General NBA Discussion Thread

[720]

Anyone have a link to a video of the cavs raptors game with the cavs announcers?

[Boogie!]

That's what we said about the Wizards.

people seriously need to stop talking about getting to the 2nd round like its an achievement... either you have a team thats good enough to win it all or you don't... advancing rounds is meaningless unless you plan to reach the ultimate goal...

it doesn't matter who you face in any round, if you're not good enough you just won't win plain and simple... if you don't execute, don't play smart you won't win... last year the raptors had the talent to beat the wizards (they beat them 3 times in the regular season) and still lost in the playoffs... i don't give a **** about advancing rounds... as it stands right now, the raptors don't have a team that is a legitimate contender and i don't think they ever will until they acquire a superstar and implement a more efficient style of play...

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

all this talk about inspiring loads of raptors fans is self-righteous bull... weve seen this team play, we know exactly who they are and what theyre capable of... vince carter was a generational talent and this team will never compare to the amount of attention and excitement he generated... and him being on the team at the time actually made the raptors championship contenders at one point, with some magazine even predicting a lakers vs raptors finals... which is why i said until we get a star player that actually makes us better than first round fodder and actually gives us a legit shot to compete in the playoffs, advancing ONE ROUND against a favourable matchup means nothing... if you think it does, then prepare to be dissappointed... dont try to act like itll have some great franchise changing and cultural impact because it definitely will not.

[RaptorReloaded]

people seriously need to stop talking about getting to the 2nd round like its an achievement... either you have a team thats good enough to win it all or you don't... advancing rounds is meaningless unless you plan to reach the ultimate goal...

it doesn't matter who you face in any round, if you're not good enough you just won't win plain and simple... if you don't execute, don't play smart you won't win... last year the raptors had the talent to beat the wizards (they beat them 3 times in the regular season) and still lost in the playoffs... i don't give a **** about advancing rounds... as it stands right now, the raptors don't have a team that is a legitimate contender and i don't think they ever will until they acquire a superstar and implement a more efficient style of play...

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

The jays were a middle of the pack team until they pulled off those blockbuster trades and you jumped on the bandwagon. Who's to say this team can't do the same thing?

[Boogie!]

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

The jays were a middle of the pack team until they pulled off those blockbuster trades and you jumped on the bandwagon. Who's to say this team can't do the same thing?

ive been following the jays for the last 3 seasons, but keep being condescending with your ad hominem ****... the fact that you think the jays were a "middle of the pack" team, shows youre the one who probably hopped on the bandwagon because you know nothing about how good that team actually was or why they went on a tear... they had the leagues best offense before the trades and the best run differential in baseball... it was their pitching that was a problem and adding price to the rotation bolstered that, but wasnt the sole reason they got better... price only pitches once every 5 games... it was the fact that every other pitcher in the rotation stepped up and the starters actually had one of the best eras in the american league after the all star break... the jays were stacked even before the trades were made, they just needed to get over the hump and thats what they did...

the raptors on the other hand do not have anywhere close to the talent level to compete with the big boys... the way teams are constructed in the nba makes it harder to just make a miraculous trade that will instantly make you a contender and with the way the raptors are constructed that is unlikely to happen... also in baseball, anyone can win on any given night, even if its the worst team in the league and therefore theres much more unpredictability... because basketball relies on a select few players, essentially if those players are some of the better players in the league its easier to determine their chances of winning...

either way, good job trying to shift the argument around but youre just wrong on all fronts anyway.

[The_Hater]

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

The jays were a middle of the pack team until they pulled off those blockbuster trades and you jumped on the bandwagon. Who's to say this team can't do the same thing?

Because the difference between how MLB and NBA teams are built and how widely players fluctuate in performance from year to year in MLB (as opposed to NBA) doesn't generally allow for huge swings in the NBA like it does MLB. I can't remember the last time a middling NBA team made a mid season trade that suddenly propelled them into contention. You sometimes get already elite teams adding a rotation player at the deadline but that's about it.

