"Fire coach Casey" "blow it up" Official Toronto raptors 2015-2016 season thread
- Thread starter Malcolmxxx_23
- Start date
think soSao Paulo State of Mind
Isn't the Knicks pick for 2016 unprotected?
....or might have something to do with the Nuggets (ie. Melo trade) - cant remember
Sao Paulo State of Mind
Isn't the Knicks pick for 2016 unprotected?
Nuggets have the option to swap it with theres...
For anyone interested. Espn insiders 2014-15 Raps forecast.
Toronto Raptors: 2014-15 Forecast
OVERVIEW
The Raptors are the latest franchise to benefit from the little-known NBA quick-fix plan called "trade Rudy Gay." Just as Memphis did in 2012-13, the Raptors sent Gay packing and then vaulted up the standings. Toronto was just 7-12 when it traded Gay to Sacramento in a deal that brought back Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. From there, Toronto was a different team, one that finished with a 48-34 record and the Atlantic Division crown.
As a result, the Raptors enter 2014-15 with confidence in their young core. Kyle Lowry has emerged as a top-shelf point guard. DeMar DeRozan is quickly becoming an elite scorer and has an All-Star appearance and a FIBA World Cup gold medal to his name. Amir Johnson has matured into an excellent -- and underappreciated -- role player whose work is revered by the analytics community. And young center Jonas Valanciunas could be better than all of them.
So, yes, there is legit hope in Toronto as the Raptors aim for back-to-back division titles. This year, they could keep the party going longer, as they have enough pieces to advance out of the first round for just the second time in franchise history.
2014-13 RECAP
The Rudy Gay move, in retrospect, appears to have been the catalyst that turned the Raptors' season around. But that is also a somewhat convenient narrative that takes credit away from the players who developed over the course of the season. Chief among them was Lowry, who actually isn't all that young anymore. Even though he is 28, he had only started more than 52 games once before the past season.
As a full-time starter for the Raptors, he turned out to be a revelation. Lowry averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He ranked eighth in the league in win shares at 11.7 and 21st in
Real Plus-Minus at 4.25. A non-shooter for the first half of his pro career, Lowry nailed 2.4 3s per game at a 38 percent rate. He ended up forming one of the league's most dynamic backcourts with DeRozan, who earned his first All-Star berth and averaged 22.7 points per game. They fueled a surprisingly efficient offense, one that posted a 108.8 offensive rating, 10th in the NBA.
Up front, Johnson continued his emergence as a defensive anchor, held opponents to 48.1 percent shooting at the rim and ranked 16th in the NBA in Real-Plus Minus (4.61). He allowed Valanciunas, the 22-year-old center, to develop as an offensive player, knowing Johnson had his back on D. Valanciunas averaged 11.3 points per game and posted a 112 offensive rating but didn't demand the ball enough -- he ranked ninth on the team in half-court touches.
The Raptors ultimately didn't have the depth or experience to finish off the Nets in the playoffs and blew a 3-2 series lead before losing Game 7 at home after Paul Pierce rejected Lowry at the buzzer. But Toronto's 14-win improvement was a major step forward for a franchise now well-positioned in the East.
OFFSEASON MOVES
GM Masai Ujiri didn't make any major deals this summer and preferred to work around the edges to support his core players. In fact, arguably Ujiri's biggest addition likely won't contribute for another year or two. First-round pick Bruno Caboclo was the draft's mystery man, and Fran Fraschilla declared him "two years away from being two years away" during the draft telecast. But the 6-foot-9 forward impressed observers in summer league play, and with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and outstanding athleticism, he looks like a contributor down the road.
A more pressing concern was the need to upgrade the team's bench, which accounted for just 26.2 points per game game this past season, 28th in the NBA. The Raptors are counting on guard Louis Williams, acquired in a trade with the Hawks, to help solve that problem. Williams wasn't his usual self the past season, his first back from ACL surgery, and he averaged just 10.4 points per game on 40 percent shooting.
Toronto could also get a boost from James Johnson, who is in his second stint with the team. Johnson has been something of an enigma as a pro, mixing talent with an inconsistent approach. But he can be effective in spurts and averaged 3.2 blocks per 100 possessions with Memphis the past season. If the Raptors can harness his abilities, he can be an asset at small forward off the bench. The Raptors' other moves were all minor, which means Ujiri and coach Dwane Casey will count on the continued development of their young core to spur more improvement.
