“The Raptors Made a HUGE Mistake With Their Season” | Was Tanking Right or Wrong?

“The Raptors Made a HUGE Mistake With Their Season” | Was Tanking Right or Wrong?

Where are all the genius tankahholics now? I hope Messiah/raps management never goes this route ever again. I’m literally sick to my stomach to see Raptors fans adapt this loser mentality. Welcome back everybody to Amate Hour Answers. This is the new segment on the channel where I read your comments and react them. If you want a chance for your comment to be featured in the next episode, which comes out every Saturday, then make sure you comment something down below, especially if you agree or disagree with something that is said over the course of the episode today, or comment any of the other videos I have here on Amateur Sports, the YouTube channel that is dedicated to Toronto Raptors content. Drop a like if you enjoy along the way, by the way. Well, yeah. In the wake of the NBA draft lottery, a lot of the people who were against tanking came out of the woods to victory lap the situation, saying, “Well, see, this is why you don’t tank. This is why tanking is stupid.” And we have one person in here, DD Marketing 6731, who feels very strongly about the genius Tankaholic. So, the premise the preface, excuse me, I was definitely somebody who felt as though tanking was the right course of action by the Raptors, but people who wanted to tank understand that it’s not a a guarantee that you’re going to get a great pick by tanking. What tanking does is it increases your floor. So, the lowest the Raptors could go realistically was ninth in this draft. There was like the super doomsday possibility, like 1% chance they met went to 10th and like the 0.0 001% chance they would have went to 11th. Obviously, those are possible. As we saw, anything was possible with Dallas getting the first overall pick despite the 1.8% odds, but the lowest the Raptors could go is ninth. And they only slipped two positions. They gave themselves their best chance at getting one of the high picks, but also in a bad scenario, like a 14% chance they fall outside of the top eight, they’re still pretty okay with that ninth overall pick. And in the end, the Raptors management decided that it was worth it to risk it for the draft rather than trying to risk it to make the playoffs because like you know what if the Rabbs had made the tried to make the playin, they don’t make the playoffs. Now they’re drafting 13th or 14th. You’d have a lot of people saying, “Well, this is why you should tank because it’s not even worth it.” Or maybe even you make the playoffs, you get swept in the first round and now you don’t have a lottery pick at all and you got really nothing out of the playoffs. But ultimately, it’s very negative to think from like with this approach, from this user here, like a resultsbased analysis of the situation. The Raptors decided it was more worth it to risk the lottery to try and get a high pick than it was to risk the playoffs and risk missing out on the playoffs altogether or risk, you know, essentially in the first round. This was the the decision that they made. I was supportive of that decision, but it’s very negative to go after the result has taken place and said, “Well, I told you so because there was obviously pros and cons associated with tanking and not tanking.” The Raptors thought there were more pros with tanking in the end. Ninth overall pick as as bad as it is and as you know, as much as it I wouldn’t say I’m sick to myself, as much as I’m upset about that, like it could have definitely been worth, ninth isn’t the worst thing in the world. Next comment comes from Bernard. Bernard at Vistage. Wow. Bernard in the age in this age, sorry. Lottery can be so easily rigged. So, I only chose a few comment, a couple comments like this, but about half of the comments on the video I made, which is in reaction to the NBA draft lottery, were all saying the draft lottery is rigged. And I’ve talked about it in in multiple videos now. I’ve talked about it in a live stream. I I talked about it in the watch line we did for the lottery. The NBA draft lottery is not rigged. We have all of the associated probabilities ahead of time. We knew there was a chance Dallas could get this pick. They had a 1.8% chance. Somebody had to get the pick. I mean, even the largest percentage chance somebody had to get the first overall pick was 14%. So, even if it was one of those teams that got it, it still would have been unlikely. No matter what the order from the lottery, the top four, no matter what order it was going to be, it would have been a fractional percentage chance of that happening. Even if the top four of of Utah, of Washington, of Charlotte, and New Orleans, even