TWO Appreciation Thread

[PushDaRock]

The average end of lottery team wins around 43 games. You think this team is a lock to win above 42-43 games?

I think it would take some pretty extreme circumstances to not make the Play-In. Of course, even if you finish 7th, you can find yourself as lotto team.

I think we’re going to make the play-in, even if it’s by default. Still a good chance we’re in the lottery though (depending on how long Poeltl’s injury lingers).

Well, that was always going to be the case. We were never going to be a top 6 team lock.

[DelAbbot]

The GM isn't serious. The coach isn't serious. The players aren't serious.

From top to bottom this organization doesn't live in reality. You can't win off vibes and hope. We're the Toronto Barneys.

It's time for Bobby to show us he's serious about winning. Dismantle Masai's team and implement your own vision, or GTFO.

What if this core is all Bobby's doing?

[T-d0t]

I feel like Bobby being a math guy probably wouldn’t mind being in the lotto again this year. But his job is also on the line so I expect them to still compete all year round and probably sell off some dead weight at the deadline.

Wasn't he extended?

[Troubadour]

Five games into this season, it's clear the following teams are ahead of the Raptors:
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Miami Heat
- Detroit Pistons

These teams are probably better:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Philadelphia 76ers

This team should be better:
- Orlando Magic

These teams have a chance to be better:
- Chicago Bulls
- Charlotte Hornets

That would put us fighting for the 10th seed with Boston and Atlanta. I wouldn't back this Raptors team to win that fight.

Let's relax with some of these hot takes. Its 5 games into the season, and the Raps have had a tough schedule to start the season. Wait until the 25 game mark, before determining who is ahead of who.

It's possible this changes, but I don't think it's a hot take to say that the Raptors are far behind most of the Eastern Conference after five games.

[JB7]

Five games into this season, it's clear the following teams are ahead of the Raptors:
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Miami Heat
- Detroit Pistons

These teams are probably better:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Philadelphia 76ers

This team should be better:
- Orlando Magic

These teams have a chance to be better:
- Chicago Bulls
- Charlotte Hornets

That would put us fighting for the 10th seed with Boston and Atlanta. I wouldn't back this Raptors team to win that fight.

Let's relax with some of these hot takes. Its 5 games into the season, and the Raps have had a tough schedule to start the season. Wait until the 25 game mark, before determining who is ahead of who.

Really depends on Poeltl’s health. If he’s back in a week we should be ok. If he misses extended time we’re going to be in trouble. Until we get a clear answer on him everything is up in the air.

Agreed on Yak. If he misses extended time, they are screwed. He is the one player they can miss the least.

[C_Money]

Let's relax with some of these hot takes. Its 5 games into the season, and the Raps have had a tough schedule to start the season. Wait until the 25 game mark, before determining who is ahead of who.

Really depends on Poeltl’s health. If he’s back in a week we should be ok. If he misses extended time we’re going to be in trouble. Until we get a clear answer on him everything is up in the air.

Agreed on Yak. If he misses extended time, they are screwed. He is the one player they can miss the least.

Maybe get a backup Center so we don’t have this same problem year after year?

[JB7]

Five games into this season, it's clear the following teams are ahead of the Raptors:
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Miami Heat
- Detroit Pistons

These teams are probably better:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Philadelphia 76ers

This team should be better:
- Orlando Magic

These teams have a chance to be better:
- Chicago Bulls
- Charlotte Hornets

That would put us fighting for the 10th seed with Boston and Atlanta. I wouldn't back this Raptors team to win that fight.

Let's relax with some of these hot takes. Its 5 games into the season, and the Raps have had a tough schedule to start the season. Wait until the 25 game mark, before determining who is ahead of who.

It's possible this changes, but I don't think it's a hot take to say that the Raptors are far behind most of the Eastern Conference after five games.

The Knicks and Cavs are clearly the best teams in the East.

Everything else is a crapshoot. Even the Bucks. They are a Giannis injury or trade demand away from the bottom of the East.

Everyone thought the Magic would be the clear #3, and they have the same record as the Raps, but have lost to inferior teams (Bulls, Sixers, Pistons & Hawks).

