GT: Game 2 - Sixers (0-1) @ Raptors (0-1) , October 25, 2024, 7:00PM, TSN4

[nikster]

No Embiid and PG? This is a must win.

We are missing 2 starters too, and 3 other players off the bench (and the more injuries we have the more missing those depth guys hurts). Plus they are a way better team at baseline. Calling this a must win is silly

[sortpar]

George and Embiid out tonight! 1st fake win of the year!

Is it a fake win for the 76ers if they win when we don't have IQ, RJ, Bruce, and Kelly?

Embiid is an MVP, George is a multiple year all star, are any of the Raptor that are out MVP's or all stars?

If the 76's are projected to have a 63,8% chance of winning tonight's game (NBA.com), how would the Raptors winning the game, make it a fake win?

[Tor_Raps]

would like to know whose laughing at us

There are plenty of links shared when reporters were discussing the Raptors during their Team Previews. A capped out team that's locked into their core but expected to be a bottom 5ish team lol.

Every single NBA team is capped out.

We are also not locked in at all. If we decided tomorrow to completely blow it up we could trade every player on our roster with ease.

You skipped over the "locked into their core." It's a reflection that the guys making big money probably aren't as good as their paycheck shows.

Let's see... hope it's just early season overreactions because what happened on opening day was disgusting lol.

[MEDIC]

I am shocked beyond belief that Scotty's maturity and body language is becoming such a widely discussed issue.

Everyone that is even REMOTELY connected to the team shares in my shock. I was depending on the children who told me there was a huge conspiracy in raptor media. That Nurse and Fred and Pascal were selfish. That if only Scotty had a chance to grab the keys we would all see his natural leadership abilities flourish.

I'm here to tell you that whatever concerns you have about Scotty as a team leader...it's worse than that.

Scottie definitely has maturity concerns. It has been obvious since day one. He reminds me a bit of Demarcus Cousins at times (without the anger). Some young men don't fully mature until they are in their 30's. Hopefully that isn't the case for Scotty.

[ItsDanger]

Will be interesting to monitor attendance this season. Its always been strong except for a 2? year stretch around 2011. But I think its going to be tested this season for a variety of reasons.

[MEDIC]

Celtics game 1 SCOTTIE or Celtics Game 2 Scottie? What do we see tonight ?

This is the problem. Scottie can go from looking like LBJ Lite to Raptors version of Hedo "ball" Turkoglu from game to game. I have seen him play like a top 5 talent in the league. As Dwayne Casey used to say "he told on himself". He just has to want to bring it every night.

I think KG would be a great mentor for Scottie. KG always found ways to get himself hyped up to compete.

[CoinTossRoss31]

0-2 and the tank rolls on please

[Dalek]

I am not the biggest Scottie fan, but even I think people are reading way too much into a one game performance especially when he played well in preseason. Having no talent around him is going to put him in a bind and will allow for aggressive defenses like he saw with Cleveland - the zone really messed up the paint for him. I would think we need a 30 game sample with RJ and Quick to see if Barnes can handle being a franchise player.

In the Cleveland zone, what are his teammates even doing in this play? Mobley defending Barnes - but zero movement, no screen set, no shooting threats and a late clock situation.

Read on Twitter

[bape_lovers]

dude you overreact in everything

There are plenty of links shared when reporters were discussing the Raptors during their Team Previews. A capped out team that's locked into their core but expected to be a bottom 5ish team lol.

Every single NBA team is capped out.

We are also not locked in at all. If we decided tomorrow to completely blow it up we could trade every player on our roster with ease.

You skipped over the "locked into their core." It's a reflection that the guys making big money probably aren't as good as their paycheck shows.

Let's see... hope it's just early season overreactions because what happened on opening day was disgusting lol.

[Chandan]

It would be fitting if Darko used Box and 1 defense on Maxey and Nurse had to figure out a way out of it.

Darko won't figure out how to use a box and 1
He couldn't figure out how to not let a 20 point deficit become a 30 point one on opening night.

[aminiaturebuddha]

It would be fitting if Darko used Box and 1 defense on Maxey and Nurse had to figure out a way out of it.

Darko won't figure out how to use a box and 1
He couldn't figure out how to not let a 20 point deficit become a 30 point one on opening night.

He clearly doesn't understand basic basketball concepts then, because obviously no good coach in NBA history has ever coached a team that saw a 20-point deficit extended to a 30-pt deficit.

[Chandan]

It would be fitting if Darko used Box and 1 defense on Maxey and Nurse had to figure out a way out of it.

Darko won't figure out how to use a box and 1
He couldn't figure out how to not let a 20 point deficit become a 30 point one on opening night.

He clearly doesn't understand basic basketball concepts then, because obviously no good coach in NBA history has ever coached a team that saw a 20-point deficit extended to a 30-pt deficit.

