I say that Kyrie Irving probably scorches us and overall Cleveland out hustles us and outrebounds us managing an 8-10 point win or so on opening night.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
officially, I heart Dwane Casey. You don't know how long i've been waiting for a coach to openly come out and say this. He worded this so perfectly it's incredible. http://www.nba.com/games/20111226/TO...t2hp0021100009
Quote:
"I want to win, to compete and build," Casey said. "(But) we have so many fundamentals that are lacking to even be thinking about the playoffs ... or being a top-tiered team. We have so many young guys, that's where we're at ... building."
Pretty much a diplomatic way of saying, my goal is to go out there and push these guys to work hard and try and win as much as possible, but we aren't that good of a team so it's gonna be a tanking/rebuilding season.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
Dwayne Casey is the reason I'll probably take in more raptor games this year. I'm excited to see the impact he'll have on this team defensively. The talk of how hard he works the team in practice is great (I wish we'd had a full camp of it) and he gives a great interview.
Based on his results in Dallas and what I've seen so far, I think we might have a keeper.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
If the Raptors must win SOME games this year, do it against a team like Boston. Where it'll really cheese them off and they may look back at the end of the year after finishing 1 game out of the top seed and think "damn, how did we lose to Toronto?". But please, lose every game vs Cleveland, Washington, and Charlotte.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bokes15
great call. i was travelling home all day. can anyone who watched the game tell me what happened? looks like Irving had a shitty debut.
He showed some really good playmaking skills, had trouble finding good shooting opportunities and when he got to the rim, was usually challenged by someone making it a tough shot. His teammates are terrible though. I still think he will prove to be the right pick at #1 for Cleveland.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bokes15
great call. i was travelling home all day. can anyone who watched the game tell me what happened? looks like Irving had a shitty debut.
Hahaha
Irving didn't play as bad as the box score shows.. but Thompson out played him for sure. Irving still needs to improve his decision making, and let the offense flow instead of forcing things.
Oh, and Calderon was dribbling circles all around him.
As far as the Raptors, Ed played great in the limited minutes he got. DeMar started of slow trying to find himself in the new system but really came out to play in the fourth. Calderon played really well.. and the raptors defence in general was much improved. The offence still needs work though.. and Bayless is still interrupts the flow.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
Does Demar know the plays? He's standing in the corner pocket for the whole shot clock 50% of the time. Good to see him get some looks in the 4th though.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
I was impressed by the block party going on. The Raptors will make it tough on any team attempting to drive to the hole, if they can do that on a nightly basis.
Re: Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zan Tabak
I was impressed by the block party going on. The Raptors will make it tough on any team attempting to drive to the hole, if they can do that on a nightly basis.
Good call Harrison!
Hahah thanks.
I think we have the size and athleticism that should allow us to get quite a few blocks.. or at least contest/alter them. James Johnson, Ed Davis, Amir Johnson.. frig even Bargnani can get a couple based of his height alone.
Raptors season opener @ Cleveland - predictions?
