Kawhi didn't believe Toronto would repeat

[Roco14]

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.

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

[SurgeIblocka]

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.

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Exactly! Lol last years supporting cast had Jeremy Lin who was a million times worse than Gasol in these playoffs. Danny sht the bed in the playoffs last year. This years supporting cast was way better, if only Nurse played them more and gave them more of a chance we would be in the Conference finals playing Miami.

[Rust_Cohle]

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.

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

[orbesnet]

It's a shame really but ultimately at this point I'm just glad he didn't win it or even make the finals out west otherwise we would never hear the end of it.

This way, nobody wins. Go Nuggets!

[Roco14]

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.

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

Have you considered that they don't have a guy in Kawhi who is constantly drawing doubles to free them up? Jesus some of you guys are kinda dense. And How TF did OG regress when he didn't even play last year?

[Rust_Cohle]

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

Have you considered that they don't have a guy in Kawhi who is constantly drawing doubles to free them up? Jesus some of you guys are kinda dense. And How TF did OG regress when he didn't even play last year?

Do you not read at all? I never said OG regressed, he’s one of the few bright spots in the playoffs for the Raptors this year. Raps were the second seed in the east, just because Kawhi isn’t there isn’t excuse enough for the poor play across the board in the playoffs. The team as a WHOLE regressed. Hence why ujiri will make some great moves this offseason to shed some of the players.

[Roco14]

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

Have you considered that they don't have a guy in Kawhi who is constantly drawing doubles to free them up? Jesus some of you guys are kinda dense. And How TF did OG regress when he didn't even play last year?

Do you not read at all? I never said OG regressed, he’s one of the few bright spots in the playoffs for the Raptors this year. Raps were the second seed in the east, just because Kawhi isn’t there isn’t excuse enough for the poor play across the board in the playoffs. The team as a WHOLE regressed. Hence why ujiri will make some great moves this offseason to shed some of the players.

The mere addition of OG on its own is enough to definitively say that the supporting cast in 2020 was better than the year before even if somehow 2/3 best players got slightly worse at age 26 -- which they didn't, the stats you're referring to merely suggest that they had a worse postseason overall, not that they regressed talent-wise.

Those guys playing worse in the playoffs this year has a lot to do with the fact that it was a weird year, a bad matchup in Boston, and a lot more pressure without Kawhi. Saying that they're worse players overall indicates that you didn't watch them at all in the regular season and that you don't understand that this game is not as black & white as you're suggesting.

[brownbobcat]

Do you not read at all? I never said OG regressed, he’s one of the few bright spots in the playoffs for the Raptors this year. Raps were the second seed in the east, just because Kawhi isn’t there isn’t excuse enough for the poor play across the board in the playoffs. The team as a WHOLE regressed. Hence why ujiri will make some great moves this offseason to shed some of the players.

Playoffs are a different story. Pascal was undeniably better than last year - just looked like junk as a #1 option. VanVleet and Powell improved, while Lowry and Ibaka were fairly close. Only guy who definitely worsened was Gasol, and Boston wasn't a great matchup for him with their athleticism and lack of a traditional 5. Adding OG alone makes them better than last year when he played zero playoff minutes. Siakam/OG/Kawhi/VanVleet/Lowry would've been a death lineup to easily counter Boston's wings.

[Steelo Green]

[Childs]

Even Demar with the slander

Read on Twitter

[BoyzNTheHood]

This man is a clown.

Anyone who defends him is a female dog

Could you be any more in your feelings? Without Kawhi there's no title in Toronto, it's that simple. Masai took a risk and it paid off. Ask 29 other teams if they'd trade years of mediocrity in for 1 championship and they'd all jump at it. The man did his job, then when it was his time to choose his team he decided to go elsewhere.

He wanted to play with Pandemic P. That's his choice and now he has to live with it. Let him be.

Then again, you're the type of person to choose a username based on a guy like Vince Carter who made absolutely sure that we got screwed in any trade involving him, so you're clearly not credible.

[Chandan]

that's just him being really unappreciative to his support cast last year. They were all smart, savvy resilient hard working group despite not being the most talented. I think Kawhi under estimated how much it actually takes to win the championship. He had Duncan and Manu before. He doesn't realize Lowry and Serges took on the leadership role, and clawed their way to the finishing line with grunt work while kawhi himself was load managing.