2014-15 OUTLOOK
The Raptors should win the Atlantic Division again, which says as much about the low level of competition they'll face as it does their roster. But this is a team with upside in addition to a winning track record.
Much of that optimism can be attributed to Valanciunas' potential. The Lithuanian center has the skills to be a breakout performer, particularly on offense. SCHOENE is actually conservative in estimating his performance and projects him to average 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. But no one in the league would be surprised if he scored at least 15 points per game, especially given his efficiency (career 54.0 field goal percentage and 77.3 free throw percentage) and anticipated spike in usage from the past season's 18.5 percent.
Feeding Valanciunas more in the post will take cooperation from Lowry and DeRozan. As productive as they were the past season, they also dominated the ball, and they have to understand that a productive Valanciunas inside will make their lives easier on the perimeter. The growth DeRozan has shown each year -- he posted a career-best 110 offensive rating in 2013-14 -- indicates he'll figure that out. The presence of Greivis Vasquez, an excellent distributor, off the bench should bode well for getting Valanciunas more touches.
Casey will have to figure out how to find Vasquez enough minutes because the addition of Williams as a shooter off the bench should limit the amount of time the backup point guard plays next to Lowry. One option could be to slide DeRozan up to the small forward spot more often, but the Raptors would prefer to see Terrence Ross make strides in his third season, especially after he averaged 10.9 points per game and improved his 3-point shooting to 39.5 percent.
Even though SCHOENE projects the Raptors to sport the league's 10th-best offense, they could use another scorer up front. Patrick Patterson has emerged as a solid player off the bench, but though he has developed 3-point range, he is not an ideal stretch 4 and lacks defensive skills. They need a shot-blocker behind Valanciunas in the middle; Amir Johnson can't serve as a one-man interior defense for 40-plus minutes. But those are high-class problems compared to the ones facing the rest of the division, and they won't keep the Raptors from going back-to-back atop the Atlantic.
PELTON'S 2014-15 PROJECTIONS
Projected Offensive Rating: 109.1 (10th)
Projected Defensive Rating: 108.3 (16th)
SCHOENE Projected Record: 42-40
Real Plus-Minus Projected Record: 47-35
ESPN Forecast: 47-35, 1st in Atlantic, 4th in Eastern Conference
ESPN
Toronto Raptors: 2014-15 Forecast
OVERVIEW
The Raptors are the latest franchise to benefit from the little-known NBA quick-fix plan called "trade Rudy Gay." Just as Memphis did in 2012-13, the Raptors sent Gay packing and then vaulted up the standings. Toronto was just 7-12 when it traded Gay to Sacramento in a deal that brought back Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. From there, Toronto was a different team, one that finished with a 48-34 record and the Atlantic Division crown.
As a result, the Raptors enter 2014-15 with confidence in their young core. Kyle Lowry has emerged as a top-shelf point guard. DeMar DeRozan is quickly becoming an elite scorer and has an All-Star appearance and a FIBA World Cup gold medal to his name. Amir Johnson has matured into an excellent -- and underappreciated -- role player whose work is revered by the analytics community. And young center Jonas Valanciunas could be better than all of them.
So, yes, there is legit hope in Toronto as the Raptors aim for back-to-back division titles. This year, they could keep the party going longer, as they have enough pieces to advance out of the first round for just the second time in franchise history.
2014-13 RECAP
The Rudy Gay move, in retrospect, appears to have been the catalyst that turned the Raptors' season around. But that is also a somewhat convenient narrative that takes credit away from the players who developed over the course of the season. Chief among them was Lowry, who actually isn't all that young anymore. Even though he is 28, he had only started more than 52 games once before the past season.
As a full-time starter for the Raptors, he turned out to be a revelation. Lowry averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He ranked eighth in the league in win shares at 11.7 and 21st in
Real Plus-Minus at 4.25. A non-shooter for the first half of his pro career, Lowry nailed 2.4 3s per game at a 38 percent rate. He ended up forming one of the league's most dynamic backcourts with DeRozan, who earned his first All-Star berth and averaged 22.7 points per game. They fueled a surprisingly efficient offense, one that posted a 108.8 offensive rating, 10th in the NBA.
PELTON'S 2013-14 STATS
W-L: 48-34 (Pythagorean W-L: 52-30)
Offensive Efficiency: 110.3 (9th)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.6 (9th)
Pace Factor: 90.6 (23th)
Highest WARP: Kyle Lowry (14.4)
W-L: 48-34 (Pythagorean W-L: 52-30)
Offensive Efficiency: 110.3 (9th)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.6 (9th)
Pace Factor: 90.6 (23th)
Highest WARP: Kyle Lowry (14.4)
Up front, Johnson continued his emergence as a defensive anchor, held opponents to 48.1 percent shooting at the rim and ranked 16th in the NBA in Real-Plus Minus (4.61). He allowed Valanciunas, the 22-year-old center, to develop as an offensive player, knowing Johnson had his back on D. Valanciunas averaged 11.3 points per game and posted a 112 offensive rating but didn't demand the ball enough -- he ranked ninth on the team in half-court touches.
The Raptors ultimately didn't have the depth or experience to finish off the Nets in the playoffs and blew a 3-2 series lead before losing Game 7 at home after Paul Pierce rejected Lowry at the buzzer. But Toronto's 14-win improvement was a major step forward for a franchise now well-positioned in the East.
OFFSEASON MOVES
GM Masai Ujiri didn't make any major deals this summer and preferred to work around the edges to support his core players. In fact, arguably Ujiri's biggest addition likely won't contribute for another year or two. First-round pick Bruno Caboclo was the draft's mystery man, and Fran Fraschilla declared him "two years away from being two years away" during the draft telecast. But the 6-foot-9 forward impressed observers in summer league play, and with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and outstanding athleticism, he looks like a contributor down the road.
A more pressing concern was the need to upgrade the team's bench, which accounted for just 26.2 points per game game this past season, 28th in the NBA. The Raptors are counting on guard Louis Williams, acquired in a trade with the Hawks, to help solve that problem. Williams wasn't his usual self the past season, his first back from ACL surgery, and he averaged just 10.4 points per game on 40 percent shooting.
Toronto could also get a boost from James Johnson, who is in his second stint with the team. Johnson has been something of an enigma as a pro, mixing talent with an inconsistent approach. But he can be effective in spurts and averaged 3.2 blocks per 100 possessions with Memphis the past season. If the Raptors can harness his abilities, he can be an asset at small forward off the bench. The Raptors' other moves were all minor, which means Ujiri and coach Dwane Casey will count on the continued development of their young core to spur more improvement.
2014-15 OUTLOOK
The Raptors should win the Atlantic Division again, which says as much about the low level of competition they'll face as it does their roster. But this is a team with upside in addition to a winning track record.
Much of that optimism can be attributed to Valanciunas' potential. The Lithuanian center has the skills to be a breakout performer, particularly on offense. SCHOENE is actually conservative in estimating his performance and projects him to average 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. But no one in the league would be surprised if he scored at least 15 points per game, especially given his efficiency (career 54.0 field goal percentage and 77.3 free throw percentage) and anticipated spike in usage from the past season's 18.5 percent.
Feeding Valanciunas more in the post will take cooperation from Lowry and DeRozan. As productive as they were the past season, they also dominated the ball, and they have to understand that a productive Valanciunas inside will make their lives easier on the perimeter. The growth DeRozan has shown each year -- he posted a career-best 110 offensive rating in 2013-14 -- indicates he'll figure that out. The presence of Greivis Vasquez, an excellent distributor, off the bench should bode well for getting Valanciunas more touches.
Casey will have to figure out how to find Vasquez enough minutes because the addition of Williams as a shooter off the bench should limit the amount of time the backup point guard plays next to Lowry. One option could be to slide DeRozan up to the small forward spot more often, but the Raptors would prefer to see Terrence Ross make strides in his third season, especially after he averaged 10.9 points per game and improved his 3-point shooting to 39.5 percent.
Even though SCHOENE projects the Raptors to sport the league's 10th-best offense, they could use another scorer up front. Patrick Patterson has emerged as a solid player off the bench, but though he has developed 3-point range, he is not an ideal stretch 4 and lacks defensive skills. They need a shot-blocker behind Valanciunas in the middle; Amir Johnson can't serve as a one-man interior defense for 40-plus minutes. But those are high-class problems compared to the ones facing the rest of the division, and they won't keep the Raptors from going back-to-back atop the Atlantic.
PELTON'S 2014-15 PROJECTIONS
Projected Offensive Rating: 109.1 (10th)
Projected Defensive Rating: 108.3 (16th)
SCHOENE Projected Record: 42-40
Real Plus-Minus Projected Record: 47-35
ESPN Forecast: 47-35, 1st in Atlantic, 4th in Eastern Conference
ESPN
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ESPN Insider Interview with Derozan
ESPN
DeRozan now Raps' go-to guy?
