Raptors Discussion: v97 Raptor's 2024-2025 - NBA Team

[canucksfan]

The bench has been brutal so far. Precious needs to pick it and the same with Banton.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[canucksfan]

Not a good game from the Raps tonight

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

Christian Koloko vs Caleb Martin Brawl Fight! - Raptors vs Heat

October 22, 2022

Raptors Nation

Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat fight brawl! Christian Koloko vs Caleb Martin. Raptors vs Heat tense and heated altercation.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

Raptors Insider: Blowing up team is in the cards if Toronto doesn’t advance past first round of NBA playoffs

In the debut of the insider’s weekly column, a look at what the front office is hoping for this season, a game in Montreal may be a pre-season staple and Malcolm Brogdon picking Boston over Toronto.

www.thestar.com

Deadline drama

So how are the Raptors going to do this season?

Even the highest of higher-ups in the organization aren’t sure and they won’t dare put a number of wins or a place in the final standings out there.

That makes entire sense because even in private moments, they talk about just wanting the team to play hard every night — and that’s a skill not every team in the league possesses — and then they’ll see where it lands them.

They do know, or expect, that consistent hard play might steal them five or six or seven games over the course of a season. That might mean the difference in finishing ninth or fourth in what is expected to be a tightly bunched Eastern Conference.

Two things that did emerge from various conversations from Victoria to Edmonton to Toronto and Montreal:

A first-round playoff elimination for the second successive season is likely going to mean a lot of roster churn in the summer of 2023. That’s not pressure, that’s just expectations from the top; they set a high bar because mediocrity is not acceptable and while Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster are patient, they’re not that patient. They may never say it out loud but, privately, the second round in the standard.

They’re too good to go entirely in the tank for France’s teen phenom Victor Wembanyama — get that out of your heads right now — but a first-round failure is going to force some moves come summertime.

The second thing is this: They are going to give this team 20 or 25 or so games to find out what it is; no panic trades, no bold moves, no major rotation switches.

But, as one top official said, they might have all kinds of options to play with at February’s trade deadline. Big contracts, small contracts, young players, established players.

Might be an explosive time and team officials are already thinking about it.

 

[MLSE]

Raptors Insider: Blowing up team is in the cards if Toronto doesn’t advance past first round of NBA playoffs

In the debut of the insider’s weekly column, a look at what the front office is hoping for this season, a game in Montreal may be a pre-season staple and Malcolm Brogdon picking Boston over Toronto.

www.thestar.com

Deadline drama

So how are the Raptors going to do this season?

Even the highest of higher-ups in the organization aren’t sure and they won’t dare put a number of wins or a place in the final standings out there.

That makes entire sense because even in private moments, they talk about just wanting the team to play hard every night — and that’s a skill not every team in the league possesses — and then they’ll see where it lands them.

They do know, or expect, that consistent hard play might steal them five or six or seven games over the course of a season. That might mean the difference in finishing ninth or fourth in what is expected to be a tightly bunched Eastern Conference.

Two things that did emerge from various conversations from Victoria to Edmonton to Toronto and Montreal:

A first-round playoff elimination for the second successive season is likely going to mean a lot of roster churn in the summer of 2023. That’s not pressure, that’s just expectations from the top; they set a high bar because mediocrity is not acceptable and while Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster are patient, they’re not that patient. They may never say it out loud but, privately, the second round in the standard.

They’re too good to go entirely in the tank for France’s teen phenom Victor Wembanyama — get that out of your heads right now — but a first-round failure is going to force some moves come summertime.

The second thing is this: They are going to give this team 20 or 25 or so games to find out what it is; no panic trades, no bold moves, no major rotation switches.

But, as one top official said, they might have all kinds of options to play with at February’s trade deadline. Big contracts, small contracts, young players, established players.

Might be an explosive time and team officials are already thinking about it.

I wouldn't worry about it. Doug Smith usually doesn't know what he is talking about.

Most of our core is 25 and under. We're fine moving forward. A lot of contracts expire in 2024 so we have to expect some change but I doubt it's 2nd round or bust this year.

 

[colchar]

A first-round playoff elimination for the second successive season is likely going to mean a lot of roster churn in the summer of 2023. That’s not pressure, that’s just expectations from the top; they set a high bar because mediocrity is not acceptable and while Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster are patient, they’re not that patient. They may never say it out loud but, privately, the second round in the standard.

Do either of those two know anything about hockey???

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[trellaine201]

Where did that player we traded to Portland go? Norman Powell. I thought he did well in PDX. Portland looks good early.

 

[Dr.Funk]

Where did that player we traded to Portland go? Norman Powell. I thought he did well in PDX. Portland looks good early.

Clippers

 

[DuklaNation]

NBA should have suspended Martin more than 1 game. Pushing a player into the stands shouldn't be tolerated ever. Lucky for them, Miami is a fake sports town. They only show up consistently for football.

1) No surprise a rookie on this team is the one mixing it up.
2) Entire game went in opposite direction after team was fired up. Don't ever let alone say physical play doesn't fire up the intensity. We see it in hockey all time despite the attempts to deny reality.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[1specter]

Getting a little concerned with his durability, didn't he have recurring ankle issues last year too?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Caleb Martin just seems like another fake tough guy. Koloko did nothing and he gets outraged just to show what a "tough guy" he is and that he "takes no crap". Laughable.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[canucksfan]

That was a fun game. Having Boucher back is a plus. He provides solid minutes and energy off the bench.

 

[aingefan]

Is that even or real? Looks cartoon crazy.
That’s insane. That kid could palm Chuck Swirsky, let alone a basketball.

 

[Pink Mist]

Is that even or real? Looks cartoon crazy.
That’s insane. That kid could palm Chuck Swirsky, let alone a basketball.

Yep lol

He's the tallest teen in the world. Still growing too, could be even taller by the time he enters college

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/canada-summer-games-quebec-basketball-olivier-rioux-1.6549842

 

[DuklaNation]

Rioux is too slow for any NBA consideration. Very hard to improve that. The guy that is more intriguing is Zach Edey 7'4 that has more mobility (from Toronto) and plays at Purdue. Under Ujiri, local talent hasn't been a big priority. Watching Walker Kessler do well at Utah should make teams consider big men more at least as a rotation option (instead of having none).

 

[fancy lad]

that guy is a freak of nature and not in a “he’s freakishly athletic” kind of way. Just looking at him and I would be shocked if he didn’t incur some unique and serious medical issues in the future.

all the best to him though. Hell probably score some athletic scholarship in the US and get free post secondary education.

 

[Leaf Rocket]