A few of us have been having a very spirited debate in another board, thought I'd bring it here since this board is completely dead/boring. As we all know, the Nets beat the Raptors in the playoffs last season. The Raptors added Carlos 'Freakin' Delfino and Jason Kapono. The Nets have Nenad Krstic coming back from injury, Sean Williams and Jamaal Magloire. Who you got?
I like the Nets this year, because they're more experienced. The Raptors shocked people last season, but couldn't pull it off when it mattered. On top of that, they certainly didn't acquire better players than the Nets did. But, I like how the Raptors system is shaping up, and they just might have a better regular season record than New Jersey, but once again I don't think they will be able to pull it off in the playoffs. The Nets have one of the most experienced rosters in the Eastern Conference as far as post-season play; they know what they need to do and this year just might be the year they go deep.
I'm not going to argue who will have the best record because a lot plays a factor into that, but in a 7 game series, I would pick the Nets. Their front-court is much improved with the addition of Magloire, who is a big body and a good rebounder, and with Krstic coming back from his injury. Krstic will give them around 15 PPG downlow, which is much needed. Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson are entering their 3rd year together, so you know the chemistry is there. The Nets young bench (Williams, Boone, and Wright) should also show some improvement this year.I know the Raptors added Kapono and Delfino, but I don't see any reasons that lead me to believe that this Raptors team can beat the Nets, which they couldn't do last season.
The Nets don't really have a lot of playoff experience. They only have RJ, Kidd, Collins that have played deep in the playoffs. I guess you could add VC too.But I they are way more experienced than Toronto. But we brought in Kapono and Delfino that are former NBA champions and should bring some experience come playoff time.
Raps got screwed by Donaghy last season and I think they're definitely the better team. I don't see Kidd averaging another playoff triple double this year.
We also added Maceo Baston who I think could be promising, because has a knack for finding talent, this guy has shot +.600% from the field all his career including euro league play, hes a solid find.The Nets added a at best 8 and 8 player, a lazy small rookie pf who cant play on the permiter, They really didnt add much else, theres no basis for BCB to say that they will be the BEST team in the East.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jul 25 2007, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We also added Maceo Baston who I think could be promising, because has a knack for finding talent, this guy has shot +.600% from the field all his career including euro league play, hes a solid find.The Nets added a at best 8 and 8 player, a lazy small rookie pf who cant play on the permiter, They really didnt add much else, theres no basis for BCB to say that they will be the BEST team in the East.</div> I love how you make a big deal over a journyman in Maceo Baston and you trash everything the Nets have done. If you had drafted Sean Williams and signed Jamaal Magloire you Raptors fans would find plenty of positives in both. Sean Williams is 6'10" 230 PF/C, why does he need to have a perimeter game?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jul 25 2007, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets added a at best 8 and 8 player, a lazy small rookie pf who cant play on the permiter, They really didnt add much else, theres no basis for BCB to say that they will be the BEST team in the East.</div>Who?? I hope you not talking about Sean Williams...And you act like the Nets needed to add another star to their roster; they have all of the pieces. All they needed was an athletic big man (they got that in Williams) and somebody that can give them 10 and 10 on nights (Magloire). And don't tell me Magloire isn't capable of giving you a double-double in a few games in a season; that's what he has been doing his whole career.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 25 2007, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I love how you make a big deal over a journyman in Maceo Baston and you trash everything the Nets have done. If you had drafted Sean Williams and signed Jamaal Magloire you Raptors fans would find plenty of positives in both. </div>I was thinking the exact same thing....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Jul 25 2007, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets don't really have a lot of playoff experience. They only have RJ, Kidd, Collins that have played deep in the playoffs. I guess you could add VC too.But I they are way more experienced than Toronto. But we brought in Kapono and Delfino that are former NBA champions and should bring some experience come playoff time.</div>Nets don't have a lot of playoff experience? You kidding me...they're one of the most experienced teams in the East. They've been one of the most consistant teams in recent years, in terms of making the playoffs. Anyways, I'd put my money on the Nets. Minor changes to each team, but the Nets proved they're better last season taking the Raps out WITHOUT their best big. Magloire should be a nice addition as well and Marcus Williams, Antoine Wright, Josh Boone seem to be devloping well. The additions of Delfino and Kapono to the Raps I can't see making much of a difference. Both overrated players imo; especially Kapono.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tHe_pEsTiLeNcE @ Jul 25 2007, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Raps got screwed by Donaghy last season and I think they're definitely the better team. I don't see Kidd averaging another playoff triple double this year.</div>Wow, hear we go. Show me some video. There always has to be a reason, it can't just be the Nets are better. I want to see the Raptors play with their second option hurt and their third option out against us in a 7 game series and beat us. They would be lucky to win 1 game. We were a better team back then and we are a better team now. I love how the raptors fans are saying "Oh well they didn't add anyone". Yeah, we added our C who was out all season. We added two bigs in Magloire and Williams. Our two rookies from last year, Boone and Williams, are going to be better. Jefferson will be healthy. We have a really good chance this year to make it back to the finals, and if Kidd leads us like he usually does, we will get there.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LightsOut @ Jul 25 2007, 02:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nets don't have a lot of playoff experience? You kidding me...they're one of the most experienced teams in the East. They've been one of the most consistant teams in recent years, in terms of making the playoffs.</div>Exactly, Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins have been to the Finals and Vince Carter has brought the Raptors deeper than ever in the playoffs. Those players are their core, and that's all they need. Add Cliff Robinson to that list because he knows what he is doing too defensively.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jkidd51524 @ Jul 25 2007, 02:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, hear we go. Show me some video. There always has to be a reason, it can't just be the Nets are better. I want to see the Raptors play with their second option hurt and their third option out against us in a 7 game series and beat us. They would be lucky to win 1 game. We were a better team back then and we are a better team now. I love how the raptors fans are saying "Oh well they didn't add anyone". Yeah, we added our C who was out all season. We added two bigs in Magloire and Williams. Our two rookies from last year, Boone and Williams, are going to be better. Jefferson will be healthy. We have a really good chance this year to make it back to the finals, and if Kidd leads us like he usually does, we will get there.</div>He usually says a quick lil thing and doesn't back it up; I don't agree with him either...