Raptors SG talks expanded role, his love of post play and corner 3s
As valuable as statistical analysis can be in the NBA, it's important to remember that numbers aren't randomly generated by a computer. They're the product of humans playing on the court. To provide that context and understand the thinking behind the stats, ESPN Insider is sitting down with NBA players for "Data Dialogues" to discuss their games and their numbers.
Earlier this week, we interviewed Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward about his increased role with the team and his interest in analytics.
Today, Toronto Raptors wing DeMar DeRozan tells us about how he adapted to becoming the go-to guy in Toronto, why he's always loved playing in the post and what makes him more effective at shooting corner 3s.
1. DeRozan was responsible for using 28 percent of the Raptors' plays last season, a career high and among the top 15 in the NBA.
Kevin Pelton: How did your game change last season as the leading scorer after the Rudy Gaytrade?
DeMar DeRozan: I had to become a smarter player. I couldn't think for myself once I became that scorer and once I realized how much attention that I started receiving -- double-teams, teams putting their best defender on me, bigger defenders on me. I had to start thinking not just for myself but for the other four guys on the floor. I can create easy shots for them. That's one thing I really was conscious of last year and going into the summer: really understanding defenses and double-teams. Little small things like that will help me elevate my game.
KP: Was working on your ballhandling this summer a part of that?
DD: Most definitely. Just being able to create for myself, obviously. Being able to do a lot of things off the dribble and get my teammates an open shot or be able to get to the basket easier and be under control to make the easy pass. A lot of little things come with it that help a lot.
2. He set up 3-pointers on 51 percent of his assists last season, per NBA.com/Stats. The league average is less than 30 percent.
KP: Are you consciously looking to set up guys for 3s?
DD: I am. A lot of times when I drive or I come off screens, I draw so much attention. I've got Kyle [Lowry], Greivis [Vasquez], Lou [Williams] -- the type of guys who are confident knowing the ball is going to come to them, and they're ready to shoot. I look for them half the time.
3. He ranked fourth in the NBA in free throws made last season.
KP: How important is getting to the free throw line?
DD: For me, it's everything. I think it goes unnoticed by a lot of players in our game. If you get to the free throw line, that makes you a better, efficient player. It gets you in a better rhythm. You don't have to work so hard to try to score. For me personally, being able to shoot 10, 11, 12, 13 free throws and you make nine or 10 of them, that's 10 points right there. You're putting the other team in the penalty. So many things factor into that. That's definitely one thing that's big for me.
KP: You mentioned efficiency. Is that something you look at?
DD: You kind of have a sense of it. You try not to force things. I think I had a little tendency last year to force a lot of things instead of finding the easy ways to make myself and my teammates more efficient.
4. He ranked fifth among guards in points off post-ups in 2013-14, per Synergy Sports.
KP: What kind of a weapon is the post-up game for you?
DD: I love playing in the post. I love playing in the post. You look at 2-guards, there's not a lot of 2-guards who post up. At our position, if you're not accustomed to guarding the post, it's going to be tough to try to guard. That's one thing I was always conscious of. Obviously, Kobe [Bryant] was my favorite player growing up. Watching the things he'd do in the post always amazed me, so I've always worked on it.
5. He shot 38.5 percent on corner 3s, according to Basketball-Reference.com, and 24.4 percent on other 3s.
KP: You've been effective shooting the corner 3, as have a lot of guys. Do you think that's a matter of distance or the type of shots you get there?
DD: They do say the corner 3 is the shortest 3-pointer out there on the court, so you just take advantage of it. I shoot a lot of long 2s that I'm accustomed to making. They may be difficult but they come easy to me. So when I'm in the corner, it feels like a 2-pointer.
KP: Is that a comfort level from that shorter distance going back years?
DD: Nah, I think it became more of a comfort level. You're in the right position, swing, swing. All you've got to do is catch and shoot. Straight on. It's not like the corner 3 where you've got a little angle. It's straight on.
KP: Do you know that it's become known as the most efficient shot in the game?
DD: I know it is. I hear that all the time.
KP: Do you hear that from your coaches?
DD: They bring it up. They definitely bring it up. It's part of the game. It is the highest-percentage 3-point shot if you want to shoot it.
