Kawhi didn't believe Toronto would repeat

[JN]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Its not bizarre.

The Raps lost Kawhi for NOTHING and still took a strong Celtics team to 7 games

Raps + Kawhi = championship favourites.

Kawhi + George Clippers = PRETENDERS

Plus the Raptors would have had a whole bunch of picks and had some young assets as well, as well as some veterans for cap ballast, and with patience could have made much better "over the top again" trades then the George/Westbrook fiasco.

Kawhi could have told Masai, "I will sign here, but can you promise that you will look to continue to upgrade our team and move some future picks". Ujiri would have had no problem with that -- in fact I am sure he would have done the same in the hunt for title #2.

If he had signed here in July 2019, the team was not limited at all in terms of what they would have on the floor for the 2020 championship run.

The key fault for Kawhi was trust in his team's management -- it hurt the Clippers.

[sidsid]

I still believe, in macro terms, you want to have as many superstars as possible. In theory that gives you a higher ceiling for peak performance. The idea behind PG is sound.

But, if like the Lakers and Clippers, you surround those guys with limited role players and no all-stars, that means you have to shoulder more of the overall team burden.

LeBron has been doing it for years since he rejoined the Cavs. He's the PG, the scorer, the post threat, the rim defender, the onball defender to close out games. That's what you need to be if you have limited players standing around you.

Kawhi just needed to be a scorer for us, a closer, and an on-ball defender in closing moments. Now everyone knowing that he had the ball to close meant that the degree of difficulty is higher, but the Raptors allowed him to focus on that because he was surrounded by all-stars who could do the rest.

Gasol was shutting down Embiid and Giannis. Lowry and Siakam were carrying the rest of the offensive/playmaking load.

The Clippers needed PG and Kawhi to be everything for at least 4 out of 7 games. Unless Lou was having a hot one, Kawhi had to create for his teammates, guard Jokic (insane as it is), and score a ton while having to dominate everywhere on the floor defensively. And he needed PG to do that too. Because their role players could be schemed out of the game.

They fell way short of that in game 7 and got blown out because of it.

Kawhi was really inneficient in the Sixers game 7 but he did enough to get us through, because we didn't need him to be everything all the time.

[Rust_Cohle]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Not trolling at all, facts are facts. Kawhi carried that team to the ECF when the support cast was woeful. DeRozan was getting benched in fourth quarters of playoff games a season later. Kawhi changed the franchise forever. This year Siakim was having a historically all time 3 point percentage low in the Celtics series. Barely anyone stepped up for Toronto this year come playoff time. Nearly everyone struggled in game 7.

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

[Tha Cynic]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Not trolling at all, facts are facts. Kawhi carried that team to the ECF when the support cast was woeful. DeRozan was getting benched in fourth quarters of playoff games a season later. Kawhi changed the franchise forever. This year Siakim was having a historically all time 3 point percentage low in the Celtics series. Barely anyone stepped up for Toronto this year come playoff time. Nearly everyone struggled in game 7.

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

Actually all of your post are showing just how much you don't understand the Raptors and how well they are built. If there is any player our there looking to ring chase as the key piece, the Raptors are the team to go to. This team is essentially built to just insert any top 10 scorer in the league and instantly become legit contenders for a title and become heavy favourites. The Raptors lost simply because they couldn't score. The issue with this year's team is that each player had to play a step above their actual abilities. We saw what happened when Lowry played like a scorer. The issue is Lowry can't do that night in and night out with his size and age.

Most teams are missing multiple pieces. The Raptors are missing a scorer.

[MixxSRC]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Not trolling at all, facts are facts. Kawhi carried that team to the ECF when the support cast was woeful. DeRozan was getting benched in fourth quarters of playoff games a season later. Kawhi changed the franchise forever. This year Siakim was having a historically all time 3 point percentage low in the Celtics series. Barely anyone stepped up for Toronto this year come playoff time. Nearly everyone struggled in game 7.

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

viewforum.php?f=30

[Rust_Cohle]

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

Actually all of your post are showing just how much you don't understand the Raptors and how well they are built. If there is any player our there looking to ring chase as the key piece, the Raptors are the team to go to. This team is essentially built to just insert any top 10 scorer in the league and instantly become legit contenders for a title and become heavy favourites. The Raptors lost simply because they couldn't score. The issue with this year's team is that each player had to play a step above their actual abilities. We saw what happened when Lowry played like a scorer. The issue is Lowry can't do that night in and night out with his size and age.

Most teams are missing multiple pieces. The Raptors are missing a scorer.