On opening night home court it is rather embarrassing for the brand

Besides it's not the first, or second, or third time the team has fallen behind by 20 before half time. I've actually lost count.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Want to see Shead rip Kyle, but I think Kyle will draw a few fouls against him.

[tradejosehesux]

Nick Nurse gonna tee off on us like he did all of last season.

[Shakril]

would like to know whose laughing at us

Stop blaming Scottie for not being a franchise player. Blame Masai for the clusterFu he's put this franchise through recently.

There's a reason why most of the NBA is laughing at whatever the hell is happening here. It's just the Homers who are in denial about it.

There are plenty of links shared when reporters were discussing the Raptors during their Team Previews. A capped out team that's locked into their core but expected to be a bottom 5ish team lol.

Every pre-cast i have seen, had the raptors firmly in the play-in or missing it close. They are maybe the 21st, 22nd best team in the league, but definitly not bottom 5. I havent seen that anywhere.

[Shakril]

George and Embiid out tonight! 1st fake win of the year!

For you everything is fake, that doesnt satisfy your tanking fetish.

[Shakril]

I am not the biggest Scottie fan, but even I think people are reading way too much into a one game performance especially when he played well in preseason. Having no talent around him is going to put him in a bind and will allow for aggressive defenses like he saw with Cleveland - the zone really messed up the paint for him. I would think we need a 30 game sample with RJ and Quick to see if Barnes can handle being a franchise player.

In the Cleveland zone, what are his teammates even doing in this play? Mobley defending Barnes - but zero movement, no screen set, no shooting threats and a late clock situation.

Read on Twitter

I think you misread what people are actually critizing about Barnes. He can have bad games like everyone else. But you can demand from a franchise player, that he is locked in mentaly every game even if he plays bad. Many mistakes Barnes made on Wedsnesday, where due lack of mental toughness. And that is an issue thats not new. We had hoped he matured, but 1st game in the season and we see this.

[Dalek]

I am not the biggest Scottie fan, but even I think people are reading way too much into a one game performance especially when he played well in preseason. Having no talent around him is going to put him in a bind and will allow for aggressive defenses like he saw with Cleveland - the zone really messed up the paint for him. I would think we need a 30 game sample with RJ and Quick to see if Barnes can handle being a franchise player.

In the Cleveland zone, what are his teammates even doing in this play? Mobley defending Barnes - but zero movement, no screen set, no shooting threats and a late clock situation.

Read on Twitter

I think you misread what people are actually critizing about Barnes. He can have bad games like everyone else. But you can demand from a franchise player, that he is locked in mentaly every game even if he plays bad. Many mistakes Barnes made on Wedsnesday, where due lack of mental toughness. And that is an issue thats not new. We had hoped he matured, but 1st game in the season and we see this.

I do think he has a tendency to get embarrassed and then he just loses composure. That's Scottie. He is a highly emotional player who I have long said isn't meant to be the face of a team. He is a very talented player, but even in high school and college he was a knucklehead who used to bark at players and even rough up RJ when they were playing against each other. When things are going good though he can change a game. Hey, Lowry was a bit like that for years and then matured. Maybe Scottie gets there but his emotion is something that keys his game. Even Draymond is like that too.

I think the important assessment is how he bounces back tonight.

[Dalek]

Darko won't figure out how to use a box and 1
He couldn't figure out how to not let a 20 point deficit become a 30 point one on opening night.

He clearly doesn't understand basic basketball concepts then, because obviously no good coach in NBA history has ever coached a team that saw a 20-point deficit extended to a 30-pt deficit.

On opening night home court it is rather embarrassing for the brand

Besides it's not the first, or second, or third time the team has fallen behind by 20 before half time. I've actually lost count.

I watched the Portland/GSW game as my doubleheader and Portland lost at home 140-104 - with pretty much a full team. Watching DeAndre Ayton is sad basketball.

[YogurtProducer]

There are plenty of links shared when reporters were discussing the Raptors during their Team Previews. A capped out team that's locked into their core but expected to be a bottom 5ish team lol.

Every single NBA team is capped out.

We are also not locked in at all. If we decided tomorrow to completely blow it up we could trade every player on our roster with ease.

You skipped over the "locked into their core." It's a reflection that the guys making big money probably aren't as good as their paycheck shows.

Let's see... hope it's just early season overreactions because what happened on opening day was disgusting lol.

I didn't skip over it at all - I 100% responded to that and said no, we really are not.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space_optimized/dir/desc

We are projected to be top 10 in cap space. That is not counting the completely moveable Poeltl deal (and Olynyk to a lesser extent), and even RJ who has rehabbed his value since the trade and is probably not seen in the same negative light as he was before.

We are in no way locked in. We have all our picks. We have moveable deals. That is the complete opposite of "locking into our core". We have flexible contracts like Brown or Boucher who can be great salary filler if we wish to go that route. We have no one outside Barnes/IQ/RJ locked up past 2026/27.

I guess we have VERY different definitions of "locked in".