The Misunderstanding of the Raptors.

[d00lttle]

Definitely not enough respeck on their name.

[JN]

It's clear that certain Americans (which do not represent the majority of RealGM) have an agenda against Canadians - with this agenda, and a superiority complex, any objection to their statements are seen as cocky, or any reasonable or confident take by a Raptor fan is viewed as cocky.

So while the issue is not the Raptors per se, it is who cheers for them.

While it is far from the majority of Real GM, and a minority, it is not just a handful of people either.

[Vlade Divac]

Welcome to big boy territory. When your team gets this far and plays like crap, people are going to dump on them.

BINGO!

If Miami had won game 7 and were playing like this against the Cavs, don't you think Heat fans would be getting this kind of talk right now?

If you're going to play with the big boys, you gotta get a thicker skin. Comes with the territory.

Did you know that every...EVERY...EVERY...Heat championship has an asterisk in front of it? In 2006, it's the refs. In 2012 LeBron needed help to win so therefore they don't deserve it. In 2013 it was a lucky bail out shot by Ray Allen. The team hasn't won a single ring by their own merits. Did you know that? We Heat fans have heard it for years.

Congratulations, you've graduated to the next level...

Just go visit the Raptors board. Large portion of Raps fan base is livid about this team more than any fan outside of Canada. It is really a twilight zone where on one hand you have achieved something you have never done before - ECF - and on the other hand you painfully realized that you are miles away from being real contender. When you add ugly, laborious ISO heavy play, for some of us it really shades a shine of ECF.

We are not blessed with sexiness of Miami were every big dog wants to go on discount and where you guys can go and buy a title anytime you budget allows it. Since you mentioned no disrespect, but of all your titles I am giving you 2006 while other two in my book have even bigger asterisk than the one you see. The same thing is going to happen if Cleveland wins a title this year (I hope not). When you manage to get the titles like GSWs or SAs of this league did, than you will remove all asterisks and have respect of all true NBA fans.

[steamed hams]

Fire Casey

[Duke4life831]

I think its kinda obvious why the Raptors get so much hate on here. Its the majority of the fan base on here. A ton of Raptor fans come off as trolls on here. So I think a lot of people love to see your team and "star" players struggle come playoff time. Its what you get when you have a super cocky fan base with a team that doesnt back it up. All season I had to hear Raptor fans talk about how good Lowry and DeRozan is, now they are struggling like they always do in big games. Kyrie is destroying Lowry so far and dont give me the elbow excuse, hes just the superior player

[Kabookalu]

Welcome to big boy territory. When your team gets this far and plays like crap, people are going to dump on them.

BINGO!

If Miami had won game 7 and were playing like this against the Cavs, don't you think Heat fans would be getting this kind of talk right now?

If you're going to play with the big boys, you gotta get a thicker skin. Comes with the territory.

Did you know that every...EVERY...EVERY...Heat championship has an asterisk in front of it? In 2006, it's the refs. In 2012 LeBron needed help to win so therefore they don't deserve it. In 2013 it was a lucky bail out shot by Ray Allen. The team hasn't won a single ring by their own merits. Did you know that? We Heat fans have heard it for years.

Congratulations, you've graduated to the next level...

Just go visit the Raptors board. Large portion of Raps fan base is livid about this team more than any fan outside of Canada. It is really a twilight zone where on one hand you have achieved something you have never done before - ECF - and on the other hand you painfully realized that you are miles away from being real contender. When you add ugly, laborious ISO heavy play, for some of us it really shades a shine of ECF.

We are not blessed with sexiness of Miami were every big dog wants to go on discount and where you guys can go and buy a title anytime you budget allows it. Since you mentioned no disrespect, but of all your titles I am giving you 2006 while other two in my book have even bigger asterisk than the one you see. The same thing is going to happen if Cleveland wins a title this year (I hope not). When you manage to get the titles like GSWs or SAs of this league did, than you will remove all asterisks and have respect of all true NBA fans.

