4-1 for the Raptors with lone dissent being a vote for Charlotte.
Interesting enough Chad Ford and Curtis Harris still pushing possibility of a blow up. I'm coming around to this not happening but it is all about Lowry at this point.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/...ew-course-2014
Interesting enough Chad Ford and Curtis Harris still pushing possibility of a blow up. I'm coming around to this not happening but it is all about Lowry at this point.
1. The East team that has most changed its trajectory for the better?
Chad Ford, ESPN: Not sure there is one. I'm tempted to say the Raptors. Unintentional as it may be, Toronto's decision to dump Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay for spare parts has actually helped them. The problem for the Raptors is that GM Masai Ujiri actually wants the team to compete for the No. 1 pick, not a top-four seed in the playoffs.
Andrew Han, Clipper Blog: Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have to look no further than Dec. 8 to mark their dramatic shift in trajectory. It's more complicated than simply extracting Rudy Gay from Canada, but Toronto's more fluid offense and improved defense have been apparent (101.0/102.1 to 104.3/97.7 in offensive/defensive efficiency pre- and post-trade), punctuated with a win Wednesday night over conference-leading Indiana.
Curtis Harris, Hardwood Paroxysm: Toronto Raptors. Masai Ujiri may yet blow up the 15-15 squad, but getting out from Rudy Gay's contract and shadow has done the team wonders. Young players like Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross have especially benefited since the Gay trade.
Andrew Lynch, Daily Dime Live: The Charlotte Bobcats. They are still in the midst of a fairly substantial rebuild, but they're winning games on the strength of one of the best defenses in the league. True, they get to take advantage of the weak offenses in the Eastern Conference, but coach Steve Clifford has the Bobcats pointed in the right direction.
Ethan Sherwood Strauss, TrueHoop: Toronto now has a 12.8 percent chance at the Finals in Hollinger's Playoff Rater. It's incredible what losing Rudy Gay and Andrea Bargnani can do for a team. While the Raptors still lack a superstar talent, they defend well as a group. Masai Ujiri has demonstrated they're in great hands going forward.
Chad Ford, ESPN: Not sure there is one. I'm tempted to say the Raptors. Unintentional as it may be, Toronto's decision to dump Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay for spare parts has actually helped them. The problem for the Raptors is that GM Masai Ujiri actually wants the team to compete for the No. 1 pick, not a top-four seed in the playoffs.
Andrew Han, Clipper Blog: Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have to look no further than Dec. 8 to mark their dramatic shift in trajectory. It's more complicated than simply extracting Rudy Gay from Canada, but Toronto's more fluid offense and improved defense have been apparent (101.0/102.1 to 104.3/97.7 in offensive/defensive efficiency pre- and post-trade), punctuated with a win Wednesday night over conference-leading Indiana.
Curtis Harris, Hardwood Paroxysm: Toronto Raptors. Masai Ujiri may yet blow up the 15-15 squad, but getting out from Rudy Gay's contract and shadow has done the team wonders. Young players like Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross have especially benefited since the Gay trade.
Andrew Lynch, Daily Dime Live: The Charlotte Bobcats. They are still in the midst of a fairly substantial rebuild, but they're winning games on the strength of one of the best defenses in the league. True, they get to take advantage of the weak offenses in the Eastern Conference, but coach Steve Clifford has the Bobcats pointed in the right direction.
Ethan Sherwood Strauss, TrueHoop: Toronto now has a 12.8 percent chance at the Finals in Hollinger's Playoff Rater. It's incredible what losing Rudy Gay and Andrea Bargnani can do for a team. While the Raptors still lack a superstar talent, they defend well as a group. Masai Ujiri has demonstrated they're in great hands going forward.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/...ew-course-2014
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