Game #3 Toronto Bay Raptors @ Philadelphia 76ers. 7:00 PM Tampa Bay, Florida. 6:00 PM Pensacola, Florida. SN

[MixxAOR]

Ugh I'm just not ready for tank/treadmill debates again. Honestly we had years of that and just had a 2 year break and I guess now it's over?

Why even argue? It is what it is. It's up to the team to perform and management to make decision. It's not like we can sway their mind

[G__Deane]

Ugh I'm just not ready for tank/treadmill debates again. Honestly we had years of that and just had a 2 year break and I guess now it's over?

There shouldn't be a 5 or 10 year grace period just because you won a Chip. That's not how Championship teams ever think.

[S.R.]

Ugh I'm just not ready for tank/treadmill debates again. Honestly we had years of that and just had a 2 year break and I guess now it's over?

[MixxAOR]

at what point was this team where they could contend without kawhi? literally never. thats hardly a set back.

That's not his point. Masai didn't trade for Kawhi knowing that he would leave. Masai intended to resign him. It ended up being championship or bust. That's high risk and not a repeatable strategy.

[iblastoff]

I gotta disagree and think that makes for an awful championship formula. Develop guys for years then move them for a mercenary on a one year with the hope of hitting the jackpot? Even the most loyal fan has got to admit that was a hail Mary.

We moved DeRozan, Poeltl, JV, Delon, the 2019 1st round pick and a 2024 second round pick to put that championship team together. Well worth it, but not a formula you want to use.

Kawhi leaving had Masai turning to Giannis as plan B and we'll that not gonna happen. We are now at a point where we can't contend because any trade would see too much outgoing. Unless Masai can pull off a miracle in free agency we're set back until we can build up assets again. That was always going to be the price we paid for that championship run.

at what point was this team where they could contend without kawhi? literally never. thats hardly a set back.

[G__Deane]

Game day!>!>!>!>!>!

[DogeLover1234]

Treadmill is valid strategy if you can develop a lot of cheap depth, like Miami. If you can develop at get at least one all-star, you package him in a trade for the legit superstar and have rotation guys waiting to fill the void.

One problem with using that strategy here is that Nurse doesn’t trust his depth pieces, like Spoelstra.

Nuggets are also pretty good at developing depth and they’re in a great position for trades, if they choose.

I think when you see how often the best player in a draft class (or top 3) comes after pick 10, treadmill doesnt seem too bad tbh. As far as I can tell unless there is a true cant miss talent, the rest are all situation dependent. Make the situation and eventually the talent follows is where I've landed. Even if it doesn't work out with Siakam, Fred, and OG I'm not concerned as long as the foundation is there. Give up some talent for extra picks at some point, but not if it ruins your culture, its too hard to build back up.

[golden]

I'm not a fan of tanking.. I think with player empowerment it's too difficult to get great unless you can draft a super star that also wants to stay. That's rare. I'd rather not be a farm system for other teams out there.

I think being a "treadmill" team is the right approach. And then take another swing when we get that chance. Harden is available now.. but wouldn't surprise me if guys like Steph, Booker or KAT were going to be available as well as early as next summer.

I'm still pro-win, and I hope we can add on to what we have, and not lose Lowry while doing it. I still think we can trade OG/Fred/Pascal as nobody is untouchable. It's just that I prefer trying to win than lose.

This team is flawed for sure. Although the 0-3 start is not a reflection of their talent. The drop down from Gasol to Baynes is noticeable, especially when Lowry is on the bench and Fred or Pascal are out there trying to create a play. But I think we still are closer to a 50 win team than a 20-30 win team.

Treadmill is valid strategy if you can develop a lot of cheap depth, like Miami. If you can develop at get at least one all-star, you package him in a trade for the legit superstar and have rotation guys waiting to fill the void.

One problem with using that strategy here is that Nurse doesn’t trust his depth pieces, like Spoelstra.

Nuggets are also pretty good at developing depth and they’re in a great position for trades, if they choose.

[G__Deane]

After reading through this whole thoughtful but at times frustrating thread, thank you for the laugh your pluralization skills gave me. Honestly.

It's skillses

[Kagemusha]

I won't compare the Raptors with 76ers in terms of drafting prowess and player development.
That being said, I'm really curious and I badly want to witness how we would pick in the top 3 or top 5 and how we'd develop that player.

[planetmars]

I'm not a fan of tanking.. I think with player empowerment it's too difficult to get great unless you can draft a super star that also wants to stay. That's rare. I'd rather not be a farm system for other teams out there.

I think being a "treadmill" team is the right approach. And then take another swing when we get that chance. Harden is available now.. but wouldn't surprise me if guys like Steph, Booker or KAT were going to be available as well as early as next summer.

I'm still pro-win, and I hope we can add on to what we have, and not lose Lowry while doing it. I still think we can trade OG/Fred/Pascal as nobody is untouchable. It's just that I prefer trying to win than lose.

This team is flawed for sure. Although the 0-3 start is not a reflection of their talent. The drop down from Gasol to Baynes is noticeable, especially when Lowry is on the bench and Fred or Pascal are out there trying to create a play. But I think we still are closer to a 50 win team than a 20-30 win team.

[golden]

I gotta agree with LJ2. It's very risky strategy. I really believed that it wasn't championship or bust in that Kawhi year. And that's what it ended up being. Kawhi would've left regardless. I think goal should be to build a dynasty. A team that can contend for multiple years ala Spurs

I'm happy with championship that we got but....but I don't think it's a sound consistent strategy

The championship was the perfect way to cash in on the Lowry/DD/JV core before Lowry got too old. There should be no regrets for that. It was the culmination of great GM’ing. That era could have easily ended with blue balls, no chip and probably exactly where we are right now. Look at Houston as a perfect example.

The past decade you needed to have a Lebron, Durant, Kawhi and maybe Curry to have a shot at a dynasty. Sixers tanked perfectly and still couldn’t draft a guy like that. Dynasties are even more unlikely now because of player movement. If winning matters, then we actually just went through our dynasty period. It will take time to rise again.

[Jclaw]

Btw...it’s a chance to stop a losing streak..it’s New Year’s Eve....it’s the Knicks. This is a Goldblum started thread if there ever was one. You can start with this

Now even Pixar is trolling Bargnani? That’s rough.

[Kagemusha]

After reading through this whole thoughtful but at times frustrating thread, thank you for the laugh your pluralization skills gave me. Honestly.

Hahaha...
no problem bro.
The Raptorses of the world will rise again.

Chill!

[Jclaw]

Reality check - it's a cycle like everything else.
The Raptors has been competitive for a long while, even got a championship in the end.
But like the Spurses and the Warriorses of the world, even the Lakerses and the Celticses if you want to go back farther,
every single team suffers through a drought phase.
Our time is up, let's accept it and move on / strategize for the future (2021 draft)

#time2tank

After reading through this whole thoughtful but at times frustrating thread, thank you for the laugh your pluralization skills gave me. Honestly.