NBA Thread

[jaysblue]

Grady Dick.

 

Legit?

 

I think so.

 

Looks like he's also adding rebounds, assists and steals to his game, and isn't just a one-dimensional offensive player. Looks like he can be a key piece in their starting lineup.

 

I bought two Dick jersey's last year and very proud of the investment thus far!

[jaysblue]

Ya. It certainly looks like they have some individual pieces that could be very useful longer term. That said, they're playing like individuals. Defensively abysmal overall. They'll need to really commit to that part of their game if they want to take any meaningful steps forward over the next couple of seasons.

 

Yeah defensively, they've been awful. They can score but geez they allow other teams to score at an alarming rate. If some of their top guys don't commit to defense, you might have to move one or two of them to shake things up.

[jaysblue]

So far, so good. He certainly looks like he's able to score at this level. He's the current front runner for "most improved".

 

I've also been impressed with Barrett and Poeltl. Barrett looks like a franchise player and Poeltl very strong big. Agbaji looks like he's taken a step forward, Mogbo has looked good, Shead has shown glimpses too. All things considered, the Raps have given me a reason to at least tune in, while they deal with all these injuries. I do hope they have some pieces there. They should add a top lottery pick this year and if they "hit", they could be back on the way up faster than folks anticipate.

 

C - Poeltl

PF - Barnes

SF - Barrett

SG - Dick

PG - IQ

 

Bench - Agbaji, Walter, Mogbo, Shead, Mitchell

 

"Hit" on a Top 5 pick next year and they could be cooking with oil fairly quick.

 

Raps have played well and have been entertaining to watch despite their injuries. They lost some close games this season. They probably could be .500 instead of 2-6 right now. I said at the beginning of the season, they're good enough to be a play-in team. But we'll see.

 

Not sure I would tank completely, but if Barnes misses more time and IQ is out longer, than definitely have to think about getting a Top 5 pick next year.

[jaysblue]

Raps lost a close one to the Clippers: 105 to 103. Now fall to 2-8 on the season. They have been in a lot of close games this season, and definitely feels like they could at least be 4-6 or 5-5.

 

Immanuel Quickley is back which is great. Hopefully Barnes is ready soon and the team can trot out a full healthy rotation.

[Krylian]

Raps lost a close one to the Clippers: 105 to 103. Now fall to 2-8 on the season. They have been in a lot of close games this season, and definitely feels like they could at least be 4-6 or 5-5.

 

Immanuel Quickley is back which is great. Hopefully Barnes is ready soon and the team can trot out a full healthy rotation.

 

When I see 2-8, all I can think is, Cooper Flagg.

[Laika]

Raps lost their pick this year so have it for 2025 right?

[Brownie19]

Raps lost their pick this year so have it for 2025 right?

 

Correct.

 

Chet is out 8 weeks and the Thunder already had 2 big men out. Poeltl to OKC seems to make a lot of sense...the 2024/25 Raps should be TANKING...

[jaysblue]

Correct.

 

Chet is out 8 weeks and the Thunder already had 2 big men out. Poeltl to OKC seems to make a lot of sense...the 2024/25 Raps should be TANKING...

 

Yeah Raps went winless on their big road trip. Was going to be a tough schedule, but you figured they would at least pull out a win in one of those games.

 

2-10 to start the season and now Immanuel Quickley is out with a partial tear to the ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow. Too many injuries to key players to start the season between Barnes, Quickley and Barrett. Makes it tough to really settle in and get going.

 

I'm with you. Play some entertaining basketball and tank for a top pick. Trade Poeltl as well to a team like OKC who needs a C.

 

Dick has been a real good story thus far! In 12 games played, has averaged 20.1 PPG, 2.6 REB, 2.3 AST and 1.1 STL. If he can improve on the defensive end and maybe add a couple of more REB per game, that would be really sweet. Nice to have a scorer and 3-pt threat like him. If he can come close to what Klay Thompson was in his prime, that would be awesome! Definitely has made the 2024/2025 season fun to watch and hoping he can continue to build off his excellent start.

[P2F]

ulnar collateral ligament

 

Are you trying to meet a character count?

[Brownie19]

Yeah Raps went winless on their big road trip. Was going to be a tough schedule, but you figured they would at least pull out a win in one of those games.

