12-22-2020, 07:15 PM
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#1
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maryland State House, Annapolis
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2020-21 Raptors and General NBA Thread
Oh yeah the season starts tonight. I don't really have any deep thoughts, it's gonna be a weird season and on paper it looks far less open then last year did with the Lakers huge favorites (yawn....). Raps will still be competitive, but they appear to be 4th in the East at best with the Nets superteam online and the Celtics and Bucks. I guess the big thing for the Raps is Siakam, he was terrible in the bubble and really regressed. If he gets back to his early season form last year they'll be right there for the top 4, but if not then I imagine the Raps will be sellers by the deadline. With the Giannis dream dead this could also be the last competitive season for the Raps for a couple years, so I guess we should try and enjoy it.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
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12-22-2020, 07:56 PM
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#2
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Boca Raton, FL
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I think the Heat have surpassed the Raptors as well. A really good team on the rise with Herro and Adebayo as the young bucks.
__________________
"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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12-22-2020, 08:01 PM
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#3
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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A few predictions:
1) Nets superteam won't be such. The headcases will get worse over the course of the season, too many egos who won't get checked.
2) Bucks finish 1st in the East followed by Boston.
3) Siakam will not rise to the occasion and will be dealt at seasons end.
4) Lowry will get dealt at the deadline.
5) Raps finish with 55 wins.
The team doesn't look that bad when I take a step back. With so many new faces learning eachother early on it will probably be a bit rough before they get going.
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12-23-2020, 02:25 AM
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#4
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tromboner
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: where the lattes are
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It's a 72-game season. No way 1-4 happen if 5 does.
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12-23-2020, 06:30 AM
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#6
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Franchise Player
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__________________
Remember this, TSN stands for Toronto's Sports Network!
MOD EDIT: Removed broken image link.
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12-23-2020, 09:26 AM
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#7
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Franchise Player
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Siakim not stepping up and Raps still getting 55 wins? Thats a bod prediction.
Nets, Celtics, Heat, Bucks, 76ers...its looking like a 6th place finish for Raps. With a first round exit to Nets/Bucks/Heat....They're counting on OG to take a big step if that happens they could be in the race.
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12-23-2020, 09:53 AM
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#8
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I believe in the Jays.
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The Raptors have shown impressive consistency in the regular season the last few years. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the batting for “home” court again. They will likely face the same issues in the playoffs though, unless Siakam can take another big step forward.
I am excited to see Siakam’s progression. I know a lot of people have soured on him a little bit after his playoff performance, but I still believe he has a lot of room to grow as a player.
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12-23-2020, 02:03 PM
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#9
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: not lurking
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I don't have high expectations for the Raptors in terms of regular-season finish. Looking forward to a fun season with lots of room for development for the young guys. I think a good season would be a 5/6th finish, a first-round upset win, and a top 20 draft pick.
FVV, Flynn, Anunoby, and Siakam is a really solid core (not to mention Lowry, but he may not be part of the plan beyond this season), but needs another big who can contribute at a high level. And there aren't really any PFs/Cs in next year's free agency that seem like an obvious fit for the Raptors, either. In retrospect, they would have been better off spending more to keep Serge, but I don't think you can fault them for keeping their cap room open for Giannis.
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12-23-2020, 04:24 PM
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#11
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Franchise Player
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Maybe Harden got it at the strip club
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12-23-2020, 04:37 PM
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#13
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#1 Goaltender
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Quote:
Originally Posted by devo22
Harden is obviously a part of this, but they could have more cases it seems.
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Harden tested positive for Covid this summer. This was related to a few players including John Wall who went to an apartment to get haircuts. One of the players who went had it and they other who went along had to isolate.
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12-23-2020, 05:56 PM
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#14
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Toronto
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The Raps seem to always have a good amount of doubters every year. Here's to them overcoming and proving the doubters wrong again! Massive year for Spicy P.
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12-23-2020, 06:50 PM
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#15
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Help, save, whatever.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by activeStick
The Raps seem to always have a good amount of doubters every year. Here's to them overcoming and proving the doubters wrong again! Massive year for Spicy P.
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I was just about to post the same thing!
Last year it was the same. People were saying they wouldn't even make the playoffs.
I don't know why they think they will be worse. Sure they lost Ibaka and Gasol but Baynes is better than Gasol at this point and OG will get more time this year. Top 4 team in the conference for sure.
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12-23-2020, 07:22 PM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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It’s a predictions thread. Go big or go home.
As for the Siakam doubters, it’s pretty valid. Me being one of them after the playoff performance. The bubble life can affect each individual differently but it was hardly justifiable to see the level of bad he was. It was inexcusable to be blunt. And it reminds me of DeRozan shying from the spotlight when it mattered most. I don’t think comparing the two is a stretch either. I want to see him succeed because he’s such a nice guy. But that playoff performance...
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12-23-2020, 07:38 PM
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#17
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Celebrated Square Root Day
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Quote:
Originally Posted by savemedrzaius
I was just about to post the same thing!
Last year it was the same. People were saying they wouldn't even make the playoffs.
I don't know why they think they will be worse. Sure they lost Ibaka and Gasol but Baynes is better than Gasol at this point and OG will get more time this year. Top 4 team in the conference for sure.
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Whoa, whoa, who was saying they wouldn't make the playoffs last season?!! I heard a lot of "they won't be a contender without Khawi" and they were of course right. I really didn't see any "they won't make the playoffs", and it would have been outlandish to suggest it.
This year however likely will be a significant drop to 5th or lower in the east and no chance of contention on any level. Which is okay, as we got a championship out of this build, which is more than most NBA franchises will ever get. But barring a major trade for a star this build is clearly over and we get to look to the excitement of the next one.
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12-23-2020, 07:55 PM
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#18
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Help, save, whatever.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
Whoa, whoa, who was saying they wouldn't make the playoffs last season?!! I heard a lot of "they won't be a contender without Khawi" and they were of course right. I really didn't see any "they won't make the playoffs", and it would have been outlandish to suggest it.
This year however likely will be a significant drop to 5th or lower in the east and no chance of contention on any level. Which is okay, as we got a championship out of this build, which is more than most NBA franchises will ever get. But barring a major trade for a star this build is clearly over and we get to look to the excitement of the next one.
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Lots of people. A lot of basketball people in the US thought without Leonard the Raps would struggle to make the playoffs.
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12-23-2020, 07:55 PM
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#19
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Boca Raton, FL
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#### me.
That shot by Tatum off the glass with .5 left on the clock, AND Giannis in his face?
Holy ####. That boy is clutch. I'm becoming a big fan.
__________________
"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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12-23-2020, 08:02 PM
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#20
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Celebrated Square Root Day
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Quote:
Originally Posted by savemedrzaius
Lots of people. A lot of basketball people in the US thought without Leonard the Raps would struggle to make the playoffs.
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Must have missed that. I'm more Canadian media based, with a sprinkle of US and everything I saw pre-season for last year had the Raptors as a strong playoff team that wouldn't be able to contend without Khawi.
I mean they were still beating most teams in the regular season when Khawi was sitting, I think it was pretty clear they would be a strong playoff team with him off to LA, but one that couldn't contend. And it played out exactly like that. And now this season they will descend further due to other teams progressing, and more so if Siakam isn't able to regain form.
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