25 Game Check-In - How are you feeling?

[Scase]

Hard to answer honestly, somewhat happy with the performance of the players, but somewhat unhappy with our record. I worry that some extra unneeded wins will bite us in the ass at the end of the season.

But apparently this team is legally not allowed to be healthy, so who knows.

They should have a much better record. They have won more quarters then they have lost, plus they have played a lot off really good teams. If they ever get healthy they may still get in the play-in. I highly doubt that they finish in the bottom 5 or anything like that but just hoping to avoid the play-in.

I disagree with them having a much better record, but healthy I could see a couple more wins. Could they hit bottom 5 with a healthy team, not very likely. I had them pegged around 28-32 wins healthy, which would have had us at like 11th in the east last year.

Personally, I think that is right around the worst place a team can be. Not good enough to do anything that matters, and not bad enough to get a potential franchise altering pick. The difference between 7th and 3rd worst last year was just 6 wins, and that was taking into account 2 of the worst seasons in a long time with the Pistons and Wiz hitting 14 and 15 wins.

The only team on pace for that bad of a season this year are the wiz, so overall it should be "easier" to bottom out compared to last year. Our current win rate would had placed us 6th worst last year, and arguably there's a couple wins that we would have otherwise dropped by missing Scottie/Jak, which would place us firmly in the bottom 5.

It is a lot more achievable than people think.

[Clutch0z24]

Happiest i been in a few years as a fan....I always knew the Siakam lead team post Kawhi were never good enough to win anything so i was always waiting for a shake up....The KD rumors that swirled brought some hope to many but Masai did not want to give up on Barnes so at that moment he picked a lane....The seasons following that were not enjoyable at all for me the only fun was watching Barnes grow...

This season feels fresh and like a true new start in Raptors basketball...Dick playing better than i expected, We have a bunch of young development talent....We are obviously still not a competitive team right now but we are prolly about to add another great prospect in the upcoming draft with high lotto odds to jump up on draft night...

This season is lost but our future is bright.

[wegotthabeet]

One of my favorite seasons ever. Probably top five.

[TravisScott55]

Keep losing competitive games, this is perfect.

[DKB333]

Hard to answer honestly, somewhat happy with the performance of the players, but somewhat unhappy with our record. I worry that some extra unneeded wins will bite us in the ass at the end of the season.

But apparently this team is legally not allowed to be healthy, so who knows.

They should have a much better record. They have won more quarters then they have lost, plus they have played a lot off really good teams. If they ever get healthy they may still get in the play-in. I highly doubt that they finish in the bottom 5 or anything like that but just hoping to avoid the play-in.

I disagree with them having a much better record, but healthy I could see a couple more wins. Could they hit bottom 5 with a healthy team, not very likely. I had them pegged around 28-32 wins healthy, which would have had us at like 11th in the east last year.

Personally, I think that is right around the worst place a team can be. Not good enough to do anything that matters, and not bad enough to get a potential franchise altering pick. The difference between 7th and 3rd worst last year was just 6 wins, and that was taking into account 2 of the worst seasons in a long time with the Pistons and Wiz hitting 14 and 15 wins.

The only team on pace for that bad of a season this year are the wiz, so overall it should be "easier" to bottom out compared to last year. Our current win rate would had placed us 6th worst last year, and arguably there's a couple wins that we would have otherwise dropped by missing Scottie/Jak, which would place us firmly in the bottom 5.

It is a lot more achievable than people think.

They have played a brutal schedule and keep losing winnable games. Once the schedule gets easier and the team gets healthier they are going to start winning more games. If they trade Poeltl though for manly picks that would help the tank tremendously obviously. I just do not think that will happen.

[Scase]

They should have a much better record. They have won more quarters then they have lost, plus they have played a lot off really good teams. If they ever get healthy they may still get in the play-in. I highly doubt that they finish in the bottom 5 or anything like that but just hoping to avoid the play-in.

I disagree with them having a much better record, but healthy I could see a couple more wins. Could they hit bottom 5 with a healthy team, not very likely. I had them pegged around 28-32 wins healthy, which would have had us at like 11th in the east last year.

Personally, I think that is right around the worst place a team can be. Not good enough to do anything that matters, and not bad enough to get a potential franchise altering pick. The difference between 7th and 3rd worst last year was just 6 wins, and that was taking into account 2 of the worst seasons in a long time with the Pistons and Wiz hitting 14 and 15 wins.

The only team on pace for that bad of a season this year are the wiz, so overall it should be "easier" to bottom out compared to last year. Our current win rate would had placed us 6th worst last year, and arguably there's a couple wins that we would have otherwise dropped by missing Scottie/Jak, which would place us firmly in the bottom 5.

