2015-16 Raptors and General NBA Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

I gotta imagine this is a first, but the Eastern Conference leading Cavs just fired Dave Blatt as their coach (he's also the Eastern ASG coach...). Tyronn Lue promoted to head coach. And somehow there's reports LeBron had no involvement in the firing. I bet.

[bluejays]

I really don't like the NBA culture of stars and players in general, having so much say on who the team brings in (teammates or coaches). Players show time and time again that they have no idea how to build a team. Lebron has been a an example of someone who shouldn't have a say whatsoever.

[octothorp]

I don't think Blatt was a great coach (solid, and a good guy for to grow with, but not for a win-now team), but replacing him with a player-friendly rookie coach doesn't seem like the cure for what ails Cleveland.

(I would have fired him and hired Thibodeau. He and James would probably hate each other, but just might win a championship together.)

[Senator Clay Davis]

So yeah, DeMar better get re-signed. Getting close to top 15 territory now.

[kmart]

David Blatt was Lebron's one scapegoat for not winning at beginning of his second time in Cleveland. Lebron didn't have any input on Blatt at all as he was hired before Lebron joined.

I thought it was due to happen, but not in the middle of a season. Just really weird timing. Just reading around media sources, it seems like Lebron was a huge advocate of Lue. Lebron has been awfully spoiled by management from the trading for Wiggins for Love, trading away first round picks for Mozgov, re-signing Tristan Thompson, and firing Blatt. Lebron doesn't have anymore excuses if Cleveland doesn't win a championship soon.

[kmart]

Again, I'm going to have to eat my words previously about Demar. All of a sudden in his last 20 games of so, he's been the player the Raptors need him to be. Consistently attacking the hoop and getting teammates involved, he's been great. Today's 4 three pointers were an added bonus to whats been an excellent season thus far.

[kmart]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-dav...035612484.html

Before David Blatt ever conducted his first training camp practice in September 2014, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and his agent, Rich Paul, had the coach's succession plan in place: Mark Jackson.

To become the preferred candidate of the most powerful player in the NBA – and de facto Cavaliers general manager – Jackson understood what he needed to do: Bring on James' and Paul's Klutch Sports agency as his representation, and prepare to deliver those commission fees into the King's coffers. Blatt never had a chance. He never knew what hit him.

From the beginning, the Klutch Sports campaign to puncture Blatt's standing as head coach had been as relentless as it was ruthless. James is one of the great leaders in pro sports, and he directed the Cavaliers how he wanted them: in complete defiance of Blatt.

So here's what's coming now: the trickle of stories on Blatt's incompetence, the fact that no one respected him, and maybe most of all, that James had nothing to do with his firing. For all the fairytales sold on James' return to Cleveland, this was forever about business – the kind of business they couldn't do within Riley's organization, nor Erik Spoelstra's locker room.

LeBron James runs the Cleveland organization, a choice Dan Gilbert made upon the superstar's return to Northeast Ohio. There's no shame there. Nothing that needs an apology out of him. He's constructed a way to maximize his basketball and business interests on Gilbert's dime, and it is possible that James will get all that and win a championship, too.

Yikes!

[Johnny199r]

DeMar is definitely going to be seeking max money now.

[darklord700]

I never understand the Cavs game under Blatt. Firing him mid season is nothing short of stunning. But Mark Jackson had done some great work with the dubs and he'll fit in more with the NBA culture than Blatt ever had been able to.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I never understand the Cavs game under Blatt. Firing him mid season is nothing short of stunning. But Mark Jackson had done some great work with the dubs and he'll fit in more with the NBA culture than Blatt ever had been able to.

Except they didn't hire Jackson.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

NBA TV is free, if you are signed up for the "Shaw Friends" loyalty thing. Or at least it used to be. I used to watch it all the time.

Well lucky for us it's on SN1 on Monday. Bad for the NBA it wasn't their Saturday night debut on ABC instead of Cavs-Bulls. Biggest regular season matchup maybe ever and it's not on a big national TV network and is a 10:30 eastern start. I'm sure they wish they could flex schedule, Spurs-Warriors on ABC right now would be massive ratings.

[Johnny199r]

Spurs are still looking good when Duncan and Ginobli retire. They've done a great job in adding younger pieces.

[octothorp]

Great effort tonight especially from the bench, but Toronto just seems to match up so well against Clippers.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Great effort tonight especially from the bench, but Toronto just seems to match up so well against Clippers.

They are on a roll no doubt. I know it's a long home stand and the opponents are usually below .500 or carrying injuries galore. But they still are doing what the whole season was about which is play good defense. The offense looks good when Ross and Patterson are hitting shots. When those two suck it puts way too much pressure on Lowry and DD. Since JV got back he is usually good for 10+ points as well. They still go in spurts on O but the defense is getting more consistent as the season goes on.

Now I would like to see some games against top quality opponents with all their players to see just where they stand. However in the meantime they can just keep pulling away from the pack and solidify a spot where they get an easier first round opponent and stay away from the Cavs as long as possible.

IF they can actually win in the playoffs it would be awesome if they could get to the Eastern Conference Finals.

[Senator Clay Davis]

So I'm trying to debate whether this statement is true, or crazy, delusional fan talk, but here goes:

The Warriors and Spurs would much rather have the Cavs or Bulls come out of the East than the Raptors. That is, the Raptors have the best chance in the East of beating either of the Juggernauts.

[bluejays]

Nonsense, IMO. Raps are totally inconsistent in the playoffs, and without that legit go-to star, they're not coming out of the second round. They may be a really really poor mans San Antonio, but they need that first option in the playoffs. DeRozan and Lowry as your clutch scorers isn't going to cut it.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Although the Raptors have played the Spurs and Warriors well this year.

That statement might really be saying that the Spurs and Warriors don't have a whole lot to worry about.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

So I'm trying to debate whether this statement is true, or crazy, delusional fan talk, but here goes:

The Warriors and Spurs would much rather have the Cavs or Bulls come out of the East than the Raptors. That is, the Raptors have the best chance in the East of beating either of the Juggernauts.

Crazy delusional fan talk.

Raps haven't proven anything in the playoffs.

[Drake]

DeMarcus Cousins with 56 points, 12 boards, and 4 assists tonight. Only players to have 50 points and over 10 boards the last 30 yrs, Jordan, Malone, Robinson, Shaq, McGrday, LeBron, CarMelo, and now Cousins.

[Johnny199r]

Warriors pounded the Spurs tonight.