Raptors +160

Regul8er · 11-01-10, 07:50 AM

I think the Raptors are going to surprise a few of us this year. I'm not being ridiculous and saying there gonna finish with 50 wins, but I could see them clawing out 40 to 42, and getting a 7 or 8 seed. This would be incredible, especially since most have been predicting bottom 2 in the East.

CHAZ · 11-01-10, 08:21 AM

Really guys? I like Sacramento at home tonight but whats with the Toronto love? Not saying yall are wrong. I just wanna hear your reasoning on liking the Raptors this season.

INDIANOPERATOR · 11-01-10, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by Regul8er

I think the Raptors are going to surprise a few of us this year. I'm not being ridiculous and saying there gonna finish with 50 wins, but I could see them clawing out 40 to 42, and getting a 7 or 8 seed. This would be incredible, especially since most have been predicting bottom 2 in the East.

They had CB4 last year and barely reach 40 wins, what makes you think they any better this year?

Pacers and Knicks have improved their roster abit, they're a better chance to make playoffs then the Raptors!

Wilforth · 11-01-10, 09:20 AM

First home game after a trip of 4 or more days is always tricky. I think there are only 2 plays here because this game is likely to be decided by more than 5 points:

Kings -4.5
Raptors ML

Neither choice is an easy one, but I'd go with the road team if I were to take a side.

jennahazeplays · 11-01-10, 09:36 AM

on em plus the points here, bol

Yolkix · 11-01-10, 09:41 AM

They lose two starters and one of the 10 best in the NBA so naturally some people are gonna try and be an expert and pick them for 40 wins.. oh yea and what did they add? Little to nothing.

Regul8er · 11-01-10, 10:00 AM

They added some instant offense with Lineas Kleiza, who had a fantastic FIBA run if anyone payed attention. Barbosa is a nice spark off the bench.

Toronto got rid of Turkoglu, which is probably the best addition/subtraction the Raptors made in the offseason. I feel sorry for the Suns because they pick up an unmotivated, piece of trash who is living off one good year.

Players like Weems, DeRozen and Johnson will continue to improve with more playing time. Ed Davis will contibute once given the opportunity. Point Guard is fine with a solid one-two punch of Jack and Calderon. David Andersen has already contibuted nice minutes, and Reggie Evans has been relentless on the boards.

With CB4 out of the picture, Bargnani will really get a chance to shine in the limelight, and I believe he will welcome the opportunity. Look at his progress the past 5 years, it's quite astonishing.

I see this team finishing above Washington, Detroit, New Jersey, Indiana, Philly, New York and Cleveland. If this is the case Toronto is in the last few slots, which will translate in the 40 win range.

Michaelmakesit · 11-01-10, 04:12 PM

add: raptors +190 at 5dimes
add: raptors +5 at legendz.com

demens · 11-01-10, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by Regul8er

They added some instant offense with Lineas Kleiza, who had a fantastic FIBA run if anyone payed attention. Barbosa is a nice spark off the bench.

Toronto got rid of Turkoglu, which is probably the best addition/subtraction the Raptors made in the offseason. I feel sorry for the Suns because they pick up an unmotivated, piece of trash who is living off one good year.

Players like Weems, DeRozen and Johnson will continue to improve with more playing time. Ed Davis will contibute once given the opportunity. Point Guard is fine with a solid one-two punch of Jack and Calderon. David Andersen has already contibuted nice minutes, and Reggie Evans has been relentless on the boards.

With CB4 out of the picture, Bargnani will really get a chance to shine in the limelight, and I believe he will welcome the opportunity. Look at his progress the past 5 years, it's quite astonishing.

I see this team finishing above Washington, Detroit, New Jersey, Indiana, Philly, New York and Cleveland. If this is the case Toronto is in the last few slots, which will translate in the 40 win range.

You are way too optimistic on the Raps. I hope that doesn't factor into your system. Leiza and Barbosa are what they are, chuckers off the bench. Raps were already weak inside with Bosh, now they have nothing. Bosh wasnt exactly a paint player but at least he could draw some double teams. This leaves Bargnani as the go to guy which locks you into a lotto team.

Calderon quickly faded after his contract, and while i think Jack could could for a successful team if he had an all-star wing next to him, he is not good enough to start for a crappy team like the Raps that have very little talent around him an expect to win. I like Derozen too, but he is not developing all that quickly and he is really the only guy playing defense on that team.

Yes, Sac is coming off a 3 game road trip, but fatigue should not be a factor for a young team this early. They should be ready to go from their home opener. Their bigs should dominate this game. Unless Reggie Evans can get under Cousins's skin and get him tossed this will be a blow out imo.

zigomanisinsider · 11-01-10, 05:14 PM

kings are a lock tonight

demens · 11-01-10, 05:17 PM

1 thing i've learned in just 5 days is that nothing is a lock.

But Kings play makes sense logically and the line movement back it up completely.

Ewoi · 11-01-10, 05:27 PM

I like Toronto +3 for the 1st half. They usually come out gunning in the first two quarters but slow down in the 2nd half. Also, it seems that the Kings do the opposite so far (they have lost the 1st halves in all three games).

yassen28 · 11-01-10, 05:29 PM

I will take Toronto HT +3

Ewoi · 11-01-10, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by Regul8er

They added some instant offense with Lineas Kleiza, who had a fantastic FIBA run if anyone payed attention. Barbosa is a nice spark off the bench.

