11/28/2025
it's the Charlotte Hornets' turn.
so far no one has stood up to the Eastern Conference bully Toronto Raptors.
.and if you haven't seen Friday, š¬ I'll be nice and just say maybe it's time.
The Raptors came out with that āno fearā energy as usual, especially Quickley, but you canāt be smacking the side of the backboard like that, come on boss man. For us to be good Quickley has to be taking and hitting his shots. Overall it was a good performance by Quickley and by the Raptors.
Gradey Dick missed a couple clean looks early, but honestly heās doing everything else right. Keep shooting, because once those threes start falling consistently the whole league is in trouble. Gradey really feels like that missing link. The difference between being a first or second round team and actually pushing toward or beyond the Eastern Conference Finals. Not only that, Gradey seems like an important piece to the Raptors culture.
.& I finally realized who Jamal Shead reminds me of... T.J. McConnell. Thatās a huge compliment if you watched how McConnell played in the NBA playoffs and finals last year nonstop pressure, nonstop winning plays.
The reffing tonight was classic "the Raptors are winning too much" NBA reffing. A foul on Shead against 7 Foot Huff that nobody else in the universe saw, and the usual instant reaction bad calls on out of bounds and rule interpretations. Honestly, Iām glad the Raptors are getting tested like this now instead of discovering it deep in the season. Better to learn how to win through that nonsense early, sort of like the 2018-2019 season vibes.
Another big run (12-0) to close the first half. These guys love ending the 1st half strong. and the Cleveland game they ended the first half on the 13-2 run. I hope this becomes a habit.
Brandon Ingram keeps looking like an All-Star.
Mamu still gets zero respect from the refs.
Indiana was short on talent for now, but theyāre still dangerous if you give them chances.
We could've been really unlucky in this one Raptor fans but this new clear maturity and poise they're showing is something to behold. It feels like a winning culture and the timing in the eastern conference could not be better.