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Post by freewheel on Dec 11, 2020 21:50:06 GMT -5
First preseason games on TV tonight.
My first remark of the season is that Bruno Caboclo has finally reached physical maturity. He's big. Probably about the size Lamar Odom played at. They have him playing center.
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Post by sutureself on Dec 12, 2020 1:38:36 GMT -5
Obviously it's preseason against a bad team, but Wall and Cousins both actually looked good for the Rockets.
I'm having trouble deciding what how good Obi Toppin is going to be. I feel like he's going to be good but I also thought Derrick Williams was going to be a star, and that's who he reminds me of the most.
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Post by haisan on Dec 12, 2020 7:56:08 GMT -5
First preseason games on TV tonight. My first remark of the season is that Bruno Caboclo has finally reached physical maturity. He's big. Probably about the size Lamar Odom played at. They have him playing center. And he led the Rockets in scoring! Good going, Bruno. You know, I'm quite happy about a 3-game preseason. That's about all I can stand. Perfect.
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Post by freewheel on Dec 15, 2020 13:55:52 GMT -5
So Antetokounmpo has signed his extension. Many fans will be disappointed about this, but I am really not at all. I never put much faith in him signing with the Raptors and outside of that I much rather he resigned with the Bucks. A small market team that needs him more that most of the league. I'll be cheering for the Bucks to win a championship more than the Lakers, Heat or Celtics for sure.
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Post by Springer on Dec 15, 2020 14:42:26 GMT -5
starting my holiday drinking early.
2020: where dreams get shattered......
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Post by sandman on Dec 15, 2020 16:51:03 GMT -5
This makes things interesting. Even that small hope of Giannis was big.
The Raps have a good supporting cast for the future but we are missing a future star.
Wonder how we can get one? Would love to tank this year and acquire a top 3 and roll with top pick/Siakam/OG/Flynn/FVV.
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Post by scully19 on Dec 15, 2020 18:56:01 GMT -5
Will be interesting to see how the Raptors handle OG extension at this point with Giannis off the table. Do they still want to hold onto max cap space or just get him locked up now and possibly a cheaper value.
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Post by Springer on Dec 15, 2020 19:10:57 GMT -5
I say locked him up now. Show him that we are committed to keeping our core. We can still make a free agent splash in the summer, but it won't be easy.
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Post by freewheel on Dec 15, 2020 20:35:36 GMT -5
I say just stay the course. Keep drafting and developing well. We have to remember that a collection of "good not great" players made several fine runs that were foiled by not less than Lebron James. I don't see any Lebron James like players in the east right now. IMO the Heat are exactly the type of team that the Raps use to be with Derozan and Lowry. Jimmy Butler is no superstar. Not any more than Paul George claims to be. Who by the way was beaten but the Derozan Lowry Raptors in a playoff series. Atentokounmpo is to be feared but not his teammates who are pretty unimpressive. The Celtics, I fear their coach more than their roster. I don't think this is the right season or circumstance because of covid and Tampa, however if the Raps could acquire the right frontcourt player (not even a star) I think they could be a contender this season.
For those same covid and Tampa reasons and a little bad luck I also think the Raps could even miss the playoffs. It's just a bad time for the Raps to be trading future assets for now.
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Post by sandman on Dec 16, 2020 10:31:36 GMT -5
I am wondering what we do with Lowry - let him ride out the season with us or send him somewhere to a bigger contender and do a mini retool.
I guess it depends where we are in the standings this year. Even if we're 5th or 6th, I wouldn't be against moving Lowry for some pieces. It'll be tough to see him go but I like the supporting cast on this team enough that it won't be a big blow.