Raps will have a better record, but the Nets will be close. Raps will get the 3 seed and the Nets will get the 5th seed. That's what I think...
The Raptors are better. I've said this over and over again. We have better chemistry, we have the better bench, we have so many young, improving players and ALOT of weapons on offense. TJ Ford, Chris Bosh and Andrea will be an amazing trio...not sure how RJ and Krstic will hold up...and the nets didnt even play well when they had all of their guys in the lineup.They don't work that well together, and Carter's shot jacking really hurts 'em at times.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 25 2007, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Raptors are better. I've said this over and over again. We have better chemistry, we have the better bench, we have so many young, improving players and ALOT of weapons on offense. TJ Ford, Chris Bosh and Andrea will be an amazing trio...not sure how RJ and Krstic will hold up...and the nets didnt even play well when they had all of their guys in the lineup.They don't work that well together, and Carter's shot jacking really hurts 'em at times.</div>Well, even if the Nets' chemistry is bad, they still found a way to knock off the higher seeded Raptors. Both teams made improvements, but none significant. I think the biggest improvement between the two teams was the Nets getting Krstic back.
I guess you can't argue against the Raptors against Raptor fans on here...even I know and admit the limitations of the Hornets.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jul 25 2007, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets team chemistry sure did matchup well against the Raptors' team chemistry last season.Both teams made improvements, but none significant. I think the biggest improvement between the two teams was the Nets getting Krstic back.</div>We played like sh*t that series, and we almost pushed it to 7 games. Bosh was being double teamed, and they wouldn't let up because our open shooters just could not capitalize. We hardly ever had it going on offense, Bosh was being man handled and no one would pick up the slack...People only look at our signings, but they don't realize that ALOT of our players will be improved.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 25 2007, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Raptors are better. I've said this over and over again. We have better chemistry, we have the better bench, we have so many young, improving players and ALOT of weapons on offense. TJ Ford, Chris Bosh and Andrea will be an amazing trio...not sure how RJ and Krstic will hold up...and the nets didnt even play well when they had all of their guys in the lineup.They don't work that well together, and Carter's shot jacking really hurts 'em at times.</div>I think that word "chemistry" is every raptor fans favorite word. Obviously it doesn't matter that much because we beat you guys in 6 without a starter. I would take our trio over yours any day. TJ Ford , Calderon, or anyone on that team had any answer for Kidd what so ever. The raptors took everyone by shock last year, this year people will be more prepared. The Nets are the better team. And because our team didnt play good in the beginning of the year with all of our guys, means we are bad? No, we always get off to slow starts in the last couple of seasons. If Nened didn't get hurt last year, that division was ours. And it will be this year again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 25 2007, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We played like sh*t that series, and we almost pushed it to 7 games. Bosh was being double teamed, and they wouldn't let up because our open shooters just could not capitalize. We hardly ever had it going on offense, Bosh was being man handled and no one would pick up the slack...People only look at our signings, but they don't realize that ALOT of our players will be improved.</div>Bosh will continue to get double-teamed, all superstars get paid large amounts of attention by defenses. Also, your players will improve, but they won't improve at a rate that will take them to the next level. A players developement is usually a pretty slow process, every once in a while you see a Kevin Martin type explosion but don't expect TJ Ford to all of a sudden become Nash.I'll take New Jersey, without Nenand Kristic, through a horrendous injury-filled season, and with Vince Carter being very inconsistent through the series, the Nets still were able to beat the Raptors in 6 games. Now, Sean Williams, who could potentially be a huge steal, was added to the squad. He could potentially bring a Dennis Rodman type contribution. The Nets now have two big-men who will contribute a good deal in Kristic and Magloire.
