NBA Thread

[Orgfiller]

Hey, we're at halftime with a lead. That's a new one, gotta keep playing like the end of the second quarter. Also can't let Cleveland torch you from 3, just force them to step in at the very least.

[jays_fever]

0-9 from three and we have a lead. At least there doing a better job of running the Cavs off the 3 pt line

[jays_fever]

Jonas needs to dominate inside if they're going to win this though

[Orgfiller]

And there it is, just like that Cleveland makes a couple of 3s and it's a tie game.

 

Nice move by Demar.

[jays_fever]

1/13 from three baby!

 

We're on fire

[Abomination]

And there it is, just like that Cleveland makes a couple of 3s and it's a tie game.

 

Nice move by Demar.

 

Some of those threes are insane. I mean wide open you should be able to shoot a decent percentage, but those ones while moving to the side are really tough shots to make at a high rate.

[Orgfiller]

Kyle Korver has officially taken over. Those are unguardable shots he's making.

[Orgfiller]

How on earth was that not a foul on Korver? That's ridiculous.

[Abomination]

Lol, I don't know how Shumpert can even complain about that foul with a straight face.

[jays_fever]

We should all just put James on the back of our jerseys

 

May help

[Abomination]

We should all just put James on the back of our jerseys

 

May help

 

I wonder if he even knows how many gift calls he gets. FFS, out of everyone, HE needs the help the least.

[Frag]

What an embarrassing performance from the Raptors.

[jays_fever]

well hopefully this is the end of Casey, but ive been asking for it for 4 years

[jays_fever]

They arent even trying anymore lol. This team is honestly pathetic.

 

They beat up on teams with inferior talent every year and cave once they go up agaisnt a good team

[Jonn]

Finally Casey can be fired.

[John_Havok]

Finally Casey can be fired.

 

One can only hope

[dineke]

masai doesn't have the balls to fire casey get real

[Krylian]

Are the Raps that bad or are the Cavs that good?

 

No 'a bit of both' answers.

[dineke]

4 more years of derozan led raptors. This is gonna be ugly.

[John_Havok]

Are the Raps that bad or are the Cavs that good?

 

No 'a bit of both' answers.

 

Cavs are that good. Raps are an inferior team to the Cavs in every aspect of the game. But they do have enough talent to beat other bottom feeders and mid level teams.

 

They just get exposed against teams with multiple highly skilled players. They're a really good team but will never be elite as they are constructed right now.

 

As long as Derozan is "the man", this team will never win. He's way too 1 dimensional.

[Art Vandelay]

4 more years of derozan led raptors. This is gonna be ugly.

 

Smart move would be to trade him. They have to realize it will never work with Lowry and Derozan.

[John_Havok]

Smart move would be to trade him. They have to realize it will never work with Lowry and Derozan.

 

Lowry can work as part of the solution. Derozan cannot.

 

Lowry can defend, pass, shoot the 3, run and handle the ball very well. Exactly what your PG needs to do in the NBA today. His one knock is the injury bug.

 

Derozan can do .. 1 of those things.

[John_Havok]

Nice to see the Raps playing inspired ball facing elimination. Only down by 12 at the half.

[Horses Fart]

Nice to see the Raps playing inspired ball facing elimination. Only down by 12 at the half.

 

We need some BIG changes.......but will we see them. This same s*** is getting annoying.

[Abomination]

Nice to see the Raps playing inspired ball facing elimination. Only down by 12 at the half.

 

I actually thought we're playing hard. This is just an unwinnable series for us with our current personnel imo. With no fouls being called in the playoffs, we can't shoot a high enough percentage to make up for the 3 pointers Cle is putting up.

[Dick_Pole]

4 more years of derozan led raptors. This is gonna be ugly.

 

If by ugly you mean 4 more playoff appearances and averaging 50-win seasons like it has been the past 4 years, I'll take that version of ugly any time. You guys don't know what ugly is. Triano's Raptors now THAT was ugly. There is non-stop trashing of this crew and coach yet this is the team that brought 4 of the top 5 seasons this franchise has ever had. The Raptors can't hang with the Cavs? Neither can 25 other teams. At least the Raptors are no longer in the same class as the all-time embarrassments of this league - Wolves, Clippers and Nets - thanks to the last 4 years.