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Post by scully19 on Dec 16, 2020 11:27:24 GMT -5
I would like to keep Lowry until he retires personally, but this is obviously the emotional side of things talking and not the logical. Realistically he is one of the best trade chips based on skill, and expiring contract. It would take some convincing though when his ideal suitor is probably trying to add him as a piece to help put them over the top to win the title but then any team like that wouldn't be given back any good young players to help our core in the future. I took a look at the list of available players next year and I think there are 3 main standouts. Kawhi, Gobert, Oladipo. Kawhi is obvious at this point to us so really no need to discuss. Gobert might have had slight issues in staying on the court in the playoffs at times, but this seems mostly against the extreme small ball Rockets more than anything. He would really shore up our center spot and make our defense simply incredible. C is really our only spot we struggle to fill right now and the success we had with the slow but smart Gasol at C makes me think that our team defense can handle anything teams try to do to play Gobert off the floor and maximize his impact on every game. I'm really starting to talk myself into us making a big play for him. This would equate to a likely starting lineup of FVV, Norm, OG, Siakam and Gobert (assuming Lowry needs to be gone next year for this to happen). That is a very solid all around lineup of good 2 way players. Norm would be the weakest player in the lineup but still very solid. This goes to the idea of having great players everywhere rather than superstar players to carry the team and I think would end up being our best plan of attack since superstar probably isn't happening now. Oladipo is very intriguing to me but could be very difficult to determine his impact and cost due to that knee injury. It usually takes a few years to get back so there is a chance he can return to higher levels of play again and at that point would fit very well in our team being a very high level 2 way players again filling out the lineup with no holes and a bunch of great players, unfortunately with some planning required to fill the C spot still though. FVV, Oladipo, OG, Siakam, Baynes/Boucher/other?. Those main 4 at least would be very scary and maybe there can be a trade for Norm/Lowry than brings in a well rounded C. Audible 4th option I just thought of that is very scary but would also make our lineup extremely scary defensively. Jonathan Isaac. Imagine having a healthy (big if) Isaac next to OG and Siakam just causing havoc. That feels like a front line that can handle anyone. He might come cheaper than he should after missing this season but he is also a RFA so the offer will need to be good enough to not match from Orlando. probably 15 to 20 mill range? Might be able to keep lowry too if we do this price at 10 a year. FVV, Lowry, OG, Siakam, Isaac - Flynn, Norm, Davis, Watson, Boucher. That looks like a really fun team. Created a new thread to continue this discussion: raptors.freeforums.net/thread/884/post-giannis-next-steps
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Post by Springer on Dec 26, 2020 0:59:15 GMT -5
So KD is back. Brooklyn might be a bit scary....
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Post by scully19 on Jan 13, 2021 16:17:26 GMT -5
Rumour has it that the Rockets are likely to make a trade soon for Harden and that it is down to the Nets or the 76ers...If the 76ers are even offering Simmons for Harden then they are making a serious mistake. Having someone locked up for years who is younger and on the better timeline seems like a big mistake. If they just hired a shooting coach then Simmons would be so much more versatile to have.
As i write this he was traded to the Nets. Unprotected 2022, 2024, 2026, pick swap option 2021, 23, 25, 27. Three way trade with the Cavs.
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Post by Springer on Jan 13, 2021 16:31:38 GMT -5
Nets are going to implode!!!!
Good for Houston though, although i would of kept Lavert instead of an expiring Oladipo.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 13, 2021 16:44:26 GMT -5
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Post by scully19 on Jan 13, 2021 16:46:28 GMT -5
Nets are going to implode!!!! Good for Houston though, although i would of kept Lavert instead of an expiring Oladipo. I'm less confident that they implode, Harden has said he'll do whatever is asked of him and i think being around that level of talent should have him share it more. I guess we'll see. Nash is going to have to convince him to put in more effort on defense if they really want to contend for a title this year.
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Post by sandman on Jan 13, 2021 16:48:12 GMT -5
I love it.
1) The Raps don't get Harden 2) The Raps don't get Harden 3) I don't think the Nets win a title anyway
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Post by scully19 on Jan 13, 2021 16:49:30 GMT -5
Don't forget PJ Tucker.
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Post by sandman on Jan 13, 2021 16:57:49 GMT -5
And a top 3 pick to build around.
Tank nation is on!
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Post by sandman on Jan 13, 2021 17:00:53 GMT -5
Also, how does Boston/Milwaukee/Philadelphia respond to this.
You gotta think those 3 need to make another move to keep up with Brooklyn.
Hello Lowry and Norm value going up?
