[CBSSports] NBA quarter-season grades for every East team, (Raptors B-)

[sca]

I think this article's worth a read, and while it doesn't say anything that we don't know about the Raptors, since it offers a fair perspective, reading about the other teams is fun as well:

Toronto Raptors: B-

Record: 7-15

The basics: 18th in offense, 22nd in defense, 21st in net rating (-3.0)
Reason for optimism: RJ Barrett has been one of the league's most improved players (when playing at home, at least).
Reason for pessimism: Toronto hasn't been impressive defensively and it can't expect opponents to continue shooting just 34.5% from deep.

The Raptors have lost eight games by six points or fewer, and their point differential suggests they "should" have two more wins than they do. In a way, their rebuilding season is going perfectly: there have been a bunch of good development stories (Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji), but four rookies (Ja'Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, Jamal Shead) have had opportunities to play meaningful minutes and they're still very much alive in the race to the bottom.

For now, at least. Scottie Barnes missed 11 games because of an orbital fracture and hasn't been particularly efficient overall, but it looks like he's going to flirt with triple-doubles just about every night. Immanuel Quickley has only played three games, but when he returns from an elbow injury, his pull-up shooting should open up the offense (which has not generated nearly enough 3s). If/when the team is close to fully healthy -- Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk have yet to make their season debuts -- Toronto's front office could be in an interesting position. -- James Herbert

Link to full article

[Thaddy]

I'm feeling optimistic about the team breaking to the 500 mark. We had close games and injuries to core players. The culture stuff is working and we're going to build ourselves up through the draft.

A 500 record for our team would likely mean 2 all stars. That could be Barnes and Barrett.

The realistic move would be to find teams who were in situations similar to us in the past who want to take a gamble on competing instead of tanking and selling our assets to them. This would include the Piston, Hawks, and Miami in the East. In the West it would be teams like the Clippers, Nuggets, Warriors, and Grizzlies.

We need to guess who has the best pick package to failure ratio. Ideally we build a competitive team as early as next year once we get a high lottery pick. That would give us a solid 2 man core, and another star could emerge from the Dick, IQ, Barrett, Walter, etc group.

I would consider Tobias Harris + picks for Barrett.

[mrdressup]

I'm feeling optimistic about the team breaking to the 500 mark. We had close games and injuries to core players. The culture stuff is working and we're going to build ourselves up through the draft.

A 500 record for our team would likely mean 2 all stars. That could be Barnes and Barrett.

The realistic move would be to find teams who were in situations similar to us in the past who want to take a gamble on competing instead of tanking and selling our assets to them. This would include the Piston, Hawks, and Miami in the East. In the West it would be teams like the Clippers, Nuggets, Warriors, and Grizzlies.

We need to guess who has the best pick package to failure ratio. Ideally we build a competitive team as early as next year once we get a high lottery pick. That would give us a solid 2 man core, and another star could emerge from the Dick, IQ, Barrett, Walter, etc group.

I would consider Tobias Harris + picks for Barrett.

We' ll see in the next little while. I don't see us winning that many games in the next few weeks. I was hoping for 10-30 at the halfway mark, but it's looking like we may make it to 15-25. Assuming 20-20 down the stretch (very doable with a healthier line-up), that gets us 35+ wins. It's not good, and it's probably needlessly good. The x-factor is injuries and trades. If we really feel like we're a play-in team go ahead and trade the pick now while people think it has all this glorious upside. That might be its greatest certain value.

[Boogie!]

No idea why he lumped all rookies together considering battle has been great

[Fairview4Life]

No idea why he lumped all rookies together considering battle has been great

It's in the context of a rebuilding season. Having 4 rookies playing significant minutes is a good thing, in that context.

[Deecee]

No idea why he lumped all rookies together considering battle has been great

It's in the context of a rebuilding season. Having 4 rookies playing significant minutes is a good thing, in that context.