Raptors SG talks expanded role, his love of post play and corner 3s
As valuable as statistical analysis can be in the NBA, it's important to remember that numbers aren't randomly generated by a computer. They're the product of humans playing on the court. To provide that context and understand the thinking behind the stats, ESPN Insider is sitting down with NBA players for "Data Dialogues" to discuss their games and their numbers.
Earlier this week, we interviewed Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward about his increased role with the team and his interest in analytics.
Today, Toronto Raptors wing DeMar DeRozan tells us about how he adapted to becoming the go-to guy in Toronto, why he's always loved playing in the post and what makes him more effective at shooting corner 3s.
1. DeRozan was responsible for using 28 percent of the Raptors' plays last season, a career high and among the top 15 in the NBA.
Kevin Pelton: How did your game change last season as the leading scorer after the Rudy Gaytrade?
DeMar DeRozan: I had to become a smarter player. I couldn't think for myself once I became that scorer and once I realized how much attention that I started receiving -- double-teams, teams putting their best defender on me, bigger defenders on me. I had to start thinking not just for myself but for the other four guys on the floor. I can create easy shots for them. That's one thing I really was conscious of last year and going into the summer: really understanding defenses and double-teams. Little small things like that will help me elevate my game.
KP: Was working on your ballhandling this summer a part of that?
DD: Most definitely. Just being able to create for myself, obviously. Being able to do a lot of things off the dribble and get my teammates an open shot or be able to get to the basket easier and be under control to make the easy pass. A lot of little things come with it that help a lot.
2. He set up 3-pointers on 51 percent of his assists last season, per NBA.com/Stats. The league average is less than 30 percent.
KP: Are you consciously looking to set up guys for 3s?
DD: I am. A lot of times when I drive or I come off screens, I draw so much attention. I've got Kyle [Lowry], Greivis [Vasquez], Lou [Williams] -- the type of guys who are confident knowing the ball is going to come to them, and they're ready to shoot. I look for them half the time.
3. He ranked fourth in the NBA in free throws made last season.
KP: How important is getting to the free throw line?
DD: For me, it's everything. I think it goes unnoticed by a lot of players in our game. If you get to the free throw line, that makes you a better, efficient player. It gets you in a better rhythm. You don't have to work so hard to try to score. For me personally, being able to shoot 10, 11, 12, 13 free throws and you make nine or 10 of them, that's 10 points right there. You're putting the other team in the penalty. So many things factor into that. That's definitely one thing that's big for me.
KP: You mentioned efficiency. Is that something you look at?
DD: You kind of have a sense of it. You try not to force things. I think I had a little tendency last year to force a lot of things instead of finding the easy ways to make myself and my teammates more efficient.
4. He ranked fifth among guards in points off post-ups in 2013-14, per Synergy Sports.
KP: What kind of a weapon is the post-up game for you?
DD: I love playing in the post. I love playing in the post. You look at 2-guards, there's not a lot of 2-guards who post up. At our position, if you're not accustomed to guarding the post, it's going to be tough to try to guard. That's one thing I was always conscious of. Obviously, Kobe [Bryant] was my favorite player growing up. Watching the things he'd do in the post always amazed me, so I've always worked on it.
5. He shot 38.5 percent on corner 3s, according to Basketball-Reference.com, and 24.4 percent on other 3s.
KP: You've been effective shooting the corner 3, as have a lot of guys. Do you think that's a matter of distance or the type of shots you get there?
DD: They do say the corner 3 is the shortest 3-pointer out there on the court, so you just take advantage of it. I shoot a lot of long 2s that I'm accustomed to making. They may be difficult but they come easy to me. So when I'm in the corner, it feels like a 2-pointer.
KP: Is that a comfort level from that shorter distance going back years?
DD: Nah, I think it became more of a comfort level. You're in the right position, swing, swing. All you've got to do is catch and shoot. Straight on. It's not like the corner 3 where you've got a little angle. It's straight on.
KP: Do you know that it's become known as the most efficient shot in the game?
DD: I know it is. I hear that all the time.
KP: Do you hear that from your coaches?
DD: They bring it up. They definitely bring it up. It's part of the game. It is the highest-percentage 3-point shot if you want to shoot it.
ESPN
Captain Crunch
Veteran
I mean he does look like him, and the lil half moon near his line is some 1990s Nas shyt
Some people just hit the genetic lottery, he's got a 7'7" wingspan which is almost a foot more than his height.
That pic is shopped
Forgot to add the projections to forecast post above.
Dirty D
Vikes & Raptors 4 Life
Went to the season preview event at the ACC last night. Here's a little recap.
