The Raptors Have An Impossible Decision To Make For Their Season

The Raptors Have An Impossible Decision To Make For Their Season

The standards for this Toronto Raptors team have dropped so low that it’s almost frightening and with 20 games remaining there’s an impossible decision to make about whether or not it’s right to push for the playoffs or focus on the draft in today’s video we’re going to really answer the question as to what

This team should be doing let’s get into it welcome back everybody this is Amateur hour Sports the YouTube channel completely dedicated to Toronto Raptor content We Do videos like this where we do news coverage and Analysis we also do live stream watch parties for Raptors

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Not going to be the most friendly or fun of topics today when it comes to the Toronto Raptors because the team has really struggled since that three- game win streak out of the allstar break it kind of gave fans a bit of a false sense of hope about where this team was

Heading quickly came back down to earth with three losses and four at home following that three-game win streak and now with Scotty Barnes potentially missing the rest of the season with injury and yakob purle missing a good amount of time with injury we really need to have a serious discussion about

What the right direction is for this team because many fans as we asked last week on the channel still want this team to push and try and make the playoffs this poll was sent out before Scotty Barnes was injured and right after the three-game win streak so it’ll be

Interesting to see how this could change and how this might reflect in a new poll that comes out but Raptors fans were keen on trying to get into that play in tournament position is that really the right move for this Raptor team but as I said in the intro here the standards for

This team have dropped incredibly low here the Raptors just suffered the worst home loss in franchise history with their 41o loss to the New Orleans Pelicans yes a 139 to 98 loss at home again the single worst loss Lo at home in franchise history it was also a top

Five biggest margin of defeat in franchise history to go along with it and naturally you know I understand the current situation for the Raptors the team is not very good Scotty Barnes was out injured yakob perto was out injured also Bruce Brown was out injured for this basketball game here and the

Pelicans even when the Raptors are healthy are just a nightmare matchup the Raptors have struggled so immensely this season against teams that have size well the New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of size and they also have a lot of shooting again with the understanding players were out injured would the

Understanding that it’s a bad match for the Raptors I don’t think the standard for this organization should drop so low that fans just merely brush it off 41 Point loss worst loss in franchise history at home top five worst loss in franchise history no problem guys were

Injured it was a bad matchup it is what it is me personally I feel like I’m going insane here because this is not an acceptable loss to happen here this is a completely unacceptable loss losing by 41 points period is unacceptable doing so at home makes it even worse and 14

Minutes into this basketball game the Raptors were already down by 20 points and the game was done personally I feel like that when there were NBA players present which they were for this game for the Raptors and it felt as though this team was very ill equipped to play

Against the Pelicans they were underprepared they had a hot start from three in this game which kept them relevant in the early goings actually put them up 19 to 14 at one stage but it really felt as so the Raptors had no game planned whatsoever for this one I

Kind of knew offense was going to struggle but defensively like okay we know the Pelicans are great at The Rim we know we have they have Shooters so as a team you should probably sacrifice one and defend the other take away the rim sacrifice a three ball game or you can

Take away the kick outs and sacrifice the points to the rim probably the better way to go about it what the Raptors did in this one was neither they allowed everything at the rim and they allowed Shooters to get open consistently for three and got completely torched by her Jones and Trey

Murphy the Raptors were terrible they’re going to get nothing out of the game like this where they lose by 41 points and personally I don’t feel as though that we should brush a game off like this the standards have gone so low for this team that 41 Point loss the worst

Home loss in franchise history like this team has been bad for a lot of its history they have played a lot of really good teams when they were really bad teams yet in the complete history of the NBA the Raptors have not lost to this level at home now granted the pace of

Games of scoring in games has elevated so much since the rapit Inception and founding season in 1995 but even still a 41 Point loss should be completely unacceptable there really is never an excuse to lose a game by this manner maybe one excuse was on boxing day in

2021 the covid season where the Raptors literally only had four NBA players none of which were starters and they essentially introduced themselves for the first time to four G league players who they met in the locker room in pregame before a game against the Cavaliers where they lose 144 to 99 it