The clippers are also another piece away. If the raptors don’t have that top ten scorer (which is a big piece to need, as elite scorers aren’t a dime a dozen) then they clearly aren’t title contenders. People on here acting like clippers are pretenders but raptors weren’t Is laughable. Both teams are a piece or two away from being legit contenders. Siakim is not a top 2 option at all. Lowry is aging as good as he is. Gasol is finished and FVV took a step back in the playoffs. Last year was the perfect storm for the Raps and full credit they deserved it.

But people acting like the raps lost to the best team in the league while the nuggets are a joke is just silly. Nuggets will also be facing much tougher competition than the Celtics will and the Celtics are already losing their series. For all we know the nuggets might be better than the Celtics. They’re doing historic things during this run.

[Kevin Willis]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Not trolling at all, facts are facts. Kawhi carried that team to the ECF when the support cast was woeful. DeRozan was getting benched in fourth quarters of playoff games a season later. Kawhi changed the franchise forever. This year Siakim was having a historically all time 3 point percentage low in the Celtics series. Barely anyone stepped up for Toronto this year come playoff time. Nearly everyone struggled in game 7.

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

Actually San Antonior Spurs are pretenders.

Raptors were not expected to win a championship this year, Clippers were. They both lost. That makes the Clippers pretenders and Raptors overachievers.

Celtics lost one game to an extraordinary play. Miami is pretty good and Celtics looked GREAT against Philly. They looked AMAZING the two games they blew out Toronto. Not looking great is Denver going down 3-1 two series in a row and yet Heat are worse than the Nuggets although they MIlawaukee and Indiana.

I mean according to you anyone not the Lakers are pretenders. That is not true. Pretenders are driven on expectation, Philly and Milwaukee are pretenders. Houston and Clippers are pretenders. Celtics and Lakers are as expected. Denver and Heat are overachieving.

[Rust_Cohle]

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

Actually San Antonior Spurs are pretenders.

Raptors were not expected to win a championship this year, Clippers were. They both lost. That makes the Clippers pretenders and Raptors overachievers.

Celtics lost one game to an extraordinary play. Miami is pretty good and Celtics looked GREAT against Philly. They looked AMAZING the two games they blew out Toronto. Not looking great is Denver going down 3-1 two series in a row and yet Heat are worse than the Nuggets although they MIlawaukee and Indiana.

I mean according to you anyone not the Lakers are pretenders. That is not true. Pretenders are driven on expectation, Philly and Milwaukee are pretenders. Houston and Clippers are pretenders. Celtics and Lakers are as expected. Denver and Heat are overachieving.

Raptors overachieved in the regular season and were a buzzer beater away or an extraordinary play as you put it, from losing in 5 games. They were also the higher seed over the Celtics. A #2 seed losing in the second round is never ever “meeting expectations” no matter how much you try to force it.

When it comes to title contenders you
Only get 1-2, maybe even 3 at the most. Philly was trash in the bubble before the playoffs started. Nuggets are doing all time historic things, but I agree they’re over achieving. Will be interesting to see if they can push it to 6 against the lakers.

[LoveMyRaps]

So now we're really believing everything that comes out of Lewenberg's mouth eh?
Sounds like he's tryna stir some sh*t up. The fact that he's reporting this NOW after everything has transpired the way it has makes it even more suspicious.

[Childs]

This commercial just looks really bad

Watch on YouTube

[Masai4PM]

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

Actually San Antonior Spurs are pretenders.

Raptors were not expected to win a championship this year, Clippers were. They both lost. That makes the Clippers pretenders and Raptors overachievers.

Celtics lost one game to an extraordinary play. Miami is pretty good and Celtics looked GREAT against Philly. They looked AMAZING the two games they blew out Toronto. Not looking great is Denver going down 3-1 two series in a row and yet Heat are worse than the Nuggets although they MIlawaukee and Indiana.

I mean according to you anyone not the Lakers are pretenders. That is not true. Pretenders are driven on expectation, Philly and Milwaukee are pretenders. Houston and Clippers are pretenders. Celtics and Lakers are as expected. Denver and Heat are overachieving.

Raptors overachieved in the regular season and were a buzzer beater away or an extraordinary play as you put it, from losing in 5 games. They were also the higher seed over the Celtics. A #2 seed losing in the second round is never ever “meeting expectations” no matter how much you try to force it.

When it comes to title contenders you
Only get 1-2, maybe even 3 at the most. Philly was trash in the bubble before the playoffs started. Nuggets are doing all time historic things, but I agree they’re over achieving. Will be interesting to see if they can push it to 6 against the lakers.

