GT: Denver Nuggets (22-10) @ Toronto Raptors (20-14) Wed Dec 31 7:30PM

[Clutch0z24]

Slumping Warriors team that won 3 in a row and had 2 days off?

And we were on a B2B after playing an OT game missing RJ and Jak if we want to use excuses.

If you're refusing to give credit for these wins over "injured" teams, then other teams shouldn't get much credit for beating us either.

What does false sense of security even mean? I don't think anyone expects this team to cakewalk over anyone in the playoffs even if fully healthy.

I never said i didn't give them credit i said it took anomaly peromances from Barnes, And our bench Players (Shead, Dick, Walter) To just beat the Magic by 1 point & Warriors in OT....I don't think thats a hot take or anything unless you believe these performances will be the norm as the season continues to go on?....

And i said playing injured teams is apart of the game...But also it is true that if teams are fully healthy playing us in the playoffs i think our chances at winning a 7 games series against the majority of the East Will be a tough ask unless we get consistant performances from the Bench/Starters....

Good teams are supposed to find different ways to win.

Based on what exactly? It's a bit odd that you're downplaying this team at full healthy while saying other teams at full health would be much better when our results with a fully healthy Jak and RJ have been really good.

I mean if you are excited about beating a Warriors team without any bigs as well, And a mid Magic team who is missing Franz/Suggs by 1 point before trailing by 20 at one point....Go be excited about that....It was exciting wins but the performances we had to have in both games to win close games against mid level competition does not make me jump for joy....

I watched Raptors win a title with a legit title contender, I watched us be close to making the finals if it were not for LeBron.... I know there are levels to things come playoffs time...Will we be an easy team to beat first round....By no means am i saying we will....But i know we will also not be dangerous to the actual good teams in the East unless a trade is made....

Our bench for one is way too inconsistant and our franchise guy in Barnes is hit or miss some games, Ingram can not carry a team by himself so if you are getting shaky performances by any of the bench/Barnes you are in trouble....Down by 20 to the Magic trouble....Like i said if we were more consistant i would agree with you but we lack consistancy within our lineup....

[PushDaRock]

I never said i didn't give them credit i said it took anomaly peromances from Barnes, And our bench Players (Shead, Dick, Walter) To just beat the Magic by 1 point & Warriors in OT....I don't think thats a hot take or anything unless you believe these performances will be the norm as the season continues to go on?....

And i said playing injured teams is apart of the game...But also it is true that if teams are fully healthy playing us in the playoffs i think our chances at winning a 7 games series against the majority of the East Will be a tough ask unless we get consistant performances from the Bench/Starters....

Good teams are supposed to find different ways to win.

Based on what exactly? It's a bit odd that you're downplaying this team at full healthy while saying other teams at full health would be much better when our results with a fully healthy Jak and RJ have been really good.

I mean if you are excited about beating a Warriors team without any bigs as well, And a mid Magic team who is missing Franz/Suggs by 1 point before trailing by 20 at one point....Go be excited about that....It was exciting wins but the performances we had to have in both games to win close games against mid level competition does not make me jump for joy....

I watched Raptors win a title with a legit title contender, I watched us be close to making the finals if it were not for LeBron.... I know there are levels to things come playoffs time...Will we be an easy team to beat first round....By no means am i saying we will....But i know we will also not be dangerous to the actual good teams in the East unless a trade is made....

Our bench for one is way too inconsistant and our franchise guy in Barnes is hit or miss some games, Ingram can not carry a team by himself so if you are getting shaky performances by any of the bench/Barnes you are in trouble....Down by 20 to the Magic trouble....Like i said if we were more consistant i would agree with you but we lack consistancy within our lineup....

This team is learning to win after winning 30 games last season. If you're not happy with any W this season regardless of how it happens, I don't know what to tell you.

[C Court]

I have no New Years Eve plans. So I will be at this game. I didn't buy tix specifically to see Jokic, who I've seen before.

Legit injury to Jokic (not load management/rest), but still a disappointment to the large number of Serbian fans who will be there. Chance to see Death, Taxes and Val from three.

This is a great opportunity for the Raptors to steal one. If they can win this game it will be an impressive W.

[Clutch0z24]

Good teams are supposed to find different ways to win.

Based on what exactly? It's a bit odd that you're downplaying this team at full healthy while saying other teams at full health would be much better when our results with a fully healthy Jak and RJ have been really good.

I mean if you are excited about beating a Warriors team without any bigs as well, And a mid Magic team who is missing Franz/Suggs by 1 point before trailing by 20 at one point....Go be excited about that....It was exciting wins but the performances we had to have in both games to win close games against mid level competition does not make me jump for joy....

I watched Raptors win a title with a legit title contender, I watched us be close to making the finals if it were not for LeBron.... I know there are levels to things come playoffs time...Will we be an easy team to beat first round....By no means am i saying we will....But i know we will also not be dangerous to the actual good teams in the East unless a trade is made....

