RAPZ should be so filthy after upgrading from DDR to Kiwi, plus Danny Dreen will be helpful

still won't like them, but might actually try to watch them this season

just killing time until RJ Barrett arrives really


also, NBA to Vancouver, Seattle, or Montreal plz (or all 3!) so i can do this for real again, LET'S GO

Sup bro

It's a howling wind, much like the boos of their fanbase when they bust.

In for a good season. Nice OP.

I know it's the preseason, but the Pellies look kinda rough so far, currently getting beaten by Toronto sans their starters whilst playing their normal rotation.

0-4 thus far with a -11PD giving up 121 pts/game.

[edit] @Chicago, @ATL, @NYK, and now Toronto's B-team

I really don't even know why preseason gets brought up regarding how good/bad any team will be. These dudes don't give a **** no matter who's in there.

Yeah preseason stats are worthless in any sport. Even the minutes where the starters are in are prob useless for evaluating teams, and LOL at even posting full game PDs.

Sup

No Ibaka, Val, Lowry, Leonard, Powell, FVV, Green, or Delon Wright... only Siakam and OG of the normal rotation played. That's more like the C or D team. Kind of similar situation to Butler beating the Wolves starters except with Siakam/OG instead of Butler.

Also, future all star point forward Pascal Siakam with 21/11/6 and 3 steals and only 1 turnover in 28 minutes.

the craptors b team is their a team. always has been

Let us NBA boys and girls !

profound as always

Derrick White out 6-8 weeks. GG Spurs.

I'm predicting the jazz beat the warriors in the playoffs. Injuries will be blamed but really it's hard to stay on top. The key players are aging, the league adjusts, the bench is thin.

so like last year you mean?

Raptors Warriors will be an epic final, rest of the season is just foreplay

People in here are really hyped on the Raptors.

I know they added Kawhi, but this team got swept by a team that got swept by the Warriors last season.

People aren't hyped enough, specifically because they got swept in a series that was actually fairly close. They had an EV-adjusted record of 63-19 last year and they swapped a borderline all-star with a dude who could be the best player itl. OG/Pascal should both take at least mini-leaps. Even if Kawhi isn't quite Kawhi and he's just a borderline top 10 guy they'll still have a good shot of having the best overall record.

Two blowouts and two close losses isn't that close (point dif - 15ppg).

And then the Warriors blew the Cavs apart with two close ones and two blowouts (point dif - 15ppg)

The difference is substantial.

Agree with Tim. DDR was basically a slightly above-average player disguised as someone really good. Kahwi otoh is elite and I'm not buying that he was that hurt all of last year. KyLo might be a bit worse, but he was always underrated, and I think any age-related decline by him is more than made up for by the leap that we should see in their young guys.

Yeah they got swept by Cleveland, but that's the only team that has just owned them thus far--probably a mental block for them.

The team I think people are overhyped on is Boston. Hayward has looked like poopoo thus far, and Kyrie is a dog to be healthy throughout the season. I don't doubt that they will be at least a #2 seed, but I think 60+ wins or the best record in the league is a stretch.

yes, larbon is the raptors' father. fortunately, he's now in the west.

Eh, you guys are def dismissing the Raptors loss as "LeBron owns them" too easily. They took like 6 to beat the Wizards too? Just not a good team in the post season. Kawhi obv a huge upgrade but they've got a long way to go imo. Lol regular season. Agreed with Seadood that Boston are overrated too tho, think the East is just real bad this year and open to the possibility of a Philly or Bucks (or even my Pacers! :P) getting through

Derozan forgot how to shoot in the playoffs, even from midrange. He obviously wasn't that great from 3 ever.

Casey decided to run one of the dumbest defensive schemes in the history of basketball against Lebron.

Casey was the one who was shook by Lebron

yeah, DDR was their worst playoff performer
they replaced him with Kiwi, so...

and yeah, Casey is a total donk

yeah, having FVV & Delon Wright behind Lowry should help mitigate whatever decline occurs this season


might be a little thin in the front court though, wonder if they can find a way to address that before the playoffs

Yeah I think the Cavs/Raps wasn't as close as I remembered it. I guess it "could have" been close if the Raps came through in games 1 and/or 3. But that could have is way less than 50/50 vs Lebron obv.

I don't understand the logic of the Celtics being overrated but the Raps also having a long way to go. I think all of the "Kawhi is obv a huge upgrade" sentiments are still massively underrating how good Kawhi is when healthy.

I agree with lol regular season. I think the Raps will legitimately be the best team in the regular season (best record and best point differential) but they're obv not the favorites in the playoffs. They should probably be #4 right now behind the Warriors, Rockets and Celtics. I'd put them as #2 if I knew we were getting 16-17 Kawhi but that's probably less likely than not. If it happens, why don't we like them in the playoffs exactly? Their depth isn't as valuable as in the regular season, but the three main reasons they didn't do well in the playoffs were coaching, not having a guy like Kawhi, and losing to Lebron over and over.

I think Raps +400 to win the east is ridiculous value considering the 76ers are +400 and the Celtics are -105. If the reason you don't believe in the Raptors is because you don't think Kawhi will be peak Kawhi, I understand that. But if you don't think they have an insanely high ceiling, I respectfully disagree.