2022 Toronto Raptors Thread

[octothorp]

I don't even think the Lakers think that Nurse is interested, but after getting a lot of flack for how the Vogel firing was handled, they're trying to fuel speculation simply to get people to move on to the next story.

[bluejays]

I think they're genuinely interested in Nurse. Who wouldn't be? And on Nurse's part, why wouldn't he want to coach one of the greatest players as well be in a nice climate? The biggest piece to the puzzle is there. No doubt he would be interested despite the disaster year after year all around.

Having said that, I find the Lakers in recent years among the most classless organizations there are. How do we find ourselves year after year in the same position where an organization leaks that they want to poach our front office guys? Anyway, the Lakers seem to bring in ruthless a-types and expect it to work in their front offices year after year, and just as quickly as they bring in each of these morons, get rid of them soon enough. What's interesting as well is how they've gutted their picks. How they'll be expected to wheel and deal will be something to see. Westbrook complaining today he was never given a chance from the start? Say what? The whole organization deserves an F.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Nurse rumours are mostly because he's a Klutch client and since Kiutch are currently running the Lakers it's a logical connection of the dots. The problem for the Lakers is they would have to give up compensation to hire Nurse, and they really don't have any, and it'll probably be way cheaper to get Doc Rivers or Quin Snyder (also rumored candidates). I think octothorp has it right that they are putting this out there to turn the discussion away from what a disaster they are.

[Trojan97]

Maxey scares me alot, he has an opportunity to be the x-factor in the series and I don't love how our personnel matches up to his speed. With that said, this is the matchup we wanted and I'm confident that the longer the series drags on the more it favours us. Stealing a game in Philly early would be huge. Looking forward to it.

[Da_Chief]

This will be a tough series and I fully expect refs to favour the 6ers. All the extra free throws for harden and embiid will be the difference. Lots of foul trouble for Raptors.

[GreenLantern2814]

Harden Is toast. Raptors in 6.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I got the Raps in 7

[Jordan!]

Is this considered the CP "NBA" thread or just Raptors stuff.

We're pretty amped this year in Phoenix for obvious reasons.

[GreenLantern2814]

It’s definitely the all purpose nba thread.

[octothorp]

Definitely, we're general NBA chat friendly!

And yeah, you've got good reason to be excited. I'm not sure there's anyone in the West who really matches up well against the Suns.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I think Memphis could cause them some problems, but I have a hunch they won't make it to the WCF. Otherwise yeah they are simply a league above everyone else in the West. East seems much more wide open than the West.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Booker should be in the MVP conversation but I think Embiid is probably gonna win it

[Senator Clay Davis]

Nah, Jokic has MVP completely locked up, and frankly he should probably win it unanimously. But Embiid has no chance, and he knows it, as he has basically been begging for a pity MVP for weeks now. It's fairly sad, Embiid had a great year for sure, Jokic is simply better and more valuable.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I got the Raps in 7

Yep, same here and it will be very similar to the 2001 and 2019 series. Van Vleet with the buzzer beater winning 3 point shot!

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Nah, Jokic has MVP completely locked up, and frankly he should probably win it unanimously. But Embiid has no chance, and he knows it, as he has basically been begging for a pity MVP for weeks now. It's fairly sad, Embiid had a great year for sure, Jokic is simply better and more valuable.

It’s pretty crazy how a dude who’s probably the least athletic player on the floor on any given night also makes opponents look so foolish

[octothorp]

I really like where the Pelicans are at as a team. Great mix of veterans and highly useful young players. They've also got a load of other teams' first-rounders (outright or swap rights), including the next few years of Lakers picks and a bunch of more distant Bucks picks. As much as I hated all of the original Zion hype, I hope he has a healthy return with the Pelicans next year, as it could be a really exciting team.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

It’s pretty crazy how a dude who’s probably the least athletic player on the floor on any given night also makes opponents look so foolish

At the highest levels of sport it seems we still underestimate how valuable having a deep, fundamental understanding of the game actually is. We fall in love with measurables because it's easier to see them, but it's hard to appreciate the greatness of someone like Jokic who just knows how to play the game at the most advanced level, even as his game looks like that of the greatest mid-40's YMCA player of all-time.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

At the highest levels of sport it seems we still underestimate how valuable having a deep, fundamental understanding of the game actually is. We fall in love with measurables because it's easier to see them, but it's hard to appreciate the greatness of someone like Jokic who just knows how to play the game at the most advanced level, even as his game looks like that of the greatest mid-40's YMCA player of all-time.

He’s their point guard and he plays centre. That’s bananas.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Nah, Jokic has MVP completely locked up, and frankly he should probably win it unanimously. But Embiid has no chance, and he knows it, as he has basically been begging for a pity MVP for weeks now. It's fairly sad, Embiid had a great year for sure, Jokic is simply better and more valuable.

Any man who must say “I am the MVP” is no true MVP.

[octothorp]

Embiid's chances were sunk when the Sixers couldn't hold on to 1st in the conference. I think voters could talk themselves into voting for Embiid's slightly worse stats and less-impressive eye-test if they could get behind a 'best player on a #1 seed' argument. As it is, it's really hard to find reasons to put him ahead of either Giannis or Jokic.