The Palaeontologist's Hammer
@palaeohammer.bsky.social
Scientific Insight on your Toronto Raptors
by Mac Priebe
by Mac Priebe
Meanwhile, Brown almost fully extends his push off arm. Evem without that, tripping may be accidental but it is indeed illegal as well!
December 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Meanwhile, Brown almost fully extends his push off arm. Evem without that, tripping may be accidental but it is indeed illegal as well!
No call, sure!
December 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
No call, sure!
3rd Quarter
Atrocious Raptors showing continues here in the 3Q.
What is IQ doing? No meaningful pressure on Brown, but wildly out of position on Pritchard. Plays RIGHT into what BOS wants to do
Atrocious Raptors showing continues here in the 3Q.
What is IQ doing? No meaningful pressure on Brown, but wildly out of position on Pritchard. Plays RIGHT into what BOS wants to do
December 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
3rd Quarter
Atrocious Raptors showing continues here in the 3Q.
What is IQ doing? No meaningful pressure on Brown, but wildly out of position on Pritchard. Plays RIGHT into what BOS wants to do
Atrocious Raptors showing continues here in the 3Q.
What is IQ doing? No meaningful pressure on Brown, but wildly out of position on Pritchard. Plays RIGHT into what BOS wants to do
Darko should have seen this coming. Ingram hasn't shot well, but CHA went for the double anyway. Take advanrage of that and have him pass out of the it.
Scottie is open with a mismatch from 8 feet; that should have been the play.
Scottie is open with a mismatch from 8 feet; that should have been the play.
November 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Darko should have seen this coming. Ingram hasn't shot well, but CHA went for the double anyway. Take advanrage of that and have him pass out of the it.
Scottie is open with a mismatch from 8 feet; that should have been the play.
Scottie is open with a mismatch from 8 feet; that should have been the play.
3rd Quarter
To my eyes, Walter does a great job establishing position early. Whistle has been silly tonight, so I have zero expectations
To my eyes, Walter does a great job establishing position early. Whistle has been silly tonight, so I have zero expectations
November 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM
3rd Quarter
To my eyes, Walter does a great job establishing position early. Whistle has been silly tonight, so I have zero expectations
To my eyes, Walter does a great job establishing position early. Whistle has been silly tonight, so I have zero expectations
2nd Quarter
Hate to say it, but Agbaji hasn't been an NBA player this year. Before last season, I thought he was on his way out of the NBA. He went out and was one of the true bright spots on the team, a legit 3andD stud
Haven't seen any of that this year. Winning plays have vanished on both ends
Hate to say it, but Agbaji hasn't been an NBA player this year. Before last season, I thought he was on his way out of the NBA. He went out and was one of the true bright spots on the team, a legit 3andD stud
Haven't seen any of that this year. Winning plays have vanished on both ends
November 29, 2025 at 11:48 PM
2nd Quarter
Hate to say it, but Agbaji hasn't been an NBA player this year. Before last season, I thought he was on his way out of the NBA. He went out and was one of the true bright spots on the team, a legit 3andD stud
Haven't seen any of that this year. Winning plays have vanished on both ends
Hate to say it, but Agbaji hasn't been an NBA player this year. Before last season, I thought he was on his way out of the NBA. He went out and was one of the true bright spots on the team, a legit 3andD stud
Haven't seen any of that this year. Winning plays have vanished on both ends
Clever bit of craftsmanship by Darko on this play for Gradey. It looks like they just want to reverse the ball, with Gradey rotating into space, but Mamu's rolls into Gradey's mark
Gradey has struggled of late; This was a nice way to generate a solid look after he turned it over just before this
Gradey has struggled of late; This was a nice way to generate a solid look after he turned it over just before this
November 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Clever bit of craftsmanship by Darko on this play for Gradey. It looks like they just want to reverse the ball, with Gradey rotating into space, but Mamu's rolls into Gradey's mark
Gradey has struggled of late; This was a nice way to generate a solid look after he turned it over just before this
Gradey has struggled of late; This was a nice way to generate a solid look after he turned it over just before this
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...
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.