Kawhi didn't believe Toronto would repeat

[Tha Cynic]

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.

One thing we know - the Raptors won a championship with Leonard, while the Clippers did not even get out of the second round. I think one team has proven what it can do with that one player of that calibee while the Clippers have shown that they don't appear to play like a team serious for a championship.

The Raptors were also a couple of baskets away from making the Eastern Conference finals again after losing the best player in the league and another starter. Leonard told the Raptors brass last second that he wasn't returning, AFTER free agents had already signed, giving the Raptors no time to fill their empty roster spots.

Still don't get what you are trying to argue here. One team proved they can win with him while another team showed that they can't.

[Rust_Cohle]

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.

One thing we know - the Raptors won a championship with Leonard, while the Clippers did not even get out of the second round. I think one team has proven what it can do with that one player of that calibee while the Clippers have shown that they don't appear to play like a team serious for a championship.

The Raptors were also a couple of baskets away from making the Eastern Conference finals again after losing the best player in the league and another starter. Leonard told the Raptors brass last second that he wasn't returning, AFTER free agents had already signed, giving the Raptors no time to fill their empty roster spots.

Still don't get what you are trying to argue here. One team proved they can win with him while another team showed that they can't.

This year's supporting cast wasn't as good as last year. Siakim wont magically shoot well from 3 just because of kawhi this season. The Raptors barely had anyone show up this year come playoff time. Gasol is washed up, FVV came back down to earth. Kawhi would take them to the finals, possibly a title, but the supporting in arguably got weaker this year. With or without kawhi.

[Rust_Cohle]

. 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.

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, his stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

[MixxSRC]

. 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.

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, his stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

He wouldn't have regressed with Kawhi on a team.

[MixxSRC]

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[Rust_Cohle]

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.

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, his stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

He wouldn't have regressed with Kawhi on a team.

I disagree, Kawhi uld've had less pressure on him but it happens to players all the time. They have an off year.

[phanman]

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, he's stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

You clearly fail to account for the fact that everybody takes a step back in the pecking order with someone like Kawhi on board. They don't assume the same role with Kawhi on the team. Both guys also improved from the previous season because that is what young players do.

Once again, Fred wouldn't have been put in the position of having to create so much of his own offensive possessions with Kawhi. Pascal wouldn't have been thrown into the spotlight as the designated scorer and presumed best player on the team either.

[MixxSRC]

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, his stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

He wouldn't have regressed with Kawhi on a team.

I disagree, Kawhi uld've had less pressure on him but it happens to players all the time. They have an off year.

Nope. Just impossible for same squad to regress. Kawhi would've been First option and took pressure off of Siakam and FVV. You cant look at results of this team and act like they would play the same with Kawhi on it. Basketball doesn't work that way.

[Rust_Cohle]

He wouldn't have regressed with Kawhi on a team.

I disagree, Kawhi uld've had less pressure on him but it happens to players all the time. They have an off year.

Nope. Just impossible for same squad to regress. Kawhi would've been First option and took pressure off of Siakam and FVV. You cant look at results of this team and act like they would play the same with Kawhi on it. Basketball doesn't work that way.

What?

Squads regress all the time, the Raptors wouldn't be immune to it. Everyone gets older, it happens in sports.

[MixxSRC]

I disagree, Kawhi uld've had less pressure on him but it happens to players all the time. They have an off year.

Nope. Just impossible for same squad to regress. Kawhi would've been First option and took pressure off of Siakam and FVV. You cant look at results of this team and act like they would play the same with Kawhi on it. Basketball doesn't work that way.

What?

Squads regress all the time, the Raptors wouldn't be immune to it. Everyone gets older, it happens in sports.

Key players on Raptors didn't regress because of age.

[Rust_Cohle]

Siakim had a lot of bad games in the playoffs last year sprinkled with some good ones. He regressed this year.

And FVV absolutely took a step back this year, he's stats for that Boston series were particularly bad.

You clearly fail to account for the fact that everybody takes a step back in the pecking order with someone like Kawhi on board. They don't assume the same role with Kawhi on the team. Both guys also improved from the previous season because that is what young players do.

Once again, Fred wouldn't have been put in the position of having to create so much of his own offensive possessions with Kawhi. Pascal wouldn't have been thrown into the spotlight as the designated scorer and presumed best player on the team either.

Raptors still have a ton of players who are meant to contribute. So many of them across the board were poor in the Boston series. Kawhi would inarguably help the supporting cast I don't argue that, but I don't buy that everyone would magically improve because sometimes slumps are slumps.

[Rust_Cohle]

Nope. Just impossible for same squad to regress. Kawhi would've been First option and took pressure off of Siakam and FVV. You cant look at results of this team and act like they would play the same with Kawhi on it. Basketball doesn't work that way.

What?

Squads regress all the time, the Raptors wouldn't be immune to it. Everyone gets older, it happens in sports.

Key players on Raptors didn't regress because of age.

Gasol regressed due to age. Others were in a slump for the whole series.

[MixxSRC]

Raptors would actually be better because we had healthy OG on a team. If Pascal struggles. Line up of OG and Kawhi would be on floor. Domino effect and whole squad is performing better. line up of Lowry-OG-Kawhi-Siakam-Ibaka or Gasol would give fits to anybody in the east

[MixxSRC]

What?

Squads regress all the time, the Raptors wouldn't be immune to it. Everyone gets older, it happens in sports.

Key players on Raptors didn't regress because of age.

Gasol regressed due to age. Others were in a slump for the whole series.

Gasol is not key player

[Rust_Cohle]

Key players on Raptors didn't regress because of age.

Gasol regressed due to age. Others were in a slump for the whole series.

Gasol is not key player

He was defensively last year. His work on Embiid was massive.

[MixxSRC]

Gasol regressed due to age. Others were in a slump for the whole series.

Gasol is not key player

He was defensively last year. His work on Embiid was massive.

Embiid was not factor in these playoffs. Bigs in general or non factor in these years playoffs except Jokic but he's in the West

[Coco Costanza]

Is Rust_Cohle a Spurs fan, what's going on here?

[phanman]

Raptors still have a ton of players who are meant to contribute. So many of them across the board were poor in the Boston series. Kawhi would inarguably help the supporting cast I don't argue that, but I don't buy that everyone would magically improve because sometimes slumps are slumps.

Thats a real narrow way of evaluating the series against Boston. Slumps are slumps?

You clearly did not watch the series because the biggest issue we had was manufacturing offense and with Boston's defense the fast break opportunities were next to none. You add in a 28-30pt scorer like Kawhi and that alleviates the pressure the others are having when it comes to scoring. You feed off the #1 option and his 20 shots a game and fill in around where you can.

A supporting cast will always get better when there's a better player than joins the team. Everybody slides down a spot and that isn't even accounting for the addition of OG, who didn't even play in last year's run.

[joseph227]

Is Rust_Cohle a Spurs fan, what's going on here?

Don't know what's going on but a Spurs and Barca fan? Big time bandwagoner lmao.

[Rust_Cohle]

Is Rust_Cohle a Spurs fan, what's going on here?

Live in Toronto, Raps are my second fave team. I enjoy the Raps