It is a lot more achievable than people think.

They have played a brutal schedule and keep losing winnable games. Once the schedule gets easier and the team gets healthier they are going to start winning more games. If they trade Poeltl though for manly picks that would help the tank tremendously obviously. I just do not think that will happen.

I'll keep posting this Jokic quote until I'm blue in the face lol....

"I think the good teams win even when they play bad, and bad teams always find a way to lose games, even when they’re up."

If they were winnable, they'd have won them, Darko isn't pulling absurd timeouts like they do in Utah to lose games, the guys are just not performing in close games. That said, it is a young team, so it's not surprising and should get better over the years, but those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about ruining our relatively easy to manage draft position.

I've also come around a bit on the whole trading Jak thing, I'm fine with us just sitting him with "injuries" strategically to prevent those useless wins. So I don't think trading him is necessary.

[canada_dry]

Hate the injuries

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

[PhilBlackson]

Assuming we stay the course for a top 5 pick, great.

I actually can't picture a better scenario.

[DKB333]

I disagree with them having a much better record, but healthy I could see a couple more wins. Could they hit bottom 5 with a healthy team, not very likely. I had them pegged around 28-32 wins healthy, which would have had us at like 11th in the east last year.

Personally, I think that is right around the worst place a team can be. Not good enough to do anything that matters, and not bad enough to get a potential franchise altering pick. The difference between 7th and 3rd worst last year was just 6 wins, and that was taking into account 2 of the worst seasons in a long time with the Pistons and Wiz hitting 14 and 15 wins.

The only team on pace for that bad of a season this year are the wiz, so overall it should be "easier" to bottom out compared to last year. Our current win rate would had placed us 6th worst last year, and arguably there's a couple wins that we would have otherwise dropped by missing Scottie/Jak, which would place us firmly in the bottom 5.

It is a lot more achievable than people think.

They have played a brutal schedule and keep losing winnable games. Once the schedule gets easier and the team gets healthier they are going to start winning more games. If they trade Poeltl though for manly picks that would help the tank tremendously obviously. I just do not think that will happen.

I'll keep posting this Jokic quote until I'm blue in the face lol....

"I think the good teams win even when they play bad, and bad teams always find a way to lose games, even when they’re up."

If they were winnable, they'd have won them, Darko isn't pulling absurd timeouts like they do in Utah to lose games, the guys are just not performing in close games. That said, it is a young team, so it's not surprising and should get better over the years, but those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about ruining our relatively easy to manage draft position.

I've also come around a bit on the whole trading Jak thing, I'm fine with us just sitting him with "injuries" strategically to prevent those useless wins. So I don't think trading him is necessa

The Pelicans/Jazz/Blazers/Wizards/Hornets/Pistons/Bulls/Pacers/Nets are at most only 3 games ahead of the Raptors. A lot of teams stink.

[Scase]

They have played a brutal schedule and keep losing winnable games. Once the schedule gets easier and the team gets healthier they are going to start winning more games. If they trade Poeltl though for manly picks that would help the tank tremendously obviously. I just do not think that will happen.

I'll keep posting this Jokic quote until I'm blue in the face lol....

"I think the good teams win even when they play bad, and bad teams always find a way to lose games, even when they’re up."

If they were winnable, they'd have won them, Darko isn't pulling absurd timeouts like they do in Utah to lose games, the guys are just not performing in close games. That said, it is a young team, so it's not surprising and should get better over the years, but those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about ruining our relatively easy to manage draft position.

I've also come around a bit on the whole trading Jak thing, I'm fine with us just sitting him with "injuries" strategically to prevent those useless wins. So I don't think trading him is necessary.

Winning games against the bad teams is what you should be worried about.

That's what I said though lol

those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about

[DKB333]

I'll keep posting this Jokic quote until I'm blue in the face lol....



If they were winnable, they'd have won them, Darko isn't pulling absurd timeouts like they do in Utah to lose games, the guys are just not performing in close games. That said, it is a young team, so it's not surprising and should get better over the years, but those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about ruining our relatively easy to manage draft position.

I've also come around a bit on the whole trading Jak thing, I'm fine with us just sitting him with "injuries" strategically to prevent those useless wins. So I don't think trading him is necessary.

Winning games against the bad teams is what you should be worried about.

That's what I said though lol

those later season games against worse teams are the wins I am most concerned about

Misread, my glasses broke.The Pelicans/Jazz/Blazers/Wizards/Hornets/Pistons/Bulls/Pacers/Nets are at most only 3 games ahead of the Raptor. A lot of teams stink. All of those teams other then the Pacers/Pistons probably are sellers as well and want to get worse.

