GT#37 HAWKS @ RAPTORS Jan 5th @ 7:30 PM EST on TSN/590

F22_Raptor · Post #1 » by **F22_Raptor** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 4:48 am

Read on Twitter

Spoiler:

HumbleRen · Post #2 » by **HumbleRen** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 5:20 am

Let’s go for the 0-4 sweep.

GoRapstheoriginal · Post #3 » by **GoRapstheoriginal** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 7:45 am

GO RAPTORS GO! LETS GO RAPTORS! WE GOT THIS! #TEAM POSITIVEPOLLY! ALL ABOARD! CHOO CHOO!

!

Mikistan · Post #4 » by **Mikistan** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 9:00 am

Hawk it to them!

Post #5 » by **CPT** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 9:46 am

NBA schedule is so weird

Son Goku 25 · Post #6 » by **Son Goku 25** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 12:07 pm

Back to back same location with same team? Interesting

Raptorfan2012 · Post #7 » by **Raptorfan2012** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 12:43 pm

Again?!

NinjaBro · Post #8 » by **NinjaBro** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 1:31 pm

Another easy win, let's go!!!

Jerry Lucas · Post #9 » by **Jerry Lucas** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 2:18 pm

NinjaBro wrote:Another easy win, let's go!!!

You just can't help it eh NinjaBro? Jinxing the Jays out of winning the World Series wasn't enough for you? When will your reign of terror end?

Thaddy · Post #10 » by **Thaddy** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 2:20 pm

We should have a standings watch thread.

The East seems tight. We have a major 7 games coming up for us too. This game, Hornets, and then Celtics/Philly are major games where we can add distance between us and the others to maintain homecourt in the first round. The 2nd seed seems to be very possible for us and I would expect the Pistons to drop down the standings. That first seed isn't out of the question.

We had some serious injuries this season already. The most notable being Poeltl. Once he's back we should be firing on all cylinders and be able to push for a strong finish to the season.

I really think we should consider a cheap C option even if we need to throw in a 2027 1st rounder. If we could have our back up SGs show up consistently then RJ + 1st for a long term C option would be the ideal trade. Another defensive C that can deter shots at the rim would be incredible for us.

NinjaBro · Post #11 » by **NinjaBro** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 2:50 pm

Jerry Lucas wrote:
NinjaBro wrote:Another easy win, let's go!!!

You just can't help it eh NinjaBro? Jinxing the Jays out of winning the World Series wasn't enough for you? When will your reign of terror end?

It ends tonight when we sweep the hawks.

Brinbe · Post #12 » by **Brinbe** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 3:18 pm

lol i'm sure the hawks have had tons of fun being stuck around here for the past three days.

Jerry Lucas · Post #13 » by **Jerry Lucas** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 3:22 pm

NinjaBro wrote:
Jerry Lucas wrote:
NinjaBro wrote:Another easy win, let's go!!!

You just can't help it eh NinjaBro? Jinxing the Jays out of winning the World Series wasn't enough for you? When will your reign of terror end?
It ends tonight when we sweep the hawks.

Doubling down on the jinx...insanity. :lol:

If we lose tonight it's going to be 100% your fault NinjaBro. Just like the Nuggets game the other day.

YogurtProducer · Post #14 » by **YogurtProducer** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 3:48 pm

Thaddy wrote:We should have a standings watch thread.

The East seems tight. We have a major 7 games coming up for us too. This game, Hornets, and then Celtics/Philly are major games where we can add distance between us and the others to maintain homecourt in the first round. The 2nd seed seems to be very possible for us and I would expect the Pistons to drop down the standings. That first seed isn't out of the question.

We had some serious injuries this season already. The most notable being Poeltl. Once he's back we should be firing on all cylinders and be able to push for a strong finish to the season.

I really think we should consider a cheap C option even if we need to throw in a 2027 1st rounder. If we could have our back up SGs show up consistently then RJ + 1st for a long term C option would be the ideal trade. Another defensive C that can deter shots at the rim would be incredible for us.

I feel like there is a much bigger chance we finish 8th seed or lower than we do the 1st seed.

Also, after seeing what RJ can do for our team, just throwing him into trades is wild :lol:

Our best case scenario this year is Poeltl takes off a month or two and comes back and is like 90% of what we know he can be.

bape_lovers · Post #15 » by **bape_lovers** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 4:10 pm

**** day to get back to work :banghead:

Brinbe wrote:lol i'm sure the hawks have had tons of fun being stuck around here for the past three days.

Post #16 » by **Duffman100** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 4:13 pm

YogurtProducer wrote:
Thaddy wrote:We should have a standings watch thread.

The East seems tight. We have a major 7 games coming up for us too. This game, Hornets, and then Celtics/Philly are major games where we can add distance between us and the others to maintain homecourt in the first round. The 2nd seed seems to be very possible for us and I would expect the Pistons to drop down the standings. That first seed isn't out of the question.

