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Reasons for Optimism

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  • #16
    I'm crossing my fingers hoping BC is trying to shakedown some trade to try and get us back on track. This trade better include bargs tho

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    • #17
      NoPropsneeded wrote: View Post
      I'm crossing my fingers hoping BC is trying to shakedown some trade to try and get us back on track. This trade better include bargs tho
      If there is ANYTHING about BC I respect; is his ability to sell his players (to the fans AND opposing GMs)

      Do you remember getting Marion for J.O?! Holy crap. If we could pull of something similar with Bargnani (Gasol) then BC will solidify his mythical salesman ship that won him the job in the first place!

      EDIT: and Hedo for Barbosa!
      Last edited by enlightenment; Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:23 PM.
      The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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      • #18
        O'Neal brought Marion.

        Marion brought Hedo.

        Hedo brought Barbosa.

        Barbosa brought Acy and cap space that brought Fields and helped get Lowry.
        Last edited by mcHAPPY; Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:34 PM.

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        • #19
          Matt52 wrote: View Post
          O'Neal brought Marion.

          Marion brought Hedo.

          Hedo brought Barbosa.

          Barbosa brought Acy and cap space that brought Fields and helped get Lowry.
          This in my opinion is an example of BC doing everything he can to fix his wrongs. IMO he recovers well
          The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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          • #20
            enlightenment wrote: View Post
            This in my opinion is an example of BC doing everything he can to fix his wrongs. IMO he recovers well
            I don't think he has recovered well.

            He is working his @ss off to stay in the same place in my opinion.... basically treading water.

            This year is showing signs of fatigue as they are falling behind and starting to drown earlier. I'm sure things will turn around but the current winning percentage is even below Triano post-Bosh.

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            • #21
              winning percentage is a bad way to judge a developing team!
              The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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              • #22
                enlightenment wrote: View Post
                winning percentage is a bad way to judge a developing team!
                It is the best way to judge results though.

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                • #23
                  We don't need results now.
                  We need a good team and a strong foundation. The results will shortly follow!
                  The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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                  • #24
                    enlightenment wrote: View Post
                    We don't need results now.
                    We need a good team and a strong foundation. The results will shortly follow!
                    We need a good team but the Raptors are not a good team. WE need a strong foundation but there is not a strong foundation.

                    There were results last year in an incredible turnaround on defense. This year the results all point to regression.

                    I disagree results are not needed now. A lack of results now is proof the direction of the franchise is flawed.

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                    • #25
                      Matt52 wrote: View Post
                      We need a good team but the Raptors are not a good team. WE need a strong foundation but there is not a strong foundation.

                      There were results last year in an incredible turnaround on defense. This year the results all point to regression.

                      I disagree results are not needed now. A lack of results now is proof the direction of the franchise is flawed.
                      How is that proof of a flawed franchise? OKC was the worst in the league record wise, even with KD and russell westbrook! You mean to expect that 2 new rookies, 1 new star (3 new starters), and a completely different direction to do what exactly? Gel perfectly? Impact immediately? If those are you expectations, then surely you will be disappointed.

                      For the reasons listed in the OP, I believe that our team has more talent on it now, then ever before.
                      Granted I do agree that our defense has regressed from last year, I reconcile that by admitting to a rookie center and new teammates who need to all be on the same page for team defense to work.

                      Im excited for when our team will mesh better, and show more chemistry in their defensive execution. But it only happens by playing games and learning from mistakes.
                      The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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                      • #26
                        enlightenment wrote: View Post
                        I know.
                        Expectations were high in the offseason, and now we are hurting.
                        We have gone back and forth, attempting to pinpoint the issue holding us back from our promised playoff run. Is it Bargnani? Coach Casey? Landry Fields? Dominique McGuire? Bryan Colangelo? Referees? Matt Devlin?

                        Who knows, but it seems after every game we have a new name on our list.

                        I think we need to get a few facts straightened out, and I believe that when people take a step back from the emotions of the recent HEART wrenching losses, they will be able to recognize the reasons for optimism on this team.

                        Lets begin by listing our close games:

                        Indiana 90 vs Toronto 88

                        Dallas 109 vs Toronto 104

                        Utah 140 vs Toronto 133 (3OT)

                        Philadelphia 106 vs Toronto 98 [tied with less than 2 minutes to go]

                        Charlotte 98 vs Toronto 97 [NBA retracts no-call, by all practical purposes, this was a win]

                        Detroit 91 vs Toronto 90

                        All together,
                        3 games decided by 2 points or less (one shot/one call)
                        1 Triple Overtime, meaning it was tied by the games end (one shot/one call)
                        1 tied game with 2 minutes to go
                        and
                        1 5 point game (3 shots)

                        What needs to be gathered is that our 3-10 record is deceiving.
                        Charlotte I am going to chalk up as a win, because even the NBA agrees, it was. 4-9

                        Now besides Charlotte, I am not claiming that any of these games are wins, or should be considered potential wins. My point is that each one of these games couldve gone either way, and if one shot went in, the perception of the entire game all of a sudden becomes positive, where as if that shot does not go in, the perception of the entire game turns to complete crap and frustration.