[JB7]

Really depends on Poeltl’s health. If he’s back in a week we should be ok. If he misses extended time we’re going to be in trouble. Until we get a clear answer on him everything is up in the air.

Agreed on Yak. If he misses extended time, they are screwed. He is the one player they can miss the least.

Maybe get a backup Center so we don’t have this same problem year after year?

Easier said then done. It's hard to get that quality as a backup.

[Troubadour]

Let's relax with some of these hot takes. Its 5 games into the season, and the Raps have had a tough schedule to start the season. Wait until the 25 game mark, before determining who is ahead of who.

It's possible this changes, but I don't think it's a hot take to say that the Raptors are far behind most of the Eastern Conference after five games.

The Knicks and Cavs are clearly the best teams in the East.

Everything else is a crapshoot. Even the Bucks. They are a Giannis injury or trade demand away from the bottom of the East.

Everyone thought the Magic would be the clear #3, and they have the same record as the Raps, but have lost to inferior teams (Bulls, Sixers, Pistons & Hawks).

Good point. I will reserve judgment on this NBA season until it concludes in June. The Raptors are right in the mix for a championship.

[ConSarnit]

Agreed on Yak. If he misses extended time, they are screwed. He is the one player they can miss the least.

Maybe get a backup Center so we don’t have this same problem year after year?

Easier said then done. It's hard to get that quality as a backup.

It’s been borderline malpractice that we haven’t had an acceptable backup C. We know Poeltl can only play 27-28mpg. Of all the starters he’s the least capable of bigger minutes and as such we know he leaves the biggest minutes gap when he’s resting. If we had a C who could handle 35-36 mpg then maybe we could skate by but we don’t.

It’s not tenable to try and fill the backup C void with a minimum contract. Maybe 1/10 of those min guys actually works out. Legit backup C’s cost $7-10m. We have 4 shooting guards on our roster and (effectively) dead weight in Temple. We know Poeltl has a soft minutes limit and as such backup C should be given higher priority yet we allocate the money elsewhere. Given Poeltl’s limitations I don’t know how the FO can justify not having a legit backup if the goal is to compete.

[Psubs]

Gotta tank 1 more year to have a chance at Dybansta, Peterson or Boozer.

Just look at VJ Edgecombe!!!!

[Psubs]

Agreed on Yak. If he misses extended time, they are screwed. He is the one player they can miss the least.

Maybe get a backup Center so we don’t have this same problem year after year?

Easier said then done. It's hard to get that quality as a backup.

Need another Mamu.

[JB7]

It's possible this changes, but I don't think it's a hot take to say that the Raptors are far behind most of the Eastern Conference after five games.

The Knicks and Cavs are clearly the best teams in the East.

Everything else is a crapshoot. Even the Bucks. They are a Giannis injury or trade demand away from the bottom of the East.

Everyone thought the Magic would be the clear #3, and they have the same record as the Raps, but have lost to inferior teams (Bulls, Sixers, Pistons & Hawks).

Good point. I will reserve judgment on this NBA season until it concludes in June. The Raptors are right in the mix for a championship.

Give them 25 games. After the month of November where they play the Sixers, Pacers, Nets and Hornets all twice, plus the Wiz, if their record isn't better by then, Darko is probably the first firing.

[JB7]

Maybe get a backup Center so we don’t have this same problem year after year?

Easier said then done. It's hard to get that quality as a backup.

It’s been borderline malpractice that we haven’t had an acceptable backup C. We know Poeltl can only play 27-28mpg. Of all the starters he’s the least capable of bigger minutes and as such we know he leaves the biggest minutes gap when he’s resting. If we had a C who could handle 35-36 mpg then maybe we could skate by but we don’t.

It’s not tenable to try and fill the backup C void with a minimum contract. Maybe 1/10 of those min guys actually works out. Legit backup C’s cost $7-10m. We have 4 shooting guards on our roster and (effectively) dead weight in Temple. We know Poeltl has a soft minutes limit and as such backup C should be given higher priority yet we allocate the money elsewhere. Given Poeltl’s limitations I don’t know how the FO can justify not having a legit backup if the goal is to compete.