Was a covid ra ravage team that had Delano Banton utat tab SMI huk Chris bue and four g-league players that’s probably an excuse to lose like that but I don’t think that same sort of excuse can apply to the Raptors in this one lineups were utilized incorrectly the

Bench lineup in the first half contained five players who could not play defense RJ Barrett DJ carton Brady dick Jordan noara jonte Porter like I get that they don’t have a lot to work with here but you got to stagger minutes you can’t have a fiveman unit that can’t play

Defense and in the five minute spell they were on the court together they only manage Four Points like how did that lineup even last for five minutes so a lot of decision-making Endeavors that went into this game led to the loss yes the team got outplayed the Pelicans

Had a great game yes the Raptors are undermanned 100% but along the way there are certain things that you can bring to the game to mitigate the risk of losing by 401 points and once again I I feel like I’m going insane that I feel so isolated in my opinion that a result

Like this is not acceptable for a team to have no matter what state they are if they are have NBA players in the game in an NBA game you should not lose by this much and it should beat treated as a failure to have lost by this much and

Not just brushed aside as H whatever things happen not going to be the case for me so looking at this team yes they’re not going to have a matchup like this on any given night when they’re playing a game there’s going to be better matchups and there are better

Matchups ahead for this Toronto Raptor team 100% but looking at the NBA standings is it more beneficial to continue to push to win games or is it more beneficial to sit back and focus on the draft well there are pros and cons as we spoke about in a video last week

But even from the pros and cons previously before the Scotty Barnes injury my mindset was completely on the team going in in the backwards Direction here focusing on that NBA draft that was my opinion preinjury to Scotty Barnes the fact that he is likely going to miss

The rest of the season gives me even more confidence towards that decision the Raptors still have a mountain to climb to get into that final play and turn position and I completely agree like getting these Reps for the team for the rest of the season maybe even getting that playing tournament

Experience somehow maybe even getting playoff experience alongside it if they actually do make the playoffs as the eight seed through the playing tournament I recognize that that sort of experience for these players especially the young players and the young core in this team is going to be beneficial but

There is such a mountain to climb here for this team that it feels as though going in the opposite direction maybe even focusing on giving some extra additional young players some more rep some more minutes let’s to see what you have with those guys for the next 20

Games the last 20 games that is season to me that can almost be seen as something that is beneficial to the team as well but I understand even associated with tanking moving towards trying to be a bottom six team that you still may not actually keep your top six protected

Pick that was sent out to the San Antonio Spurs 100% I recognize that but the mere chance and a 45% chance at that if the Raptor are bottom six te of keeping their pick the chance of having a player of that caliber coming into the team right away and supplementing the

Core right away for next season is such a huge prize and a huge draw that it is in my opinion the right move for this team to make if they want to push the playoffs they want to get that experience out of it I think there’s a

Lot of great things that can come out of that as well 100% I recognize that mainly we’re hoping for those additionals Reps for Scotty Barnes obviously it falls over into guys like RJ Barrett Emanuel quickley Grady dick and Moore understandably so there are positives to take away from a team that

Wants to just continue to try and win build those right habits build that culture but I think back to that Tampa season where nothing was being built for the second half this season Once the trade deadline was was gone and dusted nothing was built for that team for the

Rest of the season but it was all worth it because it all culminates into a little bit of Lottery luck that lands you the prize the centerpiece of the team going forward Scotty Barnes so having the opportunity to try and repeat that this season is a massive draw

Because if they keep the pick this season it is guaranteed to be a top six pick if it doesn’t pan out you go in the opposite direction doesn’t pan out you don’t have your pick this season you have the safety net okay the pick conveys now you have your pick for next

Season you know what where you stand that is your own pick how bad you are how good you are that is your own pick you have a complete understanding as such this season you can gamble and if you do get the pick it’s top six if not

You have the pick for next season as I said I can forgive this team for going in that opposite direction and not getting the pick but really trying to find another key piece to the team going forward through the draft because as as much as everybody wants to call it a

