165bows wrote:I don’t get it I think Toronto stinks - they were awful and still look awful
They sat so many guys to improve lottery odds. But tanking seems over now, they want to take a step forward this year. Other teams in the conference are either significantly weaker from injury (BOS, IND) or they have another year incentivized to lose because of their pick outlook (WAS, BRK).
After the all star break, 3 man lineups with Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl was +11 net rating. But they only played together in 7 games (4-3) because of sitting guys for tanking.
Their younger guys looks really interesting. JaKobe Walter looks ready to take a big step. Gradey Dick, Mogbo, and Collin Murray Boyles all look like they could be pretty good. Shead is a winner. RJ Barrett is kind of a tank commander but otherwise, unless BI stinks, if they are actually trying to win and they are reasonably healthy, I think they look way better than 32.5 wins.
EDIT: on JaKobe Walter, after the break, he was 10pts/4reb/2ast on 40/41/93% and his net rating spread was +3.5 on a Toronto team actively trying to lose. And the dude was 20 yrs old. I think he's gonna have a nice season. Plus you look at Walter two man groups with the other Raptor starters after the all star and its
Walter + Poetlt : net rating +24 in seven games (3-4)
Walter + Quickley : net rating +14 in eleven games (5-6)
Walter + Barnes : netrating + 13 in thirteen games (7-6)
I like that kid JaKobe Walter, I also like Raptors coach. I think he's underrated. Plus main reason, is east is so bad and 2026 a great draft coming (with 2027 draft already forecast outlier weak) so expect so much tanking and Raps are not gonna tank. How do they not win >32 in this scenario???