The Warriors and Spurs also have asterisks to their championships according to some fans. 2015 Warriors, got a free ride to the finals because of injuries. 2007 Spurs, Silver gifted them the championship after suspending Diaw and Amare. And not to the same extent, but some are doing that to the 2014 Spurs because they avoided the Rockets who had their number, and Ibaka was injured in the WCF.

[og15]

I don't disagree, the disdain for the Raptors is ridiculous at times, but I'm not so sure about the championship potential coming up. If you resign Derozan at the price he is likely seeking, what money do you really have left to add "one big free agent"?

And I don't really agree that the Raptors at full health would have beaten the Clippers at full health.

If we land a Kevin Durant or a scorer/distributer of all-star caliber, DeRozan won't be resigned. And honestly, Clippers lost to the Raptors by 12, 16, 11 and 18 in the last 4 games, and they were at full strength for majority of them.

Be very wary of regular season series' and using them as a determining factor in matchups between teams. The more important things are whose stars maintain or improve their performance in the post-season, which team can make the better adjustments, and who can defend the other better. It's a different ball game when a team is specifically game planning for another as opposed to just cross conference matchups.

Do you remember how Brookly in 13-14 swept the regular season series vs Miami? Of course they met in the playoffs and Miami won 4-1. Of course we can't forget the whole rage about Atlanta beating Cleveland 3-1 in the regular season series last season. In 13-14 OKC had actually swept the Spurs in the regular season, they then lost 4-2 in the post-season, Ibaka did have injury issues though if one wants to cite that.

[WestGOAT]

Clippers are on another level than the Raptors. They beat the Spurs in the playoffs last year and were unlucky with injuries this season. Which teams of note, i.e contenders, have the Raptors eliminated in the playoffs recently?

OP just accept that your team is not a title contender, all these high expectations will make you have a meltdown, if you aren't having one already

[BBallFreak]

Welcome to big boy territory. When your team gets this far and plays like crap, people are going to dump on them.

BINGO!

If Miami had won game 7 and were playing like this against the Cavs, don't you think Heat fans would be getting this kind of talk right now?

If you're going to play with the big boys, you gotta get a thicker skin. Comes with the territory.

Did you know that every...EVERY...EVERY...Heat championship has an asterisk in front of it? In 2006, it's the refs. In 2012 LeBron needed help to win so therefore they don't deserve it. In 2013 it was a lucky bail out shot by Ray Allen. The team hasn't won a single ring by their own merits. Did you know that? We Heat fans have heard it for years.

Congratulations, you've graduated to the next level...

Just go visit the Raptors board. Large portion of Raps fan base is livid about this team more than any fan outside of Canada. It is really a twilight zone where on one hand you have achieved something you have never done before - ECF - and on the other hand you painfully realized that you are miles away from being real contender. When you add ugly, laborious ISO heavy play, for some of us it really shades a shine of ECF.

We are not blessed with sexiness of Miami were every big dog wants to go on discount and where you guys can go and buy a title anytime you budget allows it. Since you mentioned no disrespect, but of all your titles I am giving you 2006 while other two in my book have even bigger asterisk than the one you see. The same thing is going to happen if Cleveland wins a title this year (I hope not). When you manage to get the titles like GSWs or SAs of this league did, than you will remove all asterisks and have respect of all true NBA fans.

Waaaaaaa!!!!!

You didn't win the right way!!!!

Welcome to free agency, buckaroo! It's 2016, not 1982. Players now factor in to the equation of championship building. If San Antonio had won a ring this year woul you place an asterisk in front of that one because they stole LaMarcus Aldridge? If Cleveland wins this year, what exactly did they do wrong? They drafted James, Thompson, and Irving, and gave up a hefty sum to land Love. Are the ring chasers glomming on (Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson) really the problem? Didn't they overpay for Mozgov? Was the Shumpert/JR Smith trade so horrible that it negates any potential ring? Is Delladova's hustle play so dirty that he's the problem?

