The Palaeontologist's Hammer
@palaeohammer.bsky.social
Scientific Insight on your Toronto Raptors
by Mac Priebe
by Mac Priebe
Not the way Shead was playing tonight
November 27, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Not the way Shead was playing tonight
How does any team not take McConnell seriously as an offensive threat after that playoff run?
Darko with the instant anger timeout here and rightfully so!
Darko with the instant anger timeout here and rightfully so!
November 27, 2025 at 2:39 AM
How does any team not take McConnell seriously as an offensive threat after that playoff run?
Darko with the instant anger timeout here and rightfully so!
Darko with the instant anger timeout here and rightfully so!
Yeah, not good enough. Glad to see CMB on him next time down
November 27, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Yeah, not good enough. Glad to see CMB on him next time down
What is this "defense"? Has he never seen McConnell play? Not a good Shead game so far...
An ugly 1Q mercifully ends. Crappy shooting, and five turnovers, Raptors better wake up soon or they're gonna get rolled
An ugly 1Q mercifully ends. Crappy shooting, and five turnovers, Raptors better wake up soon or they're gonna get rolled
November 27, 2025 at 1:13 AM
What is this "defense"? Has he never seen McConnell play? Not a good Shead game so far...
An ugly 1Q mercifully ends. Crappy shooting, and five turnovers, Raptors better wake up soon or they're gonna get rolled
An ugly 1Q mercifully ends. Crappy shooting, and five turnovers, Raptors better wake up soon or they're gonna get rolled
If this is a foul on Gradey, it is wildly generous to call it continuation
November 25, 2025 at 1:48 AM
If this is a foul on Gradey, it is wildly generous to call it continuation
Illustrating how backbreaking turnovers can be
Raptors are cruising, force a miss wurg a chance to push the lead to double digits. IQ tosses a risky pass, leads to a three the other way. Cavs are energized, strip BI and roll for an easy transition dunk and Raptors timeout
Totally different game
Raptors are cruising, force a miss wurg a chance to push the lead to double digits. IQ tosses a risky pass, leads to a three the other way. Cavs are energized, strip BI and roll for an easy transition dunk and Raptors timeout
Totally different game
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Illustrating how backbreaking turnovers can be
Raptors are cruising, force a miss wurg a chance to push the lead to double digits. IQ tosses a risky pass, leads to a three the other way. Cavs are energized, strip BI and roll for an easy transition dunk and Raptors timeout
Totally different game
Raptors are cruising, force a miss wurg a chance to push the lead to double digits. IQ tosses a risky pass, leads to a three the other way. Cavs are energized, strip BI and roll for an easy transition dunk and Raptors timeout
Totally different game
Another great post-to-post pass from Scottie. I'm always beating the drum on the importance of this fundamental
November 25, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Another great post-to-post pass from Scottie. I'm always beating the drum on the importance of this fundamental
Great read by IQ here. Cavs had shown earlier that they wanted to cut off Jakob rolling to the nail by rotating a third defender. IQ counters with a skip pass to BI. Mobley can't meaningfully help from the corner as Scottie would cut for an easy dunk, but the consequence is another wide open three
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Great read by IQ here. Cavs had shown earlier that they wanted to cut off Jakob rolling to the nail by rotating a third defender. IQ counters with a skip pass to BI. Mobley can't meaningfully help from the corner as Scottie would cut for an easy dunk, but the consequence is another wide open three
Walter marking Spida from the start, as expected
Scottie showing nice recognition here, noticing that no one has matched up with BI here.
Kenny Atkinson surely calling timeout after two poor defensive possessions yielding easy 3P looks.
Scottie showing nice recognition here, noticing that no one has matched up with BI here.
Kenny Atkinson surely calling timeout after two poor defensive possessions yielding easy 3P looks.
November 25, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Walter marking Spida from the start, as expected
Scottie showing nice recognition here, noticing that no one has matched up with BI here.
Kenny Atkinson surely calling timeout after two poor defensive possessions yielding easy 3P looks.
Scottie showing nice recognition here, noticing that no one has matched up with BI here.
Kenny Atkinson surely calling timeout after two poor defensive possessions yielding easy 3P looks.
This is some wild decision-making from the referees here. No NBA players take a twinkle-toes shot like this. It's preposterous!!!
