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Post by mikecubs on Nov 7, 2019 2:56:14 GMT -6
From Last month on opening night Too bad Kawahi Leonard was so hellbent on returning home to the LA Clippers. The lost Danny Green also to the LA Lakers. Siakim was given a 4 year extension and Lowry and 1 year extension. So far Siakim has looked like a star. I say the Raptors finish 3rd or 4th in the east behind Philly/Milwaukee and possible Boston. Nice touch by the Raptors to put all the players names around the edges of the banner. The only other team to do this is the Chicago Bulls with their 6 title banners The Raptors championship ring was the largest ever
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Post by mikecubs on Nov 7, 2019 3:13:30 GMT -6
Besides Kawahi Leonard and Danny Green being gone Jeremy Lin went to China since no one wanted him, Jodie Meeks never found a team, Eric Moreland was cut in preseason by I forget who, Jordan Loyd went to Europe. So 6 of 16 title Raptors are gone with 4 being out of the NBA.
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Post by mikecubs on Dec 11, 2019 18:02:48 GMT -6
Kawahi Leonard and the Clippers return to Toronto tonight to get his ring.
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Post by mikecubs on Dec 12, 2019 0:03:40 GMT -6
Video of the ring ceremony from espn. The retracing his foot steps on the game winning shot vs. Philadelphia was very cool The Clippers blew out the Raptors and Leonard had 23 points on an efficient 8 of 14 shooting.
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 13, 2020 16:58:57 GMT -6
Raptors won NBA championship one year ago todayIt has been one year since the Toronto Raptors won an NBA championship, setting off a massive celebration in the streets that may seem particularly far removed in the context of a global pandemic. The Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 on June 13, 2019 to claim the first NBA title in franchise history. The win united a city and a country and was later celebrated with a massive parade in downtown Toronto that was attended by millions of people. Speaking with reporters on Saturday, Mayor John Tory conceded that the win and the celebration it set off now “seems so long ago” but he said that his memories of it remain fresh and may offer a lesson of sorts. . “I think what was great about it was people coming together,” he said. “People were together like I have never seen before. In front of Scotiabank Arena at Jurassic Park you had people from every corner of the city, from every corner of the country. It united all of Canada, not just Toronto and it united them behind a group of athletes who had such heart. You know they never gave up and I hope that is a message that people will take to heart on the anniversary, especially in the face of the pandemic when a lot of people feel a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. Don’t ever give up.” The NBA season has been on hold since March 11 so the Raptors are still defending champions. Toronto Raptors ✔ @raptors Even though we're apart, we can remember how wonderful it is when we are united. June 13, 2019 - Forever, The Day 📺 » Embedded video 2,088 10:40 AM - Jun 13, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 538 people are talking about this While there are plans to resume the NBA season in Orlando later this summer, the proposal is still, subject to negotiations with the players’ association. On Saturday, Tory said that the team will remain champions “until further notice” as far as he is concerned. “If they never get around to playing the playoffs I guess we would stay the champs for two years which is fine with me. We deserve it,” he said. The Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square will be lit in red and black tonight to mark the anniversary of the Raptors championship.toronto.ctvnews.ca/raptors-won-nba-championship-one-year-ago-today-1.4982945
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 13, 2020 17:06:56 GMT -6
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 18, 2020 0:17:10 GMT -6
The Toronto Raptors got knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by the Boston Celtics. The Raptors had won the division over them but the Celtics got them in the playoffs.
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers were also knocked out in the second round by the Denver Nuggets in 7 games. The Clippers had a 3-1 lead and blew it then their coach Doc Rivers was fired. Leonard was awful in game 7 and was limping. He was also taken to task for no leadership/being quiet and his teammates didn't like how he could dictate when he could take games off during the regular season. Leonard told the media the problem was too many Clippers had a low basketball IQ. His sidekick that he chose Paul George chocked in the entire series following his career pattern and is now being called "Pandemic P". The Clippers gave up a decade worth of draft choices for him/swaps with Oklahoma City.
Lebron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers won it all over the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler. It was James 4th title(3 with different teams). James is making it very uncomfortable on who the greatest player is of all time with Michael Jordan. The Lakers also won the title for their best player in franchise history Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year in the Laker uniforms that he personally designed.
