Game #24: Los Angeles Clippers 112 - Toronto Raptors 92

[golden]

I think pinning our hopes on 2021 free agency (if that is what Masai intends) is a mistake. We just lost Kawhi **after winning the championship**, 25 years of history tells us free agency is not a viable path for acquiring talent here in Canada.

So I don't have a problem with Masai moving Serge or Marc in retooling type moves. I would like to see Kyle retire a Raptor, but after we dealt DeMar I will understand if Masai sees a similar trade that is good for the franchise.

And I do think that Masai might actually surprise us by trying to make another Kawhi type trade for a star. Like maybe Bradley Beal gets fed up with the tank and asks out. Anything could happen.

I don't think you trade Lowry to get much of a return, but moreso because you want to hand over the keys to the next generation and also to give Nurse an opportunity to put his stamp on the team. As long as Lowry is here, it'll always be a big brother / little brother vibe with the younger players. He will never see them as equals, let alone superiors. Having that kind of arrogance & ego is part of what's made him successful.

[DanH]

I think pinning our hopes on 2021 free agency (if that is what Masai intends) is a mistake. We just lost Kawhi **after winning the championship**, 25 years of history tells us free agency is not a viable path for acquiring talent here in Canada.

So I don't have a problem with Masai moving Serge or Marc in retooling type moves. I would like to see Kyle retire a Raptor, but after we dealt DeMar I will understand if Masai sees a similar trade that is good for the franchise.

And I do think that Masai might actually surprise us by trying to make another Kawhi type trade for a star. Like maybe Bradley Beal gets fed up with the tank and asks out. Anything could happen.

Beal can't be traded this season.

[LJ2]

You want to have your cake and eat it too? Contend and get lottery picks?

"Contention" was a bad choice of word. I should have said "competitive" as in what Spurs and Mavs have done. They aren't going to land lottery picks, but they would have assets to acquire them if Masai wanted to. Up until now he's primarily used assets to acquire established veteran players. He hasn't really used a lot of assets on the draft which is where some of his best results have come from.

[MixxAOR]

from William Lou but damn that plus minus and those FG% look disgusting

[golden]

"Contention" was a bad choice of word. I should have said "competitive" as in what Spurs and Mavs have done. They aren't going to land lottery picks, but they would have assets to acquire them if Masai wanted to. Up until now he's primarily used assets to acquire established veteran players. He hasn't really used a lot of assets on the draft which is where some of his best results have come from.

I'm fine with being competitive, but like 90% of this board will call that a treadmill. And I have no idea what the Spurs are doing these days. That mis-matched roster is anti-modern NBA cringe.

[Zak24gege]

Ja Morant is better, kids from Miami are better. Not that I'm complaining. TD looks good.

I think in the case of Davis we are somewhat Raptor myo centric in hailing him as a ROY class player. Around the league there are a number of talented first year players making significant contributions to their respective teams. Sure guys like Morant, Barrett and Hunter get lots of PT as high draft picks on weak teams, but the Sixers Thybulle and Miami's Robinson and Nunn are all starting for two of the East's top teams.

[LJ2]

I think pinning our hopes on 2021 free agency (if that is what Masai intends) is a mistake. We just lost Kawhi **after winning the championship**, 25 years of history tells us free agency is not a viable path for acquiring talent here in Canada.

So I don't have a problem with Masai moving Serge or Marc in retooling type moves. I would like to see Kyle retire a Raptor, but after we dealt DeMar I will understand if Masai sees a similar trade that is good for the franchise.

And I do think that Masai might actually surprise us by trying to make another Kawhi type trade for a star. Like maybe Bradley Beal gets fed up with the tank and asks out. Anything could happen.

I don't know if Beal improves our playoff chances all that much event if he could be traded this season. He's no where near Kawhi's level as a player and I don't know enough about his character to feel that he would handle being traded somewhere he didn't ask to be in as professional manner as Kawhi.

I'd rather that Masai use assets with a focus on drafting the next Raptors superstar. Scouting and drafting has been one of the most successful part of their program.

[golden]

I think in the case of Davis we are somewhat Raptor myo centric in hailing him as a ROY class player. Around the league there are a number of talented first year players making significant contributions to their respective teams. Sure guys like Morant, Barrett and Hunter get lots of PT as high draft picks on weak teams, but the Sixers Thybulle and Miami's Robinson and Nunn are all starting for two of the East's top teams.

Nobody called Davis a ROY candidate or better than Miami's duo. The point was that if Masai & Tolzman can find NBA rotation talent without even using the draft, then they probably don't need to overtly tank to draft top 5. That said, I'd bet with more minutes & USG, Davis could put up the same raw numbers as Nunn and Herro, since they really aren't all that efficient. Davis blows them away, in fact. But we'll never know, since TD2 will never get the opportunity in his rookie year.

[KeonClark]

from William Lou but damn that plus minus and those FG% look disgusting

What is the point in pulling sample size of a slumping game stretch? We know. You can pick out 5 games at some point and make anyone look bad

[GOLDBLUM]

lol... wtf???

I’d love to know more about specifically why he chose that... ha

[suspenders]

lol... wtf???

I’d love to know more about specifically why he chose that... ha

Maybe it's towards Pop?

[bertarapsfan]

lol... wtf???

I’d love to know more about specifically why he chose that... ha

My guess would be all the people in S.A, those who doubted his load management, people who refused to put him in the top 3 players list. The media automatically sided with S.A when he was still there. Theirs this weird mythical aura around the spurs that they can do know wrong. I think this year we are seeing the emperor standing naked, maybe having one of the era best players, being replaced by the greatest PF of all time and then falling into another hall of famer was the shiny clothes covering what was under neath? Pops done alot of great things but maybe playing 1990s mid range ball with shit defense, when the entire league is moving away from that isn't the best idea.

[Nilanka]

from William Lou but damn that plus minus and those FG% look disgusting

Lowry and Ibaka's FG%, lol. Butt fugly

[bertarapsfan]

Every year has it's adversity point where fans begin to question the team. Last year we hit our at around the same time. That game in S.A was new years day i believe. we got blown out and suddenly big question emerged. Does this team have it? is Kawhi sitting out too much? Can we win the big game? Can Kyle and Kawhi even play together?
We turned around and came out with a huge win in Milwuakee and the ship began to right itself. It's not whether you fail. It's how you respond. We have a stretch with some bad teams and a couple decent ones. They can start building momentum now by responding and stringing some wins together. Our next big chance at a statement game is hosting the celtics on Christmas day

[Demographic Shift]

A twenty (20) page game thread.
Raptor hating Heels back on line.

RR is back bayybeeee.