And if your Raptors pull of an 11th hour miracle and win the whole shebang, do they deserve an asterisk? Afterall, Lowry wasn't a guy they developed. Neither was Bismack Biyombo, Cory Joseph, DeMarre Carroll, or Patrick Patterson.

Hypocrisy.

No one does it all "The Right Way" anymore. Free agency, trades forced by players...they factor in. They're reality.

So is criticism. You want to be good? Get used to the criticism. It won't stop because you get all huffy about it...

[WestGOAT]

Clippers are on another level than the Raptors. They beat the Spurs in the playoffs last year and were unlucky with injuries this season. Which teams of note, i.e contenders, have the Raptors eliminated in the playoffs recently?

OP just accept that your team is not a title contender, all these high expectations will make you have a meltdown, if you aren't having one already

[Muckraker]

The Raptors are fraudulent. 56 win team that has no prayer against competition who won 1 game more than them.
Playing fraudulent All-Stars since 2014 being the one of the most ineffectual high seeds ever.
Top 9 pick won't matter in a top heavy 2 pick draft and no All-Star is leaving their status quo to play there.
Simply have no business even sniffing the Conference Finals
For those who think the Clippers are on the same level as the Raps look at their All-Star PGs and tell me who raises their play in the playoffs and who is the dumpster fire

[Hello Brooklyn]

This post reeks of butthurt.

The Raptor's play is embarrassing right now. There's just no denying that. The Detroit Pistons played better.

[r3demption]

I think its kinda obvious why the Raptors get so much hate on here. Its the majority of the fan base on here. A ton of Raptor fans come off as trolls on here. So I think a lot of people love to see your team and "star" players struggle come playoff time. Its what you get when you have a super cocky fan base with a team that doesnt back it up. All season I had to hear Raptor fans talk about how good Lowry and DeRozan is, now they are struggling like they always do in big games. Kyrie is destroying Lowry so far and dont give me the elbow excuse, hes just the superior player

This is it you can close the thread. Even some talk from rap fans saying they could beat the cavs before they play offs started and Wade might keep their far superior players out of the ASG

[kvash37]

It's clear that certain Americans (which do not represent the majority of RealGM) have an agenda against Canadians - with this agenda, and a superiority complex, any objection to their statements are seen as cocky, or any reasonable or confident take by a Raptor fan is viewed as cocky.

So while the issue is not the Raptors per se, it is who cheers for them.

While it is far from the majority of Real GM, and a minority, it is not just a handful of people either.

Talk about a reach. The heat would get the same treatment

[KnightofHyrule]

I don't disagree, the disdain for the Raptors is ridiculous at times, but I'm not so sure about the championship potential coming up. If you resign Derozan at the price he is likely seeking, what money do you really have left to add "one big free agent"?

And I don't really agree that the Raptors at full health would have beaten the Clippers at full health.

If we land a Kevin Durant or a scorer/distributer of all-star caliber, DeRozan won't be resigned. And honestly, Clippers lost to the Raptors by 12, 16, 11 and 18 in the last 4 games, and they were at full strength for majority of them.

Be very wary of regular season series' and using them as a determining factor in matchups between teams. The more important things are whose stars maintain or improve their performance in the post-season, which team can make the better adjustments, and who can defend the other better. It's a different ball game when a team is specifically game planning for another as opposed to just cross conference matchups.

Do you remember how Brookly in 13-14 swept the regular season series vs Miami? Of course they met in the playoffs and Miami won 4-1. Of course we can't forget the whole rage about Atlanta beating Cleveland 3-1 in the regular season series last season. In 13-14 OKC had actually swept the Spurs in the regular season, they then lost 4-2 in the post-season, Ibaka did have injury issues though if one wants to cite that.

I never liked the whole "regular season is different than the playoffs" argument.

