S**T Another Basketball Dynasty

[trekfan]

Toronto hot in the regular season, as per usual. Monroe will be a loss they feel, but maybe Toronto can find a decent veteran replacement in free agency -- Moose is underrated and I appreciate what he brings to the table, so I hope he can come back and be a difference maker in the playoffs.

[RolePlayer]

Busy Day in Toronto

Toronto - With Greg Monroe out for the foreseeable future and C.J Miles riding the bench the Raptors found solutions to both problems today.

Firstly, the Raptors sent CJ Miles to the Clippers for Wesley Johnson and a second round pick. CJ Miles is a quality role player but had been passed up in the rotation due to the team getting Kawhi. Miles will be a good option at back up for the Clippers behind Gallinari. Wesley Johnson was instantly waived and the Raptors will take the cap hit but they used the open roster spot in their next move.

The Raptors then signed free agent big man Al Jefferson. Jefferson has a similar game to Greg Monroe, Jefferson was possibly a top three center in the league just five seasons ago when he averaged twenty-four points per game for the Charlotte Bobcats. However after injuring his foot in a playoff game against the Miami Heat Jefferson's career has only gone downhill. He still will be able to fill into Monroe's role however as a good offensive option on the second unit.

With the open roster spot, the Raptors signed Luke Kornet a seven-foot stretch big who will be spending most his time playing for the Raptors 905 but will be used in some games when Jefferson won't be able to match up.

[trekfan]

The Professor, Al Jefferson, is in town! Nice. Looking forward to Big Al schooling some young bigs in the post.

[RolePlayer]

Raptors vs Warriors Summary

Kawhi's 40 not Enough versus Warriors

Raptors Team Stats Warriors

Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors
Dec 12, 2018	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Toronto (25-5)	14	15	35	31	95
Golden State (26-3)	26	28	28	28	110

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Golden State - Wednesday night we were treated to a battle of two elite forwards in Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. One showed up but the others team did everything it could whilst the others struggled.

Looking at the box score you can tell which did which. Kawhi Leonard carried the Raptors in the second half, in a final score that doesn't do Leonard justice. Kawhi turned a twenty-two point Warriors lead into a four-point one, basically all by himself as Kawhi scored over half of the Raptors 66 points in the second half.

Kyle Lowry played a good game stat-wise but was unable to find open shots when it counted. The biggest issue was the play of JV and Ibaka. Valanciunas only got four points, whilst Ibaka turned the ball over five times. These are things you cannot do against the best team in the league.

Off the bench, both Anunoby and Jefferson played well. Jefferson especially had success in the second quarter on the post, his defensive effort was impressive too. The thirty-four-year-old grabbed six boards and picked up four blocks in the loss.

[RolePlayer]

Jimmy Butler Heading to the Big Apple

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Knicks Recieve: Jimmy Butler

Timberwolves Recieve: Tim Hardaway JR/ '19 First Round Pick/ Noah Vonleh

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New York - Madison Square Garden is about to become alive once again, with today's move the Knicks have acquired one of the best players in the NBA.

Initially, the Knicks were said to not be chasing Butler but as the season progressed the value for Butler decreased and decreased as the Timberwolves struggled and Butler was notably disinterested from the team.

The Timberwolves do get some value in Tim Hardaway JR, Hardaway has had a down season so far compared to his high scoring numbers last year. That doesn't mean the young two guard won't be an effective player for the Wolves. They also get an interesting project player in Noah Vonleh who many once compared to Chris Bosh.

The big though now will be can the Knicks get Kyrie Irving and have the NBA's next super team?

