PG: Raptors > Heat

[Canucklehead]

Can you update player ratings during the course of the season? i'm assuming they've rated most of the raptors players lower than expected.

Yes they do player updates throughout the season.

[Tommy Gun]

Raptors-Twolves NBA finals based on preseason thus far

[snapcracklepape]

98-0!

Be fair now. You have to temper your optimism just a bit. We'll compromise and say 98-1. You figure Miami will eke out one against us in four tries.

97-1

[Tofubeque]

Raptors-Twolves NBA finals based on preseason thus far

Beasley called it-- they're the team to beat.

[KRANG]

If we had Kleiza instead of Turk last year.. Good Lord.

That's the 1st thought I had as well.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Anyone else notice the hard screen Jose got nailed with that no one called out?

[SciencePiggy]

Anyone else notice the hard screen Jose got nailed with that no one called out?

The one where he was applying full-court pressure and got nailed around half-court? I admit I chuckled at the poor guy's expression when he ran into it.

[Throwback24]

Kleiza is our strong horse and will be the best player and leader.

[TheGreatWall]

Kleiza is our strong horse and will be the best player and leader.

Off one preseason game huh?

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Anyone else notice the hard screen Jose got nailed with that no one called out?

The one where he was applying full-court pressure and got nailed around half-court? I admit I chuckled at the poor guy's expression when he ran into it.

yeah, well someone should have called that out. Seemd to me Lopez and Jose were going at each other all game. José's tougher than he get credit for.

[ATLTimekeeper]

The only thing worthwhile to take from this is that they have a sense of pride.

The offense looks rough, but there's so many shot-makers and finishers on the team that they can afford to be disorganized. They won't be able to play defense like that most of the year, but they might be able to squeeze out a few extra wins and at least set a tone for the following year.

As for individual performances, I liked what I saw from Julian Wright, David Anderson, Jarret Jack, Kleiza, ALabi and Dorsey.

The guys who were suspect: Bargnani, Jose, Barbosa, Weems, Dupree, Banks

Somewhere in the middle, DeRozan, Amir, Evans.

Not quite sure what you mean by "suspect". You may not know how Dupree usually plays but the others you categorized as suspect, I am sure you are familiar with their average game. At any time during the regular seasons, any or all of those players can under-achieve, the same as they might have done last night, but I am sure you are aware they can do better, thus, you would not be surprised when they overwhelm, as is inevitable at some point in the future.

I was talking about last night's performance.

[SciencePiggy]

Anyone else notice the hard screen Jose got nailed with that no one called out?

The one where he was applying full-court pressure and got nailed around half-court? I admit I chuckled at the poor guy's expression when he ran into it.

yeah, well someone should have called that out. Seemd to me Lopez and Jose were going at each other all game. José's tougher than he get credit for.

I'm assuming Lopez was going at everyone during that game. I wasn't entirely clear why he got either technical. And regarding Jose, I think he's at least proven to have more backbone than Bosh, not that that amounts to anything depending on your opinions there I suppose.

[prototype]

Don't know if I should start a new thread or just post here since it's a day late and I don't think anyone would check this thread anymore but I was at the game yesterday at courtside. You would be able to see the back of my head (it's a semi mohawk/fauxhawk looking thing) on the bottom right hand corner as the guy with the gray shirt and black stripes sitting beside my sister in a pink tanktop. Also you'll probably notice me, and the two other guys beside me as the only people that were reacting to every play by the Raptors since we were the only Raptor fans down there. Or the only basketball fans in general since everyone else around us was in a suit and sat there like they were watching ballet.

We were able to get Jack Armstrong to look over and wave at us which was pretty awesome. I tried to do it to Matt Devlin too and he looked at me but didn't wave back. I think it was during the middle of the second quarter, the whole Raptors executive team (BC and co.) sat in the middle of the vacant first row which was just one row ahead of us. He looks pleased with the team since he was smiling and chatting it up with the other execs the whole game. Alvin Williams joined them near the end of the 3rd which was awesome. We got him to look back and smile and gave us a wave. I was able to get a picture with him on the court after the game too which made my night even better. All the players zoned us out except Sonny. He glanced over when we were yelling his name and gave us a head nod during pregame. He also loves fooling around during pregame but when he got on the court he was all business. The guy behind us started heckling one of the referee's since they were slowing the game down with all the fouls in the 3rd. It was surprising the referee actually responded but not directly to the guy. I guess he's a little passive aggressive about it and started explaining his reasoning for the calls to the guy in front of us who hasn't said a word for the entire game and probably doesn't even know what's going on.

Now on to the game. I thought being that close I would be able to hear the players talk, but maybe my ears were bad but I couldn't hear a word they were saying unless it was being yelled out. The Raptors defense looks phenomenal. You can tell the difference between last year and this year. They were getting up and making it harder for players to set up the plays as oppose to hanging back and "protecting the paint." It caused a lot more deflections, turnovers, and stoppages. Steve was Steve and had his way with the D, but Dragic had a hard time running the point. He actually looked confused out there. I was going to comment on a few of the Raptor players but I think most of the points have been covered from just watching it on TV.

If there are any questions about the experience or the players, I would be happy to answer them.

[Clutch Carter]

I do believe some of you forget the importance of pre-season games... there is no importance to them whatsoever

If we played terribly I doubt anyone would just chalk it up to it being preseason though.

You know whats funny, if we lost by 40-50 the board would be in panic mode.

[dawn_wan]

the way i look at it, the raps wont make much out of this showing unlike the suns. getting beat by 51 by the Bosh-less Raptors, even if it's pre-season, is not a good sign. Suns should look at this game as a reality check.

[Tommy Gun]

the way i look at it, the raps wont make much out of this showing unlike the suns. getting beat by 51 by the Bosh-less Raptors, even if it's pre-season, is not a good sign. Suns should look at this game as a reality check.

The Lakers have lost to Minny and to FC Barcelona. Do you think they consider these losses a reality check? Or do they just not give a **** about pre-season games like every other team.

[Kabookalu]

I want choker to post, so that everyone can see his sig.

What is it?

IMO, Kleiza is the Best player on this team right now. If he starts next year, he puts up something like 18/6. Quote me on it come April.

i think we should still wait until April, its only one game. Regardless, this statement isnt ridiculous enough for choker to make fun of it in his sig.

Disagree

[Lionel Messi]

Choker everyone knows the only reason it's in there is because you thought it would be ridiculous that he'd be better than Bargs.

[Its-A-Rap]

Cant wait to watch next week's preseason in toronto. I going to watch steve nash and the pizza guy. Those tickets better be worth it, since I bought them thinking it was reg seasons.

[Kabookalu]

Choker everyone knows the only reason it's in there is because you thought it would be ridiculous that he'd be better than Bargs.

Yeah that's EXACTLY it.