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- - Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown" (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279496)

Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

I saw playboy's thread in the main forum and thought I would continue it here for fellow Raptor fans to chime in:

http://www.raptorshq.com/2012/10/25/...-casey-derozan

Quote:

For the last few years, ESPN's John Hollinger has been one of the better NBA prognosticators, providing fairly accurate predictions of how each NBA team will finish the season in the standings.

In his most recent season preview, Hollinger predicted a 33-win campaign for the Toronto Raptors and a 12th place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Based on last season's win total as well as the question marks that still surround the team, a prediction of 33 wins is to be expected.

The fine people over at Raptors Republic compiled a list of projections from pundits around the web, and the majority of them were in that 33-40 range.

In the piece he wrote for ESPN.com, Hollinger brings up a number of fair points about the team and it's questionable future. He also mentions flat out that the team has potential, and if things go perfectly for the Dinos, they could very well be a playoff team.

From the piece:

"If everything goes perfectly fine, maybe Toronto will sneak into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. But things rarely go perfectly fine."

A fair statement to say the least. However, when this subject was broached with Raptors head coach Dwane Casey at practice yesterday, things got a little interesting.

"I think I saw someone today predict we're going to win 33 games. So, With that lack of respect, that should get us motivated to come into this gym each and every day to bust our tails." Casey said about the report

"That right there tells us how much lack of respect the league has for us, and how much we have to continue to work to perform every day we walk on the court."

Casey's response is about what you would expect from a head coach attempting to motivate his team for the upcoming season, but it became a talking point for beat writers and bloggers because, well, it's still the preseason and there really isn't all that much to write about.

DeMar DeRozan, on the other hand, took things a step further yesterday when he tweeted the following:

"Who the hell is John Hollinger!? #Clown"

That was clearly an overreaction on his part--John Hollinger is anything but a clown. He is actually one of the best writers staffed at ESPN and is one of the best at using statistical analysis to properly back up his arguments--but, ultimately, DeRozan is going to need to have that type of attitude when it comes time to play the real games out on the court.

Fair or not, you want your players and coaches to be unhappy with low expectations. And, as a result, play--and coach--with a chip on their shoulders.

That chip is what is going to help the Raptors compete with more talented squads, just as they did last season.

At the end of the day, this doesn't amount to any sort of hard hitting news. But, it does show that some confidence is beginning to build, and exude from the types of people that need to be exuding confidence.

And that, at least as far as the Raptors are concerned, is rarely a bad thing

^I would like to see more of that. :cheers:

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

i have a feeling this guy come to play in his contract year. Which surprises noone.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00playboy00

i have a feeling this guy come to play in his contract year. Whcih surprises noone.

That could probably be the case too, but it isn't that big off a problem to me if he can become a consistent star player.

Problem is, he's just not very skilled player to command that much on offense yet. He's good off the ball and is a hard worker, but lacks the creativity and still gets lost on defense.

Whatever happens, I am just more pumped for this season to start already. This is the type edge should play with, night in and night out.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

"Whatever happens, I am just more pumped for this season to start already. This is the type edge should play with, night in and night out."

Yep i agree with you on this.

However i do feel Derozan is capable of a lot more (but not by himself, he needs a big time player to help him with the load). Unfortunately at this point the raptors will go as far as Bargani can take them. Jonas being to young to fully rely on. I do hope we sign Demar to a long term contract and he develops and we get a first round pick for Jose. Then we can possibly be headed in the right direction. Bargani is a wild card IMO i'm willing to move forward without him at this point. If he plays good we can be a dangerous team if not we will be medium to below medium.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Despite his questionable derivation of some of his stats, Hollinger usually gives in-depth rational behind his opinions. So Derozan is the one that comes off as a "clown" here. Play better and give the writers a reason to say that the team will be good.

Doesn't this happen every year? Writers pick the Raptors for a low win total, fans/players question it spouting cliches like "things are going to be different, we're motivated now" then by the end of the year the predicition looks bang on.

Casey handles it properly. He knows there is a reason why there is this "lack of respect" and that's because the team has sucked.

Basically, STFU Derozan. Just play better.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwyjibo

Yeah, but it's also something talk about outside of the preseason and regular season games moving. Trying to get the news going.

Maybe the predictions will be right or maybe they will be different (for the better).

Quote:

Casey handles it properly. He knows there is a reason why there is this "lack of respect" and that's because the team has sucked.

Even more so why Casey is the coach and a young 20 something year old in DeRozan is not.

:oldlol:

Quote:

Basically, STFU Derozan. Just play better.

Yup, agreed.

Now that DeMar called him a clown, he's got back up his talk with playing this game at a high level.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwyjibo

Basically, STFU Derozan. Just play better.

:bowdown:

+1

Back it up DD

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

41 wins !!:cheers:

if jonas continues to play like rookie dwight howard

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

If Raptors have this "proof them wrong" mentality set for the whole season, we may see them as a playoff contender.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Ill weigh in after 10 games. But I believe 33 is on the low side.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

i knew someone would bump this :lol

let's just hope we even get to 33...or actually probably not.

Re: Hollinger - "Raptors 33 wins this year"; Casey/DeRozan respond to "clown"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgz V2

i knew someone would bump this :lol

let's just hope we even get to 33...or actually probably not.

I was going to bump the thread myself.

:oldlol:

Backfired big time on DeRozan.