                        I do not consider this performance by the raptors to be below expectations whatsoever. Very easily we could be at 6-7 (3 games decided by 1 shot/call), and if we were and all the performances were the same, the perception would be that the raptors are right on track to their development as a team, and frustration levels would be much lower.

                        Lets look at other factors that justify our crappy record:
                        -Rookie Starting Center
                        -Starting PG and arguably best player, hurt for multiple games
                        -Landry Fields nerve has missed enough shots to rightfully be accountable to some of those losses
                        -2 stretches of 4 games in 5 days
                        -5 back-backs (out of 13 total games)

                        Now that we have soften those losses, lets talk about positives, and why this team is exciting:

                        -JV is the real deal. Rookie mistakes and lack of experience still a factor, and will be for a while, but he has met my hype in the off-season and is right on track!
                        -Lowry came in with MVP numbers to start the season, before the injury. Before the game where he got hurt, he was tied with Harden at the top of the league in Eff. (Yet only Harden got any media attention for that stretch)
                        -Derozan has shown massive strides towards becoming a more complete player. He is right on track to developing into the player we all are hoping he can be!
                        -Calderon was the 2nd best PG in the LEAGUE during kyle lowrys injuries, including 1 triple double, an 18ast night, and 5 consecutive 10+ ast games. His numbers as a starter are incredible.
                        -Ed is showing an awareness and activity on the court Ive never seen before. Despite his minutes being shot in the arm, when he is on the floor, I feel it (whereas before, he did his work quietly) I love his development, and wish for him to get more minutes!
                        -Ross has the tools. A silky jumper + great defensive ability on the perimeter. From what I have seen, I consider him the best close-out defender + shot contester on this team. Wait for his nerves to cool, and for the game to slow down for him. He fits a much needed role and will succeed at it, but is currently failing to produce as a rookie.

                        Overall, not only do I see a stronger core than ever in a raptors uniform (JV - Derozan - Lowry), but I see the potential for others on the roster to join (Ross). Calderon, if he gets traded, will bring back sweeter fruits, and if he stays all the better!

                        Ages of our players going forward:
                        Lowry - 26/27
                        Derozan - 23
                        JV - 20
                        Ross - 21
                        Ed - 23
                        Amir - 25
                        Fields - 24

                        Seeing as how 3/5 of our starters are 24 and under, and our 'vets' are 27, I LOVE the room for improvement in this current squad.

                        I would love to hear of other reasons to maintain optimism that Ive missed. I hope it does not just sound like excuse making, I am not trying to excuse anyone! I am merely pointing out that our team is young, raw, and above-all, competitive (which is new). What's worse? A blow-out or a close loss? For a fans perspective, a close loss is MUCH more frustrating. From a practical perspective, close losses are the development we need. Im not sure if anyone remembers the days, of 40 point-losses (with bosh), or streaks of blow out losses, but I do.
                        Close losses are more frustrating and take their toll on fans
                        But let me just say this:
                        Growing is a frustrating process, but you cannot give up on it.
                        Amen! Lowry looks like the pg of the now and future. DD is beginning to look like a legitimate 2. Warts and all, AB can be a solid 4 on most teams. JV is the 5 of the future and the future is coming soon. All we need is a legitimate SF and some time and we will make some noise. Optimism.

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                        • #27
                          Matt52 wrote: View Post
                          O'Neal brought Marion.

                          Marion brought Hedo.

                          Hedo brought Barbosa.

                          Barbosa brought Acy and cap space that brought Fields and helped get Lowry.
                          Barbosa brought Zubcic... Acy was our own pick. Zubcic was the Pacer's pick we got from Barbosa

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                          • #28
                            planetmars wrote: View Post
                            Barbosa brought Zubcic... Acy was our own pick. Zubcic was the Pacer's pick we got from Barbosa
                            riiiiight. my bad.

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                            • #29

                              TORONTOOOOOO RAPTORSSSSSS

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                              • #30
                                People keep finding all these excuses. Landry Fields was hurting us when playing, and now people go "oh bad luck we have Landry Fields hurt!" If you haven't noticed, Dallas is above .500 with a rag tag group of cast offs and old people and NO Dirk Nowitzki.

                                Our record is what it is. We are not a good team, we are much closer to the worst team in the league then we are to a playoff team. Lowry can keep it as positive as he wants but I see a team that's been playing for a month and are only better than the 0-10 Washington Wizards.

                                Oh, and I'm sorry to burst anyones bubble, but this percieved "core" of DeRozan, Lowry and Valanciunas in his prime is like a 7th seed at best, despite improvements, DeRozan will never be a top 3 option on a good-great team, he's a 6th man or "Landry Fields" starter at best.
                                9 time first team all-RR, First Ballot Hall of Forum

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