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Outside of the Celtics who look like they should definitely be a threat, the Nets, Knicks & Sixers look to be a flaming pile of $#!t this year. Atlanta will drop off this year, Wizards are probably better, Bulls are a question mark, but the Raps should be up there in the top 4 or 5 of the East I think this year. Hopefully, we can play more then 7 postseason games this year!
I've watched portions of 3 pre-season games and like what I've seen so far. Kyle Lowry looks to be in fantastic shape and in near mid-season form. He went off for 40 points against the Wolves recently, in something like 24 minutes.
Bismack Biyombo is going to be a huge fan favourite. Just saying his name is fun. Go ahead...out loud.
Told ya'.
DeMarre Carroll is a very nice addition and Luis Scola still looks like he has something left. It remains to be seen how Cory Joseph will do in place of Vasquez as Lowry's back-up but early indications are promising.
Most of my focus these days is on the Jays but I expect (ok, hope) the Raps can atone for their embarrassing tank-job in last year's playoffs.
The Raptors sent fans home happy after the opening tilt of the 2015/16 season. DeRozan with 25, Lowry with 23 and Valanciunas with 21 and 15 boards, led the Raps.
They were bad early, down by 16 at one point in the 2nd as the Pacers seemed energized by the return of Paul George after having missed most of last season. George had 17 points, 12 boards and 8 assists.
Toronto has a very tough sked to open the season, playing 11 of the first 15 on the road. I'll be happy enough if they win 7 or 8 and then settle in for some home cooking.
Valanciunas was a beast yesterday, and he's one of the guys who will need to step up this season on both sides of the ball. I sound like a broken record given that was my thinking last year.
Raptors took advantage of a young and beat-up Bucks squad to award Coach Dwayne Casey his franchise-leading 157th win - breaking a tie with current Wolves coach Sam Mitchell.
Scoring was spread around and the defense was pretty solid from the get-go.
Winning the first three games was big. Because the path to repeating as Atlantic Division champs is steeply uphill from now on, with 10 of the next 12 games on the road, starting tomorrow night in Dallas.
I have to wonder if any other NBA team is facing a similar stretch this year - 11 of 14 on the road.
Lowry had a game high 27 points, DeRozan had 20, and Luis Scola made a start and added a season high of 19 points. Carroll was the only starter not in double figures, but he held Dirk to only 18 points, & Chandler Parsons to 9 points. Lowry finished with 4 of the Raps 5 made 3 pointers.
Trip through the Southwest will continue in the first back to back of the year as they head up to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder Wednesday. Tip off will be around 8:10 PM.
And for the first time ever, they start a season 4-0.
Not too shabby.
But loss #1 likely looms tonight, in OKC.
Sorry Troutdude, but I'm guessing this is one of the few times in your life where your happy you were wrong??
103-98. It's early, but I LOVE this team this year! Down early, cut the deficit, kept fighting, gave themselves a chance in the 4th quarter and that's exactly what they did, they stole one. Going to Dallas and OKC (and playing the back-to-back) I would've been happy just getting 1 win, was realistically expecting 0 wins, but I just wanted them to play well, and represent themselves well, and we ended up getting 2 wins. Unbelievable! Keep it going in Florida Friday guys!
I'll have Willg or Troutdude do a recap later tonight or in the morning.
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