do some athletic things that we know you can do and should be able to do every night. I think that gets him going. He gets his hands on a ball, he gets a big tip-in, he’s diving, he was really defending well whether he was guarding a big guy or a small guy. Just playing with tremendous energy. When you’re that athletic and that strong and you do that, a lot of good things are going to happen.”]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:91d3e3702fa6/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.thedreamshake.com/2019/3/5/18250335/houston-rockets-vs-toronto-raptors-game-preview-james-harden-mvp-kawhi-leonard-chris-paul-kyle-lowry">
    <title>Houston Rockets vs. Toronto Raptors game preview - The Dream Shake</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:30:05+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.thedreamshake.com/2019/3/5/18250335/houston-rockets-vs-toronto-raptors-game-preview-james-harden-mvp-kawhi-leonard-chris-paul-kyle-lowry</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Toronto Raptors are coming off a loss to the Detroit Pistons that could really hurt them in the final standings. With Kawhi Leonard resting before the Houston game once again, the Raptors fell to three back in the loss column of the Milwaukee Bucks and do not hold the tiebreaker either, effectively giving the Bucks a four game cushion atop the East. And if you’re a “James Harden should be the MVP” truther, then that’s some bad news since “Giannis is the best player on the best team” is an easy narrative for the media to cling to in their never-ending quest to discredit Harden.

The Rockets are coming off a big win in Boston where they finally held onto a sizable lead. Obviously, Houston didn’t make life easy. After holding a 28-point second half lead, they allowed the Celtics to climb within eight points before a James Harden dagger and some stellar defensive plays from Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker ended the game.

The difference between third and sixth place in the West is separated by two losses. The bad news for Houston is that Portland Trail Blazers is playing really well right now and hold the tiebreaker over the Rockets. The good news is that barring some craziness down the stretch, Houston will hold the tiebreaker over the Utah Jazz if they hold onto the top spot in the Southwest Division. The Oklahoma City tiebreaker is still up in the air, but it won’t be decided until the last game of the season, which could be a real thorn in Houston’s side.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
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<item rdf:about="https://ca.nba.com/news/toronto-raptors-2019-nba-playoff-push-potential-matchups-hornets-pistons-magic-heat-wizards/1uctms6adcckk1o882m6thhdj1">
    <title>Taking a closer look at the Toronto Raptors' potential playoff opponents | NBA.com</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:28:56+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://ca.nba.com/news/toronto-raptors-2019-nba-playoff-push-potential-matchups-hornets-pistons-magic-heat-wizards/1uctms6adcckk1o882m6thhdj1</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Detroit Pistons

2018-19 season series: Pistons lead 2-0

There is a sense of familiarity here, as Dwane Casey is now at the helm in Detroit after serving as Toronto's head coach for seven seasons. As a result of Casey's late-game playcalling, the Pistons are one of just four teams to have won at Scotiabank Arena this season.

Pistons All-Star forward Blake Griffin, who is averaging a career-high 26.3 points to go along with 8.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season, and centre Andre Drummond combine to make one of the more fearsome frontcourt duos in the NBA. While Kyle Lowry, Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard give Toronto the advantage on the perimeter, Griffin and Drummond present a unique matchup for the big man rotation of Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol.

One stat to know: The Pistons allow a league-low 9.5 made 3-pointers per game and limit their opponents to 33.4 percent shooting from 3-point range - another league-low. While Toronto makes over 11 threes per game, it shot 4-for-20 against Detroit in the loss on Nov. 14.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
<dc:identifier>https://pinboard.in/u:raptorsrepublic/b:68ab56a67d23/</dc:identifier>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26137358/rockets-raptors-set-preseason-play-japan">
    <title>Rockets, Raptors set for preseason play in Japan - ESPN</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-05T11:27:46+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26137358/rockets-raptors-set-preseason-play-japan</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors will play games on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 at Saitama Super Arena outside Tokyo. It will mark the first time NBA teams will have played games in Japan since 2003, the last time the NBA held a regular-season game there.

From 1990 -- when the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz played the first regular-season game outside North America by an American professional sports league -- through 2003, the NBA played 12 regular-season games in Japan.

The addition of Japan to the NBA's international calendar during the preseason shows a further commitment to the league's stated goal of growing the sport outside of the U.S. The NBA will hold games in India for the first time this fall, where the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers will play one another in Mumbai on Oct. 4 and 5.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
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<item rdf:about="https://fadeawayworld.net/2019/03/04/nba-rumors-toronto-raptors-could-sign-marcin-gortat/">
    <title>NBA Rumors: Toronto Raptors Could Sign Marcin Gortat – NBA News Rumors Trades Stats Free Agency</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-04T23:21:09+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://fadeawayworld.net/2019/03/04/nba-rumors-toronto-raptors-could-sign-marcin-gortat/</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Gortat at 35 years of age, didn’t have the greatest start to the season with the Clippers, averaging just 5.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 43 games before he was waived in February. This could be the Gortat’s greatest chance to re-enter the league and possibly a chance at a title.

Although the Raptors acquired Marc Gasol to come off the bench for the frontcourt behind Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam, there’s still room on the roster for Gortat. Toronto traded big man Jonas Valanciunas in a trade to receive Gasol along with removing Greg Monroe at the deadline.

It could be looked at as a massive risk considering Gortat’s age but the more risks the Raptors take, the higher their chances of making the Finals this year becomes. The Bucks, Celtics, and 76ers are all contenders in the East meaning that the Raptors have a huge postseason ahead of them.]]></description>
<dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
<dc:source>https://pinboard.in/</dc:source>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/4/18249403/five-thoughts-recap-detroit-pistons-112-toronto-raptors-107">
    <title>Five thoughts recap: Detroit Pistons 112, Toronto Raptors 107 (OT) - Raptors HQ</title>
    <dc:date>2019-03-04T23:19:56+00:00</dc:date>
    <link>https://www.raptorshq.com/2019/3/4/18249403/five-thoughts-recap-detroit-pistons-112-toronto-raptors-107</link>
    <dc:creator>raptorsrepublic</dc:creator><dc:subject>RR</dc:subject>
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