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Post by scully19 on Jan 14, 2021 9:40:53 GMT -5
I'm so torn on tanking. I hate it as an idea, but if you are going to do it for 1 year this is that year. Draft is not only amazing at the top but there is basically no teams going for it. I hate what it does to your team and teaching losing and turning down their defensive effort and quality play, but keeping FVV, OG and Siakam and surrounding with a top young talent and just build around that seems like a can't miss lineup. I'm not generally into college guys so don't know a lot but the talks of Cade being a 6'8" PG, plus Ringer just posting a no bigger price of Evan Mobley since Anthony Davis that you have some rear star talent that would immediately come in and improve the team and keep getting better. Would be very very fun to get a top prize rookie.
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Post by coach on Jan 14, 2021 13:10:09 GMT -5
I know that's what teams shoot for when they finish way down out of it. But lets remember that prospects are just that. Draft picks have been good in some cases and in others a complete disaster. I like shrewd trades more than the picks. At least you have a better idea what the player will bring. Although the 2 C free agents they got this year certainly aren't living up to their mediocre record. So far they are playing worse than their records indicate.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 14, 2021 16:51:25 GMT -5
www.theringer.com/nba/2021/1/13/22226644/2021-nba-draft-evan-mobley-uscJust read the Ringer article on Mobley and man does he look like the perfect new age C to build around. Add him to OG and Siakam and you would have a ridiculous front court lineup for years that are all long and good defenders. I'm with you that there are no guarantees, but again the odds that you're getting an impact player at the top of the draft this year seem pretty good, and the little tanking that exists make it all the more likely that it can be done successfully.
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Post by freewheel on Feb 26, 2021 12:50:09 GMT -5
I just had to point out what happened in the Nugget/Wizard game the other night. Down 2 points with seconds remaining, the Nuggets had a 4 on 1 break and all four players faded to the three point line. None of them went to the hoop, so they ended up with an embarrassing shot that was nowhere close. They could have easily tied it. Thats todays NBA!!!! streamable.com/7dtyka
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Post by sutureself on Feb 26, 2021 14:01:27 GMT -5
I just had to point out what happened in the Nugget/Wizard game the other night. Down 2 points with seconds remaining, the Nuggets had a 4 on 1 break and all four players faded to the three point line. None of them went to the hoop, so they ended up with an embarrassing shot that was nowhere close. They could have easily tied it. Thats todays NBA!!!! streamable.com/7dtykaThat's pretty funny...it's tempting to say all 4 guys screwed up when something like that happens but I honestly feel like it was just Michael Porter Jr. who was really lazy and made a bad decision, and the other three guys all did what they were supposed to. Porter was already just sort of cherry-picking and hanging around half court when Murray gets the ball. Porter has a clear open lane to the basket and has a head start on everybody, but instead he casually jogs to the corner. If he goes to the basket, the one defender is forced to sag off Murray, which would allow Murray to go for a pull-up 3 or pass to one of the other guys who spotted up along the 3 point line. Either that or the defender just stays up on Murray, and Murray has an easy pass to Porter for a wide open dunk. But going directly to the opposite corner like that means the defender can just easily disrupt the passing lane because it would be a risky crosscourt pass.
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Post by sandman on Mar 8, 2021 17:23:08 GMT -5
So Griffin to the Nets.
Would've been big news 3 seasons ago. Blake seems to be on a steep decline now.
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Post by sutureself on Mar 8, 2021 17:47:11 GMT -5
Blake's pretty cooked but I could see him being sort of like an extremely poor man's version of Kevin Love on the Cavs championship team. Not the regular season version who was theoretically the 3rd star, but the playoff version who shot under 40% overall and mostly stood around jacking corner 3s.
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Post by Springer on Mar 27, 2021 18:48:49 GMT -5
Nets signing LMA. Dear god!
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Post by Pseudonym on Mar 27, 2021 21:51:21 GMT -5
The Nets' problem is still their defense. But they have an absurd amount of firepower. This would certainly change the metagame of the NBA forever, just like Morey's Rockets seem to have done; that you can win a championship without defense now...
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Post by freewheel on Mar 28, 2021 1:08:17 GMT -5
No I think the strategy here is that you gather enough big names that the refs will help your team more than the other guy. The refs are so bad in the NBA that it could work. At least until you face LeBron.
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