Don't look now, the Raps are 3.5 games out of 8th!

I'm not sure if the raptors can climb the ladder all the way to the 8th seed, but I think next year they'll be a lock. This year they dug a hole that might be too deep, but based on how they're playing now and continued growth of the younger guys + the removal of Bargnani, it's hard not to be optimistic.

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KeonClark wrote:

I've never understood that philosophy about hoping your favorite team fails. Who cares about the damn pick? If the Raptors are going where we want them to they shouldn't have any top 10 picks in the next couple years anyways, let's worry more about progress and less about which year we give our pick away.

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The fact is, there are plenty of good players out there from the last 3 or 4 drafts who could be available via trade, let's say...for a previous 1st round pick?

Here's a couple of possibilites that may look good in a Raps uniform, given the new identity of our team.

Jordan Hill
Harrison Barnes
Thomas Robinson (nice, nasty Canadian hockey style)
Maurice Harkless (young, but talented)
Tony Wroten (played well with TRoss)
Derrick Williams
Brandon Knight
Donatas Motiejunas (get rid of Kleiza and get this kid)
Marshon Brooks (sweet stroke)
Demarcus Cousins (head case, but could work with Casey)
Eric Bledsoe
Tyreke Evans
Brandon Jennings
Taj Gibson

ETC ETC ETC

Hollinger and ESPN believe the Raptors will be making the playoffs:
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

ESPN has the Raptors rater higher than both Boston and Philly.

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hateslosing wrote:

So do I, but I don't think mediocrity is our cap right now. We have three players in Ed Davis, Jonas, and Ross that have a long way to go before they hit their peaks. Derozan, Amir Johnson, Fields (maybe) and Lowry are still young and have not reached their ceilings yet. As far as I'm concerned, those 7 players are our future and pushing their development in the right direction, which means having them actually play for something, is the most important thing. If we make the playoffs this season, I think that is the first step to this franchise being relavant again.

The flexibility of getting 9th this year would be great, and you're right, it may help us acquire talent in the long run. At the same time, I think we need to figure out what we have before we start making deals and competing is the best way to do that.

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None of the players you mentioned have elite talent (including jv). All of them are solid role players or borderline all stars. If there's one thing we have learnt in the past 20 years, it is that you need elite level talent to win in the NBA and the draft is the most reliable way to do so.

Hell even high profile teams like the lakers, Celtics and heat needed elite talent from their farm system. (Kobe, pierce, wade).

Point is, if we want the next Atlanta hawks, sure...keep winning useless games, but if you want to win, you need high picks.

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hotfuzz wrote:

None of the players you mentioned have elite talent (including jv). All of them are solid role players or borderline all stars. If there's one thing we have learnt in the past 20 years, it is that you need elite level talent to win in the NBA and the draft is the most reliable way to do so.

Hell even high profile teams like the lakers, Celtics and heat needed elite talent from their farm system. (Kobe, pierce, wade).

Point is, if we want the next Atlanta hawks, sure...keep winning useless games, but if you want to win, you need high picks.

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JV has barely even played half a season and your saying he's not elite. He's averaging better stats than bosh If you adjust his mins to bosh's in his rookie season. I'd say he's on his way to becoming elite. Also Demar, Lowry, and maybe Ross all have all star potential.

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hotfuzz wrote:

None of the players you mentioned have elite talent (including jv). All of them are solid role players or borderline all stars. If there's one thing we have learnt in the past 20 years, it is that you need elite level talent to win in the NBA and the draft is the most reliable way to do so.

Hell even high profile teams like the lakers, Celtics and heat needed elite talent from their farm system. (Kobe, pierce, wade).

Point is, if we want the next Atlanta hawks, sure...keep winning useless games, but if you want to win, you need high picks.

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You don't know what you're talking about. V is so raw and young now, we have no idea what he can become. But I expect him to be one of the best centres in the league, in his prime. And kobe was drafted by the hornets, traded to LA for Divac +

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hotfuzz wrote:

None of the players you mentioned have elite talent (including jv). All of them are solid role players or borderline all stars. If there's one thing we have learnt in the past 20 years, it is that you need elite level talent to win in the NBA and the draft is the most reliable way to do so.

Hell even high profile teams like the lakers, Celtics and heat needed elite talent from their farm system. (Kobe, pierce, wade).

Point is, if we want the next Atlanta hawks, sure...keep winning useless games, but if you want to win, you need high picks.

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Stop spewing bs when you don't know what you're talkin about.

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NoPropsneeded wrote:

Stop spewing bs when you don't know what you're talkin about.

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Frontpage comment section level

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Matt52 wrote:

Panic mode or calling it like it is/was mode?

The team has done a total 180 and the biggest reason, now that Lowry is back and the winning/togetherness continues, appears to be Bargnani. Defense is better, offense is better, cohesiveness is better, coaching is better. The Raptors also have reason for optimism in improvement of youth (JV, TR, DD, ED) and the addition of pieces via near certain trades (Bargnani and to lesser extent Calderon).

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I think the real change is that MLSE met with BC and Casey and they said Casey is the coach, and keep your nose out of coaching BC. Now it is D above every things else, and forget about trying mixing up-tempo stuff with it, which has always been BCs style. D works. And that means half court sets. I think that Bargs will also be fine with this way of playing, especially if he comes off the bench.

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RapRepRip wrote:

I think the real change is that MLSE met with BC and Casey and they said Casey is the coach, and keep your nose out of coaching BC. Now it is D above every things else, and forget about trying mixing up-tempo stuff with it, which has always been BCs style. D works. And that means half court sets. I think that Bargs will also be fine with this way of playing, especially if he comes off the bench.

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It is all speculation - on my end as well - you very well may be right.

Personally, I don't think Bargnani's play had anything to do with Casey and everything to do with his own level of motivation, focus, and commitment. I could very well be wrong.