So here is the question, what would have happened if Leonard stayed in Toronto? They had a better supporting cast than the Clippers. Pascual Siakim, Fred Van Vleet, Norman Powell and OG Anouby were improved this year. Terrence Davis made them a deeper team as an undrafted free agent replacing guys out of the league. Marc Gasol however totally fell off the cliff and may go back to Europe so that would have been the biggest downside compare to last year. He was unspeakable god awful in the playoffs vs Boston. Leonard was also hurt in the 2nd around again(his play declined after the 2nd round last year and others stepped up).
I think with Leonard they beat Boston in 6 or 7. They had more talent than Miami by a bit but Miami played so well together and have a lot of under the radar young guys like Toronto I think Miami would have won in 7. If not the Raptors would have lost to the Lakers. The Raptors were deeper than the Lakers but in playoff series it's the stars vs. stars that count. James is worlds better than Leonard, Davis is a ton better than Siakim. While not as deep as Toronto they still had enough veterans to get by. Most of all it comes down to this.
1. Lebron James wants to catch Michael Jordan as the greatest athlete ever. He's obsessed with it. He is also WAY more skilled than any other player
2. Kawhi Leonard was obsessed with going home to be with him mommy and has a bum degenerative knee
So Raptor fans don't feel bad on missing out on another championship banner. At most Leonard's decision cost them an eastern conference banner.
It's Lebron's league and everyone else just lives in it.
Something else. Leonard might be the worst GM in the 4 majors pro sports history. Not only did he pressure the Clippers into the George trade it was reveled that he thought the Raptors had no chance to repeat if he stayed and the Clippers had a better supporting cast. While he's right about not repeating he was insane to think the Clippers had a better supporting cast.
Leonard also has the distinction of the having made the worst commercial of all time claiming LA was his town. LOL It's Lebron/Kobe and the Lakers town!
^^Lesson of all of this is don't f*ck with Lebron and don't leave Canada or you will end up humiliated.
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Post by wolfmannick on Oct 25, 2020 19:02:52 GMT -6
Raptors are about to go into pretty much a full rebuild. Og siakim and davis are probably the only ones safe with the team.
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 27, 2020 4:08:47 GMT -6
Raptors are about to go into pretty much a full rebuild. Og siakim and davis are probably the only ones safe with the team. You are correct though they should resign Fred Van Vleet but they are trying to save cap room for Giannis for after next year and want to keep Van Vleet's deal at 4yrs $80M. Someone stupid like Detroit or NY might overpay and give a max. The Raps team president from what I understand is the guy who made it possible for Giannis to immigrate to Europe so he has an in. Still I think he either stays in Milwaukee or goes to Miami or Dallas. Can't see a major free agent ever picking Toronto so the Raps should be careful and keep guys like Van Vleet who want to stay. You can always trade away Norman Powell who would have 1 year left if he picks up his option to clear room that way if Giannis did come to Toronto. Giannis can't shoot and never will anyway so I'm not sure he's the answer.
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 27, 2020 4:21:40 GMT -6
Kawhi Leonard vs Denver in round 2
1st half
PPG-14.1 FG %- 56.3 3PT %- 47.1
2nd half
PPG-10.1 FG %-31.3 3PT %-27.3
4th quarter
PPG-5.2 FG %- 27.3 3PT %- 33.3
0 points in the 4th quarter in game 7
They say he choked which is possible but I think as games went on his knee hurt more and more. This year they NBA only gave 1 game off between playoff games in every round.
Bottom line anyone(including me) deserves to be punch in the throat as hard as humanly possible for think he was the NBA's best player over LeBron. There are some truly stupid Raptor fans arguing that they would have won again if Kawhi stayed. LOL
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Post by mikecubs on Nov 21, 2020 18:29:58 GMT -6
The Raptors will start next season at the Tampa Bay Lightening's arena.
Fred VanVleet has resigned to a 4 year $85M deal. He can opt out after 3. This is a great signing though the opt out after 3 sucks. He's only 26 and is a deadly shooter with great d. He takes a little less in year 2 to leave room if Giannis Antekompo wants to leave Milwaukee due to his relationship with the Raps club president though that is likely a pipe dream.
It looks like Serge Ibaka will leave possible for Brooklyn since the Raps want to keep cap room. Ibaka is 31 but had another solid year.
