A uncommon 3:30 residence tip on a Sunday! Bizarre one however right here we go.
The Raptors (6-4) wish to bounce again from their crushing defeat towards Cleveland on Friday towards the Nets (6-3). The primary factor to stay up for is that Pascal Siakam is again!
"I completed seen the best heights
I completed seen it twice
And I’ve seen the bottom of the lows
And nonetheless I rose
Now I’m at your neck” pic.twitter.com/5YDnWdgyAB
— pascal siakam (@pskills43) November 6, 2021
Spicy P is coming off a polarizing (?) 2020-21 season the place he averaged 21.4 factors, 7.2 boards and 4.5 assists. His playmaking improved from the earlier season, however his scoring and taking pictures percentages took a small dip. He additionally had fairly a number of mishaps in finish of recreation conditions with the sport on the road. Personally, I’m blaming Tampa for all of this.
Logic would assume Siakam could be eased into issues off the bench, however a number of video games from now’s the place issues get attention-grabbing. As soon as Siakam is again to beginning, who’s taken out of the beginning lineup? Gary Trent Jr, like Norman Powell earlier than him, appears to do his finest work as a starter. He’s in a greater rhythm offensively that approach, the place as he tends to drive issues coming in as a reserve attempting to get himself going. Additionally he leads the NBA in steals per recreation, though the defensive depth ought to carry over regardless if he had been to be benched. Scottie Barnes? how do you do this to the rookie who’s completed nothing however common 17.6 ppg and eight.9 rpg over his first 8 video games as a professional? Valuable Achiuwa appears to be the extra seemingly alternative, however that’s a smaller lineup you might be trotting on the market. In the end, it might fluctuate recreation by recreation, however it appears apparent that the VanVleet-Trent-Barnes-Anunoby-Siakam combo must be the Raptors “demise lineup” and can in all probability shut video games. That’s terrifying to attain towards. The Masai imaginative and prescient.
Kevin Durant
The final time KD performed in Toronto he tore his achilles in Sport 5 of the 2019 Finals, which price him a whole season. The final full recreation he performed right here? Oh simply 51 factors in an time beyond regulation thriller that the Raptors gained. He’s wanting ahead to returning.
Kevin Durant waiting for the Raptors on Sunday: “I’m excited that Toronto is open once more – it’s thrilling that we get to go up there and play once more. It’s going to be a pleasant take a look at for us. That’s an excellent workforce.”
— Chris Milholen (@CMilholenSB) November 6, 2021
Perhaps a Saturday evening right here and an early tip is benefit Toronto?
Durant is averaging 28.8 ppg (off rattling close to 57 p.c from the sector, cmon now), 8.8 rpg and 5.2 apg this season. Brooklyn has handled some uncertainty up to now. Kyrie Irving has but to play this season and his unvaccinated state of affairs that doesn’t appear to be it’s going to be resolved anytime quickly. James Harden had a triple double within the Nets win in Detroit on Friday, however he’s solely averaging 17.7 factors a recreation, his worst since his final season in Oklahoma Metropolis. Harden can also be taking pictures simply 38.5 p.c from the sector (he’s truly higher from three at 41.2 p.c), and his free throw makes an attempt like most gamers are down. He doesn’t seem like 100% wholesome coming into this season, and is simply taking part in his approach again into form.
After which typically, there are performs like this (huh?).
Nonetheless excited about James Harden on this play pic.twitter.com/aelueHP7kn
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) November 6, 2021
Fast shoutout to LaMarcus Aldridge, who needed to retire final season because of an irregular heartbeat, however has returned to common practically 13 factors a recreation off the bench. He’s third on the workforce in scoring.
Sport Data
Tip-off: 3:30pm EST (sure ugh, normal time) | TV: Sportsnet | Radio: TSN 1050
Nets lineup
Kyrie is out indefinitely. Nic Claxton (sickness) is out for a few weeks.
PG: James Harden, Jevon Carter
SG: Joe Harris, Patty Mills, Cam Thomas, David Duke Jr.
SF: Bruce Brown, DeAndre Bembry, Kessler Edwards
PF: Kevin Durant, Paul Millsap, James Johnson
C: Blake Griffin, Lamarcus Aldridge, Day’Ron Sharpe
Raptors Lineup
Solely Yuta Watanabe (calf) stays on the harm report. Full roster coming quickly! Assuming Siakam comes off the bench? I’ll take a wild guess earlier than issues are confirmed.
PG: Fred VanVleet, Dalano Banton, Malachi Flynn, Goran Dragic
SG: Gary Trent Jr, Svi Myhailiuk, David Johnson
SF: Scottie Barnes, Justin Champagnie, Isaac Bonga
PF: OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher
C: Valuable Achiuwa, Khem Birch
The Line
Brooklyn is favoured by 3.5 factors. Looks as if the over/unders have adjusted to Raptor scores this season, transferring from the excessive 210’s to 206.5. My 3-0 document is on the road. I’m taking the over for the primary time. Each groups will comfortably rating 100+
Tip Jamar Hinds
Gameday: Nets vs Raptors, November 7 originated on Raptors Republic.
