zachus

Where does this team stand on January 1st?

Dec. 8th vs Minnesota: W
Dec. 9th @ Milwaukee: W
Dec. 11th vs Atlanta: L
Dec. 13th vs Houston: W
Dec. 15th @ Miami: L
Dec. 16th @ Orlando: L
Dec. 18th vs New Jersey: W
Dec. 20th vs New Orleans: W
Dec. 23rd @ Detroit: W
Dec. 27th vs Detroit: W
Dec. 30th vs Charlotte: W

Aside from a tough stretch from the 11th to the 16th, though half of those games are at home, we've got a pretty favourable schedule to close out the year.

I say we're sitting at 17 - 16 come the New Year.

Gurk

Then we go on a total tear like the 06-07 year and finish with the best record in the new year. Come in 4th place go to the championship and beat the Lakers /homer

Aw you gotta love it

Windex

I agree

jeffb

I'll say 16-17

Which puts us at 7-4 the rest of the month

MikeToronto

Since the summer, I've been saying that a 0.500 record through the first two months of this season would make me very, very happy. They are still quite capable of achieving this goal.

m5racer

I think that now that the team knows that defence actually pays off and is needed to win games, i say 7-4 the rest of the month also...although i think we will beat one of the following: Mia, Orl Atl

the_ raps_analyst

Not sure if were gonna beat the pistons facing them on a home and home.

MikeToronto

LOL. Are you assuming they didn't know it before?

That's what's baffling for me personally - this team is comprised of fairly smart players who have played for various fairly smart coaches, regardless of what we think of the current coaching staff of the Raptors. How come it takes team meetings to instill a sense of urgency and produce a palatable defensive and rebounding effort?

liquidswordz

team meeting after every loss i think we go 6-5

JayJayW

Remember collangelo's first year, when i think we lost a bunch of games and we were like 2-10 and then Bosh flipped out and called out everyone and after and we won the atlantic division. To me that team meeting kinda was that same spark that happened 3 years ago, the team now can become unified and go on a tear, 500 in the new year would make me happy

Chris

Dec. 8th vs Minnesota: W
Dec. 9th @ Milwaukee: W
Dec. 11th vs Atlanta: L
Dec. 13th vs Houston: W
Dec. 15th @ Miami: W
Dec. 16th @ Orlando: L
Dec. 18th vs New Jersey: W
Dec. 20th vs New Orleans: W
Dec. 23rd @ Detroit: W
Dec. 27th vs Detroit: W
Dec. 30th vs Charlotte: L

Yeah 17-16

VanCity

Dec. 8th vs Minnesota: W
Dec. 9th @ Milwaukee: W
Dec. 11th vs Atlanta: L
Dec. 13th vs Houston: L
Dec. 15th @ Miami: L
Dec. 16th @ Orlando: L
Dec. 18th vs New Jersey: W
Dec. 20th vs New Orleans: L
Dec. 23rd @ Detroit: L
Dec. 27th vs Detroit: W
Dec. 30th vs Charlotte: W

5-6

you guys are way too optimistic

Dark Knight

Well excuse me, Chuck Swirsky.

MikeToronto

Team meetings stop working after about the second one.

Ligeia

The combined record of the teams they will face in the future: 549-620, or ~0.470 record. The Raptors should be able to continue to improve their record. Suppose they finish the month of December at 0.500. It seems conceivable to me that the Raptors could finish each month 2 games over 0.500 in each month after that, so that would put the Raptors around 6 games above 0.500, or 44-38.

They reallly need to get consistent on the defensive end first.

moremilk

17-16 is very optimistic
I think 14-17 is more realistic

Dec. 8th vs Minnesota: W
Dec. 9th @ Milwaukee: L
Dec. 11th vs Atlanta: W
Dec. 13th vs Houston: L
Dec. 15th @ Miami: L
Dec. 16th @ Orlando: L
Dec. 18th vs New Jersey: W
Dec. 20th vs New Orleans: L
Dec. 23rd @ Detroit: L
Dec. 27th vs Detroit: W
Dec. 30th vs Charlotte: W

14-17

Bill Haverchuck

I think they'll likely be 16-17.

Dec. 8 vs Minnesota - the Raps should win that game.

Dec. 9 @ Milwaukee - the Raps are on a back to back, but so is Milwaukee, who plays in Boston on the 8th. The back to back factor is a wash. Milwaukee is 1-7 in their last 8 games, and Jennings is shooting barely over 30% during that stretch. The Bucks are really struggling.

Dec. 11 vs Atlanta - very tough matchup. Personally, I think the Raps will lose a close one, but there is much incentive for them to overachieve and take things to another level.

Dec. 13 vs Houston - another tough game. Houston is a good road team. However, the Raps play better at home, and Houston is not an elite team. This could go either way. I think it's 50/50.

Dec. 15 @ Miami - the Raps have a day of rest before this road game. Miami is not a great home team. Toronto has beaten Miami already this season. I think it's 50/50.

Dec. 16 @ Orlando - just a really tough game. The chances of the Raps winning this are slim. It will be interesting to see how the fans react to Hedo, and how he plays.

Dec. 18 vs New jersey - this one is self explanatory. Raps should win.

Dec. 20 vs N.O. - the Hornets are awful on the road. They will have Paul back, but the Raps are at home and have beaten them already. Last time, Jose played well against Paul. Okafur can't guard Bosh. The Raps have the edge.

Dec. 23 @ Detroit - it's tough to beat the same opponent twice in two straight games. The Raps will probably split with the Pistons.

Dec. 27 vs Detroit - see above.

Dec. 30 vs Charlotte - the Bobcats are a brutal road team, and the Nets love them for it. Plus, the Raps will likely want to send a message to a team they will be competing with for a playoff spot. Raps shoud win this one.


I think they'll likely be 16-17, but a record of 17-16 is not crazy.

jeffb

We'll either be- 15-18, 16-17 or 17-16??

Lao Wai

I will be wildly optimistic
Min W
Mil W
Atl W
Hou L
Miami W
Orl L
NJ W
NO W
Det W
Det W
Charlotte W

Think they will beat all the weaker teams with one upset Atl.

Cam

F1nir_