GT: Hornets (4-9) @ Raptors (8-5) | Nov 17th 7:30 EST

[MiamiSPX]

First game back after a successful road trip can be a trap game. But, the Hornets are trash so that helps our cause. Put them away early and move on.

I have literally heard "trap game" in almost every game thread lol

Lol. I may live in the U.S. now but you can never take the Toronto out of me when it comes to our teams. Cautiously optimistic, but not at all surprised when it all goes down the drain.

[WuTang_CMB]

4 of the next 5 games are against the bottom feeders of the east. If we manage to win against philly, we could go 5-0 the next strech.

4-0 this week is very much on the table.

[MiamiSPX]

Must be depressing being a Hornets fan. Last time they made the playoffs was in 2015-2016 season almost ten years ago. The last time they even won a playoffs series was in 2001- 2002 that is extremely disappointing. What franchise would be worse to be a fan of the hornets, kings or pelicans?

100%. The thing with Charlotte is that they could probably attract notable FAs if they ever resembled a serious organization. The type of weather that most people love, and numerous current players are from the State.

[Duffman100]

Wizards have to be depressing too. I like their young core but damn, 1-12 to start the season... We all thought they were going to be a bit more promising this year.

The team is pretty meh.

McCollum and Middleton are way past their primes.

Bilal has regressed.

Kispert hasn't improved since his rookie year.

So you have Sarr, George and Tre, but those guys are still too young.

Right i forgot Tre, love him.

[C_Money]

Lamelo Ball is back from injury

[WuTang_CMB]

Lamelo Ball is back from injury

can easily see him going off and getting a triple double tonight

[ash_k]

I just hope we dont hear that "excuse" of "After a long road trip, the first game back...blah blah blah..."

[bboyskinnylegs]

Lamelo Ball is back from injury

can easily see him going off and getting a triple double tonight

and giving it all up on the other end like Trae. In any case, we need to stay focused. Hopefully the starters are motivated to figure something out so we don't give up the lead early this game.

[DreamTeam09]

Shead CMB Dick Mamu, if that bench unit actually is a good bench unit for the year then we are cooking something here. All really young in their careers, still with room to grow. 2 lottery picks to develop on the bench, really cool to see. They fired Masai while he left us in a good spot going forward.

[PushDaRock]

I just hope we dont hear that "excuse" of "After a long road trip, the first game back...blah blah blah..."

lol well it is actually a thing so will still need to overcome it. Weird crap also tends to happen against the Hornets.

[TeamDisgruntled]

Wizards have to be depressing too. I like their young core but damn, 1-12 to start the season... We all thought they were going to be a bit more promising this year.

I think the Wizards are on the clock next season. They need to nail the draft this season.

Agreed. They've amassed these B/C level prospects, they need an A+, franchising changing one now.

Sure, cause they traded their A- prospect for a bag of balls.

[bballsparkin]

The team is pretty meh.

McCollum and Middleton are way past their primes.

Bilal has regressed.

Kispert hasn't improved since his rookie year.

So you have Sarr, George and Tre, but those guys are still too young.

If I'm going to be patient with Gradey, I will also be patient with Bilal. He's slightly younger than GD. Kispert I feel like would be a great addition on a good team. His shooting numbers are nice this season. .500 FG%, .383 3P% with an eFG% of .625. But he's only getting 19 minutes per game. George is looking like a great pick. I'm a Tre doubter.

[earthtone]

I think the Wizards are on the clock next season. They need to nail the draft this season.

Agreed. They've amassed these B/C level prospects, they need an A+, franchising changing one now.

Sure, cause they traded their A- prospect for a bag of balls.

The Deni contract was the best piece of business the Wizards have done in the past decade or so, and then they immediately turn around and trade him.

This is why I'm so lenient with judging players on bad teams. Guys are coming into the league in situations where they're set up to fail. Expecting a 19-year old to come in and undo years of organizational incompetence is an impossible ask.

[earthtone]

The team is pretty meh.

McCollum and Middleton are way past their primes.

Bilal has regressed.

Kispert hasn't improved since his rookie year.

So you have Sarr, George and Tre, but those guys are still too young.

If I'm going to be patient with Gradey, I will also be patient with Bilal. He's slightly younger than GD. Kispert I feel like would be a great addition on a good team. His shooting numbers are nice this season. .500 FG%, .383 3P% with an eFG% of .625. But he's only getting 19 minutes per game. George is looking like a great pick. I'm a Tre doubter.

Saying Bilal has regressed is absolutely crazy IMO, he's been battling injury and has only finished 4 games this year. No where near enough game tape on him to even start thinking about regression

[mtcan]

Agreed. They've amassed these B/C level prospects, they need an A+, franchising changing one now.

Sure, cause they traded their A- prospect for a bag of balls.

The Deni contract was the best piece of business the Wizards have done in the past decade or so, and then they immediately turn around and trade him.

This is why I'm so lenient with judging players on bad teams. Guys are coming into the league in situations where they're set up to fail. Expecting a 19-year old to come in and undo years of organizational incompetence is an impossible ask.

Ya that was a really stupid move. Deni is on a very team friendly contract and so far...Bub Carrington isn't starter worthy.

There is a non-zero chance that the Wizards get a top 5 pick in this upcoming draft and will still suck for the next 5 years because they seem like a rudderless ship sometimes.

[Psubs]

Shead CMB Dick Mamu, if that bench unit actually is a good bench unit for the year then we are cooking something here. All really young in their careers, still with room to grow. 2 lottery picks to develop on the bench, really cool to see. They fired Masai while he left us in a good spot going forward.

New Bench Mob 3.0! Youngin's!

[Brinbe]

It is pretty great that they're all so young. Yak is the elder and he's barely cracked 30. Seems notable when so many teams are so old too.

[Tor_Raps]

I just hope we dont hear that "excuse" of "After a long road trip, the first game back...blah blah blah..."

I can already picture Devlin saying exactly that if we're down in this game. Hopefully we wont have to hear it lol

[Son Goku 25]

I think Lawson being back with Raptors main squad will offset any random scrub going off on us or the after a long road trip excuse.

[LLJ]

Must be depressing being a Hornets fan. Last time they made the playoffs was in 2015-2016 season almost ten years ago. The last time they even won a playoffs series was in 2001- 2002 that is extremely disappointing. What franchise would be worse to be a fan of the hornets, kings or pelicans?

100%. The thing with Charlotte is that they could probably attract notable FAs if they ever resembled a serious organization. The type of weather that most people love, and numerous current players are from the State.

They need one breakthrough season and a good decently marketable player. A lot of times I even forget they exist until we have to face them on our schedule. They're not laughed at as a joke like the Knicks were through the 2000s, they're just not talked about at all. Even drafting someone like Barnes would have done wonders for them.