Can't blame Mitchell for pulling this crap, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing with a crew that has rewarded him for existing right from the tip.
Can't blame Mitchell for pulling this crap, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing with a crew that has rewarded him for existing right from the tip.
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 AM
This is some wild decision-making from the referees here. No NBA players take a twinkle-toes shot like this. It's preposterous!!!
Can't blame Mitchell for pulling this crap, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing with a crew that has rewarded him for existing right from the tip.
Can't blame Mitchell for pulling this crap, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing with a crew that has rewarded him for existing right from the tip.
3rd Quarter
This is just absurd.
I get that Mitchell is a legitimately great player. It's particularly unfair to RJ that Mitchell falls on his own volition, and RJ pays the price in foul trouble. It would be silly to challenge, but the refs just need to do better.
This is just absurd.
I get that Mitchell is a legitimately great player. It's particularly unfair to RJ that Mitchell falls on his own volition, and RJ pays the price in foul trouble. It would be silly to challenge, but the refs just need to do better.
November 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
3rd Quarter
This is just absurd.
I get that Mitchell is a legitimately great player. It's particularly unfair to RJ that Mitchell falls on his own volition, and RJ pays the price in foul trouble. It would be silly to challenge, but the refs just need to do better.
This is just absurd.
I get that Mitchell is a legitimately great player. It's particularly unfair to RJ that Mitchell falls on his own volition, and RJ pays the price in foul trouble. It would be silly to challenge, but the refs just need to do better.
Excellent movement. Scottie starts above the break, rotates to opposite corner. He's got a mismatch and thinks barbecue chicken...but Mobley is lingering in the paint to guard Mamu. In turn, Mamu slips to the corner, and Mobley has to stick to him (Mamu already had two 3PM). Easy and1 for Scottie.
November 14, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Excellent movement. Scottie starts above the break, rotates to opposite corner. He's got a mismatch and thinks barbecue chicken...but Mobley is lingering in the paint to guard Mamu. In turn, Mamu slips to the corner, and Mobley has to stick to him (Mamu already had two 3PM). Easy and1 for Scottie.
The kind whistle: Gradey completely held and shoved three feet in front of the ref, no call, but a parade to the line at the other end. Hopefully it evens out over time...
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The kind whistle: Gradey completely held and shoved three feet in front of the ref, no call, but a parade to the line at the other end. Hopefully it evens out over time...
Amazing that they are in this game.
That was true all last night too...but their play has not been encouraging after a great start
That was true all last night too...but their play has not been encouraging after a great start
November 9, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Amazing that they are in this game.
That was true all last night too...but their play has not been encouraging after a great start
That was true all last night too...but their play has not been encouraging after a great start
3rd Quarter
This is exactly what I'm talking about. This is just WAYYYY too easy. A lazy shot fake followed by a slow motion drive. As a result, Scottie has to clean up the mess.
It isn't this hard to stay in front of guys. Do better.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. This is just WAYYYY too easy. A lazy shot fake followed by a slow motion drive. As a result, Scottie has to clean up the mess.
It isn't this hard to stay in front of guys. Do better.
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
3rd Quarter
This is exactly what I'm talking about. This is just WAYYYY too easy. A lazy shot fake followed by a slow motion drive. As a result, Scottie has to clean up the mess.
It isn't this hard to stay in front of guys. Do better.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. This is just WAYYYY too easy. A lazy shot fake followed by a slow motion drive. As a result, Scottie has to clean up the mess.
It isn't this hard to stay in front of guys. Do better.
You can quibble with the call, but this is simply a bad decision by Mamu. It comes with the high pressure defensive attitude that has proven to be so very useless so far this season.
The result: Instead of a desperate hand grenade, PHI are gifted with two points.
The result: Instead of a desperate hand grenade, PHI are gifted with two points.
November 9, 2025 at 1:46 AM
You can quibble with the call, but this is simply a bad decision by Mamu. It comes with the high pressure defensive attitude that has proven to be so very useless so far this season.
The result: Instead of a desperate hand grenade, PHI are gifted with two points.
The result: Instead of a desperate hand grenade, PHI are gifted with two points.