 

2-10 to start the season and now Immanuel Quickley is out with a partial tear to the ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow. Too many injuries to key players to start the season between Barnes, Quickley and Barrett. Makes it tough to really settle in and get going.

 

I'm with you. Play some entertaining basketball and tank for a top pick. Trade Poeltl as well to a team like OKC who needs a C.

 

Dick has been a real good story thus far! In 12 games played, has averaged 20.1 PPG, 2.6 REB, 2.3 AST and 1.1 STL. If he can improve on the defensive end and maybe add a couple of more REB per game, that would be really sweet. Nice to have a scorer and 3-pt threat like him. If he can come close to what Klay Thompson was in his prime, that would be awesome! Definitely has made the 2024/2025 season fun to watch and hoping he can continue to build off his excellent start.

 

Agreed. The development of Dick and Agbaji are the reason to tune in these days...

[Krylian]

Agreed. The development of Dick and Agbaji are the reason to tune in these days...

 

The growth of Dick has been impressive this season.

[jaysblue]

The growth of Dick has been impressive this season.

 

There is more room for growth as well. Masai and the Raptors definitely gotta be happy! This is just the beginning. Dick is coming around big this season which is great to see!

[Dick_Pole]

Tank??? What? The east is f***ing terrible this year. Like "Raptors being a joke #1 seed and 48-win teams in the West missing the playoffs" level bad. Philly's a mess as Embiid can't play more than 10 games a year anymore. Bucks over the hill. Pacers learning that you can't make Siakam your #2 option when your #1 is an inconsistent bum like Haliburton. Hawks meh. Heat meh. Raptors have an equal shot at the 5th seed as they do the 15th even with the 3-12 start that's how bad the east is. Even Detroit has a legit shot at the playoffs since they are the only team outside the top 3 seeds in the east that have improved.

 

I wish I could send all the people with the loser talk of tanking to loser jail. Now I understand why guys like Putin and al-Assad can be so brutal. Round up all the dissenters. Raptors should have one goal and one goal only. Making the playoffs.

[Krylian]

Tank??? What? The east is f***ing terrible this year. Like "Raptors being a joke #1 seed and 48-win teams in the West missing the playoffs" level bad. Philly's a mess as Embiid can't play more than 10 games a year anymore. Bucks over the hill. Pacers learning that you can't make Siakam your #2 option when your #1 is an inconsistent bum like Haliburton. Hawks meh. Heat meh. Raptors have an equal shot at the 5th seed as they do the 15th even with the 3-12 start that's how bad the east is. Even Detroit has a legit shot at the playoffs since they are the only team outside the top 3 seeds in the east that have improved.

 

I wish I could send all the people with the loser talk of tanking to loser jail. Now I understand why guys like Putin and al-Assad can be so brutal. Round up all the dissenters. Raptors should have one goal and one goal only. Making the playoffs.

 

This is a superstar driven league. You need superstars to win. Raps will never sign one...maaybe they can trade for one. Best chance for them is to draft one. This is the year to do that. Let's say they scrape into the play-in. They're going nowhere. NOWHERE. They're in 'add talent' mode.

[jaysblue]

This is a superstar driven league. You need superstars to win. Raps will never sign one...maaybe they can trade for one. Best chance for them is to draft one. This is the year to do that. Let's say they scrape into the play-in. They're going nowhere. NOWHERE. They're in 'add talent' mode.

 

Raptors already have their superstar! Dick!

[Dick_Pole]

This is a superstar driven league. You need superstars to win. Raps will never sign one...maaybe they can trade for one. Best chance for them is to draft one. This is the year to do that. Let's say they scrape into the play-in. They're going nowhere. NOWHERE. They're in 'add talent' mode.

 

Okay. Then the Raptors get in then get their asses kicked by the Celtics. So? At least they made it. Year over year improvement and beating expectations. Winning begets winning. Losing begets losing.

 

How's that superstar chasing working out for New Orleans? That's been their thing pretty much since the franchise moved there. How did trusting the process work out for the 76ers? Record amount of shameful losing and all they have to show for it eight years later is last place. Meanwhile, who was the generational superstar who single handedly won it for the Celtics last year? When did the Raptors win? 2019, after nearly a decade of being a respectable team. Didn't have a high draft pick since the Bargnani years. You add talent by being a good team that develops players and drafts well, not tanking and having a loser mindset.