Go back to the Spurs board and enjoy Demar, your superstar player.

[B-Ball Freak]

Looks like Kawhi didn't repeat either lmfao what a collapse

[B-Ball Freak]

This commercial just looks really bad

Watch on YouTube

So much cringe and failure in 30 seconds.

[yellowknifer]

Honestly if Pascal didn't regress as much as he did, and that was his own fault for not balling in his time off, we probably repeat this year.

[TheBoi10]

Hope nothing but misfortune for him and the Clippers

[Son Goku 25]

Actually San Antonior Spurs are pretenders.

Raptors were not expected to win a championship this year, Clippers were. They both lost. That makes the Clippers pretenders and Raptors overachievers.

Celtics lost one game to an extraordinary play. Miami is pretty good and Celtics looked GREAT against Philly. They looked AMAZING the two games they blew out Toronto. Not looking great is Denver going down 3-1 two series in a row and yet Heat are worse than the Nuggets although they MIlawaukee and Indiana.

I mean according to you anyone not the Lakers are pretenders. That is not true. Pretenders are driven on expectation, Philly and Milwaukee are pretenders. Houston and Clippers are pretenders. Celtics and Lakers are as expected. Denver and Heat are overachieving.

Raptors overachieved in the regular season and were a buzzer beater away or an extraordinary play as you put it, from losing in 5 games. They were also the higher seed over the Celtics. A #2 seed losing in the second round is never ever “meeting expectations” no matter how much you try to force it.

When it comes to title contenders you
Only get 1-2, maybe even 3 at the most. Philly was trash in the bubble before the playoffs started. Nuggets are doing all time historic things, but I agree they’re over achieving. Will be interesting to see if they can push it to 6 against the lakers.

Go back to the Spurs board and enjoy Demar, your superstar player.

Rusty is back the man still mad till this day

[canz55]

we didnt have a power house like paul george

I hope this gets liked 10 thousand times.

[ReggieSlater]

Bizarre how people are laughing at Kawhi when Siakim was terrible and cost the raptors the series far worse than Kawhi did the clippers in theirs

Not trolling at all, facts are facts. Kawhi carried that team to the ECF when the support cast was woeful. DeRozan was getting benched in fourth quarters of playoff games a season later. Kawhi changed the franchise forever. This year Siakim was having a historically all time 3 point percentage low in the Celtics series. Barely anyone stepped up for Toronto this year come playoff time. Nearly everyone struggled in game 7.

SIakam played like crap and the Raps still took a strong Celtics team with 3 all-star level talents (Kemba,Tatum,Brown) to the last minute of game 7. This after losing Kawhi for NOTHING. What does that tell you?

You say the Clippers are pretenders but the Raptors aren't which is just false. Celtics are already losing to a Hat team that might be worse than the Nuggets for all we know as of now. Nuggets were doing historical things during this playoff run. Celtics didn't look amazing either during this playoff run. Raps were a buzzer beater away from losing in five. Both teams are pretenders without each other. This playoff run wasn't anything to write home about for Toronto. Very flattering they even pushed it to 7 if not for an OG miracle.

They were also a buzzer beater away from winning the series. That's why the NBA plays all those pesky minutes.

[phanman]

. Both teams are a piece or two away from being legit contenders. Siakim is not a top 2 option at all. Lowry is aging as good as he is. Gasol is finished and FVV took a step back in the playoffs. Last year was the perfect storm for the Raps and full credit they deserved it.

You do realize that Siakam literally proved that in last season's championship run he was a good second option right? I mean the dude averaged: ~19pts, 7reb, 3ast, and 1stl on 54%TS in 37.9mpg.

Lowry is aging but Kawhi really only signed a 2+1 so does it matter since Lowry proved that he is still an elite PG?

Gasol looks finished offensively but he wouldn't have been put in the position to try to manufacture buckets with Kawhi and OG now on the team. His defense is still elite vs the right opposition.

Also in what world did it look like Freddy took a step back in the playoffs? The guy put up 19.6pts, 6.9ast, 4.4reb, 1.6stl, 0.6blk during our playoff run. Then you factor in the circumstance in which he wouldn't even be starting if Kawhi and Danny came back(they were a package deal). His presence would have given us something off the bench other than Norm who only showed up late in G6/G7 vs Boston.

[StringerBell]

Coming off of winning a championship, Kawhi/Uncle Dennis tell Masai and Co that they wont be able to do it again? So he pretty much said last years championship was a fluke. Well damn, that's insulting.