2010-2011 Toronto Raptors Season

[Travis007]

Good overall team effort today. Ed Davis and Amir Johnson both showed great improvement from last season. We'll need more consistent contributions from Bargnani and DeRozan to win in more critical games though. The new emphasis on Defense by coach Casey has made a huge impact.

[current]

It is a good thing that it will be heated because tomorrow will be a very cold day:

Raptors Heated Tip-Off Tailgate Party

Wednesday December 28 3:30pm - 7:30pm
Maple Leaf Square
Free Food and Refreshments
-Raptors chili
-Slam Dunk hot dogs
-hot chocolate
Great Prizes
25% off Raptors Gear

http://www.nba.com/raptors/tailgateparty_122211

[Diesel_Power]

I'm going to see if I can go to the Raptors game tomorrow night. Even for a cheap $12.50 seat.

I actually enjoyed watching yesterdays game and may try to get more into basketball and follow the Raptors a little closer.

I want to watch the Blue Jays so bad right now. I need something to kill the time during the baseball off season. Tried hockey a couple times. Can't get into it. Dunno why.

[Skybean]

Oh man. The Craptors got shat on by Jeremy Lin!

3 pter with 0.5 seconds left.

[MysticMcGoo]

Epic finish. He sure lived up to the hype in T.O.

We could not score in the last 5 mins. So depressing

[Diesel_Power]

Seeing every at the ACC cheer for the Knicks was disheartening.

Reminded me of when I was at the Jays vs Tigers game last season and Verlander got his no-hitter against the Jays. Everyone still at the game was cheering for Verlander to get a no-hitter against the Jays. When Rajai Davis came up to the plate against Verlander in the bottom of the ninth after 2 outs, everyone at the Roger's centre was on their feet cheering for Verlander. I couldn't fucking believe it and everyone cheered when Verlander got his no-hitter. Even the fans decked out in Blue Jays gear.

Leafs aside Toronto sports fans lack loyalty. A true fan goes through the good times and bad times with their favorite team.

[icemachine]

A guy pitching a No-No in the 9th is worth cheering for, no matter the team

[koolio]

I am a Raptors fan but to be honest, if I were at the ACC on that day, I probably would have applauded Lin's heroics as well. Granted I would not have cheered as soon as he hit the three pointer but after overcoming the disappointment of the inevitable Raptors loss, you can't help but appreciate what he has done.

In addition, I think the bigger issue is that the Raptors have sucked so bad for so long that loyalty is fading away quickly. At least the Leafs have a history of Stanley Cup victories to hang their hat on. The Raptors have achieved absolutely nothing in their existence. As a sports fan in general, loyalty is good but every once in a while, it is also good to show your appreciation for sporting achievements, irrespective of what team you cheer for.

[current]

It looked like Steve Nash was going to New York this afternoon and now it is being reported he has not signed anywhere - Toronto Star article:

Steve Nash: Canadian Superstar Takes Raptors, Other NBA Suitors on Roller-Coaster Ride

By Doug Smith
Sports Reporter
Published on Wednesday July 04, 2012

If there is one thing that Raptors fans know better than anyone else, it’s that nothing is done until it’s done and the Saga Of Steve Nash drones on. At midday, the highly coveted free agent was gone to the New York Knicks; by early evening nothing had been decided and the 38-year-old point guard is still on the market...

...The Raptors are keeping silent on the matter. The only on-the-record quote — “We gave it our best shot” — came from president and GM Bryan Colangelo in the early afternoon Wednesday when it appeared near certain the Knicks and Suns had the parameters of a sign-and-trade deal in place that would have landed Nash in New York for three years...

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/sports/basket...-to-the-knicks

[Skybean]

Reports: Suns have agreed to send Steve Nash to Lakers in sign-and-trade

So now the Lakers get to put Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant out on the floor together, with Andrew Bynum and Pao Gasol potentially still bait for even bigger fish.

http://tracking.si.com/2012/07/05/su...1_a0&eref=sihp

[Aashiq]

We got Kyle Lowry who I think is a better option than Nash since Lowry is still a pretty young guy and the best of him is yet to come. The Raptors are gonna be pretty good this upcoming season.

[current]

Lowry is a good "plan B" option because he is young and has a low cost contract, here are the 2011-12 numbers:

--- Nash vs Lowry
PPG 12.5 - 14.3
RPG 3.00 - 4.50
APG 10.7 - 6.6

[Aashiq]

Looking at the stats Lowry is a better choice although Nash would have added experience and he could have been that poster boy for the Raptors plus drawn in more people at the ACC. But Nash would only stick around for 2 years at best. Also I'm excited for Jonas Valanciunas, he has immense potential.

[doady]

Originally Posted by Aashiq

Looking at the stats Lowry is a better choice

How?

[Aashiq]

Originally Posted by doady

How?

Kyle Lowry:
PPG -14.3
RPG -4.50
APG -6.6

Steve Nash
PPG -12.5
RPG -3.00
APG -10.7

Lowry trumps Nash in both points and rebounds. Nash can't play defence but Lowry can. Also Lowry averaged 1.6 steals per game last season, Nash was no where near that. Nash is a goner in 2 years but Lowry is going to stay for a long while.

[current]

The trade will shake up the team - Globe article:
Raptors Acquire Rudy Gay From Grizzlies for Calderon and Davis

ROBERT MACLEOD
TORONTO — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Jan. 30 2013, 5:42 PM EST
Last updated Wednesday, Jan. 30 2013, 9:38 PM EST

A deal that has been percolating for several weeks finally became reality Wednesday night when word filtered out that the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to send their leading scorer north to Canada. Toronto will also get Hamed Haddadi, the Grizzlies’ reserve centre, as part of the deal. The price will be steep as the Raptors will give up fan-favourite point guard Jose Calderon along with power forward Ed Davis, Toronto’s first-round draft pick (13th overall) in 2010 who was finally coming into his own with the Raptors this season. The Raptors will give up their second-round pick in this year’s college draft to the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are flipping Calderon to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forwards Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince.

The Raptors, who will likely miss the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year this season, played Wednesday night in Atlanta against the Hawks and Calderon left Philips Arena with tears of his eyes when he learned of the trade. “It’s hard,” Calderon told reporters in Atlanta. “It’s been my home for eight years. I did everything possible for this team.”...

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle8018663/

[OEincorparated]

Calderon is doomed in Detroit, but luckily he's a free agent. Good trade for the Raptors.

[doady]

Detroit has wanted Calderon for years, he's going to be very good there, and maybe he won't be so underrated there.

Rudy Gay was not used very well in Memphis, I suspect and hope he is going to play much better here than he did there.

Hopefully, Bargnani will play a lot better, this could be a great team. Still need another back up point guard though...

[Marbur66]

I like that we picked up Gay, he's an excellent SF. He's having a down year, so he can only get better, IMO. When I heard about the trade I was hoping that Bargnani was part of the package leaving town, but unfortunately he's still here. I hope Colangelo can get someone to take him off our hands....maybe for two basketballs and an extra mesh.

[koolio]

I wanted to see Calderon re-signed and Lowry traded. But oh well. This team is going to blow chunks for the forseeable future irrespective of what moves are made.