The Golden State Warriors have won 73 wins, defeating many teams in the process, and are the favorites to beat every team in the playoffs. Cavs swept the season series against Atlanta, and then proceeded to sweep them in playoffs. Their regular season success has translated to playoff success.

More often than not, probably 90% of the time, the winner of the regular season head to head wins the playoff head to head. Also, the teams that don't win the regular season head to head but win in the playoffs generally have a better record (with a few exceptions). The Raptors have both a better record and regular season head to head over the Clippers over the past two seasons. The Clippers could certainly win that series, but I would have to take a healthy Raptors team with home-court advantage as a safe bet.

[Threethrows]

I try not to lump groups of people together, but just from what I've observed there are a LOT of, for lack of better word, annoying Raptors fans. Many of them often talk about their team like they are the Warriors and expect others to follow suit.

More on that I've never seen a group of fans that turn on players and coaches only to embrace them the next week and get mad at people for not respecting them, to then calling them all garbage again and wanting them off the team the next week. It's pretty hard for me to keep up on the Raptors largely because of the way these people act.

On a site like this where we interact 99% with other NBA fans the focus can very easily become the fans themselves. Given some issues like the ones I listed and sometimes people just want to see them fail so it will stop.

All of that said, I'm not trying to call out the fanbase as a whole. This has nothing to do with most of you guys. There are a LOT of Raptors fans here which obviously leads to more bad apples. It happens regardless of which team people are rooting for, it just gets magnified for with Toronto fans here. Sometimes being overly defensive backfires huge, which I see a lot of them doing as well. Being called a hater and getting accused of ignorance for disagreeing gets pretty old.

[Benedict_Boozer]

You raps fans are missing the obvious.

Putting down the raptors = downplaying Lebron and the Cavs accomplishments.

If people were to acknowledge that the raptors are a good 56 win team it makes the blowouts seem very impressive. So instead if you trash the raptors it "devalues" the accomplishment.

Cliff notes version is none of this is raptor hate, it's really Lebron hate.


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[DeezRaptors]

Fire Casey

Not relevant.

[Swindle]

I'm not gonna fault fans for being optimistic that they'll have a contender soon after injuries heal, the draft, and free agency. As it stands now, Cavs have been able to really separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the east during these playoffs. The Raptors have been pretty disappointing to watch so far so of course there is going to be hate. I'd like to see them put up more of a fight in the next couple of games.

I always thought the Raptor fan base was pretty amazing, but a lot of my perception has changed during these playoffs. For example, I really enjoyed Bruno Skulls' gifs during Heat vs Raptor games all season. Even during the playoffs he was celebrated and admired for his talent on the Heat board. None of it was taken personal. The Heat board has an equally talented poster that has(had) a friendly gif war going with Bruno that both fan bases are aware of and have really enjoyed watching. However, once the playoffs started your fan base changed for the worse and were all of a sudden quick to mash the "Report" button on the gifs he posted. He wasn't given the same respect that we kept showing Bruno on the Heat board. Your Mod was quick to ban our guy not just from the Raptor board, but from RealGM. I don't solely place the blame on the Mod because it was your fans that alerted the Mod to begin with, and the mods have to do their job which can at times be damned if you do, damned if you don't. Every team has to deal with crap from other fans at one point or another, but you can't be overly sensitive about it because the trolls will eat you alive.

[Vince_Carter15]

OP just accept that your team is not a title contender, all these high expectations will make you have a meltdown, if you aren't having one already

High expectations? I think we reach our expectations.

I think thats the misconception here. Not a single Raptor fan out there thinks we are title contenders. Giving praise to certain players doesn't mean we think they are superstars.

But what the op is saying is that we are not contenders but he didn't know why we get this kind of hate. (We know what we are, and are currently on the rise).

Like most mentioned on here, any team that would of been here with the Cavs would of gotten this kind of hate. Raptors fans just aren't used to it.