Weak draft you look at the guys near the top of the draft there is a ton a ton a ton of talent up near the top of that draft that could really supplement this core going forward once again on my stance there’s benefits to going try and

Make the playing tournament but to me the benefits of going in the opposite direction for that pick outweigh the benefits of trying to move forward especially with Scotty Barnes likely to miss the rest of the season with that hand injury perhaps he could come back for the last couple of games and perhaps

Would be back for the playing tournament and for the playoffs but that does remain to be seen we don’t know and don’t quite understand the full extent of the injury as of yet one thing that we have to also consider in falling back is okay this Raptor team still has some

Decent players the Memphis Grizzlies have gone into full tank mode that’s the team you would have to catch if you go in the opposite direction and start tanking I recognize the difficulties in doing that but again going to go back on my stance on talking about well you can

Start to play players a little bit extra minutes for instance is Pelicans game which was done after 14 minutes well after 36 minutes probably don’t need to start the fourth quarter with your starters in the floor probably could have just gone to you know jamas Ramsey Mohamad gay even more minutes for

Freeman Liberty to start the fourth quarter just to get a bigger glimpse of what they can bring to this team just to see what you have with these players and perhaps something can work out going forward there’s a player you like perhaps you can be part of the roster

For next season get him more acclimated towards the NBA so I don’t think you need to be egregious with this tank here but hey if a guy’s not feeling his best why risk injury if it’s the second night of the back toback you know RJ Barett Barrett been dealing with knee issues

Why why risk any sort of injury here give the extra guys some more minutes give Grady dick load up his minutes even more further guys in the bench like o abaji load up his minutes even more you know it doesn’t need to be an absolute egregious tank job but certain things

Along the way to prioritize development could help this team move in that opposite direction I know it’s incredibly difficult to necessarily root against the Raptors I always find myself struggling to when I’m watching games to like I can’t cheer for this team to lose I still want this team to win on any

Given night but just the possibility of getting that blue chip piece for the team going forward in the draft that big prize is a huge draw for me to say that’s the right move for the team you disagree though I completely understand and trying to move towards a playing

Tournament build those good habits build those valuable reps but it does not outweigh the possibility just even the possibility a 45% chance potentially at a top six pick in this upcoming NBA draft and games like like this where they lose to the Pelicans by 41 points reaffirm my stance on the quality of

This team and where it really should be going for the rest of the season but do you agree do you disagree hopefully if you disagree you see my side of my point of view here and perhaps you can convey your point of view in the comments down

Below if you agree with me then let me know why give everything in the comments down below that’s all for me for today drop a like if you enjoyed subscribe for more Raptor content and get yourself ready for that 17,000 sub giveaway join the amateur Army today I’ll see you next

Time for another video

With the recent disaster that was a 41-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the worst home loss in Toronto Raptors franchise history and the potential season-ending injury to Scottie Barnes, it is time to once again discuss whether or not tanking is the right way for this to going forward. What do you think?

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0:00 – Overview
0:46 – Where are the Raptors heading?
1:42 – Have the accepted standards for this team dropped?
3:29 – 41-point loss to the Pelicans, worst home loss in franchise history
4:41 – December 26th 2021 vs the Cleveland Cavaliers
5:22 – The Raptors are bad, but not *this* bad
6:37 – Can this team make the playoffs?
8:05 – This team should be tanking, it’s time to focus on the draft
10:52 – How far can the Raptors fall?
12:17 – Final thoughts

This is Amateur Hour Sports. On this channel, Jacob Gramegna analyzes and breaks down the latest on the Toronto Raptors NBA team from trade rumors to post-game reactions, analysis, and much more. By subscribing to this channel you will be there first to watch and enjoy 3-4 videos a week all focused on this team and on game days Jacob goes live on the channel for a watch party where he interacts with chat, answers your questions, and analyses the game as it happens with play by play and commentary. Join the Amateur Hour Army today by subscribing and consider becoming a member to give extra support to the channel and help create better content more often.

See you again next time

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