Our bench for one is way too inconsistant and our franchise guy in Barnes is hit or miss some games, Ingram can not carry a team by himself so if you are getting shaky performances by any of the bench/Barnes you are in trouble....Down by 20 to the Magic trouble....Like i said if we were more consistant i would agree with you but we lack consistancy within our lineup....

This team is learning to win after winning 30 games last season. If you're not happy with any W this season regardless of how it happens, I don't know what to tell you.

Again i never said im not happy about a random Win on a december night....We are TALKING about the playoffs here....Not a random night in December where you face a team(s) once on your home court.....You do realize Playoff basketball is a completly different animal right?.....I am saying i do not see our bench being consistant, Or Barnes who can be hit or miss, Non existant PG play, Lack of bigs....I don't think we have enough to beat any legit good teams in the east in a 7 game PLAYOFF series....If you do than awesome but we can agree to disagree...

[PushDaRock]

I mean if you are excited about beating a Warriors team without any bigs as well, And a mid Magic team who is missing Franz/Suggs by 1 point before trailing by 20 at one point....Go be excited about that....It was exciting wins but the performances we had to have in both games to win close games against mid level competition does not make me jump for joy....

I watched Raptors win a title with a legit title contender, I watched us be close to making the finals if it were not for LeBron.... I know there are levels to things come playoffs time...Will we be an easy team to beat first round....By no means am i saying we will....But i know we will also not be dangerous to the actual good teams in the East unless a trade is made....

Our bench for one is way too inconsistant and our franchise guy in Barnes is hit or miss some games, Ingram can not carry a team by himself so if you are getting shaky performances by any of the bench/Barnes you are in trouble....Down by 20 to the Magic trouble....Like i said if we were more consistant i would agree with you but we lack consistancy within our lineup....

This team is learning to win after winning 30 games last season. If you're not happy with any W this season regardless of how it happens, I don't know what to tell you.

Again i never said im not happy about a random Win on a december night....We are TALKING about the playoffs here....Not a random night in December where you face a team(s) once on your home court.....You do realize Playoff basketball is a completly different animal right?.....I am saying i do not see our bench being consistant, Or Barnes who can be hit or miss, Non existant PG play, Lack of bigs....I don't think we have enough to beat any legit good teams in the east in a 7 game PLAYOFF series....If you do than awesome but we can agree to disagree...

Once again, this team won 30 games last season. If you have more realistic expectations (young team competing to make the playoffs after a rebuild), you probably would be enjoying the season a lot more.

[MiamiSPX]

We will take this one easily.

[Zeno]

We will take this one easily.

We don’t do easy

[C_Money]

Jokic would have fricken destroyed us. Glad he’s out.

[Mack11]

December 31, 2008: The Nuggets defeated the Raptors 114-107 at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Carmelo Anthony and Nene were key players for Denver in that game.

time for some new years eve payback

[Grew]

Jokic would have fricken destroyed us. Glad he’s out.

Nahh Scottie always shows him up. Jokic lowkey faked the injury to dodge Scott Barnes.

[pingpongrac]

Nuggets down 4 starters, either a fake win or a bad loss

That's been the story of the season. I was excited to watch last night because that was the first >.500 opponent in a while that had a passing resemblance to their full roster, but then JI left after 20 seconds and Bane was hobbled too.

Don't think there's been an opponent that's above .500 that had even 4/5 starters this season.

Bane was fine and played all game.
Isaac averages 2ppg.
We were also without RJ and Poeltl.

Warriors had their regular starters, were above .500, and we beat them.

Absolutely wild to me that fans of the Raptors can’t enjoy most of these exciting games and/or give them any credit for their 20-14 record despite missing both RJ and Poeltl for a combined 29 games (and about half a dozen more where Poeltl barely played) after the team averaged 27.5 wins the past two seasons. Enjoy the ride. We were never meant to jump from bottom ~5 in the league to a legitimate contender in one season.

[Boardbreaker]

That's been the story of the season. I was excited to watch last night because that was the first >.500 opponent in a while that had a passing resemblance to their full roster, but then JI left after 20 seconds and Bane was hobbled too.

Don't think there's been an opponent that's above .500 that had even 4/5 starters this season.

Bane was fine and played all game.
Isaac averages 2ppg.
We were also without RJ and Poeltl.

Warriors had their regular starters, were above .500, and we beat them.

Absolutely wild to me that fans of the Raptors can’t enjoy most of these exciting games and/or give them any credit for their 20-14 record despite missing both RJ and Poeltl for a combined 29 games (and about half a dozen more where Poeltl barely played) after the team averaged 27.5 wins the past two seasons. Enjoy the ride. We were never meant to jump from bottom ~5 in the league to a legitimate contender in one season.