This strikes me as concerning for Embiid. He quickly passes out of a mismatch against Walter. Sure, they score (Grimes wasn't outageously open), and Scottie was lingering nearby...but Embiid seemed to have zero interest in getting barbecue chicken.
November 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
This strikes me as concerning for Embiid. He quickly passes out of a mismatch against Walter. Sure, they score (Grimes wasn't outageously open), and Scottie was lingering nearby...but Embiid seemed to have zero interest in getting barbecue chicken.
2nd Quarter
Let me get this straight: Darko starts with Gradey on VJ??? Tells him to pressure him 94 feet??? And then yanks him after this???
Like, yeah, that's not good D, but asking Gradey to guard VJ - let alone with hot stove defense - was asking for failure.
Let me get this straight: Darko starts with Gradey on VJ??? Tells him to pressure him 94 feet??? And then yanks him after this???
Like, yeah, that's not good D, but asking Gradey to guard VJ - let alone with hot stove defense - was asking for failure.
November 9, 2025 at 1:19 AM
2nd Quarter
Let me get this straight: Darko starts with Gradey on VJ??? Tells him to pressure him 94 feet??? And then yanks him after this???
Like, yeah, that's not good D, but asking Gradey to guard VJ - let alone with hot stove defense - was asking for failure.
Let me get this straight: Darko starts with Gradey on VJ??? Tells him to pressure him 94 feet??? And then yanks him after this???
Like, yeah, that's not good D, but asking Gradey to guard VJ - let alone with hot stove defense - was asking for failure.
What is this defense?
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
What is this defense?
I know Jakob just scored, but this rebounding work is completely unacceptable (rest of team def gets blame too: RJ's man walks into rebound, while the ball practically hits Scottie as he turns away from it)
Jakob isn't playing well and won't contribute to pace. Sandro/CMB should play instead
Jakob isn't playing well and won't contribute to pace. Sandro/CMB should play instead
November 8, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I know Jakob just scored, but this rebounding work is completely unacceptable (rest of team def gets blame too: RJ's man walks into rebound, while the ball practically hits Scottie as he turns away from it)
Jakob isn't playing well and won't contribute to pace. Sandro/CMB should play instead
Jakob isn't playing well and won't contribute to pace. Sandro/CMB should play instead
We're so used to consistent RJ games, its just odd that he's off tonight.
(Scottie shot chart is not much better.)
An RJ turnaround could spark the team. Something to monitor...
(Scottie shot chart is not much better.)
An RJ turnaround could spark the team. Something to monitor...
November 8, 2025 at 1:55 AM
We're so used to consistent RJ games, its just odd that he's off tonight.
(Scottie shot chart is not much better.)
An RJ turnaround could spark the team. Something to monitor...
(Scottie shot chart is not much better.)
An RJ turnaround could spark the team. Something to monitor...
Raptors have been back-cut for easy 2s way too many times tonight. Here, IQ just stops paying attention to his mark, bailing out an otherwise bad possession for ATL
This has not been a good effort for the team tonight. After three days off and considering the stakes, one might expect more juice.
This has not been a good effort for the team tonight. After three days off and considering the stakes, one might expect more juice.
November 8, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Raptors have been back-cut for easy 2s way too many times tonight. Here, IQ just stops paying attention to his mark, bailing out an otherwise bad possession for ATL
This has not been a good effort for the team tonight. After three days off and considering the stakes, one might expect more juice.
This has not been a good effort for the team tonight. After three days off and considering the stakes, one might expect more juice.
Star performance tonight
17/3/6/4/2, no turnovers and selfless play.
He has been AWESOME
17/3/6/4/2, no turnovers and selfless play.
He has been AWESOME
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Star performance tonight
17/3/6/4/2, no turnovers and selfless play.
He has been AWESOME
17/3/6/4/2, no turnovers and selfless play.
He has been AWESOME
Another one
November 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Another one
3rd Quarter
It's not sexy, but almost every time a team can make a post-to-post pass, the scoring opportunity created will be fantastic
It's not sexy, but almost every time a team can make a post-to-post pass, the scoring opportunity created will be fantastic
November 5, 2025 at 2:14 AM
3rd Quarter
It's not sexy, but almost every time a team can make a post-to-post pass, the scoring opportunity created will be fantastic
It's not sexy, but almost every time a team can make a post-to-post pass, the scoring opportunity created will be fantastic