they had stayed in that exact same order, it would have been a very improbable outcome to the draft. The reality is the lottery is called a lottery. It is subject to chance. And yeah, it’s an unfortunate outcome where a front office who doesn’t deserve it gets the first overall pick. Absolutely. Like that sucks, but it was all within the realms of possibilities. It doesn’t mean it’s rigged. Like the pinball machine shoots up pinballs to spit out four random numbers 1 through 14. Nobody touches them. like pretty much impossible to rig, especially with so many executives who have so much money on the line for their teams and like yeah, TV revenue is split, but like there’s so many other revenue sources that contribute to a team success, especially you’ll feel those revenue sources if you land Cooper flag in the draft. There’s media members who witness it like pretty much impossible to rake. And if you’re qu if you’re questioning like why not do it live in front of the cameras if it’s not rigged because they could do that and people would still complain that it’s rigged. People will complain no matter what. Uh Steve J, this is also on the same topic says, “How can you still think that it’s luck? Silver obviously told Mavs to send the Lakers uh for the number send Luca to the Lakers for the number one pick. Why is it uh more conceivable that uh there’s this very large conspiracy with so many variables and so many people taking place who all have to keep quiet about it? Why is it more plausible to some people that there’s this unbelievable conspiracy that goes back to the Luca Donich trade that that that the Mavericks traded Luca Don to the Lakers to boost TV ratings and in return the NBA said, “You know what? We’ll give you Cooper Fly.” Like like do you think the Utah Jazz are just like, “Oh, you know what? That’ll help with the TV revenue, so we’ll we’re okay with that. We’ll we’ll move back to five if it means that the TV revenue is going to go up.” Like, do you understand how much of a difference that would make to the Utah Jazz franchise worth to get a player like Cooper Flag? But the issue with these conversations is the people who believe the NBA draft lottery is rigged use absolutely no logic to come to that conclusion. So there’s no sense in providing logical arguments because like they haven’t used logic at all. So why would they start now? It’s like arguing with a flat-earther. Like there was no logical way to come to that conclusion. So why would I waste time presenting logical arguments? Cuz those have not been considered. Why would they be considered? Now, uh, moving on from the rig conversation, let’s go to we have a user NAND3596 says, “If I were Adam Silver and was looking to rework the lottery, I would make it so that teams after six or something in the reverse standings can’t get the number one overall pick. essentially two lotteryies in one. If you think about it, it’s clearly not a good option, but it’s better than three playoff teams getting the top three picks all because of injuries ruining their season or your entire fan base calling the lottery rigged uh after all of that BS. So, um like I said earlier, they could do this and people just still call it rigged. Like people will always call it rigged. People just want to believe there’s like a lack of control. They they feel more comfortable knowing like, well, there was nothing we could have done about it. It’s absolutely rigged. uh on the conversation of the lottery. This presents a pretty good argument to changing the lottery because I don’t think Adam Silver is going to look at this lottery and think like this is the the fairest outcome. Like, hey, it’s up to chance. We decentivize tanking. Sure. But I’m sure some internal conversations will happen about change in lottery. I don’t think it will change as far as changing. It’s difficult to find a balance of decentivizing tanking and also like taking care of the bad teams that need help. So, I like this where like you have to be bottom six in order to actually get the first overall pick. However, it still does create this mindset of tanking. Now, the mindset is I have to finish bottom six. I have to tank hard enough that I finish in the bottom six to even have a chance at a player like for example Cooper Flag. So, I don’t think there’s a perfect solution to the lottery. I don’t think the NBA will panic at this point and change it. I just think there’s maybe maybe we haven’t found the best combination of decentivizing tanking and fair to bad teams, but I can’t really think of something that’s better than this. Maybe like the Jazz fall all the way to five. Maybe the lowest the worst team can fall is third, but then that’s still promoting tanking a little bit more. But is it a