[LLJ]

I can't remember the last time a middling NBA team made a mid season trade that suddenly propelled them into contention. You sometimes get already elite teams adding a rotation player at the deadline but that's about it.

I agree with you, but I'd say the 07-08 Lakers fit the definition.

[Boogie!]

I can't remember the last time a middling NBA team made a mid season trade that suddenly propelled them into contention. You sometimes get already elite teams adding a rotation player at the deadline but that's about it.

I agree with you, but I'd say the 07-08 Lakers fit the definition.

again the likelihood of something like that happening is very slim... i mean, KWAME BROWN for pau gasol... thats just some crazy ****... thats like us trading terrence ross and some first rounders for demarcus cousins... that **** just doesnt happen unless youre the lakers...

[LLJ]

They did get Marc Gasol in the Kwame trade IIRC...so in the end it was a good deal for the Grizz as well. If a franchise player is moved at any time for anything less than another franchise player, the chances are good that the team receiving the franchise player could vault up to elite status. But yeah, these trades still never happen too often, and especially not mid-season.

[Lord Eder]

Yeah they got Marc Gasol in that deal too. The fleecing that that deal was is overrated. The Lakers won 2 championships and the Grizzlies became perennial borderline contenders. Both teams won.

[JackedFinancier]

That's what we said about the Wizards.

people seriously need to stop talking about getting to the 2nd round like its an achievement... either you have a team thats good enough to win it all or you don't... advancing rounds is meaningless unless you plan to reach the ultimate goal...

it doesn't matter who you face in any round, if you're not good enough you just won't win plain and simple... if you don't execute, don't play smart you won't win... last year the raptors had the talent to beat the wizards (they beat them 3 times in the regular season) and still lost in the playoffs... i don't give a **** about advancing rounds... as it stands right now, the raptors don't have a team that is a legitimate contender and i don't think they ever will until they acquire a superstar and implement a more efficient style of play...

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Syd-TK3]

Its Championship or nothing pretty much for some people

[NinjaBro]

Watching the Cavs/Cha pregame right now and they're still salty over their loss to us. LMAO

[The_Hater]

I can't remember the last time a middling NBA team made a mid season trade that suddenly propelled them into contention. You sometimes get already elite teams adding a rotation player at the deadline but that's about it.

I agree with you, but I'd say the 07-08 Lakers fit the definition.

That's probably the closest as it definitely put them over the top but he Lakers were 30-16 before he suited up for them. They went from a contender to the clear favourite. The Rasheed Wallace to Detroit trade a few years prior was similar. Both teams were really really good before those deals.

[The_Hater]

Its Championship or nothing pretty much for some people

Well the goal is to win the championship.

As it is, I'd just settle with having a legit contender who have a shot at a deep playoff run for a couple of seasons. Remember that this team has won exactly one playoff series in team history. I do believe that ranks dead last among all NBA teams over the past 21 seasons

[SaveTheHens]

people seriously need to stop talking about getting to the 2nd round like its an achievement... either you have a team thats good enough to win it all or you don't... advancing rounds is meaningless unless you plan to reach the ultimate goal...

it doesn't matter who you face in any round, if you're not good enough you just won't win plain and simple... if you don't execute, don't play smart you won't win... last year the raptors had the talent to beat the wizards (they beat them 3 times in the regular season) and still lost in the playoffs... i don't give a **** about advancing rounds... as it stands right now, the raptors don't have a team that is a legitimate contender and i don't think they ever will until they acquire a superstar and implement a more efficient style of play...

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

all this talk about inspiring loads of raptors fans is self-righteous bull... weve seen this team play, we know exactly who they are and what theyre capable of... vince carter was a generational talent and this team will never compare to the amount of attention and excitement he generated... and him being on the team at the time actually made the raptors championship contenders at one point, with some magazine even predicting a lakers vs raptors finals... which is why i said until we get a star player that actually makes us better than first round fodder and actually gives us a legit shot to compete in the playoffs, advancing ONE ROUND against a favourable matchup means nothing... if you think it does, then prepare to be dissappointed... dont try to act like itll have some great franchise changing and cultural impact because it definitely will not.