Toronto got rid of Turkoglu, which is probably the best addition/subtraction the Raptors made in the offseason. I feel sorry for the Suns because they pick up an unmotivated, piece of trash who is living off one good year.

Players like Weems, DeRozen and Johnson will continue to improve with more playing time. Ed Davis will contibute once given the opportunity. Point Guard is fine with a solid one-two punch of Jack and Calderon. David Andersen has already contibuted nice minutes, and Reggie Evans has been relentless on the boards.

With CB4 out of the picture, Bargnani will really get a chance to shine in the limelight, and I believe he will welcome the opportunity. Look at his progress the past 5 years, it's quite astonishing.

I see this team finishing above Washington, Detroit, New Jersey, Indiana, Philly, New York and Cleveland. If this is the case Toronto is in the last few slots, which will translate in the 40 win range.

Are you from Toronto too?

I told my buddies that they would make the playoffs this year and they just call me a homer. I think they will be okay this year and win over 28.5 wins- my future ongoing future bet. LOL

Noles506 · 11-01-10, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by INDIANOPERATOR

They had CB4 last year and barely reach 40 wins, what makes you think they any better this year?

Pacers and Knicks have improved their roster abit, they're a better chance to make playoffs then the Raptors!

Originally posted by Yolkix

They lose two starters and one of the 10 best in the NBA so naturally some people are gonna try and be an expert and pick them for 40 wins.. oh yea and what did they add? Little to nothing.

hmmm... Bosh is one of the worst defensive players to grace an NBA court, the other starter you speak of....was not actually a starter, Hedo rode the bench....because he quite simply, sucks.Toronto is a better defensive & rebounding team this year, and the offense is more spread out which makes it difficult to defend.Losing Bosh & his bloated salary was the best thing that could of happened........and were not talking about The Lake Show here, were talking about the terrible Sacramento Kings...who yes, are improving but are still terrible.....Bargani will avg atleast 20 a game, Evans is a beast on the boards, Kleiza is good for 15-20 a game,Derozan is improving, two good point guards in Jack & Calderon.....plus Davis coming back in a few weeks. It's all good ppl, us as Toronto fans & gamblers want the public perception to be doubtful, just makes the plays all that much more of value to us....thanks. PS....Bosh was & isn't that great of a player, you'll see what us in T.O. already know.Bosh is not a top 10 NBA Player.What about Gasol? Kobe? Brandon Roy? Amare? Wade? James? Nash? Dirk? Melo? KG? Pierce?

kidk · 11-01-10, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by CHAZ

Really guys? I like Sacramento at home tonight but whats with the Toronto love? Not saying yall are wrong. I just wanna hear your reasoning on liking the Raptors this season.

i think toronto will be lucky to win 34 games this year !!!

demens · 11-01-10, 05:57 PM

Bosh might not be a good defensive players if you line him up against the leagues top defensive big man, but to act like he was some liability on defense is silly. The general prescription of casual NBA fans that Bosh is "the worst defensive player to grace an NBA court" is completely wrong and that includes people that have watched him for year in Toronto. Bosh is a very average NBA PF at the defensive end, nothing more or less then that. Playing for a pathetic defensive team like the Raps isn't gonna make his defense look stellar.

Ohh and btw, i hate the Heat and their big 3 in case you're thinking i'm some bandwagoner.

scottyboy · 11-01-10, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Noles506

hmmm... Bosh is one of the worst defensive players to grace an NBA court, the other starter you speak of....was not actually a starter, Hedo rode the bench....because he quite simply, sucks.Toronto is a better defensive & rebounding team this year, and the offense is more spread out which makes it difficult to defend.Losing Bosh & his bloated salary was the best thing that could of happened........and were not talking about The Lake Show here, were talking about the terrible Sacramento Kings...who yes, are improving but are still terrible.....Bargani will avg atleast 20 a game, Evans is a beast on the boards, Kleiza is good for 15-20 a game,Derozan is improving, two good point guards in Jack & Calderon.....plus Davis coming back in a few weeks. It's all good ppl, us as Toronto fans & gamblers want the public perception to be doubtful, just makes the plays all that much more of value to us....thanks. PS....Bosh was & isn't that great of a player, you'll see what us in T.O. already know.Bosh is not a top 10 NBA Player.What about Gasol? Kobe? Brandon Roy? Amare? Wade? James? Nash? Dirk? Melo? KG? Pierce?

so much fail in this post

Michaelmakesit · 11-01-10, 09:54 PM

46-31 toronto leads

Ewoi · 11-01-10, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by Ewoi

I like Toronto +3 for the 1st half. They usually come out gunning in the first two quarters but slow down in the 2nd half. Also, it seems that the Kings do the opposite so far (they have lost the 1st halves in all three games).

Cash that Toronto 1st half.

demens · 11-01-10, 10:16 PM

Who would think Bargnani is gonna be punking Cousins. 2 early fouls took Demarcus out of rhythm, but getting stuff twice by the big softie? Wow, he got back and scored and got a nice pass into Landry after. 11 point lead at the half. I still like Kings to come back here.