NBA 2019 Off-Season Thread - Page 12 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Strange Brew · 07-08-2019, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, Strangebrew's take that anything can happen is just bizarre considering how the NBA works. Anything can happen if you're a contender and injuries happen to the league's superteam (this year with Raptors).

But even with a much more open league this season you're either a team with a shot or you're not. The Raptors are now not. To equate this year's Raptors with last year's Raptors is crazy. There is a rounding error shot of winning.

Sorry but I didn’t say anything can happen. But don’t you agree the refrain has always been the Raptors don’t have a chance? There were literally dozens of posts to this effect last year.

Are the Raptors longer odds to win the championship than the Flames? I guess I just don’t really get the whole attitude of saying you have no chance at every opportunity, even if it is unlikely you’re going to win.

There are a ton of NBA contenders this year.

jayswin · 07-08-2019, 07:12 AM

And the Raptors are not close to being one of them. It's how the NBA works, if you're a playoff bubble team or lower this is not the NHL where you could get hot and all of a sudden you've got a chance at a cup.

You're not comparing apples to apples in terms of people speaking to the Raptors chances. Las year their chances were not the best in the league (they were anywhere from 4-5 best to start the year by most accounts), but they were the favourites to get out of the east as they did.

What you're thinking of was people saying they had no chance to win the finals. And if Durant and others didn't get hurt we likely would have been swept or won one game. That's the NBA.

jayswin · 07-08-2019, 07:14 AM

Basically injuries helped the Raptors go from best team in the east to champions. There is no amount of injuries that are helping the Raptors go from no superstars to contender this season.

Look at past standings and teams that have been hovering around the playoff line for a few seasons....that'll be the Raptors. This is not the NHL.

Sidney Crosby's Hat · 07-08-2019, 07:38 AM

Raptors probably have no chance to win the championship next year but also, there were a lot of people in this very forum saying that the Raptors had no chance to win the championship this past season right up until the end of the third round!

jayswin · 07-08-2019, 09:31 AM

Which was just explained. There is a mountain of difference between being the best in the east and a contender to go to the finals and actually being able to beat the Warriors.

We won because of injuries, I don't think you'll find any rational NBA fan that thinks the Raptors would have a chance against a healthy Warriors. You guys are just talking apples and oranges between last year's Raptors and what's left for next season's Raptors.

Senator Clay Davis · 07-08-2019, 09:36 AM

I think if everything breaks right maybe the Raps can win the East again. Siakam has to take another step forward, OG needs to take a big time jump and everyone else needs to maintain their level or improve, and Masai maybe work a little magic, but I could see it. Much as Kawhi was incredible, he also fell off in the second half of the playoffs and the rest of the team stepped up big time. But that's why they are in a good position, if the right things happen they can take another run at it, and if they don't they are in prime position to accumulate assets.

Jason14h · 07-08-2019, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I think if everything breaks right maybe the Raps can win the East again. Siakam has to take another step forward, OG needs to take a big time jump and everyone else needs to maintain their level or improve, and Masai maybe work a little magic, but I could see it. Much as Kawhi was incredible, he also fell off in the second half of the playoffs and the rest of the team stepped up big time. But that's why they are in a good position, if the right things happen they can take another run at it, and if they don't they are in prime position to accumulate assets.

and it’s not impossible for a scenario where the team that makes it out of the West is destroyed again for the finals.

Scornfire · 07-08-2019, 11:31 AM

With the signings this week we're probably going to see an all time defensive team next season that shoots 20-25% from 3 lol.

Chris Boucher doesn't seem to get a lot of chatter but the late bloomer (And reigning G League MVP/DPOY) put in a great summer league debut and is on track to be an impact player at the NBA level. Masai has put a lot of emphasis on players who got into the game late and have shown remarkable improvement year to year, the Raptors will not (at least in my mind) be just another also ran in the upcoming years even having lost Kawhi, the vision of being the NBA's Liverpool isn't totally delusional given the success BWB has been seeing and Masai's connections to international talents

kukkudo · 07-08-2019, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason14h

and it’s not impossible for a scenario where the team that makes it out of the West is destroyed again for the finals.

