Did Zach Lowe identify some convincing points for being low on Raptors?

[ontnut]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

[bluerap23]

We have a huge history of being underestimated by American media. Zach was the one guy that used to be reasonable about the raps - that was before he joined the dark side and started working for BS. It's probably in his contract.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

The stuff coming out of our basketball Media looks like propaganda.

[kleatius_01]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

There was always some support, even during the Lebronto years. We've never been a mainstream / ESPN darling, but some analytics focused writer would make a case. The last time I can remember such widespread negativity was during the late Colangelo era.

[Young Moosehead]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

There was always some support, even during the Lebronto years. We've never been a mainstream / ESPN darling, but some analytics focused writer would make a case. The last time I can remember such widespread negativity was during the late Colangelo era.

Was there? That much? I just asked Chatgpt to go back and take a look. Only 538 had us a one of the top 4 favourites for the Championship in 2018-19. I used the start of the regular season as a cut off date. We were seen as contenders, not favourites as the season started, our results changed minds. Even Vegas had us with long odds at +1800 before the season.

Now? Skip to ahead the 50 minute mark, and tell me if that was what the NBA analysis of our chip sounded like, even the year after we won.

Watch on YouTube

Raptors don't get their flowers until AFTER they have proven it, and our guys have moved on to be appreciated in a US market. Look back to the Lebronto teams you mentioned. A good example. The "Lebronto" Raptors of the 2010s was the strongest team in the east for the 2010s. Best regular season record and post season total wins. One of the few teams to win a chip in the dynasty heavy 2010s and we took down the all time great GSW to do it. And yet they were known as the Lebronto Raptors. Kind of proves the point doesn't it? The Heat, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors, the other top teams of that era are seen as top tier teams, some of them, of all time. Us? We're Lebronto. Even though only the Warriors enjoyed more sustained success for fromm2010-2019.

[djsunyc]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

michael pina on the ringer is the only podcast guy that thunks we can surprise.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Most of the ESPN people are from LA. So, they've probably seen what BI looks like first hand.

We're not going to develop some sort of new way to implement him.

[kleatius_01]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

michael pina on the ringer is the only podcast guy that thunks we can surprise.

Nice, we got one!

[kleatius_01]

Was there? That much? I just asked Chatgpt to go back and take a look. Only 538 had us a one of the top 4 favourites for the Championship in 2018-19. I used the start of the regular season as a cut off date. We were seen as contenders, not favourites as the season started, our results changed minds. Even Vegas had us with long odds at +1800 before the season.

Raptors don't get their flowers until AFTER they have proven it, and our guys have moved on to be appreciated in a US market. Look back to the Lebronto teams you mentioned. A good example. The "Lebronto" Raptors of the 2010s was the strongest team in the east for the 2010s. Best regular season record and post season total wins. One of the few teams to win a chip in the dynasty heavy 2010s and we took down the all time great GSW to do it. And yet they were known as the Lebronto Raptors. Kind of proves the point doesn't it? The Heat, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors, the other top teams of that era are seen as top tier teams, some of them, of all time. Us? We're Lebronto. Even though only the Warriors enjoyed more sustained success for fromm2010-2019.

My point is there was always some media analyst support for us in those years. Of course we weren't favorites in 2019, how often does a disgruntled superstar get traded and immediately win a chip? The team clicked and that plus the Warrior's injuries were the perfect storm. We also got the Lebronto nickname for a good reason, as we stank out the joint multiple times and Lebron laid the smackdown. Im not saying the broad media were homers for us like you appear to be, but there was always some support for the team.

As much as we dismiss nba analysts, a lot of them form their opinions based on the feedback they get directly from nba front offices. The widespread panning of our approach is concerning.

[DreamTeam09]

Most of the ESPN people are from LA. So, they've probably seen what BI looks like first hand.

We're not going to develop some sort of new way to implement him.

He was 27ppg with Lebron over his like 7 games before getting traded to NO at the age of 21. We are asking him to do the things he's naturally gifted at 6'9. Score the ball, shoot the ball, attract attention and pass the ball

[DreamTeam09]

Was there? That much? I just asked Chatgpt to go back and take a look. Only 538 had us a one of the top 4 favourites for the Championship in 2018-19. I used the start of the regular season as a cut off date. We were seen as contenders, not favourites as the season started, our results changed minds. Even Vegas had us with long odds at +1800 before the season.

Raptors don't get their flowers until AFTER they have proven it, and our guys have moved on to be appreciated in a US market. Look back to the Lebronto teams you mentioned. A good example. The "Lebronto" Raptors of the 2010s was the strongest team in the east for the 2010s. Best regular season record and post season total wins. One of the few teams to win a chip in the dynasty heavy 2010s and we took down the all time great GSW to do it. And yet they were known as the Lebronto Raptors. Kind of proves the point doesn't it? The Heat, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors, the other top teams of that era are seen as top tier teams, some of them, of all time. Us? We're Lebronto. Even though only the Warriors enjoyed more sustained success for fromm2010-2019.

My point is there was always some media analyst support for us in those years. Of course we weren't favorites in 2019, how often does a disgruntled superstar get traded and immediately win a chip? The team clicked and that plus the Warrior's injuries were the perfect storm. We also got the Lebronto nickname for a good reason, as we stank out the joint multiple times and Lebron laid the smackdown. Im not saying the broad media were homers for us like you appear to be, but there was always some support for the team.

As much as we dismiss nba analysts, a lot of them form their opinions based on the feedback they get directly from nba front offices. The widespread panning of our approach is concerning.

American media dismissive of the TORONTO Raptors, shocking huh?

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Most of the ESPN people are from LA. So, they've probably seen what BI looks like first hand.

We're not going to develop some sort of new way to implement him.

He was 27ppg with Lebron over his like 7 games before getting traded to NO at the age of 21. We are asking him to do the things he's naturally gifted at 6'9. Score the ball, shoot the ball, attract attention and pass the ball

Lakers didn't see him as a core piece. It was a "sell high" situation.

[ontnut]

I'm all for optimism, but has a single NBA analyst come out in support of the current team and direction? The outlook appears dire.

What do the analysts know anyway?
The same guys that largely ignored OG/Siakam when they were here, but then rode their jockstraps once they were traded?
Not that concerned.

There was always some support, even during the Lebronto years. We've never been a mainstream / ESPN darling, but some analytics focused writer would make a case. The last time I can remember such widespread negativity was during the late Colangelo era.

It's more a byproduct of us having a bad season last year. We got SOME positive attention because we were a ~50 win type team during most of those runs. We're not there yet, but we're also not like a 35 win team as constructed (and with health). I think the conversation will flip if we're around .500 say 2 months into the season. We'll get more respect. It's fine - I like us flying under the radar with our young team anyway - less pressure.