PG: Still the CHAMPS!

[Lateral Quicks]

breh, that's in the past. next year is a completely different animal. boston will only get better, nets will be a problem. heat will get better. meanwhile, we look like the pre-kawhi raptors. regular season champs but not good enough in the playoffs.

it's literally gonna be the same story every year till masai gets us a real star again

True, as things stand now we'll probably take a step back next year. Although I'm expecting organic improvement from OG and TD, that will probably be offset by a decline - however slight - in Lowry's play, and our centre rotation likely won't be as good. We'll still be a middle of the pack playoff team, though.

However, let's not write off Masai and Webster. Maybe they can add a key piece or two. The only Eastern teams that scare me next year - as of now - are New Jersey and Boston. I wouldn't expect Masai to blow it up and rebuild - that's not his style. He believes winning basketball begets winning basketball, and I think he's right.

Hope you realize that MIA made it to the ECF on Jimmy’s first attempt AND they relying on a bunch of rookies. With additional year of experience, they will be balling. Same applies to Boston.

It’s gonna be CELTICS, HEAT, NETS, BUCKS... everyone else (RAPTORS, PACERS)

I expect the Heat to fold like a cheap suit in the ECF. I think they've overachieved. And yet they've managed to beat the Bucks, which says something (not good) about the Bucks.

[Los Manos]

The Celtics were tight tonight. This was their worst game of the series. We were just worse and had nothing left in the tank. So it hurts.

I do still believe in Pascal but am in no doubt that the past 8 weeks were embarrassing for him and ultimately without him contributing offensively we had no chance against a talented Celtics squad. Get back in the gym and come back stronger. Our next few years are on his shoulders and we’ll see how much he really wants it.

[Yosemite Dan]

This is start of the dark times. I know everybody has faith in Masai as do I...but to a point. He’ll get us into the playoffs every year but we max out at the 2nd round at best. Let’s be realistic we weren’t close to a championship before extraordinary circumstances allowed us to snag Kawhi for one year and even that was considered risky because of his injury history. That was the only reason we were able to get him at a somewhat low cost. If Kawhi has been healthy and wanted out of SA there would have been a long list of teams offering more than what we offered in Demar for him. It’s very unlikely that kind of scenario will present itself again with a franchise player available like that for a very long time. We took a chance in extraordinary circumstances and it paid off in spades.

What do we have that would make us viable contenders for the next 5 years? Pascal is not close to being a franchise player, FVV will probably leave and even if he stays he’s an average PG at best. Lowry has one more year before he’s gone. Gasol is gone and if Ibaka stays then he’s still on the wrong side of 30. You got Norm as a decent role player and OG as a borderline starter. Everyone else is near scrub level.

There is little chance that Giannis would seriously consider coming here if that’s all we have unless we somehow traded for a bonafide all star before next summer to make it more attractive for him to sign with us. We’re gonna be a treadmill for the next 5 years because we all know how difficult it is to get a franchise player unless you fluke one in the draft. And considering we’ll have mid round draft picks its damn near impossible.

Enjoy the title we got and get used to the fact that just making the playoffs should be our title for the foreseeable future.

[Randle McMurphy]

You really think he won't work on his game and come back a better player?

Can you think of a single player in the history of the NBA who has ever had a series like this and then come back and become a high-end playoff performer? If not, what makes you think Siakam will be the first?

True. This is a defining moment in his career. He needs to pivot off this and take a step forward or he could be mentally wrecked.


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I mean Lowry had a few awful playoff series at the beginning of his career. It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.

[rocky_da_best]

They were all given the option of not reporting with no consequence. I think we'd have been better off if Siakam exercised that option fml.

[bakafool]

Let it all out.

[will]

I hope Serge is choking Pascal in the locker room right now

these comments are too much

WTF man. Some comments here. SMH

[Boardbreaker]

Siakam will be fine in the long term. He was trash this series and deserved to watch and learn from the bench though.

[Son Goku 25]

i love how they lost as a unit. First Siakam doing his best defumble impression. Then Powell **** up by not boxing out tatum, the Ball slips thru Ibaka's hand. To top it off FFV ends the season by calling his own number. All this while lowry is fouled out. it's like a mini preview to the years ahead after Lowry retires.

To me, that was the saddest part watchinf Lowry helpless on the bench watching pound the rock FVv. You could see that block from a mile away. Gonna miss Lowry.

[Randle McMurphy]

This is start of the dark times. I know everybody has faith in Masai as do I...but to a point. He’ll get us into the playoffs every year but we max out at the 2nd round at best. Let’s be realistic we weren’t close to a championship before extraordinary circumstances allowed us to snag Kawhi for one year and even that was considered risky because of his injury history. That was the only reason we were able to get him at a somewhat low cost. If Kawhi has been healthy and wanted out of SA there would have been a long list of teams offering more than what we offered in Demar for him. It’s very unlikely that kind of scenario will present itself again with a franchise player available like that for a very long time. We took a chance in extraordinary circumstances and it paid off in spades.

What do we have that would make us viable contenders for the next 5 years? Pascal is not close to being a franchise player, FVV will probably leave and even if he stays he’s an average PG at best. Lowry has one more year before he’s gone. Gasol is gone and if Ibaka stays then he’s still on the wrong side of 30. You got Norm as a decent role player and OG as borderline starter. Everyone’s else is near scrub level.

There is little chance that Giannis would seriously consider coming here if that’s all we have unless we somehow traded for a bonafide all star before next summer to make it more attractive for him to sign with us. We’re gonna be a treadmill for the next 5 years because we all know how difficult it is to get a franchise player unless you fluke one in the draft. And considering we’ll have mid round draft picks its damn near impossible.

Enjoy the title we got and get used to the fact that just making the playoffs should be our title for the foreseeable future.

Times looked much worse when we had the anchor of Demar DeRozan destroying this franchise only two years ago. In comparison, our current position is more than fine.

[Childs]

Read on Twitter

[will]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Hoo man. So disappointed. So drained.

What a season.

What a time.

[kj_]

Oh so that's what it looks like when a Coach and a Max player conspire to throw a series. Nurse just embarrassed TF outta Pascal. Siakam was looking at him all the time and Nurse was ignoring. Just left him to rot in hell. Unreal. Honestly I don't know what happened but it looks surreal.

I get you’re emotional, but you’re making no sense. Completely irrational.


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[alienchild]

Read on Twitter

[rocky_da_best]

Read on Twitter

There was no way for him to sneak out of his condo to the OVO gym at any point? lol. Like this is insane to me.

[Airball Salmons]

Nurse was simply bad this series. Let’s not continue over rating this guy?

[rocky_da_best]

He couldn't stay at Drake's mansion? lmao

[Airball Salmons]

Read on Twitter

That blame should be on the entire Raptors organization.

[lexxus]

Read on Twitter

The Raptors are stuck with him in the next 4 years. He better be.

[ratul]

If trump gets voted out, this will sting less.