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Other News: Pelicans trade First Round Pick, two expirings for TJ Warren

[georgiafan]

I could def see the Knicks making the move in real life

[RolePlayer]

Around the NBA Christmas Edition

NBA League Leaders - Updated: Dec 25, 2018
Points Per Game		PPG	Rebounds Per Game		RPG
	1. Russel Westbrook	29.4		1. Dwight Howard	14.1
	2. Devin Booker	29.2		2. Hassan Whiteside	13.1
	3. Steph. Curry	27.6		3. Andre Drummond	13.0
	4. Giannis Antetokoumpo	27.5		4. Deandre Jordan	13.0
	5. Damian Lillard	270		5. Karl. Towns	12.6
Assists Per Game		APG	Blocks Per Game		BPG
	1. Chris Paul	11.4		1. Kristaps Porzingis	2.8
	2. Lonzo Ball	9.2		2. Joel Embiid	2.1
	3. John Wall	8.1		3. Kyle O'Quinn	2.1
	4. Russel Westbrook	8.0		4. Andre Drummond	2.0
	5. Kyle Lowry	7.9		5. Deandre Jordan	2.0

INJURY REPORT
Pos	Player	Injury Note
SG	Evan Turner	Ruptured Achilles - Season
SF	Glen Robinson III	Fractured Right Leg - 4-6 Months
PG	Patty Mills	Torn Foot Ligament - 2-4 Months
C	Greg Monroe	Broken Foot - 2-4 Months
C	Rudy Gobert	Right Leg Stress Fracture 1-2 Months
PG	Dennis Schroder	Knee Tendinitis 6-8 Weeks
PF	Dirk Nowitzki	Torn Elbow Ligament 6-8 Weeks
PF	Nikola Mirotic	Hyper extended Left Shoulder 6-8 Weeks
SF	Justin Anderson	Right Humerus Fracture 6-8 Weeks
PG	Goran Dragic	Torn Left Meniscus 6-8 Weeks

NBA Standings - Updated: Dec 25, 2018
EAST CONFERENCE STANDINGS	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Toronto Raptors	28	7	--	4-3	17-4
Philadelphia 76ers	22	13	6.0	7-3	20-8
Miami Heat	19	13	7.5	5-4	11-8
Indiana Pacers	19	15	8.5	3-3	12-9
Boston Celtics	18	15	9.0	4-3	13-9
Washington Wizards	18	16	9.5	4-2	11-8
Atlanta Hawks	16	16	10.5	2-5	12-9
Milwaukee Bucks	16	17	11.0	4-4	10-10
Chicago Bulls	16	18	11.5	4-4	10-10
Detroit Pistons	14	17	12.0	3-3	9-15
Cleveland Cavaliers	14	20	13.5	4-4	10-15
Charlotte Hornets	12	20	14.5	4-2	10-15
Brooklyn Nets	12	23	16.0	2-5	7-13
New York Knicks	12	23	16.0	3-6	9-18
Orlando Magic	8	24	`6.0	2-4	4-14
WEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Golden State Warriors	26	9	--	6-0	16-5
Oklahoma City Thunder	25	8	--	5-0	17-4
Houston Rockets	25	8	--	7-0	17-5
San Antonio Spurs	20	14	5.5	3-4	15-10
Utah Jazz	20	15	6.0	1-5	11-13
Phoenix Suns	19	15	6.5	3-3	10-10
New Orleans Pelicans	16	18	9.5	3-2	12-7
Minnesota Timberwolves	15	18	10.0	2-4	9-13
Memphis Grizzlies	15	18	10.0	0-4	9-14
Denver Nuggets	14	17	10.0	1-4	9-9
Portland Trail Blazers	15	19	10.5	5-1	9-14
Dallas Mavericks	13	29	11.5	1-4	8-14
Los Angeles Clippers	12	21	13.0	0-5	8-16
Los Angeles Lakers	12	22	13.0	2-2	9-14
Sacramento Kings	10	23	15.0	2-3	6-17

[RolePlayer]

BREAKING! Steph Curry Out for Season with Torn Achilles

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BREAKING!- MRI's have shown what Warriors fans feared the most, Stephen Curry will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. Reports are also coming in that the Warriors will sign Jamal Crawford in an attempt to replicate some of Curry's scoring.