Lol come on now any team missing a top 3 player in the league for the series and one of the best shooters in the game for a few games is not going to be the same team.

jayswin · 07-08-2019, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Lol come on now any team missing a top 3 player in the league for the series and one of the best shooters in the game for a few games is not going to be the same team.

I think that's what he was saying. If it happens again then an east team could win again.

I don't believe it's very possible myself with how many great teams there are out west now. Unless those injuries actually happen in the finals a decimated west team wouldn't be able to advance like the Warriors did this year.

And therefore you'll likely have a healthy, elite team representing the west, which in all likelihood is a bloodbath finals.

dino7c · 07-08-2019, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Sorry but I didn’t say anything can happen. But don’t you agree the refrain has always been the Raptors don’t have a chance? There were literally dozens of posts to this effect last year.

Are the Raptors longer odds to win the championship than the Flames? I guess I just don’t really get the whole attitude of saying you have no chance at every opportunity, even if it is unlikely you’re going to win.

There are a ton of NBA contenders this year.

Much longer...are you kidding?

The last place team in the NHL Jan1 just won the cup...you don't win in the NBA without a top star, you just don't

dino7c · 07-08-2019, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Raptors probably have no chance to win the championship next year but also, there were a lot of people in this very forum saying that the Raptors had no chance to win the championship this past season right up until the end of the third round!

And they barely won it with a top 3 player and the other team decimated...now lose the top three player. Its a totally different scenario now.

some of you are delusional...Raps barely got past round 2 this season with Kawhi and his circus shot to squeak by Philly. Other guys stepped up yes, but it had a lot to do with the other team trying to cover Kawhi. Don't forget about green either.

octothorp · 07-09-2019, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scornfire

With the signings this week we're probably going to see an all time defensive team next season that shoots 20-25% from 3 lol.

Chris Boucher doesn't seem to get a lot of chatter but the late bloomer (And reigning G League MVP/DPOY) put in a great summer league debut and is on track to be an impact player at the NBA level. Masai has put a lot of emphasis on players who got into the game late and have shown remarkable improvement year to year, the Raptors will not (at least in my mind) be just another also ran in the upcoming years even having lost Kawhi, the vision of being the NBA's Liverpool isn't totally delusional given the success BWB has been seeing and Masai's connections to international talents

Yeah, I like the approach of loading up on high-level, versatile young defenders, and hoping that you can give them structure, a role, and better coaching than they received earlier in their career, and maybe one or two of them will develop into useful role-players or even a starter.

At worst, these contract sizes they're giving to McCaw, Johnson, and RHJ are really useful dollar amounts for matching purposes in trades. And they'll all be off the books by 2021, which seems to be the offseason that Masai will target.

Johnny Makarov · 07-10-2019, 08:39 AM

This is insane. The Nets didn't find out KD was going there until he announced it online!

What if they said, "no we aren't signing your 1 legged ass?" haha

greyshep · 07-10-2019, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

This is insane. The Nets didn't find out KD was going there until he announced it online!

What if they said, "no we aren't signing your 1 legged ass?" haha

Now that would be awesome!

The balance of power in the NBA is way too far tilted in the players side presently.

Senator Clay Davis · 07-10-2019, 09:43 AM

So Kawhi ultimate signs a 2+1 with the Clippers so he'll be a UFA again in 2021 if he wants, which makes sense for the 10 year vet max.

kukkudo · 07-10-2019, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

This is insane. The Nets didn't find out KD was going there until he announced it online!

What if they said, "no we aren't signing your 1 legged ass?" haha

He has to say that, because it’s clear as day that they tampered like crazy.

Senator Clay Davis · 07-10-2019, 02:34 PM

I mean the Clippers might be the only team who didn't tamper considering every big FA was signed within 24 hours of FA starting.

jayswin · 07-10-2019, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

This is insane. The Nets didn't find out KD was going there until he announced it online!

What if they said, "no we aren't signing your 1 legged ass?" haha

Haha, do you mean "the nets knew exactly what was happening but had to play dumb"?

greyshep · 07-10-2019, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean the Clippers might be the only team who didn't tamper considering every big FA was signed within 24 hours of FA starting.

Uhh, the same Clippers that had a representative at most of all the Raptors home games? The same Clippers who were fined for tampering during the season?

https://www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...i-leonard.html