Toronto Raptors 8/9 Season Thread

[Gozer]

Whaa!!??

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Whaa!!??

Personally, I was thinking the same thing when I heard about the deal. That's the cool thing about the NBA though, is that you have to give up some pretty solid players to get a star. Though Richardson is a very nice player to have, the only reason they gave up the depth they did was simply the GM knows his time, along with teh Suns window to play run and gun, are coming to an end. Last ditch effort to make this thing work. They just found a replacement for Marion.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by fleury

Personally, I was thinking the same thing when I heard about the deal. That's the cool thing about the NBA though, is that you have to give up some pretty big contracts to get a star.

Fixed.

You're either giving up good players OR you're giving up an expiring contract that turns into cap space at the end of the season. This is because trades have to match salaries within 25%, so you don't have pure player for "prospects" and picks deals. Also, prospects don't really exist in the NBA the way the do in the NHL. Shorter development time.

[octothorp]

Another frustrating Raptors game. For once their rebounding was actually pretty solid (against a mediocre rebounding team missing their best rebounder), they were doing a decent job of controlling the paint, and instead they let a the best 3-point-shooting team in the league just pick their shots from downtown. Not a good time for Kapono to have an off-day. It really exposed (as if we didn't already know) the weakness on the wings. At least Bosh was aggressive again for most of the game, and then threw up a lame 3-pointer on a key possession. This team can't play from behind, they just can't get the stops late in a game.

[Gozer]

Ugh, I don't even want to watch these guys anymore.

[octothorp]

Oh, I actually forgot the best lowlight of the game: on a particular possession in the 2nd half, the Raptors force the Hornets late into the shot clock, and one of the Hornets (Devin Brown, I think) drives, puts up a weak layup that misses the rim. Devin Brown lands on his back. All of that was good. Until three Raptors let the ball fall between them, Brown, lying on his back, grabs it and calls a timeout with one second left on the shotclock. On the ensuing inbounds pass, they let Posey get wide open for a three. I had to leave the room for a minute after that.

[Gozer]

Not sure if it was Posey, but yeah, that was FFFUUUU-worthy.

Triano's "plan" of leaving shooters open just isnt going to work. Smitch used to try it and he'd get roasted. If the Raptors can't play defense without helping every player and every matchup then they are not an NBA-calibre defense.

[Machiavelli]

Disappointing loss today against the Nets at home.

Raps are going nowhere this year if they can't keep leads. 4th quarters have been disastrous for them.

[whosurnabby]

that sucked. i hate VC and the nets. after the trade, VC has won most of the game in a Nets uni against the Raps. Grrr!! VC Sucks!

[Trojan97]

I had a long post typed out and then Mozilla froze.

To sum up:

This team is garbage, blow this thing up BC. You have completely failed to date with the team you have assembled. This team is a good wing away from winning a playoff series but they have nowhere near the pieces or cap space to bring in anyone worthwhile. What a mess.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

I had a long post typed out and then Mozilla froze.

To sum up:

This team is garbage, blow this thing up BC. You have completely failed to date with the team you have assembled. This team is a good wing away from winning a playoff series but they have nowhere near the pieces or cap space to bring in anyone worthwhile. What a mess.

To add to this...the Triano experiment has been a massive failure. The guy could one day coach an NBA franchise, but he is just not ready. The players have responded in the opposite way that was intended, and the 'run n gun' offense has only exposed the Raptors further on defense.

I really don't know what Colangelo's next move will be.

[octothorp]

It's rare that I simply turn off a TV in the middle of a game and leave. Usually I watch through to the end whether it's hockey, football, or baseball; even in a loss, you always want to see how the team responds. But when the Nets started their run in the fourth quarter, I just turned off the TV; I've never had less confidence in this team. I, too, am in the 'blow it up' camp. Although I don't want to see Colangelo make a move now for the purpose of turning this season around or looking like he's doing something; no need to rush at this point; sadly, a lottery pick would be better than another first round playoff loss. Figure out who you're going to bring in as long-term coach and evaluate and build for that style of team. Don't trade a guy because he's not working under Triano if his style suits Messina or Blatt or whoever Colangelo has in mind.

[Machiavelli]

They lost to the almighty Thunder (who only had two previous wins all season) today!

[Da_Chief]

Ive said it before, trade Bosh, his focus is already on 2010.

At least they'll be running for a lottery pick.

[Machiavelli]

Bosh had a double-double.... the problem is the supporting players.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Ive said it before, trade Bosh, his focus is already on 2010.

At least they'll be running for a lottery pick.

While you're reasoning is a tad flawed, I wouldn't be opposed to trading Bosh myself. He's a second rate franchise player IMO. The thing I see with Bosh, is he's very good himself, but this year his ego has been through the roof and he's not exactly making those around him like a true franchise player does. His numbers are great, but his gameplay and his size doesn't allow him to open up shots for others. I don't really see him as a problem on the team, but his pouting on the court is becoming increasingly worrisome. I haven't read anything about this years draft class, but I'd personally hope they drop enough to get a lottary pick. This team, I still say, is sorely missing that athletic guy who can create his own shot. Getting a defensive specialist isn't gonna do much considering Calderon, Bargnani, Kapono, Moon and others can't play defense for jack anyway. With this team, they have to outscore the other team, and the only way they really do that, is to get a guy like Carter (but not him). Just don't know how you do it with the pieces they have to offer.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Bosh had a double-double.... the problem is the supporting players.

forget the double-doubles

look at his horrible shooting, why is he even attempting 3 pointers?
today Spurs right now hes 3 for 9 (at the half)
against Thunder(wtf) 6 for 18
against Mavs 6 for 20
against Nets 4 for 15
against Hornets 6 for 17

im already going to call tonite a loss (will not be happy if im wrong, tank and get lottery), so in this 4.5 game losing streak he is shooting 25 of 79, which is basically 30%...thats your reason why the franchise player blows chunks right now.

[JohnnyFlame]

Bosh has sucked since his Moma got fired. He has mailed it in ever since. They were a soft wimpy team last year and now they are even moreso. Who is coaching them isn't even relevant. Lack of character is their achilles heel.

Time to just torch them. Burn them to the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gozer]

I'm so glad whatever spitwads decided to put the Raps on TSN2 where I can't watch it are stuck with this poopy team no one cares about

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Gozer

I'm so glad whatever spitwads decided to put the Raps on TSN2 where I can't watch it are stuck with this poopy team no one cares about

Yeah, I've been harping about Rogers not picking up TSN2 but maybe it was a blessing in disguise...