2018-19 NBA and Raptors thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Van Vleet was a stone cold killer in the 4th.

You know that you’re on fire when you’re making 3s that are causing Steph to shake his head.

His turnaround in the postseason was what put them over the top. He was badly struggling until he became a dad, and shot over 50% from three after that. Almost makes me wanna have kids lol.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Nothing beats the Stanley Cup presentation. Second best is the World Series.

[transplant99]

LOL!!

Nate Silver
@NateSilver538
·
10m
Just watched a Canadian team win a championship in an American sport while drinking beer from a Dutch multinational conglomerate at an Irish-themed bar in Brazil while wearing a cap with a Japanese baseball team's logo. Then took an Uber home. Have achieved peak @neoliberal-ism.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Even though DeMar was a necessary sacrifice to get Kawhi, I really wish he was on this squad right now.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I can’t see why Kawhi wouldn’t stay. He can’t go anywhere in the Western Conference. He can’t sit out 20+ games there on any team and expect to make the playoffs. I bet probably a short term deal with options to leave.

[Pizza]

lol Kate Beriness drenched in champagne trying to interview Lowry

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Why does Nurse get a nicer hat than everyone else?

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Even though DeMar was a necessary sacrifice to get Kawhi, I really wish he was on this squad right now.

Nah, they wouldn't have made it the way DeRozan plays. He's just not clutch.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Even though DeMar was a necessary sacrifice to get Kawhi, I really wish he was on this squad right now.

I don’t. Derozan is the reason this team has had zero playoff success. He also refused to recruit players despite loving Toronto himself.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

You’re really looking for it pretty hard.

Not the time and place for that question

Meh, it's the impression I took. You're free to disagree.

As far as time and place goes, I don't disagree. But then, that's how reporters have always operated. CBC asked Lanny if he was retiring right after we won the Cup in 89, for instance.

[zamler]

That's the real deal the others were fakes.

[hwy19man]

Stephen A Smith is Roz Ryan. Lol.

[browna]

Woj bomb minutes after, saying the Wizards may pay Ujiri $10m a year to run things.

Fantastic determination from this team. Leonard is just an abosolute beats, a legend in the team's history even if he leaves tomorrow.
But without FVV,Ibaka,Gasol,Green, they don't win, as shown last years.

Congrats to the long time hardcore fans of the Raps.

[GGG]

Derozen’s game was archaic. I don’t by the clutch thing but when your game is inefficient long twos you won’t be successful when defensive intensity picks up.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Meh, it's the impression I took. You're free to disagree.

As far as time and place goes, I don't disagree. But then, that's how reporters have always operated. CBC asked Lanny if he was retiring right after we won the Cup in 89, for instance.

It sounds more like you think he’s gonna leave regardless so I’m not sure why you’re attributing things to him that he didn’t say whatsoever.

He was asked if winning affected his decision and he said he was going to enjoy the win and worry about that later. Seems pretty clear to me.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I can’t see why Kawhi wouldn’t stay. He can’t go anywhere in the Western Conference. He can’t sit out 20+ games there on any team and expect to make the playoffs. I bet probably a short term deal with options to leave.

I betcha lots of teams will gladly let him sit 20 games a year to be fresh for the playoffs.Basically every team who made the playoffs this year who has cap space can afford to let him sit those games. Not that we didn't know this already, but he proved how irrelevant the regular season actually is.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I betcha lots of teams will gladly let him sit 20 games a year to be fresh for the playoffs.Basically every team who made the playoffs this year who has cap space can afford to let him sit those games. Not that we didn't know this already, but he proved how irrelevant the regular season actually is.

You aren’t finishing top 4 in the West with Kawhi sitting out 25 games. The East is a cake walk and Kawhi knows this. Not finishing top 4 in the West is a prison sentence for the playoffs. Enjoy 1 of Golden State, Houston, Denver, OKC, or a retooled Lakers with a rested LeBron in the first round

[tvp2003]

I have to think Kawhi will be gone next year -- no way he can possibly top what he accomplished this season in a Raptors uniform.

Having said that, it almost doesn't matter -- this team and this season will forever be etched in Canadian sports history. What a ride.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It sounds more like you think he’s gonna leave regardless so I’m not sure why you’re attributing things to him that he didn’t say whatsoever.

He was asked if winning affected his decision and he said he was going to enjoy the win and worry about that later. Seems pretty clear to me.

Not really, I don't follow basketball generally, so while I knew about the initial drama of the trade last summer, I had no context one way or another to judge if his feelings about staying in Toronto had changed throughout the season, especially as the team found success. So sorry, but no, there were no preconceptions.

For Raptors fans sake, I hope he does stick around given you really only need one player at his level to have a chance at a dynasty. But nothing about that interview gave me an impression that that's likely. Doesn't really matter at this point, the Raptors went in knowing one year was likely their window with him, and he delivered a championship.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

You aren’t finishing top 4 in the West with Kawhi sitting out 25 games. The East is a cake walk and Kawhi knows this. Not finishing top 4 in the West is a prison sentence for the playoffs. Enjoy 1 of Golden State, Houston, Denver, OKC, or a retooled Lakers with a rested LeBron in the first round

You realize the difference between the 8th seed in the West and the 2nd seed was 6 games right? Add Kawhi to the Clippers(this years 8th seed), even missing 25 games, and they're easily the #2 seed. The East is easier sure, but the gap between the teams in the West is so close that anyone adding Kawhi goes right behind the Warriors as second favorites.