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Message: [QUOTE="jncuse, post: 3679858, member: 1969"] Portland - Toronto. Good game Portland won 112-111. Was quite the nail biter. Portland won with a clutch bucket by CJ -- Pascal Siakam had a great look at the end but missed. It was a back-to-back road game for the Raps and I think the Legs gave way. #1. The Raptors are now a bad 2-8, but many of those have been 50/50 type games. They have lost at least 6 games this year where they were leading by double digits by some point, and I think it might be 7. I believe I saw that they were best in the league last year with a 43-4 record in those type of games. Not sure if we are bad enough to "tank" to a bottom 5 team however, even if we trade Lowry and Powell, but the top side is bottom end playoff team (#6 to #10) #2. Starting with Melo. To be kind, he was very poor the first 3 quarters. But he was super clutch in the fourth quarter with double digit points, as the Raps blew another double digit lead in the second half. Even made a few solid D plays. #3. Big positive for Raps fan is that Siakam has now had a stretch of 5 fairly good games after looking lost. His very good D is still there, and his shooting touch is back, and he is now getting the play-maker touch back. Last 5 games he is 24/10/6, 52% shooting. #4. Kyle Lowry really struggled but has been still OK this year. It seems inevitable that he will be traded at some point this year. The Raptors depth is at the guard spots, and seems like he would be on the move if we are not competitive. I have to think he is worth at least a first rounder + mid-prospect for a contender. #5. Alex Baynes is terrible. Alex Len is terrible. I believe Baynes has not seen any court time for any of the last 3 games. Hands of stone catching passes. Lost on D. Clogs the lane. Thought he would have been a better fit. Len is big, but stiff and can't grab a board. We are at the point we are using a 6'8/9 string bean in Boucher at the Center -- he puts up numbers and is an elite shot blocker, but still out muscled. Or we go small with Siakam/Anunoby. #6. If you are a fantasy owner and Boucher is available in your league GET HIM NOW. Three point shooter, elite shot blocker, scores and rebounds at a good per minute pace. He is a stat sheet stuffer -- he is a better player on the stat sheet than reality because of his size and sometimes getting lost. The loss of Gasol / Ibaka really hurt the team (they were bad against Boston) but rest of year they were quite good. It was a worthwhile gamble to keep cap space for Giannis as a last chance to stay elite. But Masai certainly missed on Baynes/Len as the fallback. [/QUOTE]

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