little bit more fair? I don’t know. Comment down below what you think the best way is to restructure the lottery if you think the lottery should be restructured. Next comment comes from Lumpyrex 007. This is a six in one. So, we’re going to do a little bit of rapid fire here because I I think I like some of this and I don’t. Uh Lumpyrex says, “One not a disaster. I call the lottery results a disaster.” I don’t know. I consider a bottom 14% outcome a little bit like a disastrous outcome from the lottery. the Rabbits had a 14% chance to fall outside the top eight and they did. That kind of sucked. Uh two, this draft had plenty of sleepers outside the top 10. Yes, it is a good draft. The Ravs can still get good players here. That doesn’t mean though they didn’t have a good chance of getting a better player by being higher up in the draft. Yes, the Ravs have drafted successfully ninth previously. Why does it matter? We want to be ninth, right? Cuz like we got D Rozan ninth overall. We got Purdle ninth overall. We got Tracy McGrady ninth overall. So like the big brain play of course was to actually get a lower pick on purpose cuz eighth like well who knows but ninth we’re dynamite when we draft ninth overall. No, you have a better chance as always to get the better player higher up. It does not mean though you still can’t find a good player at ninth overall. Number three, I agree tanking is working. I agree. Four, this pick can’t miss. If it misses, fire Messiah. I wouldn’t go that far honestly. Like firing him is kind of dumb because like he’s in a contract year anyways. But like, hey, let’s pretend he’s not in a contract year. Um, if this pick misses, I don’t think that means Messiah Juri gets fired. I I a lot of people involved. Obviously, Messiah is the head of that, but there are way more factors that should go into a decision of that magnitude. Number five, the Raptors still have development time ahead of them. This playoff talk is gone if Scotty or Ingram get injured. That that’s true. They could have another chance at the lottery if if things go poorly next season. Number six, NBA is rigged. Okay, next one. Um, J D is 33. JD I think might be 33. If the Raptors miss out on Common Malawash, the uh that is the center coming out of Duke who they were maybe mocked in a few spots get around seventh but have moved down to ninth as fourth. But if the Raptors miss out on Common Malawash, end up acquiring Derek Queen, another center out of Maryland at ninth. What happens to Shamshay? He looked pretty good out there and was the main reason 905 were winning games until he got injured. We let go of Robinson for no reason and Castston doesn’t cut it for me. Okay. Um, few things here. Let go of Robinson for no reason. No, the reason was he’s bad, so they let him go. Uh, Colston also doesn’t do it for me. Completely agree. On the conversation of by the way, just I left it wide open. Olam, sorry. Um, Oena Robinson nowhere near efficient enough as a scorer. Horrendous rebounder, especially for his size. Doesn’t cut it for the position. Olish Shamsh was not the main reason the Raps 95 were winning games. In fact, uh Olish Shamsh didn’t really start a ton of games in the 905. Uh that was more used as a development spot for him to get reps to get minutes and he was getting better as the season was going on. But to say he was the main reason the Raptors 95 are winning is is ludicrous. That’s just categorically false. On the topic of drafting a center, it does maybe bump Shamshi a bit down the pecking order, but like there’s ways around it. Number one, you can just wave Colin Castleton and now Shamshay is your third center. Or what I think is a likely course of action. It doesn’t really affect Shamsh because he’s probably going to be with the Raptors 905 for next season anyways. He still needs to get those developmental reps in. He still is very young. But like drafting common Malawash or Derrick Queen, whoever, like you could make this argument about any position. If the Raptors drafted a point guard, well, what happens to Jamal Shed? If the Raptors drafted a shooting guard, well, what happens to Jacobe Walter? Like, you could make this argument for any position. If a player is good enough, they will get those opportunities. If Shamsh is playing well enough, he will get those opportunities in the NBA. So, ultimately, I wouldn’t worry worry about this. Next comment comes from Steve.c.74, and this is going now to the previous rendition of amateur answers where we had a variety of different comments. And one of the comments that I reacted in the video was a comment that said, “Scotty Barnes has peaked already in year four.” Steve C says, “Claiming Scotty peaked is absolutely diabolical. This the dude is highly productive