Weed The North - Season Long Raptors Thread

Both you guys couldnt be more right 

Locked in tonight:

Raps +6.5...5u ...Raps are a classic zig zag team all year long after a loss like game 1...back on the horse and look for Green and Ibaka and Gasol to reappear from the dead in this spot.

Yup, +3 will end up being the bookies worst set line in an NBA playoffs in the modern era...Raps should win and cover wire to wire in game 4

Based on my own opinions here...obviously there are equal points that could be made from a pro-Bucks pov, but heres my schpeil to a game 4 Raps win:

- home team bench/role players typically outperform their road counterparts (Powell was huge in game 3)

- Lowry "should" be fresh for game 4 considering he fouled out early in the 4th Q...plus he should also be embarassed that he let his team down by not being on the floor when they needed him the most (blessing in disguise if you ask me at least in hindsight)

- Gasol is a much better player with the crowd behind him (always more engaged defensively at home thru his career)

- Leonard will be Leonard...im not buying his "rolled ankle" injury is worth a 6pt swing from one game to the next...he will play no matter what it takes to shed his past as a team quitter...the Raps have done everything for him, and now its his turn to pay it back to the team, even if he bounces after this year (or series)

- Danny Green has to take that OT as a positive momentum confidence builder...hes got to hit a few early 3s in game 4, and i think they will run a few early plays to get him the looks he needs.

- with Lowrys absence all crunch time in 4th q and OT, Siakam essentially became a man in the NBA, the experience of him missing those 2 FTs at the end of regulation and dumping a brown pool mess at his shoes, only to get the chance to vindicate himself thru 2 OTs will be invaluable to the growth of his game and maturity as one of the future leaders and stars of this team.

- the Raps have somewhat outplayed and been the better team in games 1 and 3...and could easily be up 2-1 in the series and in full control...and yes i realize Bucks could be up 3-0 too...which makes this entire post a 50/50 op ed.

- Bledsoe is terrible right now, and a huge liability.

- Lopez isnt the best road player and the Raps learned alot from game 2s embarassment on how to defend him

- Middleton is shaky all series long, and seems to be their likely choker in crunch time if Giannis gets effectively double teamed.

- never trust Mirotic in a big moment of a playoff game, the guy has to prove hes got the kahunas to me before i think of him as a sharp shooter.

- Ilyasova is their xfactor, but he looks slow and old recently, and just not as lethal as he could be.

- Giannis may be pressing too hard thinking hes got to do more, which could play right into the Raps defensive mindset of taking charges and potentially rim protecting with Ibaka and Gasol getting a few momentum shifting blocks.

I could go into more depth, but im a homer and you guys know it...my points do have merit though, even if i wasnt so heavily invested in this team.

Experience also heavily favors the Raps...however will the zebras have their own agenda and push Giannis into the finals for the spotlight Silver truly wants to shine on for their regular season's MVP (yes, Giannis winning MVP would make me a very very happy bettor).

With the series still on serve, for the line to from -2.5 in game 3 to +3 in game 4 makes absolutely no sense to me...this is a series pits #1 vs #2...not #1 vs #7...Raps completely getting no respect from oddsmakers, and that too may give the team even more chalkboard material to rally around...its like a big ef you to Canada, and the Raps should have something to say about that.

BigRed...Despite the few grammatical errors, it was a decent ramble ...i fired my proofreader and im not about being perfect anymore...just win more money than lose by years end and im a happy camper...2019 has gotten off to a great 1st quarter of the gambling year for The People's Champ 

When you look at the caliber of teams in the east, Bucks (and Raps) dominated their conference games...thus the B2B stat for Milw was totally fraudulent.

Playoff hoops is mainly a halfcourt game, not run and gun like a random reg season game...Raps in control of this series imo

Heres how i see this series going:

Game 1 - Raps win in a very close game.

Game 2 - Bucks win and likely cover the spread (likely around -5)

Game 3 - Raps win and likely cover relatively easily, perhaps avoiding a late game backdoor garbage time cover by the Bucks (likely -4.5)

Game 4 - Raps win and Bucks likely cover in a 1-3 pt squeaker (OT wouldnt surprise me here)

Game 5 - Bucks win and cover wire to wire (this could be the one blowout potential / Raps letdown spot)

Game 6 - Raps win and cover in the end due to the Bucks fouling late out of desperation and chucking/missing their 3s going for broke.

The next 2 weeks are going to be fun here in Drakeville...i hear hes going to be wearing all Milwaukee gear in hopes to jinx them...what a Degrassi punk move...love it!

Heres how i see this series going:

Game 1 - Raps win in a very close game.

Game 2 - Bucks win and likely cover the spread (likely around -5)

Game 3 - Raps win and likely cover relatively easily, perhaps avoiding a late game backdoor garbage time cover by the Bucks (likely -4.5)

Game 4 - Raps win and Bucks likely cover in a 1-3 pt squeaker (OT wouldnt surprise me here)

Game 5 - Bucks win and cover wire to wire (this could be the one blowout potential / Raps letdown spot)

Game 6 - Raps win and cover in the end due to the Bucks fouling late out of desperation and chucking/missing their 3s going for broke.

The next 2 weeks are going to be fun here in Drakeville...i hear hes going to be wearing all Milwaukee gear in hopes to jinx them...what a Degrassi punk move...love it!

Coach Nurse is the new Kerr

Coach Bud is the new Thibodeau

Raps have playoff pedigree

Bucks dont have playoff pedigree

Raps were by far the best team in the East for many consecutive years but were always LeBrontorized

Lebronto is dead

Kawhitown is alive

Drake is OVO'n all the way to the bank...his "We The North" trademark will likely make him billions of dollars over his blessed lifespan

Degrassi will live on forever

Game 1, Thursday night...wish i could throw you guys a bbq at my place with beers and other bevvies for everyone - life is good right now