Kyle Lowry Holds Player Only Meeting, Talk About Team Getting Cocky And Needing To Humble Themselves

Raptors-Son · Post #21 » by **Raptors-Son** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:17 am

Wonder when we're going to hear about one of those players only turn the season around type meetings,...still waiting to happen!

Naija Boy · Post #22 » by **Naija Boy** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:22 am

Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

This. I think we as a fanbase need to calm down and realize we don't have a contending team.

Most people predicted this team to have in the high 40s/low 50s for wins at the start of the season, so now that our record is trending towards that range (as opposed to the 60 win pace we were at a few weeks ago), why are you freaking out?

Chill.

Again, we do not have a contender. We have two starters (Amir and Ross) who are not good enough to start on a championship contender, they are bench caliber players for such teams.

We need a legitimate starting caliber preferably all-star caliber SF and PF before this team is really going to be a contender. Even looking at Atlanta, on paper they actually have a better team than us. They have 4 players capable of being starters on contenders in Teague, Korver, Millsap and Horford compared to our 3 (Lowry, DeMar, Jonas), and their depth is just as strong as ours is.

This is not to throw Ross/Amir under the bus, it's just to say that those two would never play such large roles on an actual title contender. Amir's impact is comparable to guys like Taj Gibson or Brandan Wright who both play(ed) roles as bench players on contenders like the Bulls and Mavericks.

We need upgrades in the starting 5 and also most likely a new coach. That's something that will likely take a couple seasons to see through. Be patient.

Raptors-Son · Post #23 » by **Raptors-Son** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:32 am

Naija Boy wrote:
Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

This. I think we as a fanbase need to calm down and realize we don't have a contending team.

Most people predicted this team to have in the high 40s/low 50s for wins at the start of the season, so now that our record is trending towards that range (as opposed to the 60 win pace we were at a few weeks ago), why are you freaking out?

Chill.

Again, we do not have a contender. We have two starters (Amir and Ross) who are not good enough to start on a championship contender, they are bench caliber players for such teams.

We need a legitimate starting caliber preferably all-star caliber SF and PF before this team is really going to be a contender. Even looking at Atlanta, on paper they actually have a better team than us. They have 4 players capable of being starters on contenders in Teague, Korver, Millsap and Horford compared to our 3 (Lowry, DeMar, Jonas), and their depth is just as strong as ours is.

This is not to throw Ross/Amir under the bus, it's just to say that those two would never play such large roles on an actual title contender. Amir's impact is comparable to guys like Taj Gibson or Brandan Wright who both play(ed) roles as bench players on contenders like the Bulls and Mavericks.

We need upgrades in the starting 5 and also most likely a new coach. That's something that will likely take a couple seasons to see through. Be patient.

I don't think many people expected 60 wins. The biggest concern, atleast to me is the way we are playing. It almost seems like the team doesn't care and just going through the motions. It's one thing to go on a west coast trip and lose games. It's another to come back home and keep losing! Especially to sub .500 teams that you should be beating. There's no way a team like the Hornets should be beating you jn your gym on a 2nd night of a back to back and missing half their players. You shouldnt be blowing a double digit half time lead and lose to a team like Detroit. No way you should be getting blown out at home by a team you are trying to catch in thestandings.

Game6 · Post #24 » by **Game6** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:36 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/raptorsrepublic/status/556307367353393153[/tweet]

Walid · Post #25 » by **Walid** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:45 am

Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

I remember the first 3 weeks our posters were annoying the hell out of the general board. These losses were necessary.

MixxSRC · Post #26 » by **MixxSRC** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:47 am

LOL no need to humble themselves Hawks just did that.

OAKLEY_2 · Post #27 » by **OAKLEY_2** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:47 am

Crazomali wrote:
Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

no one should waste their time or energy to defend these pretenders

Going into this year did anyone think we were contenders? The team is in a slump get over it.

Walid · Post #28 » by **Walid** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:49 am

Game6 wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/raptorsrepublic/status/556307367353393153[/tweet]

Thanks for posting.

What we really need to be doing is playing tougher, grittier team defense that we are capable of. The offense will come (with ball movement and less guard ISOs), but the defense has been really garbage since February last season. Defense, defense, defense.

Swag · Post #29 » by **Swag** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:51 am

We got beat down, don't see how any one is feeling confident right now

Volcano · Post #30 » by **Volcano** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:52 am

GED Education wrote:Okay, who do you think got cocky?

I'm going to say Lou. Think about it. You have a camera crew following you in Open Gym (he's never had this ever). Then you have actual fan support and 20,000 people chanting "Looooou". All of a sudden he's playing lights out...people are talking about him. Maybe he's like "man, I'm back baby!".

Also, I bet Vasquez was cocky too. Yes, he contributed next to nothing in the early success...but he is just a cocky MOFO in general.

Maybe Ross. Hell, maybe even JJ.

Vasquez is always cocky..even when he shoots 0-20 and plays Jose defense.