on both ends of the floor. Plays an erra less brand of basketball. Is an all-star caliber player and honestly, you know, he’s going to be working hard on that three ball this summer.” Agreed. Whether he stays or gets dealt in a blockbuster trade, the sky’s is the limit for that kid. I I agree. There’s still very clearly like a ton of potential here. We’ve seen the levels that have brought Scotty Barnes to be an all-star since then. The offense seems to have regressed a little bit, but defense has progressed a lot. And playing next to a guy like Brandon Ingram, yeah, I think he’s going to continue to get better next season. Even if he doesn’t, he still has time on his side. There was a very, very high ceiling still for this player. He’ll be working hard in the offseason. Agree with this comment here. Next comment comes from M. Tiveres 15 says for your information. Sorry. FYI, Joic may not be a point guard by position, but he is their lead offensive initiator and and best passer. And yes, a lot of ants. VC Vince Carter said Barnes should be played more down low, but you missed the fact that Vince Carter said they should play Barnes more like Jokic as the lead offensive initiator, and he can do that from a guard wing or forward position. So, I never said anything about Vince Carter. It was a comment that mentioned something about that. But, uh, on the topic of playing more down low, I mean, I I don’t know if this is comment directed at me, but I pretty much like agree with everything that was said here. Just because Barnes isn’t your point guard doesn’t mean he can’t initiate possessions. Doesn’t mean he can’t be the main handler on certain possessions and in certain sets. It’s exactly what I said in the last week’s video. So again, I don’t know if this comment is necessarily directed at me, but yeah, just because you are not the point guard, it does not mean that you can’t leave some sets, initiate some sets, but you still need a point guard who can take the bulk of the ball handling duties there and the bulk of the pick and roll possessions. Doesn’t mean Barnes can’t still have a heavy hand in the offense and the passing and the initiation of the offense. Uh, next up from SP. Another 007. The thing people don’t understand is Scotty is way more versatile and is being developed in rotation which allows everyone else to work on their weaknesses. We are trying to develop everyone from the ground up. So of course that’s going to hurt Scotty on a surface casual viewer level. Do people realize how young, inexperienced, and lack of spacing this team had last year? Someone like Kade had the exact same role since day one. Moy has basically had the same role since day one. Fron and Paul have had the same role since day one. If people wanted to see instant results, Nick Nurse should have let Scotty lead his rookie year. That was the perfect opportunity. I mean, not really. It was a team trying to it was a team that did make the playoffs because of players like like Pascal, Sakam, and Fred Van Vleet, but also because of Scotty Barnes, but you couldn’t let Barnes be the main guy on that team. Anyways, uh wasn’t the perfect opportunity, but anyways, but of course, those main vets were Fred and Pascal. Oh, I should have read the entire comment. So, yes, absolutely correct here. I think Barnes has had to adapt to different roles on a seasontose seasonason level and Kade Cunningham only this year has broken out as that lead scoreer because he he has struggled with a bit of playmaking. He has struggled with a bit of efficiency in its first three years at Detroit. This season, my god, you know, allstar allNBA level type of player, but had to maybe build up to get to this point. Had to learn the role as that main guard, that main sorry, that main piece on offense in the NBA. So maybe Barnes does need a little bit more time to adapt and also maybe better team around him and better spacing around him. Something that Kade Cunningham has absolutely been afforded more often this season. That’s just like the example there. But yeah, uh interesting comment because yeah, Barnes has had to take on different roles on a year-to-year basis. Now that we’ve solidified that role, let’s see what he can do with another season of that under his belt for next season. So I like the comment and um definitely agree here. Balah 345 says Chris Buchchet should start at power forward over Scotty Barnes. Better shooter, better rebounder, solid, humble team player. Scotty Barnes complaining to the refs is just pathetic to watch. This like got to be a boomer, right? Like Chris Bucher plays the game the right way. You got to start him over Scotty Barnes. Too busy complaining to ref. I don’t really think like Barnes’s demeanor was a problem last