We need to crawl before we walk and walk before we run. Ever since we signed BC the excellence demanded from this team has been increasing. BC made this team a borderline playoff team and started instilling a winning culture, but eventually we reached a point where the level of excellence demanded from the city increased, and now we have Masai. The level of excellence has been continually increasing and we may reach a point where another major move will be necessary to elevate us to another level. Our goal is to win a championship, but as we learned with our early playoff teams - no playoff experience results in failure. We need to win a round or two, keep upgrading, and maybe eventually reach the point where we have the right guys with the right experience entering their prime. Currently we are at a point that was inconceivable 5+ years ago. We're a very young playoff team with the potential to win one or two rounds in the playoffs, we had the biggest FA in the summer actually consider us as a destination, we had a central player on the best eastern team sign with us, and meanwhile we have a potential lottery pick increasing in value with every knick n denver loss. We are not a contender but we have youth and a LeBron stopper on our side, we have one of the best PGs in the league at a very affordable price, and we have many options and avenues we can take to improve. EVERY team wants to win a championship. Some are gifted with luck as the Cavs were, and still have failed to win a championship. I like where we're going, I like our constant improvement, and at the end of the day a playoff round win just brings some temporary joy as we proceed to the ultimate, long term goal of winning a championship

[Boogie!]

So I guess this past Blue Jays season was a waste of time as well? You wouldn't want the success and recognition the Clippers and Rockets achieved over the past couple years? You don't want to see the Raptors being broadcasted on TNT, NBC or ESPN? Seeing Raptor players on Sneaker and clothing adds? Fans from other parts of the world following our team? A big reason I'm a fan now is because of Vince. He didn't get passed the second round but he inspired an entire generation to love basketball in a hockey crazed city including Wiggins and CoryJo. Just cause your joy can only be found in wanting a championship doesn't mean amazing memories can't be created in others in the pursuit of one. To win a championship is a whole other degree of difficulty that no Raptor fan should even be discussing. The best player on the planet can't even bring one to his own city but anyways what if we did everything you preach on this board? Tank, draft multiple All-Stars, shoot three's defend and make it back to the playoffs but if we lose a round none of it matters? Why bother watching? I'm not watching this team to put myself through that. I'm watching this team cause I love it. I love this city. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid. I love playing Basketball and I love that my town has a Basketball team. Take it for what it is. We very well might have just ended up with two hockey teams in this city and no basketball to speak of. Your way of building this team is not going to win us a ring. Neither is mine. If it happens it's cause somehow someway the right pieces came together at the right time. It could be this year or next. Could be 10 - 20 years from now. Point is shut up like you know everything. You don't know ****.

im glad you brought up the jays because it actually helps support my point... the jays were a legit stacked team and world series favourites... part of the reason the loss hit so hard with me is because it entirely possible that they won this year... they had a roster that you expected to win a championship... .

the raptors team on the other hand DOES NOT... idk why sneaker ads and tnt games somehow make a difference to how you view the team... none of that **** affects their roster and how well theyre able to compete... its obvious what level of talent we have on this team right now and what their ceiling is... its not the same situation as the blue jays because i dont expect them to win in the playoffs and theyre not built to win it all... if you honestly think advancing one round in the playoffs somehow changes that, then you're the one thats a bit delusional...

talking about potential matchups to advance rounds is meaningless because again, in the grand scheme of things if you advance a round against a team you know you should beat anyway doesnt prove anything... it doesnt make you a better team... i want the team to win and will watch them in the playoffs, but in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter who they face or what the matchups are... theyre either good enough to win a round of theyre not... strategizing playoff seedings is useless, which was what i was responding to initially... dont take your **** out on me because youre upset about the reality of the situation...