Mamu has been alright as a backup. Offers a different style C than Yak. I don't think teams want to park a lot of money in the C position. Most teams prefer to play smaller anyways. Raps have just had the unfortunate luck in facing teams with big front courts to start the season, and missing Yak.

Temple is the only veteran voice they have on the bench.

[Clutch0z24]

Gotta tank 1 more year to have a chance at Dybansta, Peterson or Boozer.

Just look at VJ Edgecombe!!!!

We are not good at tanking even....We have been playing this horrible game of teetering as a "Competitive team" and a "Tanking team" Which continues to set us back....

Luck plays a part in it as well but even if you don't land the top pick you give yourself a significant chance to land 2nd,3rd,4th,5th with the more odds you have and not fall all the way down to 9th-13this spot which is the area you are most likely to get just good starters/role playing talent...

Like CMB but if we are a bad team this year we have to blow it up as much as we can and actually try to get into the top 1-5 odds in this draft or else you are ending up with another most likely starter/role player in the draft when we need a true game changing talent to help this team escape the team mid era we have been in.

[Psubs]

Gotta tank 1 more year to have a chance at Dybansta, Peterson or Boozer.

Just look at VJ Edgecombe!!!!

We are not good at tanking even....We have been playing this horrible game of teetering as a "Competitive team" and a "Tanking team" Which continues to set us back....

Luck plays a part in it as well but even if you don't land the top pick you give yourself a significant chance to land 2nd,3rd,4th,5th with the more odds you have and not fall all the way down to 9th-13this spot which is the area you are most likely to get just good starters/role playing talent...

Like CMB but if we are a bad team this year we have to blow it up as much as we can and actually try to get into the top 1-5 odds in this draft or else you are ending up with another most likely starter/role player in the draft when we need a true game changing talent to help this team escape the team mid era we have been in.

Of course luck, but if you make the playoffs you can't get lucky like Atlanta getting Risacher. Wemby draft was for 1 player really and same this year for Coooper really. This draft is for 3 players minimum with Peterson, Dybansta or Boozer. Adding one of them, automatically makes the Raptors a top 4 team in the East and a legit championship contender.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

I think probably the most important thing for me in my experience of TWO, was the level of challenge they provided. There was nothing like the way they could really all come at you at once. It helped me with my development of quick thinking and ability to respond to Multiple jabs at once. It was like a game tackle and football.

[dTox]

I think probably the most important thing for me in my experience of TWO, was the level of challenge they provided. There was nothing like the way they could really all come at you at once. It helped me with my development of quick thinking and ability to respond to Multiple jabs at once. It was like a game tackle and football.

No offense but you didn't do any of that, you stayed away from this thread to hide from the responses....until the team started winning again and you conveniently started posting. Just sayin


Ps. I'm team whatever turns out to be the best for this franchise, so far, I'm on the fence of tank/not tank

[djsunyc]

I think probably the most important thing for me in my experience of TWO, was the level of challenge they provided. There was nothing like the way they could really all come at you at once. It helped me with my development of quick thinking and ability to respond to Multiple jabs at once. It was like a game tackle and football.

No offense but you didn't do any of that, you stayed away from this thread to hide from the responses....until the team started winning again and you conveniently started posting. Just sayin


Ps. I'm team whatever turns out to be the best for this franchise, so far, I'm on the fence of tank/not tank

why take a stance or choose a team at all? why not just watch and enjoy?

[dTox]

I think probably the most important thing for me in my experience of TWO, was the level of challenge they provided. There was nothing like the way they could really all come at you at once. It helped me with my development of quick thinking and ability to respond to Multiple jabs at once. It was like a game tackle and football.

No offense but you didn't do any of that, you stayed away from this thread to hide from the responses....until the team started winning again and you conveniently started posting. Just sayin


Ps. I'm team whatever turns out to be the best for this franchise, so far, I'm on the fence of tank/not tank

why take a stance or choose a team at all? why not just watch and enjoy?

100%

no need to make loud proclamation and egging on a large group of people after 1 game either