Almost everyone has something to prove
Moderators: 7 Footer, Morris_Shatford, DG88, niQ, Duffman100, tsherkin, Reeko, lebron stopper, HiJiNX
Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 99,517
- And1: 73,264
- Joined: Dec 28, 2003
Almost everyone has something to prove
iq - health and justify the contract
rj - oh, nobody wants me?
bi - health and becoming an all star
scottie - all nba and winning
the yoots on the bench - rookie deals vying for mins and then $$$s
darko - this is not shame - time to win!
bobby - i want the job mr. pelley!
from top down the entire team has something to play for - can't remember the last time our squad was like that.
rj - oh, nobody wants me?
bi - health and becoming an all star
scottie - all nba and winning
the yoots on the bench - rookie deals vying for mins and then $$$s
darko - this is not shame - time to win!
bobby - i want the job mr. pelley!
from top down the entire team has something to play for - can't remember the last time our squad was like that.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Forum Mod - Raptors
- Posts: 91,241
- And1: 30,928
- Joined: Oct 14, 2003
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Let's hope this has a positive impact on the team, that they're hungry and motivated, and getting after it start to finish.
I'm looking forward to seeing what our bench mob looks like this year. We do have some interesting pieces whose development I am keen to watch.
I'm looking forward to seeing what our bench mob looks like this year. We do have some interesting pieces whose development I am keen to watch.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- MEDIC
- RealGM
- Posts: 20,288
- And1: 10,973
- Joined: Jul 25, 2006
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.

* Props to the man, the myth, the legend......TZ.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 31,960
- And1: 46,629
- Joined: Oct 14, 2018
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to prove lol.
If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.
If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Head Coach
- Posts: 6,259
- And1: 4,656
- Joined: Oct 19, 2004
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Head Coach
- Posts: 6,259
- And1: 4,656
- Joined: Oct 19, 2004
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Tor_Raps wrote:When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to provide lol.
If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.
Not if they make decision on Team President before end of offseason and that happens to be Bobby Webster with multi-year agreement.
This is why firing of Ujiri was really badly timed. Could've easily done the whole turn over of FO next offseason if things went south with this roster or have Webster continue on even without Ujiri for several more years if things go well. Now, it's all up in the air.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 31,960
- And1: 46,629
- Joined: Oct 14, 2018
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
kalel123 wrote:Tor_Raps wrote:When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to provide lol.
If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.
Not if they make decision on Team President before end of offseason and that happens to be Bobby Webster with multi-year agreement.
This is why firing of Ujiri was really badly timed. Could've easily done the whole turn over of FO next offseason if things went south with this roster or have Webster continue on even without Ujiri for several more years if things go well. Now, it's all up in the air.
Totally agree... since MLSE has already screwed up, theyd be better served allowing the season play out. If we suck, hire a new president to do whatever they want.
If we do well then let Bobby have the President role. Otherwise it could be a AA/Shapiro situation where we create a very awkward situation. Sadly, I have very little faith in MLSE to do the right thing.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Starter
- Posts: 2,057
- And1: 1,377
- Joined: Aug 09, 2014
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
MEDIC wrote:I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.
That team was very difficult to play against in the regular season but they played really hard both ways. This team will have to do that, and not just these bench guys, RJ, BI, quick too. And Gradey if he is going to have the bench role, All I care about is that he gives nothing less than 100 percent defensively every single play he’s out there. There are times that’s the case, and other times where it teeters off. RJ isn’t great there but I feel like the effort and focus is there; need that consistently from Gradey.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 43,681
- And1: 26,126
- Joined: Jul 11, 2009
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
I think the president decision will be made before the regular season starts
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 13,873
- And1: 10,670
- Joined: Jan 24, 2005
- Location: At the elbow - dropping dimes
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Overall something to prove to me focus on a few keys:
Does this defense first philosophy jives with winning? If it doesn't we have already seen how bad the offense can look with our bench during Summer League.
Does the Darko system work with an ISO guy like Ingram?
Lastly, have to see if if CMB is really a high floor prospect? His offense looked below par in SL where the defenses are not typically high level:
10.5 PPG
5.5 REB
2.0 AST
2.5 TOS
.571 FG
.222 3P
.571 FT
If he needs G-League time then we might need to bring in some forward help.
Does this defense first philosophy jives with winning? If it doesn't we have already seen how bad the offense can look with our bench during Summer League.
Does the Darko system work with an ISO guy like Ingram?
Lastly, have to see if if CMB is really a high floor prospect? His offense looked below par in SL where the defenses are not typically high level:
10.5 PPG
5.5 REB
2.0 AST
2.5 TOS
.571 FG
.222 3P
.571 FT
If he needs G-League time then we might need to bring in some forward help.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- bluerap23
- Head Coach
- Posts: 7,018
- And1: 7,201
- Joined: Aug 15, 2012
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
MEDIC wrote:I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.
It should be about the same defence with better offence if healthy.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 4,282
- And1: 5,610
- Joined: Mar 11, 2023
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
The one thing I like is that it seems everybody on the team expects to make the playoffs this year and do some damage.
Big difference from last year were it was obvious we were tanking from get go and you had Poeltl on media day saying that it doesn't matter if they win games.
Big difference from last year were it was obvious we were tanking from get go and you had Poeltl on media day saying that it doesn't matter if they win games.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- Badonkadonk
- General Manager
- Posts: 7,902
- And1: 12,483
- Joined: Jul 11, 2012
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Talent wins ultimately, but I do like that most of the key guys are eager to prove something. I also like that nearly everyone is on the right side of the development curve. I think both of those factors will help skew towards a positive outcome for the talent we have.

Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 11,502
- And1: 11,330
- Joined: Aug 13, 2021
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
We are just so young there is still lots of upside thru this roster.
Ignoring Coach Temple, we don't have a 30 year old whereas lots of other teams have multiple 30 year old starters.
BI is our 2nd oldest at age 27. Hell Mamu is our 3rd oldest at 26.
With youth means inconsistency. But lots of our youth also has experience. But there is lots of upside still.
Time to win....including for Darko. 45-50 wins here we come!
Ignoring Coach Temple, we don't have a 30 year old whereas lots of other teams have multiple 30 year old starters.
BI is our 2nd oldest at age 27. Hell Mamu is our 3rd oldest at 26.
With youth means inconsistency. But lots of our youth also has experience. But there is lots of upside still.
Time to win....including for Darko. 45-50 wins here we come!
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- Psubs
- RealGM
- Posts: 20,769
- And1: 11,878
- Joined: Nov 20, 2004
- Location: Toronto
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
kalel123 wrote:Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.
But they are stacked so deep that even an injury to a starter shouldn't be devastating.

Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 21,801
- And1: 13,749
- Joined: Nov 13, 2019
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Psubs wrote:kalel123 wrote:Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.
But they are stacked so deep that even an injury to a starter shouldn't be devastating.
Unless it's to Poeltl
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- hyper316
- RealGM
- Posts: 14,743
- And1: 10,032
- Joined: Dec 23, 2006
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Temple has nothing to prove, he's an undercover assistant coach masking as a player to fit in and babysit the young players
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- Pro Prospect
- Posts: 998
- And1: 141
- Joined: Jun 14, 2009
- Location: GTA
-
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
IQ and RJ have the most to prove with the shortest leash imo, the healthy internal competition should make things interesting with Shead/Walter/CMB on the cusp for a bigger role in the rotation.
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
-
- General Manager
- Posts: 8,889
- And1: 7,001
- Joined: Aug 22, 2017
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
- Thaddy
- Head Coach
- Posts: 6,428
- And1: 3,711
- Joined: Dec 12, 2022
Re: Almost everyone has something to prove
Great we'll have a bunch of guys looking for their own. Darko can't manage egos he seems like a pushover. It'll be a test for him.