season. Maybe the year before there were some issues there, but last season I didn’t really notice that. Um Barnes is just like the better player in pretty much every way, right? Like we can’t like do we have to argue that um rebounding wise like Barnes like okay fine maybe we can give BJ a slight but Barnes is a great rebounder. Shooting wise, like if Barnes had the same looks as Chris Buchet did, I think he can shoot at similar levels, but we’ve seen how bad Chris Buché can be from three as well. Uh but like why are we even discussing this? Barnes is so much more versatile, so much more talented in so many uh so many more areas than Chris Buché. Also, by the way, Chris Buchet, we can’t afford him. He won’t be on the team next season. His contract’s going to run out. The Raptors, I think, very likely will not be giving him a new one because they they literally don’t have the finances to do it. Even they did. Darko doesn’t play this guy. He’s not a Dark Rayakovich player. There’s no need for the Raptors to bring him back next season. Uh VY95-Z AG. Get Jay like make some better usernames, guys. RJ Barrett will be an all-star next season ahead of Scotty Barnes and Brandon Ingram. I find that I would find that very hard to believe. Like if somebody told me that was going to happen, I would find that very hard to believe. mostly because I struggle to see R.J. being higher in the pecking order on offense and essentially getting the same level of usage as guys like Brandon Ingram and Scotty Barnes. I just don’t see that happening. Is R.J. Barrett talented enough to be an all-star? I I definitely think so. I just think he’ll struggle to get the usage to actually get get ahead of Barnes and Ingram in that sort of conversation. U is impossible. though. I just I do find that very unlikely. E dot. Trick says, “Whoever thinks Scotty will be a superstar is delusional. Raptors should trade him before he loses value.” So, this is a pretty bad take because Barnes is clearly at like lower value than he’s been previously at this point. like it it knowing the potential that Scotty Barnes has and the development that could take place for the player trading him now, especially the start of this five-year contract, I think you’re selling at a very low spot. Like if you actually really wanted to trade Scotty Barnes, you actually felt that way, uh it’d be smarter in my opinion to hold on to him, hopefully increase his value with a better season here, and then if you really want to trade him, you’d have you’d get something better in return. Now, maybe that’s different if a guy like Giannis is available. Obviously, there’s, you know, asteriskings that go with a lot of these conversations, but in this case, I think this is a very sell low spot on Barnes. So, I don’t think it’d be the right time to trade him, but like Barnes certainly has the potential to be a superstar. Will he get there? I don’t know. It seems like he won’t, but he might. And he has the chance to do so. I wouldn’t say it’s delusional to think he can get that far. Last one from K Nuz K Nuzx. Good one to wrap us up here. Tough to see. This is in regards to the draft lottery. Wish we got a better spot. Our scouting is legit. We’ll get a keeper. Hang in there, Raps fans. We incoming. Nice reminder that ninth pick ain’t so bad as well. We’ll find a good player. We can trust our scouting team. We can trust our development team. And a nice gentle reminder here from K Nuzx. Everything is going to be

The Toronto Raptors made a mistake by tanking in 2025? The NBA draft lottery was obviously rigged? Chris Boucher should start over Scottie Barnes?

Welcome to a new series on Amateur Hour Sports, Amateur Hour Answers. In this season Jacob Gramegna takes a look at your comments and reacts to them. If you want one of your featured on the next one then comment your takes and questions down below and leave a like and subscribe while you’re there.

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0:00 – Tanking was a mistake by the Raptors
3:17 – It was so easy to rig the NBA draft lottery
5:38 – How can you still think the lottery is luck?
7:06 – The NBA should consider changing the lottery system
9:17 – 6 in 1
11:05 – If the Raptors draft a center, what happens to Ulrich Chomche?
13:08 – The sky is the limit for Scottie Barnes
14:08 – Scottie Barnes can play more like Jokic
15:23 – Barnes needs a more consistent role to develop
17:11 – Chris Boucher should start at power forward over Scottie Barnes
18:39 – RJ Barrett will be an All-Star next season
19:32 – Whoever thinks Scottie Barnes will be a superstar is delusional
20:37 – Everything is going to be okay

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.

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