Toronto Raptors 2013/14 Season

[Zach]

Originally Posted by moon

I think tanking is off the table for this year. Too many teams that are way "ahead" of the Raptors in that area.

But I still think this shouldn't change the long term plan and that pieces like Lowry, Johnson and DD should be moved out if there is anyone stupid enough to take them.

The team is going to make the play-offs by default it seems but isn't close to contending so any move made should be with the long term future in mind because even with the play-offs this year is basically a write off.

Don't think anyone wanting someone avg 21 a game is stupid.

[killer_carlson]

not to mention the production that Amir gives at his price point.

I don't know if I would toss a lot of kudos to Casey at this point though. It shouldn't have taken the GM to trade Barngiani and Gay to get the team to pass the ball on a regular basis. That is a coaching issue that could have been resolved by sitting a player down for a quarter or two to get the point across.

[The Familia]

I don't follow basketball at all but I just wanted to make one point. I find it funny how so many people bash the CFL, especially in regards to 6/8 teams making the playoffs or sub .500 teams making the playoffs. Yet, at the same time, a supposedly Big 4 sports league has a conference where only 3 out of 15 teams are above .500 and only 11 out of 30 total teams are above .500. A sub .500 team could win a division banner. Talk about lack of parity and bush league. I'm done trolling, just had to get that off my chest!

[Senator Clay Davis]

That speaks more to the inbalance of talent between the 2 conferences. The NBA's Western Conference is completely stacked with the best players. If you took away Miami and Indiana the Eastern Conference would have at most 5 true superstars. I'm not sure how you can go about getting more talent in the East, but thats why the East looks so pathetic.

[octothorp]

As I see it there are two worst case scenarios that Toronto needs to avoid: the tank worst-case scenario is gutting the roster trying to get the tank going, having a roster of spare parts that overachieves and ends up with a late lottery pick rather than a top-5 pick; the non-tank worst case scenario is riding Lowry to a good playoff spot and then losing him in the offseason for nothing, and taking a big step backwards next year. Both of those outcomes would set the team back.

As to the east-west imbalance, I think that for whatever reason, the west teams have better management. The west has a great mix of teams with huge budgets and okay management (LA, Dallas, Portland, Houston), and teams with small budgets but outstanding management (San Antonio, Utah, OKC, Denver (historically)). The east has a mix of teams with lots of money and awful management (New York, Brooklyn, Toronto (historically)), and teams with small budgets and just okay management (Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta). Combine it with the fact that one of the few big-budget, good management teams in the east (Boston) has decided to rebuild this year, and it's a perfect storm for the imbalance being its worst ever.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Besides the incredible improvement in the ball movement, the defense has also gotten much better for the Raptors since trading Rudy. Doesn't hurt that the pieces Masai acquired have worked out pretty well. If they can somehow win the next two games there isn't any doubt who the 3rd best team in the East is.

[Cheese]

Raps handing the Wizards their jockstraps tonight. DD continues to play very well.

[Da_Chief]

What do you think Moon? Wizards or Raps?

Leme guess your answer will be "its one game."

LOL

[Cheese]

101-88 final. Great game.

[Acey]

If they can pull out one of the 2 vs the Heat/Pacers, this team is for real. Next 5:

@ MIA (MIA 14-3 at home)
@ IND (IND 15-1 at home)
vs DET (DET 8-8 on road)
vs BKN (BKN 5-12 on road)
vs MIL (MIL 4-13 on road)

[secol]

in terms of signing/trading for the next big star.....lance stephenson is a possibility. i agree with the write that it smells alot like the harden situation

http://www1.realgm.com/article/231201

[moon]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

What do you think Moon? Wizards or Raps?

Leme guess your answer will be "its one game."

LOL

Tonight Raps at the end of the season Wizards.

[KOgear]

Originally Posted by secol

in terms of signing/trading for the next big star.....lance stephenson is a possibility. i agree with the write that it smells alot like the harden situation

http://www1.realgm.com/article/231201

Drake should call him up now!

[secol]

I've been watching NBA games since about 1995 or 1996 and really can't come up with a good comparison player for Lance. Wade and the ability he formerly had to just dribble around, into, over, under, or through any defense to get what he wanted is probably the closest I can come up with too. I agree with you and see it as well but don't find it to really be a good comparison. While I don't have 30+ years of experience following the NBA like many out yonder do, I do have 15 or so and I've never seen a player with his skill set and talents. His dribble and flair reminds me of Jason Williams (Kings days), ability to crash the boards at his size like Wade, and be a one man fast break like LeBron. Let me be clear, I'm not comparing overall games or skill set as in not judging whom Lance is better or not as good as. Rather I'm comparing certain abilities other players have that Lance seems to possess as well. With that said, I hope and pray the Pacers can lock him up and do so without a financially terrible contract. That brings into question what Lance is worth and I for one have no idea.

that was one of the comments and i completely agree. stephenson has a pretty unique skill set. it's just difficult to gauge how much he should get paid. another issue is he is probably best at SG even though he can guard PG and is a great passer. so there is redundancy with derozan

[Zach]

Originally Posted by moon

Tonight Raps at the end of the season Wizards.

Wizards are atrocious. No chance.

[Senator Clay Davis]

First, love this tweet from Zach Lowe

Zach Lowe ‏@ZachLowe_NBA 1h
Great two-way performance by the Raptors last night. League may have to outlaw trading Rudy Gay as a performance enhancing drug.

But anyways, at what point do the Raptors consider re-signing Kyle Lowry rather than trading him? Its a risky move to re-sign him because of the obvious concern that his rise in play has a lot to do with this being a contract year...at the same time this was still a contract year before Rudy got traded and he wasn't playing anywhere close to this level.

I think the Raptors have to ride it out the next month to get a true sense of this team. If we see this level of play the next month, I think you have to re-sign Lowry. I think you can replace what DeRozan gives you a lot easier than what Lowry gives you.

If nothing else Masai is in a very, very good position right now. His assets are appreciating in value and the team is getting better too. I wouldn't trade Lowry (or anyone for that matter) unless you can get exactly what you want. No need to trade just to do so, trade from a position of strength.

[octothorp]

Yeah, resigning Lowry is a puzzle right now. I don't believe that this is a contract year performance, because he's always played with a very high effort level, he just hasn't usually played smart or shown any leadership. It's possible that this season is as much the result of maturity as it is of the contract situation. I'd be more worried about a contract year high if it was a player who occasionally played with little effort or seemed disinterested.

The ace that Ujiri has is that he can handle this the way he did Nene: try to get as good a contract with the player as he can in the offseason, but if the contract is too rich for the team's blood, just get a signing done and then flip him the following season. That extra year Toronto can offer (thanks to bird rights) should get it done.

After the next two games (@Miami, @Indiana), they play only two teams with winning records the rest of the month (at home to Mavs and Clippers). So with that in mind, the measure of success should not be playing .500 ball, it should be playing at .666 or better over the next 15.

[Acey]

Raps drop a tough one, but lots of good things in this ball game, IMO. Leading the back-to-back champs at the end of 3 and merely slipping a bit in the 4th is more good than bad.

Raps are definitely an elite team in the east. That's not saying much at the moment, but we haven't been able to say that for a long time.

[Joborule]

Impressive that Raps are holding their own against top tier teams this season.

[Cheese]

IF the Raps shot their average 70%+ free throws tonight they would have won. Bad night to drop to just over 50%