If you don't tank then win a chip the next season you're on the treadmill

[Westside Gunn]

Without Yolk itch we should take this one easy specially if Barrett is playing.

Hoping its not one of those 0-7 from 3 for IQ it happened way too often this month.

[mtcan]

Bruce Brown revenge game........

[MoneyBall]

December 31, 2008: The Nuggets defeated the Raptors 114-107 at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Carmelo Anthony and Nene were key players for Denver in that game.

time for some new years eve payback

And fours weeks earlier, Sam Mitchell was fired after losing 132-93 against, you guessed it, the Nuggets.

[Tripod]

This team is learning to win after winning 30 games last season. If you're not happy with any W this season regardless of how it happens, I don't know what to tell you.

Again i never said im not happy about a random Win on a december night....We are TALKING about the playoffs here....Not a random night in December where you face a team(s) once on your home court.....You do realize Playoff basketball is a completly different animal right?.....I am saying i do not see our bench being consistant, Or Barnes who can be hit or miss, Non existant PG play, Lack of bigs....I don't think we have enough to beat any legit good teams in the east in a 7 game PLAYOFF series....If you do than awesome but we can agree to disagree...

Once again, this team won 30 games last season. If you have more realistic expectations (young team competing to make the playoffs after a rebuild), you probably would be enjoying the season a lot more.

Some people just either live in misery or just have unrealistic expectations.

Like Orlando hasn't won a playoff series in 15 years, has actively tanked for top picks, and have traded 4 1sts away for success now. Add them to Knicks trading 4 1sts for Bridges and consolidation for OG and KAT, Cavs tanked, and traded 3 1sts for Mitchell...oh and highest cap hit in bball, 76ers with 2 guys making 106 million combined this year, Celtics with a top 10 payroll still.

Of course we are not expected to win a 1ST rd matchup vs teams that have made all in moves already.

The goal this year was to try and make the playoffs, keep developing guys, and be on the lookout for possible upgrades.

[mdenny]

I have no New Years Eve plans. So I will be at this game. I didn't buy tix specifically to see Jokic, who I've seen before.

Legit injury to Jokic (not load management/rest), but still a disappointment to the large number of Serbian fans who will be there. Chance to see Death, Taxes and Val from three.

This is a great opportunity for the Raptors to steal one. If they can win this game it will be an impressive W.

Jokic makes me realize that my love for the game is different from most ppl. Most of my friends think he is the most boring superstar to watch. Man.....he is my FAVORITE player to watch. Mostly because of his passing and processing. He's also extremely likeable for my sensibilities. I think he is truly hilarious. Such a unique character. Ant Edwards is also really likeable and hilarious imo but for different reasons.

I think most fans love the game for the athleticism which explains why Jokic's promotion of the game is so far below his competence/ability.

[MiamiSPX]

I have no New Years Eve plans. So I will be at this game. I didn't buy tix specifically to see Jokic, who I've seen before.

Legit injury to Jokic (not load management/rest), but still a disappointment to the large number of Serbian fans who will be there. Chance to see Death, Taxes and Val from three.

This is a great opportunity for the Raptors to steal one. If they can win this game it will be an impressive W.

Jokic makes me realize that my love for the game is different from most ppl. Most of my friends think he is the most boring superstar to watch. Man.....he is my FAVORITE player to watch. Mostly because of his passing and processing. He's also extremely likeable for my sensibilities. I think he is truly hilarious. Such a unique character. Ant Edwards is also really likeable and hilarious imo but for different reasons.

I think most fans love the game for the athleticism which explains why Jokic's promotion of the game is so far below his competence/ability.

I'm with you. I love watching these cerebral players who don't rely on just their athleticism. Jokic is by far my favorite watch.

[Shakril]

Bane was fine and played all game.
Isaac averages 2ppg.
We were also without RJ and Poeltl.

Warriors had their regular starters, were above .500, and we beat them.

Absolutely wild to me that fans of the Raptors can’t enjoy most of these exciting games and/or give them any credit for their 20-14 record despite missing both RJ and Poeltl for a combined 29 games (and about half a dozen more where Poeltl barely played) after the team averaged 27.5 wins the past two seasons. Enjoy the ride. We were never meant to jump from bottom ~5 in the league to a legitimate contender in one season.

If you don't tank then win a chip the next season you're on the treadmill

This is a very stupid approach to sports in general.
Sports is about competing against the best, trying your best and leave nothing on the floor. Most times you will lose, but the few times you win, are so much more enjoyable. If you only think about losing all the time, so that you may one day have an easy path to victory, its not worth it.

[HumbleRen]

Should be an easy game to win. They got 4 starters out?

Don’t play with the food, starters need to handle their business and give the end of bench guys a chance to play in the 4th if they don’t play with their food.