 

The Raptors today proved that when they are mostly healthy, they are a competitive team. You could say that about a lot of teams, except that the Raptors don't have any fragile players who are out after a papercut.

 

Show me the superstar that will carry a team to a championship? This isn't 2015 anymore. There is no James or Curry or Durant level domination. We're in a new era.

[jaysblue]

Yeah even during the years the Raps made the Playoffs under Lowry and DeRozan starting in 2014, they never had a true superstar and never expected to win anything. Despite them sometimes getting knocked out in the first or second round, making the playoffs every season was a good learning curve and brought a winning culture over into the locker room. In 2019, they took that next step with Leonard leading them, but even still that 2019 was built around having a solid all-around lineup and bench more than being superstar driven.

 

I think the Raps if healthy are good enough to make one of the play-in spots (7th to 10th in the Conference). Yeah maybe get lucky, make it past the Play-In, make it to the first round and get some good Playoff experience against a top team like Boston or Cleveland. If the Raps are going to have ongoing injuries with Barnes, Quickley, and Barrett all missing time during multiple stretches and they're unable to stay on the floor together, better to tank for a Top 5 pick IMO.

[Abomination]

The Raps need a few practices devoted to fixing their free throw issues.

[jaysblue]

If anyone wants Raptors tickets for any upcoming games or want to buy tickets as Christmas gifts, send me a DM. Could also do a deal if you want to take 4 or 5 games.

 

Seats are in Section 323, Row 3, Seats 1 & 2 (aisle seats). Also, close to the elevators to take down to the Scotia Club at halftime.

 

Raptors also use dynamic pricing so depends on games and dates.

[Olerud363]

Raptors already have their superstar! Dick!

 

I don't follow NBA that close but isn't Scottie Barnes right on track on a superstar path through age 23? A little more improvement and he'll be averaging a triple double.... though his 3 point percentage isn't that high, which maybe puts him below super star level tier in the modern NBA.

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't follow NBA that close but isn't Scottie Barnes right on track on a superstar path through age 23? A little more improvement and he'll be averaging a triple double.... though his 3 point percentage isn't that high, which maybe puts him below super star level tier in the modern NBA.

 

He's probably a guy with more top 15 potential than a true top 5-7 Superstar. If he takes a another leap and can be more consistent especially with his shot I guess he could be a top 10 guy.

 

It kind of is true though that you need one of those top 5 players to win a championship. But if you look at the last 15 years tanking hasn't resulted in any championships. You are likely better off developing talent and then making a trade to get a superstar than tearing everything down to try to get a top pick.

[G-Snarls]

Omg sorry guys

 

Lmfao

[jaysblue]

I get the feeling Barnes is going to be an injury prone guy for most of his career. The guy seems to get freak injuries all the time and misses a good chunk of time.

 

Even that play earlier last week against the Knicks, there was no need for him to be that aggressive jumping trying to block Karl Anthony Towns from behind. Like need to tone down the aggressiveness in some circumstances especially plays where you can easily hurt yourself.

[Krylian]

I get the feeling Barnes is going to be an injury prone guy for most of his career. The guy seems to get freak injuries all the time and misses a good chunk of time.

 

Even that play earlier last week against the Knicks, there was no need for him to be that aggressive jumping trying to block Karl Anthony Towns from behind. Like need to tone down the aggressiveness in some circumstances especially plays where you can easily hurt yourself.

 

Scottie Anunoby

[Pendleton]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/former-raptors-c-jontay-porter-to-be-sentenced-on-criminal-charges-wednesday/

 

Porter will be sentenced tomorrow and is expected to receive prison time

[Spanky99]

I've never seen Darko go offside before, good for him.

[jaysblue]

Big trade last night wow!

[Masterbather]

8 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Big trade last night wow!

It might be the most shocking trade I've ever seen. Superstar for superstar and it came out of absolutely nowhere.

[Spanky99]

The Raptors have lost a lot of lottery balls the last couple weeks or so, they're playing like they could make the play in... Oof!

[Spanky99]

12 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Big trade last night wow!

 

3 hours ago, Masterbather said:

It might be the most shocking trade I've ever seen. Superstar for superstar and it came out of absolutely nowhere.

Dallas were taken behind the woodshed.