Printable View
Mainly because of his contract and the matching salaries. Most of the trade rumors have raptors getting players with large salaries with few years left in their deals. MU has been firm on cap flexibility. Even the recent heat rumor of an offer is very underwhelming. Plus knowing MU, he may want to make another playoff run with lowry on the team. So far I think Lowry is staying. I guess we'll find out in a week or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
I'm eager to find out.Quote:
Originally Posted by killersweet
We were 4th place before the Raptors got hit with covid right?
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
no we lost it after we lost to Miami i think.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
Oh okay thanks. Was trying to reflect on the impact covid had on the Raptors in the standings. They were playing pretty good basketball up until that point. They got back to .500 after defeating the Rockets and were on track to make a run at a top 4 seed. They can still turn this around but this outbreak really set them back. 5 game losing streak and probably could have won all of those games had they been in full strength.Quote:
Originally Posted by ecart
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
It's a kick in the pants but I think they'll recover. Hopefully the return of Siakam, Fred and OG lights a fire under everyone. I'm hoping the time off gives their bodies some time to heal. Just hoping that covid doesn't affect them too badly.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
Yes, the worst part was the covid hit them when they had the easy part of the schedule was up. They can still turn it around when they get their main guys back. Hopefully we see some trades to improve the team if we aren't trading lowry/Powell.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
https://ca.nba.com/news/toronto-rapt...51jzt2mk8w0r8m
Looks like they should be coming back this week. Sounds like a couple players are cleared to return and others soon to follow
I think a couple guys actually got the virus because it’s been over two week including the all star breakQuote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
Getting hard to route for this team. The hardest thing to swallow is watching guys like Baynes, Ellenson, Watanabe... how did we go from champions to this in less than two season. This sucks man. And then there’s the chance of us losing Lowry, Powell, & Masai **** :(
I mean, hard to route for them? I'm not sure I'll ever feel that way :).Quote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
I definitely feel it is a pivotal time for them to set the agenda for the next 5+ years or so. We've dealt loads of young assets for proven veterans that helped us win a championship (no regrets!). Now we've seen 4 of the starters from that team leave for nothing (didn't even free up enough cap space to do anything). The Giannis plan is obviously out now that he resigned. Making smart decisions on Lowry, Powell and Masai (if we have a decision to make on MU, sounds like ball is in his court), seems pretty huge right now. If we don't get some young support to develop around FVV/OG/Siakam soon, we risk this team fading slowly into a long-rebuild. I'm fine taking a step back this year and next to try to get there.
Boucher seems like a solid piece that can fit with that core, but after that, there is a massive drop off in talent. Not sure what Flynn is yet. Davis has potential but remains really inconsistent. I don't think Thomas will ever defend enough to be relied upon for big minutes. The Johnson, Watanabe, Bembry, Watson group of wings have serviceable value, but they are more periphery pieces and may move to other situations if someone pays them more money.
We are thin.
CovidQuote:
Originally Posted by smith&wesson
Before the real craziness started they were 17-17, 15-9 over the last 24 and were right in the thick of things in the Eastern conference. Without this setback over the last couple weeks they would still be at least a .500 team, if not even better. When they are healthy they are still a deep and talented team. It just took a little bit to find how these new pieces best fit together.
I don't think Masai, Lowry or Powell are going anywhere. I think soon enough we will hear about an extension for Masai, and then this off season we will see both Lowry and Powell brought back. I can't see Masai and Bobby just renouncing them both, or letting another team outbid them. I know they won't have any more cap room, but a lot of teams would kill to have a top 6 of:
Lowry
Siakam
FVV
Powell
OG
Boucher
*Fun facts*:
-All 6 have had at least one 30+ point game this year
-Their 3 main scorers (FVV, Norm and Siakam) have all scored 30+ it at least 5 times.
-Powell's five 30+ point efforts have all come in the last 10 games
As an opposing coach, who do you game plan for? Literally anyone in the starting lineup as well as their 6th man could lead the team on any given night. On the other side of the ball, that small ball lineup can play smothering defense. Especially out on the perimeter where they can switch anything. They had no problems beating Giannis' Bucks, or Embiid's Sixers.
They might lose Lowry, but I think the Raps can offer him more than any "contender" can. Powell may get a huge offer from someone like the Knicks, Thunder or Spurs who could really use some help next year putting the ball in the basket. If not I think they give him something similar to OG and FVV over the next 4 years.
Good post. Agreed on all points. Our bench depth this year hasn't been great. It will be interesting to see how the team progresses when we get all the main guys back. But I really hope MU makes a decision soon on his contract.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
I’m a die hard fan, always will be a lifer, but yes it is getting hard to route for a team that’s suppose to be competing but has so many glaring holes and so much uncertainty circling around it. If were tanking I’d be happy to roll out with some of the guys we have in the rotation. I understand that with COVID we have been severely short handed. But this goes way beyond recent struggles. I had 0 enthusiasm going in to the season for a lot of the reasons you pointed out. I don’t see any quality depth, and I see glaring holes at the 5 starting, and @ back up.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
now that we’re approaching the dead line I’m hoping for some directional hints based on whatever moves that are made. If we sit with status quote it really will be difficult to keep interested in the rest of this season. Im just not interested in seeing first round exits. Got enough of that in the Bosh era.