Lou Will has two GF's..dude was cocky before he got here

Crazomali wrote:
Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

no one should waste their time or energy to defend these pretenders

lot of Raptor fans in general..people were complaining/skeptical about the team when we were winning too, which instigated arguments from the cocky/satisfied fans. Difference is the humble fans aren't noticeable on the GB because they don't annoy other posters.

Morse Code · Post #31 » by **Morse Code** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:54 am

Knucknbuc wrote:Yea they did no doubt but this stretch I think will humble them a little bit. Remember the regular season is a marathon not a Sprint.
People act like we weren't the hawks just 1 1/2 ago. They will have their **** streak too.

Except people were seeing these issues even when we were winning, and everybody kept pointing out our record. There were countless threads about our winning being fools gold, and the slippage of our defense. Issues with rotations and supposed accountability among many other things.

I personally think the 2 biggest contributors to our terrible effort on defense is Casey's defensive schemes, and our lack of ball pressure and tough perimeter defense. Even if guys get beat off the dribble, we need to at least slow them down or steer them to help, while trying to prevent them from countering and making plays. One thing that bothers me also is that Masai knew Casey's defensive system is built on rotations and our helpers help being in position very early. That's all well and good if your team knows it's system like the back of their hands, and are willing to put in the effort and focus to accomplish that. I just don't think it's a sustainable defensive philosophy. Having JV hedge every single pick and roll is just asking for trouble. Letting ross go under screen after screen and still not control penetration, is unacceptable. Casey is mostly at fault but Masai should've seen this coming. He's a scout at heart and should know that our guards aren't capable of what Casey expects, and Casey can't even see that this is the case. It's a talent issue but also a strategy issue.

Crazomali · Post #32 » by **Crazomali** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:58 am

Volcano wrote:
Crazomali wrote:
Inevitable wrote:A lot of fans got cocky too. Raptor fans are on a hiatus on the general board.

no one should waste their time or energy to defend these pretenders

lot of Raptor fans in general..people were complaining/skeptical about the team when we were winning too, which instigated arguments from the cocky/satisfied fans. Difference is the humble fans aren't noticeable on the GB because they don't annoy other posters.

I barely notice raptors fans arguing over at GB usually its 3 or 4 well known posters who have an agenda to bait raptor fans

Death Knight · Post #33 » by **Death Knight** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:01 am

Holding all the meetings you want, the personnel is still the same. Ross is still going to throw his talents away. Vasquez is still going to be just a taller Jose Calderon. etc.....

Flight33 · Post #34 » by **Flight33** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:12 am

That's why Lowry is our leader.

gcsw · Post #35 » by **gcsw** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:20 am

Flight33 wrote:That's why Lowry is our leader.

Yeah the guy who is being lit up by every opposing PGs

DHK · Post #36 » by **DHK** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:21 am

The thing is, it isnt about the Raptors being cocky.
If they genuinely think that's the problem, then they're just setting up for more beating from elite teams.
First off, the Raptors are a good team, can be a very good team, not an ELITE team however.
This is about a Raptors team that detracted from their previous seasons.
They're taking unnecessary gambles on defense, leading to sporadic defensive rotations and leading to open jmpers.
This is all about sporadic decision making.
This is all about wasting possessions on end of the quarter situations by becoming extremely predictable.
This is all about going away from your strengths and trying to do too much on both ends of the floor
This is all about an abnormally of a group of reliable players all of a sudden struggling together on a cold spell.

The Raptors are not as good as the team that came out lightning hot out of the gate, however they're not as bad as the team that's being displayed on the floor.
The beatings on them are due to detracting from the concepts which made them successful last season, and this goes NOT ONLY on casey, but the players and luck.

I'm going to be frank, this team hasnt looked the same since that Portland game, I despise Portland for them, They played their hearts out and I feel like Portland took the Raptors souls. And whatever morale they had left, Golden State basically stripped everything else away.

This team has to come out with fire.
At this rate, we're looking at a 4th seed and Lebron going HAM and another 1st round exit.
I dont want to see that happen>

I dont think anyone wants to see that happen sans a few absolutely disgraceful fans.

Mack11 · Post #37 » by **Mack11** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:43 am

hawks put them in a camal clutch broke their back, **** their *** made them humble

TdotRap4Lyfe · Post #38 » by **TdotRap4Lyfe** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:47 am

It is depressing it came to this. But I hope they were able to clear things out with this, and return to +.500 for the remainder of the month. If not, I hope Masai weeds out the problem and nips it. Whether it is GV, Ross or someone else; if they are undermining the teams unity and progress, then they need to go.

WhatsaTDot · Post #39 » by **WhatsaTDot** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:55 am

Good - they acknowledge this is **** at this time. Prefer that to not caring and collecting a pay cheque.

PenguinBoxer · Post #40 » by **PenguinBoxer** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 6:08 am

ross is a joke. plain and simple. ever since he knocked up that thot he has been shook