Built Ford Tough Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 I know it is early, but I don't think anybody expected either of these two things happening after the first 15 games of the year. Worst case scenario for the Heat was basically expected to be around 10-5 while the Raptors were predicted to be the worst team in the East, maybe even the entire league, this season. I'm sure that both of these scenarios will change eventually and the Heat will move up the conference while the Raptors stumble down, but after 15 games, which is the bigger surprise to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted November 25, 2010 Owner Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 I figured the Heat would start slow and wouldn't reach a 70-win mark, but I wouldn't have guessed they would be 8-7 after 15 games. Really tough question, though, because I also thought the Raptors would be one of the worst teams in the league. No Ed Davis, injured Barbosa, Jack playing badly (until traded)...you'd think they'd be 1-14. Five more wins? If Toronto was at .500, I would be more surprised. Five more wins than a 1-14 start isn't that big of a deal when compared to the Heat starting 8-7, in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Heat. Raptors are still on there way to about 25-30 wins, and out of playoff reach. Right now the Heat are playing .500 basketball with 2 of the top 3 players in the NBA, and 3 of the top 20. If the season ended today, there would be a decent chance the Heat would be knocked out in the first round, while the Raptors would be in the lottery just as expected. Therefor, the Heat are a bigger surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 The Heat easily. I'll admit that I didn't expect the Raptors to be 6-9 right now but there is nothing exceptionally surprisingly about a mediocre team playing .400 basketball. Besides they are barely ahead of Charlotte, New Jersey and Washington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newman Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Raptors for me. I knew it would have taken time for the Heat to gel and that they would miss Mike Miller (which they do) but I thought Raptors would be every team's favourite opponent, guess not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted November 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 f the season ended today, there would be a decent chance the Heat would be knocked out in the first round, while the Raptors would be in the lottery just as expected. Therefor, the Heat are a bigger surprise. Yeah, they would be in the lottery, but they would not be "just as expected". You can't honestly tell me that the Raptors were expected to be picking around 12th and would have the third best record out of all lottery teams. They were projected as locks for a top 5 pick with a great chance at a top 3 pick, not to pick at the end of the lottery. The Heat easily. I'll admit that I didn't expect the Raptors to be 6-9 right now but there is nothing exceptionally surprisingly about a mediocre team playing .400 basketball. Besides they are barely ahead of Charlotte, New Jersey and Washington. Well, considering they were predicted to win around 18-20 games and have already amassed a third of that total, I think that is pretty suprising, especially considering their schedule has been fairly difficult. Not that I'm saying they are a bigger surprise than the Heat because I don't think they are, but I definitely think it is a huge surprise that the Raptors have 6 wins already (could easily have 7 or 8 if they didn't blow games against Sacramento and Charlotte) considering there was talk about how this is the least talented team ever assembled, will be historically bad defensively and all the other crap that was said. Also, like Brandon said, they have dealt with injuries to start the year off as well. Barbosa, probably their second best player, has missed 5 games and is playing with an injured wrist, Kleiza missed two or three and Davis has yet to play at all this season (but I don't think he is going to contribute all that much anyways). They are definitely one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. I don't see how that is disputable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Easily the Raptors for me. I thought they were going to have the 09 Nets-like start to the season. Especially after the Knicks tried to hand them a win in the first game of the season and the Raptors weren't good enough to take it. I thought the Heat were a bit over rated to start the season. I've been saying ever since they made this combo that it's going to be tough for Wade LeBron and Bosh to do their thing because they don't compliment eachother well. Plus they haven't played with each other much, they still haven't found a way to co-exist. I thought Miami would be 10-5 11-4 right now but I thought Raptors would be 1-14 2-15 so I'd go Raptors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Swish* Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Miami. Raptors are also surprising but it would be more surprising if the season was coming to an end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.1.A.K. Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 before the season if you told me the Heat would have lost 7 games before Thanksgiving id tell you to GTFO.Toronto being only .5 out of a playoff spot is a surprise... but believeable this early. The Raptors being behind the Heat by only 2 games is crazy though.The Heat's bad start is more shocking than the Raptors good(?) start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headliner Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 The heat has been surprising for me. I honestly expected them to be an incredibly tough team to beat based on the fact they have James, Wade and Bosh but clearly they haven’t been able to gel and the chemistry is not their as of yet. Each of the big three needs the ball in their hands to be effective and in the beginning of the season Bosh was affected by not having the ball in his hands but I think in the end Wade will suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Well, considering they were predicted to win around 18-20 games and have already amassed a third of that total, I think that is pretty suprising, especially considering their schedule has been fairly difficult. Not that I'm saying they are a bigger surprise than the Heat because I don't think they are, but I definitely think it is a huge surprise that the Raptors have 6 wins already (could easily have 7 or 8 if they didn't blow games against Sacramento and Charlotte) considering there was talk about how this is the least talented team ever assembled, will be historically bad defensively and all the other crap that was said. Also, like Brandon said, they have dealt with injuries to start the year off as well. Barbosa, probably their second best player, has missed 5 games and is playing with an injured wrist, Kleiza missed two or three and Davis has yet to play at all this season (but I don't think he is going to contribute all that much anyways). They are definitely one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. I don't see how that is disputable. Agreed and just to clarify, I wasn't trying to take credit from the Raptors but what I posted is part of my reasoning for picking the Heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.