We had some serious injuries this season already. The most notable being Poeltl. Once he's back we should be firing on all cylinders and be able to push for a strong finish to the season.

I really think we should consider a cheap C option even if we need to throw in a 2027 1st rounder. If we could have our back up SGs show up consistently then RJ + 1st for a long term C option would be the ideal trade. Another defensive C that can deter shots at the rim would be incredible for us.

I feel like there is a much bigger chance we finish 8th seed or lower than we do the 1st seed.

Also, after seeing what RJ can do for our team, just throwing him into trades is wild

Our best case scenario this year is Poeltl takes off a month or two and comes back and is like 90% of what we know he can be.

Looking at the standings, it's hard to believe the Magic/Cavs will stay where they are. That likely pushes us into the 5-8 range which makes a lot of sense. I don't see the Bulls/Bucks/Hawks/Hornets as any sort of standings threat.

So the hope is to stay ahead of Miami/Philly and maybe the Celtics regress a little.

causal_fan · Post #17 » by **causal_fan** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 4:13 pm

Thaddy wrote:We should have a standings watch thread.

The East seems tight. We have a major 7 games coming up for us too. This game, Hornets, and then Celtics/Philly are major games where we can add distance between us and the others to maintain homecourt in the first round. The 2nd seed seems to be very possible for us and I would expect the Pistons to drop down the standings. That first seed isn't out of the question.

We had some serious injuries this season already. The most notable being Poeltl. Once he's back we should be firing on all cylinders and be able to push for a strong finish to the season.

I really think we should consider a cheap C option even if we need to throw in a 2027 1st rounder. If we could have our back up SGs show up consistently then RJ + 1st for a long term C option would be the ideal trade. Another defensive C that can deter shots at the rim would be incredible for us.

Whatever you're smoking, STOP IT!

YogurtProducer · Post #18 » by **YogurtProducer** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 4:28 pm

Duffman100 wrote:
YogurtProducer wrote:
Thaddy wrote:We should have a standings watch thread.

The East seems tight. We have a major 7 games coming up for us too. This game, Hornets, and then Celtics/Philly are major games where we can add distance between us and the others to maintain homecourt in the first round. The 2nd seed seems to be very possible for us and I would expect the Pistons to drop down the standings. That first seed isn't out of the question.

We had some serious injuries this season already. The most notable being Poeltl. Once he's back we should be firing on all cylinders and be able to push for a strong finish to the season.

I really think we should consider a cheap C option even if we need to throw in a 2027 1st rounder. If we could have our back up SGs show up consistently then RJ + 1st for a long term C option would be the ideal trade. Another defensive C that can deter shots at the rim would be incredible for us.

I feel like there is a much bigger chance we finish 8th seed or lower than we do the 1st seed.

Also, after seeing what RJ can do for our team, just throwing him into trades is wild

Our best case scenario this year is Poeltl takes off a month or two and comes back and is like 90% of what we know he can be.

Looking at the standings, it's hard to believe the Magic/Cavs will stay where they are. That likely pushes us into the 5-8 range which makes a lot of sense. I don't see the Bulls/Bucks/Hawks/Hornets as any sort of standings threat.

So the hope is to stay ahead of Miami/Philly and maybe the Celtics regress a little.

I think DET/NYK are the top 2 if they stay relatively healthy.

3-4 is likely CLE / BOS. Signs are pointing toward a Tatum return this year as well.

5 is likely ORL

6-7-8 is us, PHI, and MIA.

I really could see us finishing anywhere from 3 to 8.

dozo · Post #19 » by **dozo** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 5:22 pm

NAW (9th year - 27yr) is a good example of being patience with prospects. (if they can stay healthy)

Walter is a prospect I believe can develop into a player with a similar playing style. He’s already shown counters when getting into the paint(as a rookie). Improving his handles will be the key to reach the next level of his game.

It would be disappointing if the Raptors (the analytics department) limited his development into a 3D guard role.

JCP11 · Post #20 » by **JCP11** » Mon Jan 5, 2026 5:40 pm

dozo wrote:NAW (9th year - 27yr) is a good example of being patience with prospects. (if they can stay healthy)

Walter is a prospect I believe can develop into a player with a similar playing style. He’s already shown counters when getting into the paint(as a rookie). Improving his handles will be the key to reach the next level of his game.

It would be disappointing if the Raptors (the analytics department) limited his development into a 3D guard role.

That's up to him. Pascal started as an energy guy, Freddy as UFA tryout backend of the roster, Norm as a high flyer energy guy, all of them worked their butts off in the off season year after year to become the best version of themselves. Walter seems to have that dawg in him, i wouldn't put it past him to get there. Same could be said about CMB, i read a lot of comments here saying he won't anything special. The talent and the IQ is there to become more than what he is, it's up to him to put the work in and expand his game and reach his ceiling.