Raptors 09/10 season thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

JohnnyFlame · 09-04-2009, 07:04 AM

The TV sked is out.

http://www.nba.com/raptors/photos/20..._Schedule2.pdf

All 82 games broadcast in HD and only two on Raps TV. The rest on TSN, TSN2, Score and CBC.

malcolmk14 · 09-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Very impressed at the broadcast schedule. Is this the first time all 82 have been televised?

JohnnyFlame · 09-04-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Very impressed at the broadcast schedule. Is this the first time all 82 have been televised?

NO, apparently it's the last four years in a row. Though last year they had a bunch on TSN2 which meant you had to have digital to see 25 games I believe it was. Plus I think there were more on Raps TV which is a subscription service so again extra dough. Plus down East they had no TSN2 because of some Rogers thing.

But yeah you can watch all 82 games in HD and if you don't have Raps TV it's still 80 games. Way better than Flames coverage which sucks don't it?

Heck and I forgot they have the Cavs on a bunch of game either against the Raps or in their other NBA game coverage.

pria(kin)16 · 09-05-2009, 10:42 AM

Has anyone ever ordered NBA league pass for their computer? Considering the Raps get zero coverage in the states and I'm on the go a lot, seems like it might be a decent option. Any feedback?

bluejays · 09-05-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pria(kin)16

Has anyone ever ordered NBA league pass for their computer? Considering the Raps get zero coverage in the states and I'm on the go a lot, seems like it might be a decent option. Any feedback?

I can't chime in because I haven't ordered it, but I can't stand watching TV on the computer. Just seems terribly off. I tried a couple times to watch stuff on justintv, and it's just terrible to watch anything on there. I'm sure the quality isn't too far off. Personal choice I guess.

malcolmk14 · 09-05-2009, 03:32 PM

Tried last year, but you couldn't get it in Canada.

I think you can this year, though.

JohnnyFlame · 09-30-2009, 11:05 AM

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=293160 Good article by Armstrong. Training camp has started and the coaching staff is down to business working on of all things --Defense. With Triano saying he expects them to be top six in "D". Love the emphasis but that would take a small miracle. But yes as Armstrong points out defense and rebounding one of the keys.

pria(kin)16 · 09-30-2009, 11:27 AM

I am cautiously optimistic about the season. As much as I love the addition of Hedo, Jack, Wright, and Marco, I still have concerns regarding rebounding/interior toughness. Hopefully a healthy Jose will be the key to sparking this team to a playoff birth.

JohnnyFlame · 10-01-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pria(kin)16

I am cautiously optimistic about the season. As much as I love the addition of Hedo, Jack, Wright, and Marco, I still have concerns regarding rebounding/interior toughness. Hopefully a healthy Jose will be the key to sparking this team to a playoff birth.

Yep it's clear that the team will be able to score. Hedo is guaranteed points. Ditto Bosh. Then you have the great shooters like AB, Belli and Calderon. Jack will also score. Scoring options abound.

That the defense will be better is a given. They have added guys who can play defense. Wright is a good defender. Rasho is a solid defensive bigman. Evans is a tough son of a gun who will give good defense and get rebounds. Jack is a solid defender.

But they need the starters to play better defense.

That they will have their systems in place before the season as opposed to during it should help. Plus those better defenders. Plus adding a defensive minded assistant coach.

There are certainly reasons to be excited but you are right it's a cautious excitement. So many changes. Heck even preseason should be interesting!!!!!!!!!!!

octothorp · 10-01-2009, 02:19 PM

Agreed, it'll be a lot of fun to watch this team and see how they come together (or not). My early prediction is that they'll definitely be back in the playoffs, but struggle to get up to the 4/5 seed that would give them a real shot of advancing past the first round.

I really like the number of guys who can play multiple positions (Bargnani, Turkoglu, Bellinelli, even Bosh). Once this team develops some chemistry, it creates a good dynamic of interchangeable parts, so you can drop in bench players for situational defense and still get the offensive matchups you want.

JohnnyFlame · 10-20-2009, 03:11 PM

One last preseason game and a few days of practice to go. October 28th to start the season and a tough matchup with the Cavs.

Gozer · 10-20-2009, 04:09 PM

Are you still feeling optimistic about the season Johnny?

bluejays · 10-20-2009, 05:36 PM

The question wasn't to me, but I still think this team is far from a championship team. It's solid on paper, but they're still missing that VC score-from-anywhere-type player. From watching the preseason games, DeRozen actually looks somewhat small in height and doesn't really have the scoring prowess or dribbling skills of VC. Rebounding is another concern. I really hope Rasho and Evans will play aggressive and make those flagrant fouls so that anyone coming in the paint will think twice. More than anything, success defensively will depend on intimidation from those guys. In preseason, too many guys were too passive down low - was basically the same as last year. I'm really curious to see how much those guys can bang down low. Hedo will do well midrange as will Bosh. Bargs on the outside should be alright, but again, that all around guy is very much missing. DeRozen has a ton of growing to do literally and metaphorically.

Gozer · 10-21-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleury

It's solid on paper, but they're still missing that VC score-from-anywhere-type player.

I remain at the opposite spectrum of Raptor fan consensus.

This team will not be a contender until the dramatically improve their defense.

I imagine the Raps will hit plenty of jump shots and have a fine offensive season, but a slow pace will be the only thing that slows down opposing teams from scoring at will in the paint or draining wide open 3s.

JohnnyFlame · 10-21-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

Are you still feeling optimistic about the season Johnny?

Yep. Though there a pile that are in panic over a few preseason losses. The bozo crowd. Most of those without Bosh or Turk or Wright in the lineup. Then Evans down with injury as well. Plus Jose still recovering from his injury. Yet they panic with no idea what the squad will even look like--no accounting for idiots I guess.

I still like what BC did and as my expectations are thought out and reasonable I think they can manage it. I'm looking for them to win a playoff round.

It's the East and they just have to tread water till they get it going. Work the new guys in and implement the new systems. Then make some steady progression.

JohnnyFlame · 10-28-2009, 09:18 AM

Raptors start today against what will be an angry Cavs team after losing last night to the geriatrics.

Gozer · 10-28-2009, 09:26 AM

Those Cavs centres looked slow and plodding, the Raps better be able to run circles around those guys because LeBron might put up 50.

flames_1987 · 10-28-2009, 09:28 AM

If I can see any resemblance of NBA defence and toughness out of this team, they have a chance.

octothorp · 10-28-2009, 09:32 AM

Yeah, I was really hoping for a Cleveland win last night; hard to imagine them letting up at all tonight now; still, I'm optimistic about the Raps' chances of getting back to the playoffs. Given that the team is still a work in progress, the key will be to avoid losing streaks early in the season, particularly with the heavy road schedule in November; if they go 7-11 (and even that isn't an easy mark) over October/November, then they're in good shape to start picking off the teams that they'll be fighting for a playoff spot.

octothorp · 10-28-2009, 07:43 PM

Well this has been a nice surprise. Great effort by the Raps so far; up 15 with five minutes to go. They let Cleveland back into it in the third, but a brilliant job to dig deep in the third so far.