So now the Raps have Siakim(26) VanVleet(26) under control 4 and 3 years. Next is an extension for OJ Anunoby(23) if Antekompo commits long term to Milwaukee.
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Post by mikecubs on Nov 24, 2020 17:57:13 GMT -6
Serge Ibaka left the Raptors for the Clippers on a 2 year $19M deal. Raptors would only give 1 year $12M to save the cap space for next summer. Big loss though Ibaka is 31 Marc Gasol who is almost 36 left for the Lakers on a 2 year deal. His offense went to hell other than passing and 3pt shooting and he sucked in the playoffs but he can still contribute a bit. He is still good on defense. Still not the worse loss.
In their place the Raptors signed Aaron Baynes to a 1 year deal who is 34 and had a career year with the suns and Alex Len to a 1 year deal who can contribute. Overall the Raptors got worse at center but did as well as you can get with 1 year deals. Losing Ibaka hurt.
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Post by wolfmannick on Nov 24, 2020 21:01:25 GMT -6
Serge Ibaka left the Raptors for the Clippers on a 2 year $19M deal. Raptors would only give 1 year $12M to save the cap space for next summer. Big loss though Ibaka is 31 Marc Gasol who is almost 36 left for the Lakers on a 2 year deal. His offense went to hell other than passing and 3pt shooting and he sucked in the playoffs but he can still contribute a bit. He is still good on defense. Still not the worse loss. In their place the Raptors signed Aaron Baynes to a 1 year deal who is 34 and had a career year with the suns and Alex Len to a 1 year deal who can contribute. Overall the Raptors got worse at center but did as well as you can get with 1 year deals. Losing Ibaka hurt. Didnt see them keeping Gasol after the year he had. Ibaka surprised me thought theyd try to keep him long term. He like toronto and was a great team guy. I saw them passing on van vleet to keep him guess they went the opposite way. That's why I'm not a GM lol
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Post by mikecubs on Nov 25, 2020 2:27:47 GMT -6
Serge Ibaka left the Raptors for the Clippers on a 2 year $19M deal. Raptors would only give 1 year $12M to save the cap space for next summer. Big loss though Ibaka is 31 Marc Gasol who is almost 36 left for the Lakers on a 2 year deal. His offense went to hell other than passing and 3pt shooting and he sucked in the playoffs but he can still contribute a bit. He is still good on defense. Still not the worse loss. In their place the Raptors signed Aaron Baynes to a 1 year deal who is 34 and had a career year with the suns and Alex Len to a 1 year deal who can contribute. Overall the Raptors got worse at center but did as well as you can get with 1 year deals. Losing Ibaka hurt. Didnt see them keeping Gasol after the year he had. Ibaka surprised me thought theyd try to keep him long term. He like toronto and was a great team guy. I saw them passing on van vleet to keep him guess they went the opposite way. That's why I'm not a GM lol The plan was always VanVleet over Ibaka and rightfully so. VanVleet is only 26 and an assassin. He's going to take over for Lowry soon since Lowry is almost 35. This year is kind of a write off(get the 4th or 5th seed) In reality Ibaka will be 32 when the Raptors possible have their next chance. Still they should have given him a crazy 1 year $25M deal with the understanding that if Giannis don't come they would resign him to a multiyear deal. EVERYTHING revolves around getting Giannis. I think Giannis will sign a super max with Milwaukee with the understanding he can ask for a trade in a couple years when things don't pan out. The Bucks gave up too much for Jrue Holliday and lost out on that sharp shooter from Sacramento that went to the Hawks. My guess is he's traded to Miami in 2 years or possible Dallas. If Giannis doesn't sign the max the Lakers are going to make a run at him. Overall what do you make of the off-season? I think the Lakers got even better. Dennis Schroeder and Montrez Harrell give them the number 1 and number 2 6th men of the year from last year. Brooklyn could be scare good IF Durant is close to what he was and Kyrie Irving stays health and mentally stable.
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Post by ekjet72 on Nov 25, 2020 18:24:17 GMT -6
Is there a fiscal reckoning coming to the NBA? TV ratings including on-line #s are dropping Yet they continue to hand out extravagant contracts and I don't mean to upper echelon players but to the Ibakas of the NBA world
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