Raptors Offseason 2022

[The Great One]

That scrub is now the face of Kobe Bryant's iconic brand. Let's go!

[LJ2]

Bless his soul, he's still trying to make it in the NBA

[Hotshot]

Bless his soul, he's still trying to make it in the NBA

Happy for him but why it had to be the Celtics!?

[Primer]

Happy for him but why it had to be the Celtics!?

Celtics have room. Only 12 guaranteed contracts at the moment.

[The Great One]

8 years away from being 8 years away.

[Hotshot]

Celtics have room. Only 12 guaranteed contracts at the moment.

Most likely team in the East to make it to the finals again.

If Clippers are healthy than they will be there as well.

[Primer]

Most likely team in the East to make it to the finals again.

If Clippers are healthy than they will be there as well.

Bruno seals it. Celtics have already won the East.

[Demographic Shift]

Now that teams have spent most if not all their money in free agency and the "we can't believe the player we wanted the most was still there when they went on the clock" have settled into the pro routine; the Raptors did not spend a dime on backcourt depth.
Its groundhog day. No name brand depth addition in the backcourt and outside of a project big man in the second round no additional depth at Centre. Groundhog day.

Questions.

So after not playing him pretty much all year... has Flynn suddenly changed into that depth guy or does Nurse run the last remaining chards of meniscus off of Freddys knees at 39 minutes a night for the first 3 months ?
Or
Is Dalano Banton going to get a legit shot as the first ballhandler off the bench ?


The Raptors must attach zappo value to the centre position. It appears we are re loading the biggest wing span you ever saw defensive schema and we will continue to play 5 men out on offense and then on defense look to capitalize in transition by getting unexpectedly long arms and hands and fingers and fingernails on passes in the passing lanes.

In a game 7 to get out of the first round are you comfortable matching one of Khem and Precious against Embiid or Jared Allen or Bam Adebyo ?
Me either.
Are we going to upgrade that spot so Achiwua doesn't get killed if he has to play big minutes as the 5 ?

[Kagemusha]

Now that teams have spent most if not all their money in free agency and the "we can't believe the player we wanted the most was still there when they went on the clock" have settled into the pro routine; the Raptors did not spend a dime on backcourt depth.
Its groundhog day. No name brand depth addition in the backcourt and outside of a project big man in the second round no additional depth at Centre. Groundhog day.

Questions.

So after not playing him pretty much all year... has Flynn suddenly changed into that depth guy or does Nurse run the last remaining chards of meniscus off of Freddys knees at 39 minutes a night for the first 3 months ?
Or
Is Dalano Banton going to get a legit shot as the first ballhandler off the bench ?


The Raptors must attach zappo value to the centre position. It appears we are re loading the biggest wing span you ever saw defensive schema and we will continue to play 5 men out on offense and then on defense look to capitalize in transition by getting unexpectedly long arms and hands and fingers and fingernails on passes in the passing lanes.

In a game 7 to get out of the first round are you comfortable matching one of Khem and Precious against Embiid or Jared Allen or Bam Adebyo ?
Me either.
Are we going to upgrade that spot so Achiwua doesn't get killed if he has to play big minutes as the 5 ?

Development year.

[Primer]

Now that teams have spent most if not all their money in free agency and the "we can't believe the player we wanted the most was still there when they went on the clock" have settled into the pro routine; the Raptors did not spend a dime on backcourt depth.
Its groundhog day. No name brand depth addition in the backcourt and outside of a project big man in the second round no additional depth at Centre. Groundhog day.

Questions.

So after not playing him pretty much all year... has Flynn suddenly changed into that depth guy or does Nurse run the last remaining chards of meniscus off of Freddys knees at 39 minutes a night for the first 3 months ?
Or
Is Dalano Banton going to get a legit shot as the first ballhandler off the bench ?


The Raptors must attach zappo value to the centre position. It appears we are re loading the biggest wing span you ever saw defensive schema and we will continue to play 5 men out on offense and then on defense look to capitalize in transition by getting unexpectedly long arms and hands and fingers and fingernails on passes in the passing lanes.

In a game 7 to get out of the first round are you comfortable matching one of Khem and Precious against Embiid or Jared Allen or Bam Adebyo ?
Me either.
Are we going to upgrade that spot so Achiwua doesn't get killed if he has to play big minutes as the 5 ?