Lowry kind of stuck it into his face this year when the raptors actually have a much more successful season than Kawhis new team. Kawhi left something he took for granted and his new ensemble lacks the character to drag him to the finals. Good job raptors. It's these mini story lines that make the team endearing to us.

[v1n5anity]

Kawhi's sister's made her IG acct private, she was getting alot of comments making fun of her brother and the Clippers. she probably couldn't handle it. She should've known it comes with the territory since the Clips have always been the laughing stock of the league.

[Kevin Willis]

Even Demar with the slander

Read on Twitter

What is the context of this? Who is that guy with Demar? Demar didn't really say anything bad though.

[rrdjutriurt]

How many great players left Toronto for greener pastures and came to the realization that maybe they should of stayed. Seems like a fair number of them now! Can you imagine if Vince and Tracy had stayed.

The whole Carter situation would never have transpired and who knows how many championships the Raptors could have won with each of them driving the other to greatness. Tracy leaving was really the beginning to the end. Can't say i blamed him though because we let someone with great talent like Tracy sit on the bench almost as much as we allowed him to play.

[Raps in 4]

Even Demar with the slander

Read on Twitter

What is the context of this? Who is that guy with Demar? Demar didn't really say anything bad though.

Demar is a Lakers fan.

[KrazyP]

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.

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

And yet they still took them to the last minute of game 7. What does that tell you? Add Kawhi to a 60-win, 2nd round playoff team and they are instant championship favourites.

Again, Raps lost Kawhi for nothing and were still good.

If you stripped Jokic, Tatum, Butler and Lebron off the conference finalists, would they win 60 games and go 7 games in the 2nd round? What does that tell you about the Raps supporting cast?

[Drygon]

How many great players left Toronto for greener pastures and came to the realization that maybe they should of stayed. Seems like a fair number of them now! Can you imagine if Vince and Tracy had stayed.

The whole Carter situation would never have transpired and who knows how many championships the Raptors could have won with each of them driving the other to greatness. Tracy leaving was really the beginning to the end. Can't say i blamed him though because we let someone with great talent like Tracy sit on the bench almost as much as we allowed him to play.

Kawhi leaving Raptors with elite supporting cast & brilliant front office isn't comparable with Vince & T-Macs exits.



- T-Mac left because Magic gave a max contract worth $67.5m. And the chance playing with Tim Duncan & Grant Hill.
- Vince wanted out (although he actually wanted to stay in the end) because Rob Babcack said Raptors is a rebuilding team.

[Rust_Cohle]

WTF are you smoking? This year, Pascal was 2nd team all-NBA and FVV was top 10 in voting for all-star guards. He could possibly make that jump next year, and OG is even better this year (didn't even mention the additions of Davis and RHJ). This years supporting cast is WAY better than last years, and could've made the finals if pascal played his normal game.

Come playoff time all those players regressed. Check out their stats for the Boston series. All of them had better playoff performances last year. Hardly any raptors stepped up in that Boston series

And yet they still took them to the last minute of game 7. What does that tell you? Add Kawhi to a 60-win, 2nd round playoff team and they are instant championship favourites.

Again, Raps lost Kawhi for nothing and were still good.

If you stripped Jokic, Tatum, Butler and Lebron off the conference finalists, would they win 60 games and go 7 games in the 2nd round? What does that tell you about the Raps supporting cast?

With the way the ecf has gone so far it’s telling me
The Celtics weren’t that good either

[Rust_Cohle]

that's just him being really unappreciative to his support cast last year. They were all smart, savvy resilient hard working group despite not being the most talented. I think Kawhi under estimated how much it actually takes to win the championship. He had Duncan and Manu before. He doesn't realize Lowry and Serges took on the leadership role, and clawed their way to the finishing line with grunt work while kawhi himself was load managing.

Lowry kind of stuck it into his face this year when the raptors actually have a much more successful season than Kawhis new team. Kawhi left something he took for granted and his new ensemble lacks the character to drag him to the finals. Good job raptors. It's these mini story lines that make the team endearing to us.

Not sure how can say the raps were “much more successful” when both teams went 7 games in the second round, clippers were 2-0 vs the raps this year, and nuggets right now are looking tougher than the Celtics.

Some of these comments are bizarre Acting like the raps won the championship while Kawhi failed to make the playoffs.