The Mad Viking

Sure they are on a pace for 44 wins, and have traditionally been slow starter under SMitch. But a closer look reveals a troubling pattern.

None of the teams they have beaten have a winning record.

They have beaten Philly, Chicacgo and Memphis twice for 6 of their 8 wins. They have an aggregate record of 4-10, or a .286 winning percentage. Add to that wins over NJ and Indy. Yech.

Now, to be fair, none of their losses has been to a team with a losing record.

But this is not a model for a team to win a round in the playoffs, is it?

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With the first pick in the 2010 draft, the ... select, Ricard Rubio of Spain.

Minstrel: There's no such thing as a "proven loser." Teams win and lose, not individuals.

Turkish Delight

Does it really matter? It's a long season. As long as they get it together for the playoffs I don't think it matters how they are playing now. There are lots of new players, Sam is still trying to figure out what kind of rotation he is going to use. Last year we started 2-8 didn't we? I don't think there is anything to worry about.

TRON

I thought the team has done well to atleast stay at .500 or above

Yes, the competition hasn't been all that tough, but it's a good thing since this team is still finding itself and our stars (before injuries) were just starting to round into form.

I know that killer west coast trip will be coming up soon, but I'm glad it wasn't in the first 10 games like last year.

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"and they aware of us though,
but we don't give a flying 747 **** though,
stayin on my hustle" -Nas

"To be honest, sometimes in this game, telling the truth is the best smokescreen of all." - Raptors GM Bryan Collangelo

crimedog

I think tomorrow's a true test of whether we are ready to step up and be a good team. If we can manage to win both games this weekend, it could set up well heading into a tough trio of games against Boston, Phoenix and Houston.

ballocks

it's interesting because they've had some fantastic games sprinkled in there- chicago, new jersey, memphis. that's refreshing. they've dominated several games and weren't known to do that as often last year. i guess it's a sign they're moving in the right direction.

but they've had some weak showings as well, and several of the team's most important players have already gone through slumps (bosh, bargnani, parker, kapono to name a few).

i mean, basketball is, as they say, a game of runs. but those runs usually occur over the course of a single game (ex. 15-2 run! ... 11-4! ... 0/15 from the floor to start the quarter! etc.). they don't last for several nights- or up to a week. in that sense, we're still relatively inconsistent imo, and i don't see many champions defined by the same trait.

i understand the notion of integrating new players into the system/culture and that's great. but i can't say i believe that's been the problem with the raptors.

anyway, 8-7 is nothing to cry home about. the season's just getting underway after all. i'm just troubled when we say we're going to address certain things but then show very little proof that we've done much to address them. that's a bad habit to get into, to have words excuse actions, etc.

peace

undefined_playa

Just wait until 5 more games, then we can do our quarterly 20-game analysis of the team.

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"I've never been afraid to fail."
"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."
"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying."

Michael Jordan...the greatest ever

"When I'm upset I'm known to do certain things...like win championships."
- Shaq

NeoSamurai

Meh, it just means that theyre beating the teams that they should be beating...if they beat teams like Dallas and Detroit while falling to the Bulls, Sixers and Memphis, we'd be more up in arms...

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Diversity, Our Strength...Lets Go Raptors

seifer0406

Our only stinker thus far has been that Milwaukee game, the rest of them we've been pretty competitive. Like last year we've had to alter our lineups many times in the first few weeks. Bargnani at center, Rasho at center, Baston at center, back to Bargnani. The team took off after Moon was inserted into the starting lineup. If the team stays healthy and gets into a groove, I wouldn't be surprised if we have another outstanding second half of the season again like last year.

SkywalkerAC

We haven't hit stride yet and the record reflects that. Our boys are going to be playing much better basketball as the season goes along. I love the makeup of our team and this start has done nothing to dissuade me from believing we will end up one of the best teams in the east.

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AC

southeasy

Boston is as winning as it gets & we forced them to OT??

going by how your thinking that means alot...

2-8 last year.

8-7 to start this year, and we ARE getting better each game, period.

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Twenty with the Disease of Illness
1AJosh Howard/1BGerald Wallace/2Amare Stoudemire/3Rajon Rondo/4Sean Williams/5Chris Bosh/6Renaldo Balkman/7Al Thornton/8Stromile Swift/9Jose Calderon/10Dwight Howard/11Antawn Jamison/12Dorell Wright/13Leandro Barbosa/14Samuel Dalembert/15Thabo Sefolosha/16Caron Butler/17Ronnie Price/18Trevor Ariza/19Jamario Moon/20Travis Outlaw

Close but No Puro: Julian Wright, Jeff Green, Amir Johnson, Louis Williams, JR Smith, Quincy Douby


RIP to the Career & The Man, Jonathan "Best Practice Player In NBA History" Bender & Eddie "Most Known Unknown" Griffin

narrator

Wins are wins. Stop searching for stuff to complain about.

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"If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned."