Halfway Mark - Are you enjoying this season?

[Duffman100]

Considering we're 4th in the East, I'm curious where people's level of enjoyment/engagement are this season at around the halfway mark.

[sh00n]

Somewhat engaged and enjoying. Happy to be wrong about CMB and glad to see Scottie finally making the next step, bummed out about the regression from Gradey, who I really thought would be exactly what we needed when we drafted him. Really hope we stay away from AD and the rest of the damaged goods and just let the chips fall where they may.

[Consequence]

Sure, it has mostly been a bit above my expectations. Some absolutely infuriating losses have cut into my enjoyment in the moment, and Poeltl's back issues along with most of the youth pipeline not being consistent in the rotation have kept my long term view of the team slightly below where the record would have me.

[FunkaRaptor]

Definitely enjoying it more than last year. Very happy with CMB and Shead. Love the intensity they bring with Scotty, who I love. Martin brings that same intensity. Pleasantly surprised that Ingram's been healthy.

On the other hand, I don't see a path to get better than the top teams in the east, so it's hard to get 100% invested.

Very frustrated with Grady and Jakobe thus far and the abysmal team 3 point shooting.

[Psubs]

It feels like pre-Kawhi trade level team that is on the rise. Defense is already solid, just need everyone healthy.

I feel like they can make a run like last year's Pacers if they don't have to play Boston.

[sbsat]

I actually care again which is amaazing

[Sandman88]

Still not sold on this team getting past the first round of the playoffs, but am enjoying compared to last year where I was checked out by this point.

[MiamiSPX]

We won 55 games the previous 2 seasons, while watching horrendous ball, and a lot of really bad players.

This year has been incredible, and allowed me to re-engage. Like I said in the last game thread, our 2 best players are playing like it and are in the All-Star conversation. We nailed our 1st round pick. Shead looks like a legit backup PG, which we were lacking for so many years. Mamu was a steal of a FA signing.

Things look good IMO.

[Brinbe]

like an oasis in the desert after the past few years. not only are we good again but we have at least two franchise cornerstones in Scottie/CMB. really fun to watch a team organically find itself and steadily grow.

[Yallbecrazy]

Definitely enjoying it more than last year. Very happy with CMB and Shead. Love the intensity they bring with Scotty, who I love. Martin brings that same intensity. Pleasantly surprised that Ingram's been healthy.

On the other hand, I don't see a path to get better than the top teams in the east, so it's hard to get 100% invested.

Very frustrated with Grady and Jakobe thus far and the abysmal team 3 point shooting.

Adding a pick around #20-22 in next year's draft which is absolutely stacked especially at PG can get us over the hump into contender territory. We have to hit on that pick, but if we can add a near all star pg, we will have a combo guard scorer in Quickley off the bench and legit wings and bigs with RJ/Ingram/Scottie/CMB/Poeltl. Shead can also be a great backup PG.

It's not an easy task, but drafting in the early 20s in the 2026 draft could be similar to a top 8 pick in a lot of other drafts.

[ontnut]

I feel about the same as around 2013-14 post Gay trade.
We've made some good moves and have youth on the team, with a winning record.
The team is clearly incomplete, and smart moves will still be needed to be made in order to make a deeper playoff run, but the team is playing well enough to garner some attention, and there is hope.

[kalel123]

Team's been a bit better than I expected so I'm engaged but it's very frustrating the obvious gaping hole that the team has refused to fill is still there while the team has myriads of mediocre backup SG's they refuse to get rid of while their value continues to drop.

[MEDIC]

Top rated defense - check
Iso type closer - check
Improvement from Scottie - check
Improvement from Shead - check
RJ continuing to play well in a Raps Uni - check
BI staying healthy - check
First round pick playing really well - check
Bargain bin FA signing has worked out - check

The biggest thing for me is I wish the team could be healthier. Especially Yak. Those are uncontrollables though.

They need to clean up the roster a bit, but there have been a ton of success stories for a team that is super early in the stages of building a playoff team again.

The big thing will be what the team looks like post trade deadline.

[C_Money]

Very engaged and enjoying. I sat through 3 boring years of tanking and it’s so good to finally cheer for wins again.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Top marks

If we’re just talking my own enjoyment, enthusiasm and engagement.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

We will see the impact next year. We’re currently feeling the impacts of the reverberations of last year’s experience.

[navyblue]

very much so

[LoveMyRaps]

Definitely enjoying.

It's been a fun season so far. Some frustrating losses but it's all part of the process.

[canz55]

There's been some ups and downs this season to be sure but I'm drawn to the defensive intensity this team commits to every night.

[Westside Gunn]

More engaged then I've ever been, maybe since Bosh or Lowry DeRozan era. Didn't watch a whole lot of games between 2020-2024 mostly stayed updated through this board - up and down times personally. But that IQ/RJ trade really got me in and hyped with Barnes. After they got Ingram I was all in for this season.

Spent a lot of money on tickets as well and bought a couple of Jerseys. If I'm not at the ACC I will try my watch it on TV.

The Blue Jays playoffs also made me realize again I truly enjoy watching sports. I stopped watching all these TV shows that friends tried to get me to watch which do take a lot of time and just started watching sports again.

It also feels nice when your home town guy RJ is the glue of this team. Even without him a strong believer this team is really good. Dont mean to sound like a homer