A Discussion for a Dilemma

by keepit4real on Jan 3, 2012 11:23 AM EST

After reading many posts and reading different viewpoints, it appears we are at a dilemma.

The Raptors have surprised us with their recent play. While we cannot predict a whole season based on five games, we can all agree that they play with much more grit, will, and aggressiveness in these five games than the previous season. Dwane Casey is proving to be an effective coach for a variety of reasons and is giving the Raptors some life.

However, we have a dilemma. Some fans believe we should trash this season in order to obtain a high lottery pick. Other fans believe we should try to grind this season out and focus on the culture changes to the organization. Others believe we should win as many games as possible with no regard to the lottery. The rest fall in between these extremes.

I have been a Raptor fan all my life, but this is a special scenario. Because of previous seasons, my first reaction is to trash the season because I want the Raptors to be acquire a high lottery pick. I want them to be better than a mediocre team. Through the lottery, I hope the Raptors will acquire star talent and progress through the playoffs. I am thinking for the future. However, in highlight of recent games, I can't help but notice that the Raptors really want to win. It's surprising because, in the past, the Raptors would give up on games. When the opposition was too much, the game was a nightmare to the fans. Yet, they haven't given up on a game so far this season. The Raptors are showing a kind of determination and willingness to win that I haven't seen in years. If the players are determined to win and are trying their best, shouldn't the fans have faith in the players?

I have not highlighted my personal opinion because I want to hear what the rest of you have to say. To be honest, I keep changing my desires for this Raptors team as the season progresses, but it would be interesting to hear what the rest of you have to say.

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I'm all about getting the draft pick

Because we haven’t had a draft like the one upcoming in sometime, nor are likely to get for some while.

This draft has a number of top quality prospects, and you could argue there are at least 5 players which could drastically change the fortunes of non-playoff teams in the NBA. I think this is a lottery we need to be in, imagine a pick like Harrison Barnes playing on our team next year with Jonas Valunciunus, add in a savvy vet through free agency and a smart trade and we can seriously target the playoffs. The team we have right now may be able to finish 8th (and do little else), if this happens we’ll be in the same dilemma next year with a team halfway between failure and moderate success. If we fail this year, next year’s team will be between moderate success and substantial success.

I honestly think though, as this season winds on, this conversation will become moot as our win-loss record deteriorates thanks to a roster that has consciously been designed to not win many games.

Formerly known as timboslice85

by Rebrand_the_Raps on Jan 3, 2012 11:59 AM EST reply actions

i agree completely with you,

but I am having a real hard time watching and not cheering for a win in the 4th quarter. I`ve been praying for wins for years, but now I am convinced that for the future we need to have a top pick this year. As exciting as it sounds to make the playoffs, I want to do more than that, for many more years sustainably.

by highvoltagerob on Jan 3, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely, you should watch and cheer for a win

But this year, you can also take consolation in that every loss is also a win in terms of acquiring ping pong balls.

Also, you can take consolation that Isiah Thomas is indirectly screwing up the Knicks. It’s good to see his reign of error returning. The Knicks may have talent individually, but I suspect that this team will be a mess. There isn’t a ball big enough for Melo and Amare to share and now they’re going to add Baron Davis to the mix. Fun times!

by siggian on Jan 3, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

It is really hard to hope that your team loses games.

I don’t like it at all, but we have to be realistic, we have been losing a lot of games for a long time now, and the biggest victory we can have at this stage in our franchise’s history is acquisition of the best players available, since free agency is not a plausible route for us to do this- we must focus on the draft. Getting a top 5 pick is a massive win.

What I have been doing this year is cheering our individual core players and getting happiness from watching their development and individual performances, since those are the players who will be at the forefront of what we hope will be much more meaningful seasons to come. Player development is absolutely something we must care about this season and can take a lot of enjoyment over watching, whether things are going good or bad – these are where we can have great conversations over as the season matures. There really is no point in talking about team development, since easily 75% of the players we have at the moment will not be here that long.

Don’t worry, this season won’t last very long, then next year we will have a team with a new center, who is looking pretty impressive, hopefully one of the best small forwards or point guards out of college, and some young core players left over from this year who have had a year of working under Coach Casey’s system.

Formerly known as timboslice85

by Rebrand_the_Raps on Jan 3, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

Win Baby Win

Intentionally losing is illegal and unethical and creates tons of bad karma.

Wanting something bad to happen to people; i.e. the team losing, in the hope that your team gets more media coverage with a top pick also creates bad karma.

by Buddahfan on Jan 3, 2012 8:41 PM EST reply actions

this isn’t even a dilemma, the fact is I want them to win every game they play, the thoughts were that the team wouldn’t win many games. Would love to be proven wrong, still think our talent level is lacking. But I get the sense Casey thinks he will out coach whoever they are playing.

by Shalax23 on Jan 4, 2012 10:29 AM EST reply actions

I would’t be surprised if he out-coaches most of them.

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by Justin Azevedo on Jan 13, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

my 2 cents

like most of you i’ve been pleasantly surprised with the Raptors play but our wins have come over the Cavs and the knicks without their best player. This team isn’t playoff bound, the talent just isn’t there. Even with the improved play we should expect a 5-8 pick, which in a draft like this could get us Barnes and should at least get us a quality prospect (perry jones?) who will develop in a good environment.

by iend on Jan 5, 2012 6:01 PM EST reply actions