Former Raptor discussion thread 3.0

[Thaddy]

Dick is already better than Trent. It sad to see Gary Trent Jr turn into a scrub. The game is changing and you need more size. He needs to be working on his handle, game management, and vision to shift into a point guard role. I don't think he'll stay in the NBA unless he really improves.

Trent is almost 26. Not likely to improve handles nor assume a PG role ever. He's a finished product. And was for a while now.

The NBA has changed and it looks like Trent and FVV are cooked. It would have been a lot more sweet if we could have capitalized on their value instead of losing them for nothing.

[WaltFrazier]

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LOL And some here thought we were bad. These other fanbases don't hold back. Not sure some of them are suitable to put here.

https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rockets-does-amen-thompson-deserve-fred-vanvleet-minutes-ime-udoka


https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/headlines/fred-vanvleet-news-struggles-from-floor-thursday-465335

[WaltFrazier]

OG defense in New York:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/02/sports/og-anunoby-proving-to-be-knicks-keystone-on-defense/

More so than Bridges — who has also been a solid defender since the ugly opening night in Boston — Anunoby is both strong and quick enough to switch on 90 percent of the NBA players, give or take. In the win over Miami on Wednesday, for instance, he defended Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier.

“[OG] does some wild stuff on that side of the ball,” Brunson remarked.

Two nights later, coach Tom Thibodeau was absolutely gushing after Anunoby helped force the Pistons into 22 turnovers.

“We know how valuable he is to us,” Thibodeau said. “To me, he’s invaluable.”

His size, his strength, his speed, his anticipation, his ability to read and to see things ahead,” the coach said. “When you see things ahead, it makes you quicker. And that leads to a lot of disruption. And he knows how to read plays. If someone is loose with the ball, he’s very active with his hands. Disruptive off the ball but also very good on the ball, and he’s super long. So he can fly by you and he can come back into the play and still impact the shot.

“His pick-and-roll defense is unique. And then the fact that he can switch onto everybody. That’s what makes him very unique. And to me, it’s great for our team.”

“I’ve never seen a man swipe at the ball with two hands,” Towns said. “I’ve never seen that. His athleticism, his anticipation. But also just technique. The way he implements that into one play is not something a lot of NBA players can do.”

[Flush]

OG is one of my favourite players to watch on the defensive side of the court; to me he's the perfect piece on a championship team as like the 3rd option, he's just a perfect fit for almost every team

[ConSarnit]

Dick is already better than Trent. It sad to see Gary Trent Jr turn into a scrub. The game is changing and you need more size. He needs to be working on his handle, game management, and vision to shift into a point guard role. I don't think he'll stay in the NBA unless he really improves.

Trent f*cked up taking a min contract. Taking a 1 year "prove it" contract to try and get back out to make big money doesn't really work. If you're on a min deal what incentive do the Bucks have to invest in you? It's not like they're going to have bird rights to give Trent a big payday so if he starts out slow they can just relegate him to a lesser role because he's making the min.

Also, Trent will never, ever, become a point guard. He's one of the worst passing guards in the league. He's neve had any feel for playmaking for others. He didn't even really have to improve much to have a place in the league. All he had to do was be solid defensively and even that declined that past 2 years. If he's not going to defend he's going to be a min guy from here on out because he provides nothing but 3pt shooting. Malik Beasley 2.0 (even though Trent has far more defensive potential).

[Kingsway_fan]

So, so glad Fred and Gary are no longer on the roster...

[MiamiSPX]

Dick is already better than Trent. It sad to see Gary Trent Jr turn into a scrub. The game is changing and you need more size. He needs to be working on his handle, game management, and vision to shift into a point guard role. I don't think he'll stay in the NBA unless he really improves.

Trent f*cked up taking a min contract. Taking a 1 year "prove it" contract to try and get back out to make big money doesn't really work. If you're on a min deal what incentive do the Bucks have to invest in you? It's not like they're going to have bird rights to give Trent a big payday so if he starts out slow they can just relegate him to a lesser role because he's making the min.

Also, Trent will never, ever, become a point guard. He's one of the worst passing guards in the league. He's neve had any feel for playmaking for others. He didn't even really have to improve much to have a place in the league. All he had to do was be solid defensively and even that declined that past 2 years. If he's not going to defend he's going to be a min guy from here on out because he provides nothing but 3pt shooting. Malik Beasley 2.0 (even though Trent has far more defensive potential).

Yeah I noticed shortly after signing that both he and Rich Paul framed it as him intentionally taking a "prove it" deal. Hilariously false. He was essentially on the open market for 2 consecutive summers with no takers.

[Tha Cynic]

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It’s crazy how similar fanbases are when it comes to complaints.

