OldTimeHockey
Active member
Justin said:
Dammit, now you've jinxed them!
The 2012-2013 Toronto Raptors thread: My Name is Jonas
- Thread starter Kin
- Start date
Dammit, now you've jinxed them!
Corn Flake
New member
I hope they can win again!
Corn Flake
New member
and again! and again!
So practically all the regulars are dropped (or hurt) from the starting five and the team goes on this crazy win run. Hmmmmmm.
So practically all the regulars are dropped (or hurt) from the starting five and the team goes on this crazy win run. Hmmmmmm.
maplesyrup
New member
I'm going tonight with my daughter (her first ever and my first in many years.) ... Seems we caught them at a good time. - Fingers crossed.
Beowulf
New member
If they actually make the playoffs though I'm not entirely sure it's a great thing. If that's the case they retain their draft pick in what is regarded (as far as I know) as a pretty weak draft. That would also mean that they would likely give up their draft pick next season in a deep draft that by all accounts is much deeper and includes Canadian Andrew Wiggins.
And lets face it, if they make the playoffs they're not likely to go very far anyway. Does this story sound familiar? Although to be fair I actually think it's a lot harder for upsets to occur in basketball than in hockey.
But hey, I'm not rooting against them, it's impossible not to like the efforts they're putting forth without Bargs (I almost feel it's addition by subtraction at this point) and it has been exciting to watch (albeit against sub .500 teams). But that's the reality of the situation.
And lets face it, if they make the playoffs they're not likely to go very far anyway. Does this story sound familiar? Although to be fair I actually think it's a lot harder for upsets to occur in basketball than in hockey.
But hey, I'm not rooting against them, it's impossible not to like the efforts they're putting forth without Bargs (I almost feel it's addition by subtraction at this point) and it has been exciting to watch (albeit against sub .500 teams). But that's the reality of the situation.
Corn Flake
New member
Beowulf said:
It feels like a never ending string of mediocrity is in store. I get the feeling the only way the Raps can move forward is by collecting as many good young and relatively inexpensive players as they can and hopefully a trade sets itself up where they can move a package of them for a legit star player, much like the CP3 deal was for the Clippers. Almost never happens but it may be the only thing that moves this team forward.
I hope Colangelo has finally seen the light on Bananna and will unload him as soon as he gets the chance. The experiment is long overdue to come to an end.
Beowulf
New member
Corn Flake said:
Me too but I would gander he has almost no trade value at the moment and despite his shortcomings he has performed much better statistically at other times in his career. If possible wait til he gets back, hopefully he gets inspired for a few games to raise his value? I don't know. Also:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2013/01/02/bryan_colangelo_toronto_raptors_andrea_bargnani/
[quote author= http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2013/01/02/bryan_colangelo_toronto_raptors_andrea_bargnani/]
"I think Andrea's a big-time talent," Colangelo said. "I think he's often maligned and then misunderstood and I think he did show what he is capable of doing for this team last year in a pretty big sample size of games, fitting into the defensive system and doing what he needed to do on both ends of the floor."
[/quote]
That big sample size he's referring to...I would guess that would be the massive 13 games at the beginning of last season?
The trade rumours are swirling around AB so his comments may be nothing more than posturing, but who knows, judging by Colangelo's track record he may actually believe that AB is that player and not the one that shows up 80% of the time.
Kin
New member
Beowulf said:
To be fair to that comment, Bargnani's numbers last season as a whole were significantly better than they are this year and, in fact, Bargnani this year has been particularly off. His FG% is near the lowest of his career, his REB% which while never a strength is particularly bad and he's looked particularly out of synch defensively.
Beowulf
New member
Nik V. Debs said:
Yes this year has been particularly bad compared to last season and his career #s, and I acknowledged that earlier in my post. But regardless, the point is and I think it's fair to say that - from what we've seen of Bargs over his 6+ seasons - he doesn't bring it every night, not even close. And his inconsistency has continued for so long that you have to wonder if he ever will show a more consistent effort.
Nik V. Debs said:
I didn't mean to imply that the Raps were going to get him. I probably shouldn't have added his name there, but either way by all accounts that draft is going to be much better even beyond Wiggins.
maplesyrup
New member
Just got back from the game.... Ross. My word, what a nice surprise he is (at least for me... I haven't been paying much attention.) The kid can play.
