2024-2025 NBA/Toronto Raptors thread

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Did anyone watch any of the NBA Rising Stars and Skills Contest last night? I watched a few minutes between intermissions and it was atrocious. I felt bad for those in attendance who paid good many to watch players put zero effort into the show. I'm certain that'll carry for to tonight. The league is at a precipitous with its all-star weekend. It's obvious the players don't care, and are just there to party and good off. Fans in general are starting to withdraw from the NBA as a sport, and this weekend only makes the situation worse.

I wonder if they'll change the format to something similar to Four Nations after witnessing how successful that has become? Yet again it's a matter of getting the players to put effort into a game that's not relevant to the standings.

While not very exciting, I do enjoy watching the 3 point competition and the slam dunk contest. I like seeing the creativity in the slam dunk competition. The 3 point competition will always be special to me because I was perimeter shooter as a kid and I still like trying to hit the long shots when I pick up a ball as an old man.

[bluejays]

I agree with kids loving all-star games. Even as almost a 20 year old when the all-star game was in Toronto years ago, I found it nostalgic. Then I grew up and see the farce all these games have become, with props and silly things like that and it's not funny or creative. It's simply silly and forgetful. IMO, the skills competitions need to come down to quality instead of quantity, and all of it needs to be crunched into one evening. Rolling out cars to jump over, having windmills on the court? What is this nonsense? If it doesn't work, don't have it every year. There really has to be something like the four nations.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I agree with kids loving all-star games. Even as almost a 20 year old when the all-star game was in Toronto years ago, I found it nostalgic. Then I grew up and see the farce all these games have become, with props and silly things like that and it's not funny or creative. It's simply silly and forgetful. IMO, the skills competitions need to come down to quality instead of quantity, and all of it needs to be crunched into one evening. Rolling out cars to jump over, having windmills on the court? What is this nonsense? If it doesn't work, don't have it every year. There really has to be something like the four nations.

Aaron Gordon and Zach Levine was the last great dunk contest.

The dunk contest went down the toilet when Nate Robinson attempted 96 dunks before finally hitting one.

These guys are great athletes just fly man like Vince Carter. That was iconic.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Aaron Gordon and Zach Levine was the last great dunk contest.

The dunk contest went down the toilet when Nate Robinson attempted 96 dunks before finally hitting one.

These guys are great athletes just fly man like Vince Carter. That was iconic.

I kinda conflated the NHL all-star game which is what I was referencing attending the activities 25 years ago. That said, yes, that all star game with Gordon and Levine was just as good as the Carter one. Totally downhill ever since.

[trackercowe]

No offense to the caliber of Mac MaClung, but he's played five games in the NBA for his entire career. Otherwise he's been relegated to the G-League. Would he even be in the G-League if not for the Slam Dunk Contest? It almost feels like he's an amateur they're bringing in for the contest... If that's the case why not bring in players from the Globetrotters and street ballers to fill the void?

Here were the contestants this year. Not exactly a who's who of the NBA. I don't know who any of them are, other than MacLung since he wins every year.

Matas Buzelis (Bulls)
Stephon Castle (Spurs)
Andre Jackson Jr. ( Bucks)
Mac McClung (G League, Osceola Magic) [winner]

[mile]

McClung is a legitimately good G-League player, averaged over 25 points a game last year. Decent college career too, still several leagues above an amateur street player.


He probably has a large social media presence just for his dunks, probably why the NBA keeps inviting him back

[dino7c]

The who's who of the NBA don't want to join the dunk contest with everything to lose and nothing to gain

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

No offense to the caliber of Mac MaClung, but he's played five games in the NBA for his entire career. Otherwise he's been relegated to the G-League. Would he even be in the G-League if not for the Slam Dunk Contest? It almost feels like he's an amateur they're bringing in for the contest... If that's the case why not bring in players from the Globetrotters and street ballers to fill the void?

Here were the contestants this year. Not exactly a who's who of the NBA. I don't know who any of them are, other than MacLung since he wins every year.

McClung was G League MVP last year. But NBA teams don't really need an undersized offensive dynamo near the end of their bench.

Also, Stephon Castle is a name you should learn. Good chance he'll be part of a big 3 with Wemby and Fox for years to come. Spurs are such a fun team to watch.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mean we live in the world we live in now, and this would surely get some MAGA's to watch, so 2026 All-Star Game = The Blacks against the Whites.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Wemby out for the year now with a blood clot. Hopefully won't be a persistent issue for him.

[Strange Brew]

Sounds like a freak injury/condition but the concern around durability will always be there with that frame.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Wemby out for the year now with a blood clot. Hopefully won't be a persistent issue for him.

Blood thinners and off you go.

[devo22]

never seen a sports franchise implode like this. What the hell

https://twitter.com/user/status/1892995935921156301

[Joborule]

New owner intentionally sabotaging the franchise to justify moving it to Vegas?

[Senator Clay Davis]

I still don't buy the "tank the franchise to move to Vegas" theory for two reasons. One, it is impossible to believe they would abandon Dallas as a market. There are markets that are worse (New Orleans and Charlotte come to mind), and Dallas is a top four media market in the US. Two, it has long been assumed a Vegas expansion franchise will be partially or fully owned by LeBron, so I'd be very surprised if the NBA allowed the Mavs owners to usurp that.

[bluejays]

Yeah - not ever buying the theory. It's a top market in the NBA. I imagine Silver would rip ownership from them and would veto any move to LV. LV is an expansion franchise for the fees it would give the other owners, not a "pick up and move" franchise. Not buying any of that nonsense. They made a bad trade based on bad principle - much like the Phaneuf trade - he wasn't shopped, and it was personal because of the subpar return. They should continue to be criticized for it.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Yeah its just bad management and ownership in Dallas.

Also Luka will fail in LA until LeBron is gone. A reason why a lot of top players don't want to play with him.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The warriors look so good with Butler. I think they come out the west.

Also they retired Igoudala today. It was 10 years ago this June they won. Feels like yesterday. Kerr put him in the starting lineup and he won the MVP.

Everyone always links the Warriors to the points but really they won because they always had one of the top defences.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

The warriors look so good with Butler. I think they come out the west.

Also they retired Igoudala today. It was 10 years ago this June they won. Feels like yesterday. Kerr put him in the starting lineup and he won the MVP.

Everyone always links the Warriors to the points but really they won because they always had one of the top defences.

I am looking forward to seeing Butler. Making my annual trip to watch the Raptors catching Blazers and Warriors games. Plus some golf.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Looks like a brutal leg injury for Kyrie. He shot his free throws as well.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1896744017528004688