It started off with the hosts Tim & Sid (Toronto sports media personalities). Sid sang "I believe in Masai" to the tune of R Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"
I believe in Masai
I believe he can touch the sky
Think about it every night and day
He made Bargnani go away
I believe he can soar
He sent Rudy Gay out thru that open door
I believe in Masai....
Crowd LOVED the Bargnani line
Masai came out, talked about Lieweke leaving, winning, building for the future, Africa, ebola, malaria, Toronto, took a couple of questions from the crowd about future plans, ticket prices. Emphasized building to a championship team "gradually", no big splash moves yet. Gave props to Wayne Embry, and Bryan Colangelo like he always does for making him assistant GM back in the day.
Muggsy Bogues came out next, talked about the 99-01 teams and what a special time that was. The main part here was him saying Vince Carter's #15 should be retired, hearing the mixed reaction that was mostly negative, and telling the fans that at some point you have to forgive and appreciate the good Vince did for the team and the city charity-wise. How Vince was dominating highlight shows even though he played in Toronto and how that helped put the team on the map. Thought it was good of Muggsy to do that when he could have left, skipped over it and kept on reminiscing about the good ol days.
Finally they brought out Lowry, DeRozan and Valanciunas. Introduced DeMar and Jonas talking about their FIBA world championship experience, and Lowry as "just got paid". A girl sitting next to me yelled "I love you Lowry" and he said thanks back from the stage. Tim and Sid asked them about LeBron going to Cleveland, they said they didn't care and were worried about their own team. Did a game show type segment that didn't really come off where Kyle and Jonas were supposed to guess DeMar's fave '90's TV show and song. Jonas didn't bother answering, Kyle knew both answers (The Simpsons, Str8 Outta Compton). Said the expectation this year is to get out of the first round and try to make a run in the playoffs.
It started off with the hosts Tim & Sid (Toronto sports media personalities). Sid sang "I believe in Masai" to the tune of R Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"
I believe in Masai
I believe he can touch the sky
Think about it every night and day
He made Bargnani go away
I believe he can soar
He sent Rudy Gay out thru that open door
I believe in Masai....
Crowd LOVED the Bargnani line
Masai came out, talked about Lieweke leaving, winning, building for the future, Africa, ebola, malaria, Toronto, took a couple of questions from the crowd about future plans, ticket prices. Emphasized building to a championship team "gradually", no big splash moves yet. Gave props to Wayne Embry, and Bryan Colangelo like he always does for making him assistant GM back in the day.
Muggsy Bogues came out next, talked about the 99-01 teams and what a special time that was. The main part here was him saying Vince Carter's #15 should be retired, hearing the mixed reaction that was mostly negative, and telling the fans that at some point you have to forgive and appreciate the good Vince did for the team and the city charity-wise. How Vince was dominating highlight shows even though he played in Toronto and how that helped put the team on the map. Thought it was good of Muggsy to do that when he could have left, skipped over it and kept on reminiscing about the good ol days.
Finally they brought out Lowry, DeRozan and Valanciunas. Introduced DeMar and Jonas talking about their FIBA world championship experience, and Lowry as "just got paid". A girl sitting next to me yelled "I love you Lowry" and he said thanks back from the stage. Tim and Sid asked them about LeBron going to Cleveland, they said they didn't care and were worried about their own team. Did a game show type segment that didn't really come off where Kyle and Jonas were supposed to guess DeMar's fave '90's TV show and song. Jonas didn't bother answering, Kyle knew both answers (The Simpsons, Str8 Outta Compton). Said the expectation this year is to get out of the first round and try to make a run in the playoffs.
how did you get tickets for this? was it open to the public?
^ Sounds like that type of thing that would have put me to sleep,i feel for players that are tapped to do things like that...
Im so pumped for Wednesday,i have been never been this excited for a raptor season to beginneth...
I just hope this aint 2007-2008 about to repeat itself...
Im so pumped for Wednesday,i have been never been this excited for a raptor season to beginneth...
I just hope this aint 2007-2008 about to repeat itself...
You courtside?
Dirty D
Vikes & Raptors 4 Life
Man stop talking about that season.. You're going to jinx us^ Sounds like that type of thing that would have put me to sleep,i feel for players that are tapped to do things like that...
Im so pumped for Wednesday,i have been never been this excited for a raptor season to beginneth...
I just hope this aint 2007-2008 about to repeat itself...