fk24

After watching so many games, I've observed practically the same thing in all of our loses.

This team flat out refuses to defend the three point line.

We put too much emphasis with guarding penetration and "protecting the paint" that to the point where we're willing to sacrifice giving up open 3's and sening two more guys for help each time, because this team is so conscious about layups. The 3 point shot is the most efficient shot in basketball.

Bargn88

We have terrible help defenders

That 2nd Quarter was an embarrassment, open 3 after open 3.

Lack of communication and focus

Then we try and answer by taking a pull up 3 early in the shot clock, and results in an another open 3 for Utah in transition LOL

Ligeia

26th in opponent's 3 point % and eFG%, while giving up the most free throws in the league. Just a bad defensive team, honestly.

Ball Don't Lie

As the above poster stated, we dont defend the paint nor the 3 point line. We just suck altogether.

We have the worst defensive frontcourt in the NBA. JV is a solid help defender but cant defend the post to save his life yet. Bargnani is the worst defender in the NBA period. And our pick and roll strategy is horrible. Our rotations are horrible. This is like the Smitch years when the second pass out of the double team always meant the other team got a wide open look because it seemed like as a team we had no idea where the second rotation was supposed to come from, if it was supposed to come at all. It's embarrassing to watch in todays game when a team is free to zone up areas and we dont even rotate quickly to the area everyone knows the ball is going to.

This is an absolute joke of a team to watch.

Bargn88

The problem with our defense starts with our brutal perimeter D . I don't give a damn who the bigs are when we can't stop anyone from penetrating . Good team defense starts with being able to defend your position and then it relies on the help . Ignoring how brutal defensivly our smalls are and blaming all our problems on our weak big help defenders won't solve the problem.

How many times did Derozan or Lowry/Calderon let a player penetrate easilly, or leave a man open.

The blame ultimately falls on BC . We played decent D last year but he forced Casey to change to an uptempo system and it's killing our team

Toby

Teams catch fire. Sounds like that's what happened in Utah. Anchor down the paint and score off their misses. Not everyone will light it up from downtown every night.

FLO

It's not that any one guy is doing a terrible job, it's there's no communication whatsoever and nobody rotates.

Scully

THis team just can not play 2-3 Zone. I think it stems from Bargs not having the mobility to rotate out to the 3 point line when the opposing team swings the ball. And Jonas not have the experience to to play the corners with out getting in foul trouble.

But a think it its very simplistic view to be put the blame on Andrea is the core of our problems. This team is just not cohesive unit, on both ends of the floor.

Some of the problems are some what optimistic. Namely Jonas, his big problem is that he is playing in may ways like faried did in his rookie year. In that he is losing his assignment by helping before its needed, reacting to penetration leaving his man where no one can help.

carp

Wrong. Teams continually light it up against our lack of perimeter pressure. Trade us Batum and I'll change my mind.

FLO

Jack Armstrong pointed out the big problem last night. You would have 2 guys collapse on the driver and he'd kick out for an open three or one pass later they'd have an open three. Nobody on the Raptors communicated to know who should collapse and who should rotate to cut of passing lanes or stay with their guy. It's an overall team failure based on no communication. Blaming it on Bargs, DD, Lowry, Calderon or whoever specifically is a disservice and not in tune with reality. Team failure is team failure.

carp

Wow, you've surprised me with this. Spot on.