We’re not nearly good enough as constructed and I’m with you all the way on the fact that we need to make some trades to set ourselves up for the near future. Because I just don’t really like the roster aside from a few pieces I don’t think many do, we’re just blindly loyal as a fan base.
Really though.... covid. I assume our record would have been much better than .500 if we had home games. Our fan base is one of the best in the league. We can’t even travel to watch our boys this season.
And remember how well the team was playing last season before the shut down. We weren’t the same team when we returned to the bubble.
Werent they like 11-1 in the bubble before the Celtics series? 7-1 in regular season bubble games then 4-0 Brooklyn sweep. Siakam was off in bubble, but rest of team was great.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
From what I gathered from interviews and podcasts from journalists with access, some of the Raptors just gave up and didn't think the season would resume. A lot of people implied that Siakam had "issues".
tbh it wasn't all great. Some players were struggling towards the end of the first half but other Raptors picked up their play in the second half so it evened out.
If Siakam played half decent in that Celtics series , raptors would have moved on. This year team definitely missing our bigs. They definitely miss Toronto. If we stand pat, my expectations are low for the playoffs.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
Powell couldn’t find the magic he had before the shutdown either.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
To be honest I don't remember a ton from Powell's bubble play and I haven't looked at the numbers. You may be right. He was also extraordinary for the stretch ahead of his injury late last season. I don't know if I expected that to continue as the norm. After his slow start this year, it looks more and more like "good Powell" is the one we can expect more often than not.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
Powell suffered from inconsistent mins. The more pt he gets the more comfortable he looks. That’s why coming off the bench never suited him. He doesn’t do well with inconsistent playing time.
Yeah he’s the longest ever player of the week because he was on fire before the shut down happened.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
OG still out. Other 4 practicing with team.
That's good to hear. If these guys are back, raptors should be able to win majority of their remaining games this month. Jazz, Nuggs, Suns are the only tough games.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
Denver/Portland won't be easy. I could see a 5-4 month. A good 9 games would be 6-3. Deadline could change that.Quote:
Originally Posted by killersweet
FVV still doubtful and OG is still out, so they are probably only getting back Pascal...and even he will likely not be playing 35+ mpg right away.
Regardless of and when they get back, we better see Norm in the starting lineup from here on out. He's one of, if not the best scorer on this team. He needs to be playing 35+ mpg every single night (....unless its a blowout). I know it will end up costing them more to keep him, but if you don't you likely won't be able to because he is just going to looking for a starting gig somewhere.
I'm trying to remember, before the COVID issues, they were running a FVV/Lowry/Powell/OG/Siakam lineup out there to start right? With Baynes and Boucher both off the bench?Quote:
Originally Posted by bartron_44
YeahhQuote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
Nice to see Fred and Pascal back.
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
Nice to see Powell put up 40!Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
That doesn’t just happen. That isn’t the “system”.
He is having a great yr.
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
That's a game they really needed.
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
Next up, Utah.Quote:
Originally Posted by aman_13
I get being rusty and all, but it was the lowly pistons. I was hoping that raptors would break their losing streak tonight. Powell was balling. That was great to watch. But pistons played hard and kept raptors at bay. Tough loss. Hopefully they show up against the Jazz. Rebounding will be an issue next game.
Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart are nice reminders of what can be found in the middle of a draft.Quote:
Originally Posted by killersweet
Honestly it looks like we will be well below .500 and out of a playoff spot by the TDL.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
We are 6 games below .500 now. 4 games until TDL (Jazz, Cavs, Rockets, Nuggets). I think the safe projection is a 2-2 stretch over the next 4. That would still have us 6 games below .500.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
Still got a couple games against each of the Lakers and Clippers. Another couple games against Jazz, Nuggets. Couple games against Phoenix, Blazers. Couple games against Brooklyn. Among Eastern Conference Teams, only Orlando has a harder strength of schedule remaining based on opponents winnings percentage.
It will be a challenge to climb back to .500 even if we don't decide to deal Powell/Lowry.
Raptors are hard to predict. They lost to the pistons but are quite capable of beating the Jazz tomorrow. They may also help Hou end their long losing streak. 2-2 is a safe projection, but I won't be surprised to see them go 3-1 or 0-4. Just looking forward to the TDL.Quote:
Originally Posted by pebloemer
Getting open shots isn't the "system" ok buddy.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChongInc.
no system makes a guy shoot this efficiently. Dude was 8 for 12 from deep...and those were the only 4 shots he missed from the field all night! His skill level has just gone to another level.
What I wouldn't argue with though is that playing with PG's like Kyle and Fred who know how to milk a hot hand doesn't hurt, but it doesn't seem to matter who he plays with right now, he is going to find a way to put the ball in the basket. ...maybe if they found him even more last night instead of going a combined 1 for 14 from deep and 4 for 26 from the field they would have won that game. Like what the heck were Lowry and FVV doing jacking up threes in the 4th quarter the way they shot the ball last night through the first 3? Lowry had 15 dimes...but he should have tried to get 20 in the 4th instead of trying to shoot 3's and take it to the hole against 4 people. Powell had 18 shots but he should have had about 25 the way he was ballin last night.