Goes to show that it wasn’t some narrative the Raps fans made up. FVV playstyle just seems to inherently rub people the wrong way.

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

[MiamiSPX]

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

He has that irrational confidence and is one of the most articulate dudes in the league. I absolutely think it helps gloss over his play. The worry was always about how he would play this year with that massive TO looming.

[ConSarnit]

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It’s crazy how similar fanbases are when it comes to complaints.

Goes to show that it wasn’t some narrative the Raps fans made up. FVV playstyle just seems to inherently rub people the wrong way.

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

Why do you think he's not playing within himself? Here are his league-wide rankings for guards who play 20mpg+:

FGA: 63rd (12.4 per36)
Usage: 69th (16.1%, a career low)

The guy isn't taking that many shots, he's just playing crazy minutes (38mpg). His usage (16.1%) is a career low. Udoka is like Nurse, he's going to play guys he can count on defensively. FVV is shooting really poorly now but he'll see positive regression and be back to his normal 40/36/85 shooting splits. People don't realize that most coaches want steady play on the floor and that's why FVV sees minutes, even if his shot isn't falling. The casual fan only sees "guy not hitting shots in first 6 games of the season". There is a reason that good NBA coaches keep putting Fred out there.

[ConSarnit]

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

He has that irrational confidence and is one of the most articulate dudes in the league. I absolutely think it helps gloss over his play. The worry was always about how he would play this year with that massive TO looming.

If it's an ego thing with him why is he taking career low in fga (per 36) and why is his usage also a career low (16.1%)?

[Tha Cynic]

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

He has that irrational confidence and is one of the most articulate dudes in the league. I absolutely think it helps gloss over his play. The worry was always about how he would play this year with that massive TO looming.

If it's an ego thing with him why is he taking career low in fga (per 36) and why is his usage also a career low (16.1%)?

There's only so much you can get away with while shooting in the 30% range.

[MiamiSPX]

It's and ego thing with him. We have seen how good he can be when he just plays within himself. It kind of sucks that he's so refined in how he speaks as that is carrying him right now, and one of the reasons why the media here loved him - dude helped their jobs lol

He has that irrational confidence and is one of the most articulate dudes in the league. I absolutely think it helps gloss over his play. The worry was always about how he would play this year with that massive TO looming.

If it's an ego thing with him why is he taking career low in fga (per 36) and why is his usage also a career low (16.1%)?

I never said anything about his ego, just that it was always going to be interesting to see how he played this year. I haven't watched them yet this year but based on some clips I have seen, he was taking some really stupid shots. I have the same worry with Bruce Brown, where there is likely no chance in hell he ever makes this annual amount ever again, but you can be sure he wants to and would like to prove that is worth that (if he ever plays this year).

[Westside Gunn]

Anyone watching Norm. Gatdamn

[LBJKB24MJ23]

OG defense in New York:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/02/sports/og-anunoby-proving-to-be-knicks-keystone-on-defense/

More so than Bridges — who has also been a solid defender since the ugly opening night in Boston — Anunoby is both strong and quick enough to switch on 90 percent of the NBA players, give or take. In the win over Miami on Wednesday, for instance, he defended Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier.

“[OG] does some wild stuff on that side of the ball,” Brunson remarked.

Two nights later, coach Tom Thibodeau was absolutely gushing after Anunoby helped force the Pistons into 22 turnovers.

“We know how valuable he is to us,” Thibodeau said. “To me, he’s invaluable.”

His size, his strength, his speed, his anticipation, his ability to read and to see things ahead,” the coach said. “When you see things ahead, it makes you quicker. And that leads to a lot of disruption. And he knows how to read plays. If someone is loose with the ball, he’s very active with his hands. Disruptive off the ball but also very good on the ball, and he’s super long. So he can fly by you and he can come back into the play and still impact the shot.

“His pick-and-roll defense is unique. And then the fact that he can switch onto everybody. That’s what makes him very unique. And to me, it’s great for our team.”

“I’ve never seen a man swipe at the ball with two hands,” Towns said. “I’ve never seen that. His athleticism, his anticipation. But also just technique. The way he implements that into one play is not something a lot of NBA players can do.”

he's a generational defender in my books. love him and one of my fav raptors of all time in all honesty. his dead pan look is the reason i live.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Anyone watching Norm. Gatdamn

ya i take it back. i was wrong. give me Powell everyday. i was suckered into liking a young and promising player archtype but Powell is legit.

[Tripod]

Fred told everyone he needs to be a top 2 option.

[Westside Gunn]

350 million for OG and FVV

I think we got the most out of them for the best price. now the return on investment seem to be trash

[Duffman100]

Fred told everyone he needs to be a top 2 option.

Good lord.

[Brinbe]

Watch on YouTube

GROAT