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah the loser mentality of blowing it all up and starting from scratch. Worked really well the last time the Raptors tried that with Bargnani and it's worked just amazing for 76ers and Timberwolves lately. The team is in a pretty good spot as it is. And firing Casey and trading Derozan aren't going to be the moves that will push this team to the Warriors level. So we might as well enjoy what we have until LeBron finally breaks down and the East becomes up for grabs.

[burlingtonbandit]

Basically every team in the Eastern Conference will have to wait until Lebron retires until they have a shot at a title. There's just no getting by him if he's healthy.

[John_Havok]

If by ugly you mean 4 more playoff appearances and averaging 50-win seasons like it has been the past 4 years, I'll take that version of ugly any time. You guys don't know what ugly is. Triano's Raptors now THAT was ugly. There is non-stop trashing of this crew and coach yet this is the team that brought 4 of the top 5 seasons this franchise has ever had. The Raptors can't hang with the Cavs? Neither can 25 other teams. At least the Raptors are no longer in the same class as the all-time embarrassments of this league - Wolves, Clippers and Nets - thanks to the last 4 years.

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah the loser mentality of blowing it all up and starting from scratch. Worked really well the last time the Raptors tried that with Bargnani and it's worked just amazing for 76ers and Timberwolves lately. The team is in a pretty good spot as it is. And firing Casey and trading Derozan aren't going to be the moves that will push this team to the Warriors level. So we might as well enjoy what we have until LeBron finally breaks down and the East becomes up for grabs.

 

Derozan will be never be the man on a championship team. He's not elite no matter what anyone says by pointing to his PPG.

 

The Raps are a very good team. But they need to take the next step to being great and they simply cant do that with Derozan as the focal point of the offense. He doesn't have elite skill where you need it in the NBA today.

 

And if he can't be part of taking the next step, the only 2 choices you have are take a step back (not saying tank for #1) or do the same thing over and over again and hope for a better result.

 

There's a lot of dead weight on the team that needs to be shed as well. JV, Caroll and the like.

[Abomination]

Derozan will be never be the man on a championship team. He's not elite no matter what anyone says by pointing to his PPG.

 

The Raps are a very good team. But they need to take the next step to being great and they simply cant do that with Derozan as the focal point of the offense. He doesn't have elite skill where you need it in the NBA today.

 

And if he can't be part of taking the next step, the only 2 choices you have are take a step back (not saying tank for #1) or do the same thing over and over again and hope for a better result.

 

I think the biggest thing we need is better ball movement. We tend to be very static on offense, and it means we have to rely more on free throws and tough shots. That will open up both more 3s and better looks at them. I also wonder about trading Derozan and picking up another true point guard (unless we think one of the other in-house guys can be that), and play Lowry more as SG.

[Dick_Pole]

Derozan will be never be the man on a championship team. He's not elite no matter what anyone says by pointing to his PPG.

 

The Raps are a very good team. But they need to take the next step to being great and they simply cant do that with Derozan as the focal point of the offense. He doesn't have elite skill where you need it in the NBA today.

 

And if he can't be part of taking the next step, the only 2 choices you have are take a step back (not saying tank for #1) or do the same thing over and over again and hope for a better result.

 

I understand this, but what moves do you propose that would get the Raptors to the next level in the next 4 years? Trade Derozan and then what? Brainwash Curry with highlights of his dad and how great it was here and hope he signs here? Pump Poeltl full of HGH to make him add 75 pounds and turn him into the next Shaq? Go all Tonya Harding on LeBron during the off-season? Hope you score 4 straight sleeper picks in the 20-range in the draft?

 

Derozan is a guy who is at least good enough to keep the team warm - 40-50 win seasons with an occasional playoff round win - over the next 4 years until there is opportunity to make the next big move. Right now I just don't see how this team can improve from the position it is in now. And I also don't think taking a big step back will result in the team being in an advantaged position four years from now when opportunity does call.