Kawhi didn't believe Toronto would repeat

[Ivre]

He wanted Doc, not Nurse.

Nurses do all the work.

[Lateral Quicks]

Kawhi badly wanted to play at home. People that badly want something will use every excuse in the book to get what they want. I doubt he honestly believed the Raptors wouldn't be the favourites if he returned.

I didn't like the Clippers roster during the off-season, and can't say I'm terribly surprised they're out before the WCF. The only surprising thing is they blew a 3-1 series lead - that's brutal. Doc Rivers seems to have 9 coaching lives.

I'm thankful to Kawhi for last year's championship, but I will admit to a healthy dose of schadenfreude right now. He kinda deserves this outcome for what he did to both franchises (not running it back with Toronto, gutting the Clippers future for Paul George). That said, if we wants to come back in 2021/2022, I'll allow it .

[OakleyDokely]

The way the Raps and Clippers went out says a lot about each team as well.

Both teams lost in game 7 of the 2nd round.

One team overcame a 2-0 series deficit to force a game 7 and fought to the bitter end, losing a close game in the last minute.

The other team blew a 3-1 lead and got blown out in game 7

[Rust_Cohle]

Based on what?

Based on a very winnable series with no plan B, sticking with Siakim for far too long, poor timeout management and getting out coached by brad Stevens

None of this happened though.

We just lost to a more talented team.


Try again.

Based on what?

Based on a very winnable series with no plan B, sticking with Siakim for far too long, poor timeout management and getting out coached by brad Stevens

The coach's job is to put his top players in positions to succeed, he did that, but they didn't get it done. Nurse can't shoot 3's from the bench.

No, raps had horrible shot selection, Laboured really hard to get open shots, constantly gave up open 3’s to the Celtics and not calling a timeout in the final 30 seconds of game 7 only for Van vleet to just dribble out for 20 seconds and force up an awful shot instead of nurse calling timeout was just bad coaching. Nurse did not coach a good series at all. His timeout management was horrible, he stuck with Siakim far too long, inexplicably leaving a hot Ibaka on the bench for most of the fourth. Raps played fairly mediocre in most of that series and were a buzzer beater away from losing on five.

Nurse did an awesome job last year, but in the playoffs this year he was fairly crummy.

[changes]

Good to see that clown getting bounced. Imagine leaving a team after winning a chip to ring chase.

[TheAlchemist]

Hmm...

Read on Twitter

wonder what team fits that description

To be fair, not only Toronto but the Spurs most likely.

Must be weird coming from.both franchises just to have Doc Rivers coach lmao, with Tyron Lue out of all people.

[TheAlchemist]

Good to see that clown getting bounced. Imagine leaving a team after winning a chip to ring chase.

He's not a clown.

In fact he played his heart out and risked aggravating or injuring his leg completely for our franchise.

The guy was screaming in pain after every game in the finals.

Without him I don't think we'd ever get it done.

Put some respeck on his name damnit.

[Rust_Cohle]

Good to see that clown getting bounced. Imagine leaving a team after winning a chip to ring chase.

He's not a clown.

In fact he played his heart out and risked aggravating or injuring his leg completely for our franchise.

The guy was screaming in pain after every game in the finals.

Without him I don't think we'd ever get it done.

Put some respeck on his name damnit.

Spot on, without him, raps are perennial second round exit. Kawhi has won titles before the Raps and changed the franchise forever bringing that title to Toronto as most of the supporting cast didn’t show up until the ecf. He also hit the most legendary shot in raptors history.

[rapstarter]

Hmm...

Read on Twitter

wonder what team fits that description

Not this playoffs version of the Raptors with Siakam and Fred being anything but smart. But then Kawhi could have been the one to reel them in.

[carlosey]

His mind was already w the clippers before the raptors were even in the equation. Balmer had been working his ego under the table for very long.

The funny part is that it never occurred to him in his time here that he won a ship, that he had huge recognition and that he was part of a top level org in a conference that is up for the taking.

Should have defended the title. With this ball drop, his career takes on a lesser spot.

also, clippers = o draft picks for the next decade

[RapsFanInVA]

Thought experiment: what just happened to the Clippers happened to us last year with Kawhi. Losing game 7 to the Sixers in the 2nd round with Kawhi and Lowry playing like garbage. Then Kawhi leaves us. Eternal depression. Laughingstock of the league for always being chokers in the playoffs. Spurned by another star, Toronto remains the desolate outpost of the NBA, never attracting a free agent to help us win a title.

[VC15Era]

Makes me a little bit better Clippers got bounced. Lets see what next year brings.

[TheDunc]

Nothing but respect for Kawhi after what he did for the franchise. Any raptor fans who talk sh*t against him dont understand or appreciate exactly what he was able to accomplish with us!

[Natural11]

If not for Siakam playing like it's 2016, you won't convince me that this Raps team would not have gotten to the finals. Imagine adding Kawhi into the mix. Sounds like a flimsy excuse to me to help justify his move to LA, not that he even needs to justify it. That said, his team's epic collapse does make me feel better about this season.

[Rust_Cohle]

Thought experiment: what just happened to the Clippers happened to us last year with Kawhi. Losing game 7 to the Sixers in the 2nd round with Kawhi and Lowry playing like garbage. Then Kawhi leaves us. Eternal depression. Laughingstock of the league for always being chokers in the playoffs. Spurned by another star, Toronto remains the desolate outpost of the NBA, never attracting a free agent to help us win a title.

Raps still struggle to attract major stars but hopefully Giannis comes and can change that.

[Son Goku 25]

Siakam as a 2nd or third option, kawhi having a real pg and leaders in Lowry and Marc with the rest of supporting cast plus emergence of OG who didn't ecen play last year... and the best coach in the league? You guys really think this team wouldn't have been favorites smh

[Rust_Cohle]

Siakam as a 2nd or third option, kawhi having a real pg and leaders in Lowry and Marc with the rest of supporting cast plus emergence of OG who didn't ecen play last year... and the best coach in the league? You guys really think this team wouldn't have been favorites smh

Nurse is not the best coach in the league, he certainly didn’t look it in that Celtics series and Siakim didn’t even play like a top 5 option and completely derailed the series for the Raps.

Having said that, has Kawhi stayed, raps in the finals for sure

[will]

This thread is gold!

[ThemCrookedRefs]

I don't think he would have stayed in Toronto either way. If the Clippers don't get Playoff P, I think he goes to the Lakers. He wanted to go home. You would think he would want to run it back... Our team was such a great fit for him. The Clippers are filled with entitled, unlikeable players and I'm glad that they got embarrassed.

I think his quad injury is going to shorten his career significantly going forward. Looks like he still can't move comfortably.

[whoknows]

He remains the best Raptor leader in our franchise history and he deserves respect, since without him we'd had no chance to win a championship. He wanted to go back home to LA, cannot blame him.

I wish him well!

The team I cheer for now to win it all, it is Denver!