Yes, Precious actually performed pretty well against elite centers, better than Myles Turner by a good margin (for frame of reference).

[LJ2]

Now that teams have spent most if not all their money in free agency and the "we can't believe the player we wanted the most was still there when they went on the clock" have settled into the pro routine; the Raptors did not spend a dime on backcourt depth.
Its groundhog day. No name brand depth addition in the backcourt and outside of a project big man in the second round no additional depth at Centre. Groundhog day.

Questions.

So after not playing him pretty much all year... has Flynn suddenly changed into that depth guy or does Nurse run the last remaining chards of meniscus off of Freddys knees at 39 minutes a night for the first 3 months ?
Or
Is Dalano Banton going to get a legit shot as the first ballhandler off the bench ?


The Raptors must attach zappo value to the centre position. It appears we are re loading the biggest wing span you ever saw defensive schema and we will continue to play 5 men out on offense and then on defense look to capitalize in transition by getting unexpectedly long arms and hands and fingers and fingernails on passes in the passing lanes.

In a game 7 to get out of the first round are you comfortable matching one of Khem and Precious against Embiid or Jared Allen or Bam Adebyo ?
Me either.
Are we going to upgrade that spot so Achiwua doesn't get killed if he has to play big minutes as the 5 ?

To answer the first question the plan seems to be to have Scottie and Pascal initiate much of the offense this year which should effectively reduce Fred's work load. Beyond that both Flynn and Banton will be given opportunities to earn minutes.

For the second question, it was pretty clear from the beginning of last season that the Raps are heavily into developing Precious. He seemed to cost us games early on because he was lost on offense, but they continued to start him until they couldn't. Still he came off the bench for steady minutes until the was ready to start again, and he delivered. His off season hasn't been spoken about much around here, but I'm guessing he's quietly continued to improve.

[TrueTorontoFan]

To answer the first question the plan seems to be to have Scottie and Pascal initiate much of the offense this year which should effectively reduce Fred's work load. Beyond that both Flynn and Banton will be given opportunities to earn minutes.

For the second question, it was pretty clear from the beginning of last season that the Raps are heavily into developing Precious. He seemed to cost us games early on because he was lost on offense, but they continued to start him until they couldn't. Still he came off the bench for steady minutes until the was ready to start again, and he delivered. His off season hasn't been spoken about much around here, but I'm guessing he's quietly continued to improve.

nurse mentioned he was very impressed with his focus thus far in the off season... and to the above poster Demographic... no he didn't get killed he is not that much different than Bam ... its really just Embiid that you worry about but he still did an amazing job on embiid. I think we need to stop looking at the center position through old lens....



No one will "beat" embiid except gasol... Only thing you can do is wear his behind down as much as possible and play minutes where he is on the court to an even... then the second he sits you beat the breaks off them since your team is more athletic and can push a bit longer with the cardio... we will be more balanced too so we can use that versatility to our advantage.

[planetmars]

RIP Bill Russell. His picture should be shown under "winner" in the dictionary. That's all this guy did. He may not have been the most talented guy (although he was super talented). What made him a legend's legend was his ability to just win.

Found this quote in an SI column I saw yesterday:

In Russell’s final 14 years as a player, his teams participated in 21 winner-take-all contests—nine NCAA tournament games, one Olympic gold medal game, 10 Game 7s, one deciding Game 5. Russell’s team won all 21.

That's just nuts.

Good to hear that he passed away peacefully with his wife by his side.

[Demographic Shift]

Yes, Precious actually performed pretty well against elite centers, better than Myles Turner by a good margin (for frame of reference).

[Demographic Shift]

nurse mentioned he was very impressed with his focus thus far in the off season... and to the above poster Demographic... no he didn't get killed he is not that much different than Bam ... its really just Embiid that you worry about but he still did an amazing job on embiid. I think we need to stop looking at the center position through old lens....



No one will "beat" embiid except gasol... Only thing you can do is wear his behind down as much as possible and play minutes where he is on the court to an even... then the second he sits you beat the breaks off them since your team is more athletic and can push a bit longer with the cardio... we will be more balanced too so we can use that versatility to our advantage.

Love the passion.
But precious is 210lbs.
Bam goes 255. Embiid 275 on a good day. Jared Allen who got rag dolled by Embiid while in Brooklyn goes 250 as well.
It matters.

The centre position has won 2 consecutive MVPs.
Thats not an old lens.