Official Toronto Raptors 2007 Thread

[Degenerasian]

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I've never been more excited for a playoff game since Game 7 of Phi vs. Toronto.. 5 years is a long time, I don't know how GS fans did it for like 13

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I <3 the East.

[bigt2k4]

I need that shirt

[4thstreetpete]

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Who is jacked for this game ?????

My only complaint is the early start - I wanted to get drunk and beligerent prior to tip-off.

No matter, I'll be screaming my lungs out regardless. ACC is going to be a fricken circus.

FUVC!

Raps in 7!

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I've never been this jacked for a Raps playoff series, including the Phillies.

To be honest I'm a little worried that we might be outcoached in this series with NJ. I was listening to Mike and Mad Dog on 66AM WFAN (NY station) where they interviewed Lawrence Frank. It was a real eye opener, the Nets have the Raps so well scouted it's not even funny. Obviously the Raps have done the same for NJ but listening to Lawrence Frank he's describing the Raps to a T. He's obviously been watching a LOT of Raps games and talked about almost every player and their tendencies. The Nets are pumped for this series and they are ready.

As for Sam Mitchell, anyone who has Raps TV will know exactly what I'm talking about. He's interviewed everyday and 100% of the time he's fighting with the reporters on very simple questions and always come off looking like a real douche. Frank on the other hand was really well spoken and broke down the Raps play to a T and how to overcome it. Any Raps fans who think we're going to come in this series and catch the Nets off guard are in for a real surprise. All I have read and heard from the Raps is that Mitchell has put a muzzle on the Raps to not talk too much about the Nets and give them ammunition. I'm not so confident with Mitchell's coaching coming in this series at all.

I still think we will win this series though but it's going to be a dogfight.

[vin17]

For all the talk about Smitch being worthy of Coach of the Year, the fact is the Raps have a significantly better roster than last year. Also, whatever personal agendas players have (Mo Pete comes to mind), they are putting the team ahead of them. This group of players must be more open to Smitch's system.

So yeah, I don't think he has improved a whole lot compared to last year.

[Marwan]

Their roster is better, but getting all the pieces to play as a unit, coaching a number of players with no/little NBA experience, surviving and overcoming a horrid start, having the best win % in the East since the New Year, and posting the biggest turnaround from last year gets my respect for a coach. And of course let's not kid ourselves, the Raptors roster isn't THAT amazing on paper, what they've done this year was truly unexpected and has to do, at least a little bit, with coaching.

Everyone needs talent of course, coaches are a reflection of the players, and players the coaches.. Phil Jackson wins 60+ games with the great Bulls and Laker teams, and then wins in the 40's the past couple years with the mediocre teams.. there's only so much you can do when the talent isn't there.. The personnel last year was a mess, and it showed.. any coach needs tools to play with.. not saying Mitchell is the best coach, but he's grown with the team and is worthy of an extension. Also keep in mind that Sam is a young coach, he's only a few years removed from playing.. if he does leave, it looks like he has a place in Charlotte with an up and coming team.

Scouting at the highest level of sports is going to be top-notch with most organizations, especially playoff caliber teams.. it's one thing to know your opponent's weaknesses, but it's another thing to stop it.. Brian Hill can know everything about the Pistons 1 through 12, but The Magic will still get swept or beaten in 5. Frank is a great coach and I'm sure he has a lot of defensive/offensive schemes to disrupt what the Raptors will try to do, and the Toronto coaching staff will do the same.. it's the team that can adjust the best from game-to-game that will have the upper-hand

[Zurvan]

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As for Sam Mitchell, anyone who has Raps TV will know exactly what I'm talking about. He's interviewed everyday and 100% of the time he's fighting with the reporters on very simple questions and always come off looking like a real douche. Frank on the other hand was really well spoken and broke down the Raps play to a T and how to overcome it. Any Raps fans who think we're going to come in this series and catch the Nets off guard are in for a real surprise. All I have read and heard from the Raps is that Mitchell has put a muzzle on the Raps to not talk too much about the Nets and give them ammunition. I'm not so confident with Mitchell's coaching coming in this series at all.

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I have no idea what Sam Mitchell's relationship with the media has to do with anything. Toronto sports media are 1 step above animals, and I wouldn't treat them any better than he does.

What matters is what he does on the court and in practice, not what he says to the media.

[vin17]

Gathered from the Raps beat writers, Sam has allies in high places (Tannenbaum, Embry) and even though the relationship between him and BC is civil/constructive, it's nothing more than professional. There's been speculation for some time about BC looking at bringing in his own guy like most new GM's do, namely Marc Iavaroni assistant from none other than the Suns.

Will this year's playoff performance affect whether or not he get an extension? His contract situation obviously shouldn't be getting any attention right now, but what if they get knocked out by the Nets, or in the EC Finals? Most of us probably thought the Raps could make it into the 7th or 8th spot, but the 3rd? Over achievement is an accurate description of this year (just trying to install some logic for if the Nets happen to win this thing).

Although I've said he himself hasn't improved significantly over last year, I wouldn't be surprised if he does get CoY. And I agree with Marwan, as Sam has yet to coach in the playoffs and is still on the learning curve (he has definitely improved on his temperament over the past couple of seasons).

[Marwan]

I think expectations are a good topic of discussion, now that you mention the overachieving thing. (which I definitely agree with).. I think at the beginning of the year, if we were to make the playoffs, we'd be happy to just be there.. but somewhere along the way the expectations changed, both in the media and among fans.. Now I would consider a 1st round loss a disappointment.

Are we expecting too much out of this team, who have overachieved all year? Will the moment, inexperience, and pressure get to them? Will the Salami and Cheese stay in the fridge? So many questions will be answered in game 1.. if Raps lose home court, Nets might run with this series.

[TheDudeAbides]

From Bill Simmons:

Kmart, California: Raptors - Nets: Do you think any other arena is going to get as loud and angry as the Air Canada Centre, when Prince Carter steps on the floor? The city (Toronto) is in a frenzy.

Bill Simmons: Never. In NBA history, it will have only been topped once: Game 6 of the 86 Finals, the game after Sampson attacked Jerry Sichting and the Garden crowd unleashed about as much hatred as 15,000 fans could unleash in the following game (by the way, he had deer in the headlights and finished something like 2 for 15). People of Toronto, I urge you - don't let up. The guy screwed you over. Don't let him beat you in the playoffs. You can singlehandedly affect the outcome of this series - you can break him, he's not a tough player. You are doing this for every fan base who ever got screwed over by a star athlete who went somewhere else and decided to start giving a crap again. That's your mission, now come through for us.

[Marwan]

I like that, Bill Simmons gains cred. Well, going to sleep so I don't oversleep the game (I've missed like 3 or 4 Sunday 1 o'clock tips haha). It is almost silly to be this nervous for a game.. Exams, Presentations, Interviews, Poker is all a breeze compared to this.

For those going to the game.. have a blast, it should be very memorable no matter the outcome.