all this talk about inspiring loads of raptors fans is self-righteous bull... weve seen this team play, we know exactly who they are and what theyre capable of... vince carter was a generational talent and this team will never compare to the amount of attention and excitement he generated... and him being on the team at the time actually made the raptors championship contenders at one point, with some magazine even predicting a lakers vs raptors finals... which is why i said until we get a star player that actually makes us better than first round fodder and actually gives us a legit shot to compete in the playoffs, advancing ONE ROUND against a favourable matchup means nothing... if you think it does, then prepare to be dissappointed... dont try to act like itll have some great franchise changing and cultural impact because it definitely will not.

We need to crawl before we walk and walk before we run. Ever since we signed BC the excellence demanded from this team has been increasing. BC made this team a borderline playoff team and started instilling a winning culture, but eventually we reached a point where the level of excellence demanded from the city increased, and now we have Masai. The level of excellence has been continually increasing and we may reach a point where another major move will be necessary to elevate us to another level. Our goal is to win a championship, but as we learned with our early playoff teams - no playoff experience results in failure. We need to win a round or two, keep upgrading, and maybe eventually reach the point where we have the right guys with the right experience entering their prime. Currently we are at a point that was inconceivable 5+ years ago. We're a very young playoff team with the potential to win one or two rounds in the playoffs, we had the biggest FA in the summer actually consider us as a destination, we had a central player on the best eastern team sign with us, and meanwhile we have a potential lottery pick increasing in value with every knick n denver loss. We are not a contender but we have youth and a LeBron stopper on our side, we have one of the best PGs in the league at a very affordable price, and we have many options and avenues we can take to improve. EVERY team wants to win a championship. Some are gifted with luck as the Cavs were, and still have failed to win a championship. I like where we're going, I like our constant improvement, and at the end of the day a playoff round win just brings some temporary joy as we proceed to the ultimate, long term goal of winning a championship

thats great and all except again you're missing the point... like i said earlier, I'm still gonna be watching the playoffs and will be happy if they win a round... but winning a round for the sake of winning a round when its obvious that the current core is not elite enough to actually win it all, doesn't mean anything... especially when it becomes obvious to the organization that the current core isn't good enough and will eventually have to get break it up... what does all that experience mean then? what does winning a round mean if the year after, one of your core players walks and you need to rebuild... it doesn't mean anything... therefore, the idea of strategizing and trying to matchup with your opponents for one round is pointless... if anything, winning a round will only give this team false hope and continue to role with a team, coach and philosophy that is not championship level...

okc is a prime example of what I'm talking about... if we actually had okc level talent and it was obvious that our core was good enough to win it all, then taking baby steps with that current core is something i would be fine with... okc has been in contention year in and year out but just hasn't been able to put it all together... but going into the playoffs with that team is never a lost cause, and you want as much as possible to get favourable match ups because they have the talent to go all the way as long as they catch some breaks... the raptors on the other hand are NOT AT THAT LEVEL, and the sooner we can accept that and stop fooling ourselves into thinking that this current team can take us somewhere in the future, and the sooner the organization wakes up and realizes that, the better it is for our team... otherwise, all winning one round will do is give us false hope and will most likely lead to mediocrity for the near future.

[hsb]

Charlotte has made the biggest jump in the East? I liked the Lin pick up. MKG out but still 9-6 so far.

[knickerbocker2k2]

Charlotte has made the biggest jump in the East? I liked the Lin pick up. MKG out but still 9-6 so far.

Them and Pacers. East is legit strong. I think its Cavs #1, but then you have pretty much parity for #2 with Bulls, Hawks, Raptors, Pacers, and maybe Heat.

[hsb]

Yeah I'm watching the game versus Chicago right now, CJ Miles has so much confidence in his shot. Interesting to see how they stack up against the rest of the conference.

[RaptorsLife]

Pacers are the improve team in nba 10 -2 in there last 12 games