Yes, but the writer was pretty clear the rookies haven't been good; "... there have been a bunch of good development stories (Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji), but four rookies (Ja'Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, Jamal Shead) have had opportunities to play meaningful minutes and they're still very much alive in the race to the bottom."

I think most would disagree as we follow the team, but for outside observers, none of the Raptors' rookies score a lot of points and the other stats are overlooked. That is one of reasons why Dalton Knecht gets lots of press whereas Jonathan Mogbo gets little even though he does all the other things really, really well. Just lazy-ass analysis. Venting over.

[ontnut]

No idea why he lumped all rookies together considering battle has been great

It's in the context of a rebuilding season. Having 4 rookies playing significant minutes is a good thing, in that context.

Yes, but the writer was pretty clear the rookies haven't been good; "... there have been a bunch of good development stories (Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji), but four rookies (Ja'Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, Jamal Shead) have had opportunities to play meaningful minutes and they're still very much alive in the race to the bottom."

I think most would disagree as we follow the team, but for outside observers, none of the Raptors' rookies score a lot of points and the other stats are overlooked. That is one of reasons why Dalton Knecht gets lots of press whereas Jonathan Mogbo gets little even though he does all the other things really, really well. Just lazy-ass analysis. Venting over.

I wouldn't worry too much. US sports media is...well...US based.
Knecht is older and scores points, being a scorer - gets press. Mogbo is younger and defends and brings energy, being an energy guy - doesn't get press.
MEANWHILE
ESPN top 25 under 25....
Tari Eason a 23.57 year old averaging 11/6/1/2/1 on 47.3/30/76.5% is a slightly younger defender/energy guy, ranked 24 over
RJ Barrett a 24.47 year old averaging 24.5/6.5/6/0.8/0.3 on 46/35.5/70% who is slightly older and scores over double the pts.

Yes, Eason is very good at defence, but in one instance, scoring gets you press while in another it doesn't. US media is just selective like that. Whatever. We know the MO.

[ontnut]

I agree with the grade. I'd have been more generous with a B, but it's whatever. Team has been more competitive than expected, especially with all the injuries. But we're still in a position to get a good pick this year. I do hope we continue along this path of being competitive in losses - developing the young guys and hopefully grabbing another 1-2 picks in the draft via one or more of our vets. If we make a trade for a 1st rounder this year and grab a top 7ish pick of our own, I don't see how this isn't an "A" season.

[Vampirate]

I agree with the grade. I'd have been more generous with a B, but it's whatever. Team has been more competitive than expected, especially with all the injuries. But we're still in a position to get a good pick this year. I do hope we continue along this path of being competitive in losses - developing the young guys and hopefully grabbing another 1-2 picks in the draft via one or more of our vets. If we make a trade for a 1st rounder this year and grab a top 7ish pick of our own, I don't see how this isn't an "A" season.

Barnes has looked like he's progressing, RJ looks steady next to Barnes, but the biggest difference is Gradey seems to have taken a jump, and our bench is much better than last year.

We'll all take Davion over Mcdaniels lol.

Gradey taking a jump puts the current core a notch better than it looked last year.

[LarSiN]

I'm feeling optimistic about the team breaking to the 500 mark. We had close games and injuries to core players. The culture stuff is working and we're going to build ourselves up through the draft.

A 500 record for our team would likely mean 2 all stars. That could be Barnes and Barrett.

The realistic move would be to find teams who were in situations similar to us in the past who want to take a gamble on competing instead of tanking and selling our assets to them. This would include the Piston, Hawks, and Miami in the East. In the West it would be teams like the Clippers, Nuggets, Warriors, and Grizzlies.

We need to guess who has the best pick package to failure ratio. Ideally we build a competitive team as early as next year once we get a high lottery pick. That would give us a solid 2 man core, and another star could emerge from the Dick, IQ, Barrett, Walter, etc group.

I would consider Tobias Harris + picks for Barrett.

I wouldn't, personally

[Indeed]

With the injuries, it would be B+.
However, the question is the ceiling of the team. I think we are similar to the Heats, but the Heats can attract free agents if they have cap space.