Corn Flake
New member
So for those who watch and understand the game of Bouncy Ball far better than I, how much of this Raptors streak is...
a) they are better without Banana than they are with because he is the suck. Blame it all on his soft Euro butt.
b) they are beating all kinds of crappy teams right now, far crappier than the Raptors so this too shall pass.
c) they are finally coming together after a terrible start and are just young and inexperienced so this could be legit... who knows how far they go but they are a better team than they were in Nov and early Dec.
?
a) they are better without Banana than they are with because he is the suck. Blame it all on his soft Euro butt.
b) they are beating all kinds of crappy teams right now, far crappier than the Raptors so this too shall pass.
c) they are finally coming together after a terrible start and are just young and inexperienced so this could be legit... who knows how far they go but they are a better team than they were in Nov and early Dec.
?
maplesyrup
New member
I'm not qualified to answer your question CF, but I would like to comment a little on "a."... I was shocked to see how little Bargs was used in their advertising and promo stuff at the game... From all the little clips on the screen to the booths outside, none (and I mean NONE) of it included Bargnani. All I saw was one little flag in the entire ACC. - It's like he's already been traded and about a week ago at that. - Weird.
Kin
New member
Corn Flake said:
I think it's sort of an amalgam of these two. The Raps started the season with a very tough schedule on the road for the most part and now get a soft schedule at home. They weren't as bad as their early struggles made them seem and they're not as good as they look now.
That said, Bargnani playing poorly has clearly not helped and as a big time Ed Davis backer I want to see him get more time.
maplesyrup
New member
Nik V. Debs said:
I thought he was very good last night.
Kin
New member
Rob L said:
I think there's a lot to like about him. Per 36 minutes he's averaging around fifteen points, eleven rebounds and a steal and a block. He's not going to dominate physically but if the Raptors are serious about giving Valanciunas a shot they should team him up with a good rebounder/defensive player and Davis is that.
edit: and he's only 23.
Beowulf
New member
I've turned into a huge Ed Davis fan myself this season. The guy is the opposite of AB in terms of effort; he brings it every night, so consistent.
Even during this stretch though, there have been times when I've been wondering why he's sitting on the bench. There have been a few times late in games (or even for large stretches of the entire 2nd half of games) where he hasn't been playing and it's not because of foul trouble.
Even during this stretch though, there have been times when I've been wondering why he's sitting on the bench. There have been a few times late in games (or even for large stretches of the entire 2nd half of games) where he hasn't been playing and it's not because of foul trouble.
#1PilarFan
New member
Raps are reportedly dangling Calderon plus either Ross or Davis (heck maybe both) and future picks (classic BC, though he can't really move a first until Houston gets one) for Rudy Gay.
I read that too. As much as I'd hate to see Calderon go this trade has to be made if the opportunity is there. Calderon is the heart and soul of this team but he's essentially the backup PG, while Davis and Ross are unproven commodities. Gay would step in and be this team's best player while filling our biggest positional need at SF. Imagine Gay starting instead of Kleiza/Fields/Pietrus!#1PilarFan said:
Bargnani
Valanciunas
Gay
DeRozan
Lowry
(when everyone's healthy).
That's not bad at all. Good NBA teams are front-loaded, and if I have to give up a couple of backups for a guy who's be the best player on our team I'd do it without hesitation.
What the hell Raptors!?!?
I had the misfortune of watching Sunday's game in person and today's game on tv in full. In both cases the Raptors got off to a great start against a better team, with a 20 point lead vs. the Bucks and a 10 point lead vs. the Nets, and then completely fell of the rails. The Milwaukee game was getting me enraged from my seat. With the game tonight, the Nets went on a little run and Toronto couldn't stop the bleeding for the rest of the game.
Amir Johnson had another rough outing tonight and DeRozan was largely a non-factor. Good think the Leafs are coming back so I can stop paying as much attention to the Raptors. What a "Raptorsy" game this was.
I had the misfortune of watching Sunday's game in person and today's game on tv in full. In both cases the Raptors got off to a great start against a better team, with a 20 point lead vs. the Bucks and a 10 point lead vs. the Nets, and then completely fell of the rails. The Milwaukee game was getting me enraged from my seat. With the game tonight, the Nets went on a little run and Toronto couldn't stop the bleeding for the rest of the game.
Amir Johnson had another rough outing tonight and DeRozan was largely a non-factor. Good think the Leafs are coming back so I can stop paying as much attention to the Raptors. What a "Raptorsy" game this was.