[Childs]

They are where they should be. I will start to have expectations next year. The Scottie, RJ, and IQ combo seems like a mirage at this pt.

[JJWong17]

Somewhat happy. I'd be happier if I could see the core playing with each other but the vibes are good, Scottie seems to be taking the next step, RJ is balling out, Dick is way more improved than expected, Mogbo looks very interesting and Walter is giving off nice flashes of play

[YogurtProducer]

I hate how the NBA has led to a team who is on pace to finish 22-60 might have "extra unneeded wins".

Typical loser talk i guess. Rooting against your own team will never feel right.

Sorry I am not simple enough to find happiness in mediocrity, you do you though.

Tried my hardest to make it clear that is not what I was trying to say, but hey of course you have to be a victim and try to feel superior.

[GIZMO]

I mean, whatever?

We're competitive and playing hard. Our young players are playing decently. I'd like to see KO and Brown out the door.

But we're trending to a top 8ish pick which is nice.

and Chris Boucher

[Shakril]

I hate how the NBA has led to a team who is on pace to finish 22-60 might have "extra unneeded wins".

Typical loser talk i guess. Rooting against your own team will never feel right.

Sorry I am not simple enough to find happiness in mediocrity, you do you though.

So your Logic is:

"They look medicore, but i want them to suck" -> yes thats loser talk

Funny thing though is - the raps are playing really entertaining and good Basketball - exactly what a fan would like. If you arent entertained by that, than its not your sport to watch.

But well, some like misery and the more the team suck the more happy they are. I can recommend the wizards - with them you will feel the happy misery you are looking for.

[Scase]

Typical loser talk i guess. Rooting against your own team will never feel right.

Sorry I am not simple enough to find happiness in mediocrity, you do you though.

So your Logic is:

"They look medicore, but i want them to suck" -> yes thats loser talk

Funny thing though is - the raps are playing really entertaining and good Basketball - exactly what a fan would like. If you arent entertained by that, than its not your sport to watch.

But well, some like misery and the more the team suck the more happy they are. I can recommend the wizards - with them you will feel the happy misery you are looking for.

Nice strawman.

I am quite happy with the compete level and I enjoy watching the games, and I still want them to lose. I'm not some instant gratification fan that needs them to try and win every meaningless game. I understand that sometimes you need to do things that suck now, to be better later.

Cheering to lose, and being annoyed when they win are two different things. But I wouldn't expect someone like you to have that much depth of thought.

[Brinbe]

The recent Scottie injury has knocked it from a 3 to a 2. The tanking is fine but we still need to see the 'core' of this team play together for a stretch, if only for further evaluation, and it's looking like it may be a bit of a lost season in that regard. They may have time together in the 2nd half but I think that time will be a bit compromised as teams will be trying to tank themselves so I don't think we'll get much of a real read on things.

Otherwise, we've gotten some okay contributions from the youngsters and it looks like Gradey, Ochai, Mogbo, Walter could/will be possible future rotation mainstays and others like Battle may have a shot too. RJ is also looking like he's solidifing himself into a good, though imperfect contributor, and his ceiling could reach all star level in the right circumstances. And Scottie is looking like a very god core piece that you can win with, as he drastically affects winning just by himself, but it's clear that he needs better players around him for the team to really contend.

I think the drafts/transactions in the next two seasons will still obviously be key in terms of seeing what sort of possible future ceiling we have here and if they can reach a real contending level or if they're destined for the dreaded treadmill.

Maybe some people will be content with perrenial playoff status and 40 or so wins per year, but I'd hope Masai has his sights aimed higher.

[OakleyDokely]

On pace for a high pick.

Dick is progressing nicely.

The rooks are already contributing to competitive basketball.

Darko is looking solid in terms of player development.

Barrett is showing big offensive flashes.

Poeltl is playing out of his mind.

I'm really optimistic. The only big negatives have been the injuries to Barnes and IQ. Haven't been able to see much from them.

[tecumseh18]

I'm really optimistic. The only big negatives have been the injuries to Barnes and IQ. Haven't been able to see much from them.

We'll see them next year. Darko has even mentioned how good the 2026 draft will be, so I don't think the plan was to gear up this season to contend next season. 2025-2026 is when we see how all the parts fit together collectively. This is the season to get as many minutes for Walker, Mogbo and Dick as possible, and draft as high as possible. Barnes and IQ being out of the way facilitates that. Also, their injuries will make it easier to showcase Brown and even Boucher before the trade deadline.

Don't think Raps will be in position to draft a superstar in 2026, but with two picks in the teens, we're likely to come away with something. Or trade them for the next disgruntled superstar to come on the market.