2022-2023 Toronto Raptors/NBA season thread

[bluejays]

Re: Wiggins rumour, that sucks for the kids, end of story.


On a side note, I think very little of athletes, moral-wise. A close family member for years was working at the Ritz in Toronto, and he dropped names of the who's who in the NBA getting escorts to their rooms, despite being married. I have a friend who'd sit near a former Raptors coach at Raps games and he'd have two on his side at the game. Listen to podcasts about athletes and you'll see they live ridiculous lives behind the scenes. Is it any surprise their personal lives are out of whack as well?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Re: Wiggins rumour, that sucks for the kids, end of story.


On a side note, I think very little of athletes, moral-wise. A close family member for years was working at the Ritz in Toronto, and he dropped names of the who's who in the NBA getting escorts to their rooms, despite being married. I have a friend who'd sit near a former Raptors coach at Raps games and he'd have two on his side at the game. Listen to podcasts about athletes and you'll see they live ridiculous lives behind the scenes. Is it any surprise their personal lives are out of whack as well?

Yeah I just think it's wild that's a reason you get to miss half the season you basically got cheated on.

Your last point is very true. Can't speak on the NBA but I have direct knowledge of a few NHL guys.

Remember Tristan Thompson yeah that happens a lot more than people think he was just caught on camera.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yeah I just think it's wild that's a reason you get to miss half the season you basically got cheated on.

Your last point is very true. Can't speak on the NBA but I have direct knowledge of a few NHL guys.

Remember Tristan Thompson yeah that happens a lot more than people think he was just caught on camera.

Missing half the season is odd. There are certainly emotions and all that that has to be taken care of, but they have the best psychiatrists, each team has handlers to take care of special situation needs, etc. For sure emotions would be crazy but after a month or so you'd think some of the legal things that need to be filed, are done, and he could focus on the mental with the help of professionals. He's a star player in the NBA though, so he probably does what he wants with the team having no real option other than to say "we'll stand behind him", while they wait it out.

[powderjunkie]

Weird situation in the GSW vs DAL game. There was an unclear out of bounds call and then a timeout...coming out of the TO both teams thought it was their inbounds...ball was given to GSW for a free dunk since all 5 Mavs were on the other side of the floor - which is weird because the inbounds would be on their defensive baseline either way.

GSW wins by...2 points (but really just a close game down the stretch that could have played out differently). Maybe GSW would score on that possession anyways, but really weird move by the officials.

[activeStick]

I hate this team. Well, I actually love them, but because they're constantly blowing leads and disappointing me when they should be so much better, I've stopped watching their games for a while, but here we are. They're right in it still. SIGH.

[bluejays]

Sounds like Nurse will step away at season end and Udoka will be brought in. Just guessing but the other day there was a rumour Udoka was contacted, and now Nurse says he’s contemplating his future. Putting two and two together I’m thinking Masai already knows he’s leaving.

[savemedrzaius]

Pascal and Fred are painful to watch. Neither of them are clutch. Especially this season. Watching Pascal brick midrange shots is painful. Barnes and Poetl should be the key guys when points are needed.

[mile]

I hope the Nurse rumours aren't true. Have very little confidence that the next coach would be an improvement.


He's a top 5 coach in the league IMO, maybe top 3


Tied for 6th best record in the last 30 games

[octothorp]

Yeah, Nurse has his faults, but is still clearly a top-tier coach in the league. I think the front-office screwed him over with poor roster construction this year and last until they picked up Poeltl. The only two seasons that he's had a decent roster construction, they played like a contender.

Maybe there's some personality stuff going on behind the scenes, but they really cannot afford to let personalities blow up one of the few advantages they have.

[bluejays]

On one hand, with Nurse it certainly sounds like he's had his run and he just wants to join his friend in Houston. Agreed he's a top coach if not the best one, but perhaps the change can be good. I say this because in any sport if guys tune you out, then change is needed no matter who it is. I also don't think they screwed him over in any way - the roster construction was doomed from the start where they got caught up in their own self confidence in going for diamonds in the rough. Certainly Masai and crew have a very good eye for talent but even then trying to replicate a super deep lineup with nobody's was foolish and too self indulgent. Two seasons of poor roster construction isn't on the coach, it's on management and Nurse knows that but again, probably wants to join his buddy elsewhere. Regarding the roster, I really hope they move off this push for depth and work to get star players. What the Raps did winning the championship was the exception, not the norm. Try the norm and bring in an exciting team with stars.

[Beninho]

Fred and Siakam being options 1A and 1B Will unfortunately lead this team no where. I respect what both did in the championship season but the Raptors should not pay anywhere near what they will both be asking for extensions. Demar and Lowry struggled at times in the 4th Q in the playoffs, Fred and Pascal cannot even finish games in the regular season. Easy move on from both.

I think the Raptors completely mis evaluated this core and too attached to these two players. Build around Barnes and move on already. This team is bad

[greyshep]

At the Raptors Celtics game tonight in Boston. Currently down by 30 in the first half! Yikes

[Mathgod]

[Sylvanfan]

Every year at this time I usually make a post in this thread to remind people that there is a team called the Sacramento Kings are a real team that does exist and that they missed the playoffs again.

But this year they finally break the longest current playoff drought in pro sports and make it. They opponent is likely dreading trying to make plans for their team to get to Sacramento.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Every year at this time I usually make a post in this thread to remind people that there is a team called the Sacramento Kings are a real team that does exist and that they missed the playoffs again.

But this year they finally break the longest current playoff drought in pro sports and make it. They opponent is likely dreading trying to make plans for their team to get to Sacramento.

Likely Warriors, Clippers, or maybe Lakers. Not a great reward for finishing 3rd, but likely to be an intra-Cali series.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Fred and Siakam being options 1A and 1B Will unfortunately lead this team no where. I respect what both did in the championship season but the Raptors should not pay anywhere near what they will both be asking for extensions. Demar and Lowry struggled at times in the 4th Q in the playoffs, Fred and Pascal cannot even finish games in the regular season. Easy move on from both.

I think the Raptors completely mis evaluated this core and too attached to these two players. Build around Barnes and move on already. This team is bad

I'm not even sure Barnes will be "the man" going forward. He's gotta make incredible leaps forward next year. Specifically his ball handling he's got to work on, as this year his shooting regressed but even worse was his ball handling seemed clunky. Fred should've been dealt last season, and he seems to be annoyed more every day. Siakam is a good number 3 on a championship team, but franchise player cap hit? No thanks. Take the asset haul and move on.

[Mathgod]

Warriors winning their final RS game 84-53. Gotta wonder what the thinking is here. A first round matchup with the Suns basically means first round exit...

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Warriors winning their final RS game 84-53. Gotta wonder what the thinking is here. A first round matchup with the Suns basically means first round exit...

Luckily for them LAC won

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Luckily for them LAC won

Same thing goes for them. Why endeavor to get into the dreaded 5th seed?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Warriors winning their final RS game 84-53. Gotta wonder what the thinking is here. A first round matchup with the Suns basically means first round exit...

Pretty sure the Lakers have the tie-breaker, so a GSW loss could have put them 7th?