“raptors.com: What do you feel the Raptors need in order to take that next step?

Bryan Colangelo: The Raptors have a good plan already in place, and fans have seen the results of that plan since the first of December after their tough start. We need to accelerate the development of our young players, manage our assets effectively, and to acquire players to surround Chris Bosh with who will position us well for the future.

Phew!

I think you are both making a fundamental attribution error. You are attributing a lack of success to a lack of a BC’s plan (to make the argument even more absurd a PUBLICLY STATED PLAN). You both criticized me for not having proof with respect to JO’s feelings about Toronto. You have no proof that BC doesn’t have a plan. Are you privy to a business model that I’m not? If you are, then I apologize and I agree with your argument. If you aren’t privy to Bryan’s everyday life (and I suppose you are not), then surmising that Colangelo, in your words Pike, doesn’t intend on bringing Toronto a championship, is proposterous. To make this even simpler, here is your argument: GM has stated plan, therefore, GM has championship aspirations. GM has no stated plan, therefore GM has no championship aspiration. Please give me concrete examples of any of the two logic patterns above. For example, show me that Pat Riley stated his plan in 2006 and then won that same year and that every other GM didn’t state their plan and didn’t win. Furthermore, what about GM’s that didn’t state their plan and then won the championship? The logic seems a bit flawed there because that would mean stating a plan is not a requirement. What if the Raptors were good? Would you still be insecure about them because you lack a publicly stated plan?

Fluxland, if the plan is so generic in the first place that you absolutely need it to feel good about the team, than what’s the point? You NEED to know he wants to draft well, you NEED to know he wants to develop players, you NEED to know he wants to acquire good vets? Jeez. In that case, I want to know why you read this great website because my generic assumption would be its because you like the Raptors, but I NEED to know because it might be because you like me or Pike or Arsenilist.

Pike, the umpire just called from the highchair. He reviewed the game and wants to take it back.

It may be prudent of any owner of a company to be transparent or at least offer an outline of a plan (to gain profits) that may take place, in order to store confidence in its customers. The plan may change, yes, but that’s a give and understandable. Having an amazing new product is one thing and you can get it patented – protecting you form someone pouncing. Outlining a plan is another and nothing in your plan can be soo groundbreaking that someone hasn’t thought of it before. Had you said BC had a player that he didn’t want someone to know about, that’s a different story. But a plan on how to make this team a contender? No, sorry, no reason to hide that. All GM work on pretty much the same template or some variation there of, it’s just the players/staff you bring in that’s “different” or have different skills.

A) Jermaine may have very well preferred Toronto over Cleveland (is he nuts?), but he had zero impact/involvement as to where he went. As far as I know JO didn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. Do you think, once traded to Toronto, he was going to say, “man, this sucks…I totally wanted to land in Cleveland”….me thinks not. This is simply an example of “saying the right things” which guys in professional sports do all the time (see: Wallace, Rasheed). Furthermore, how do you know/what proof do you have that JO didn’t cry, whine, or pout privately to his family and friends while maintaining his professionalism and not making said crying, whining, and pouting public?

B) Q: “What does BC’s plan have to do with Toronto fans’ insecurities?”
A: I’m a fan of the Toronto Raptors. I am insecure about the current team and the teams future. I am insecure because our GM wants to bring a championship to Toronto, but I have no idea how he intends on doing so because he hasn’t told me. Since he hasn’t told me I am forced to start speculating, which of course, leads to insecurity. When beginning to speculate I quickly form the opinion that he (BC) certainly doesn’t plan on bringing a championship to Toronto via:

-drafting well (his two picks: Bargnani and Nathan Jawaii -two potential busts) -developing young players (has anyone not named Chris Bosh made noticeable improvements to their games?)
-acquiring veterans (certainly Jermaine O’neal isn’t bringing a championship to T-dot)

So, while Danny Ainge’s plan which he told the Boston media and its fans seems generic (“Draft well, develop youth, acquire veterans to aid to Pierce…”)…I was able to compare the present to the plan he stated on day 1 in 2003:

draft well – Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Justin Reed, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Orien Greene, Randy Foye, Jeff Green (selected on behalf of Seattle), Gabe Pruitt, Glen Davis (selected for Boston by Seattle), Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens.

develop youth – you probably didn’t watch the Celtics then, seeing as how they were terrible and not on national TV, but those terrible years from 2004-2007 were what’s known as “growing pains”. You know, years/time of terrible basketball that just had to happen to develop the youth. Know why I wasn’t insecure? Because I knew the plan, and knew that the develop the youth part of the plan naturally led to losses and years of lottery picks.

acquire veterans – with all those young guys Ainge drafted (and with Theo’s expiring contract) you/I just knew he was going to make a deal. I did not see that draft day deal coming (Delone/Wally/#5 overall pick for Ray Allen), but knew that once it happened the next phase of Ainge’s plan had been kicked into gear. Once Ray Allen got inked it still seemed like the C’s were a wierd combo of vets and youth. Then came the blockbuster trade for KG, which could only have happened by drafting well and developing the youth.

So, as you can see, as a fan of the Boston Celtics….through the years 2004-2007 I always “believed” because Ainge’s plan was unfolding right before my very eyes. Sure it was painful (remember when they lost 21 straight games?), but I was NEVER INSECURE BECAUSE I KNEW THE PLAN.

Game, set, match.

Your serve B-Star…

2) Pike…oh man.

A) Jermaine stated yesterday that he prefered the Toronto deal over the Cleveland deal. This suggests that he had input on the trade and chose Toronto. Even if this was not the case, he did not cry, whine and pout about the trade like others have in the past. He has vocalized his appreciation of the city and his willingness to be here. The only point I was making was that not all NBA players hate Toronto. That’s it.

B) I don’t get your second point. What does BC’s plan have to do with Toronto fans’ insecurities? I don’t see a rationale connection. I think that the insecurities stem from our inferiority complex to those South of the Border who think we only know about hockey and ice fishing. Do you really think BC has no plan? Furthermore, why would he tell you? Here’s an analogy: I own a privately owned consumer goods company and I have an amazing new product that I’m about to release. Should I tell my customers about the plan because I owe it to them and let the competition pounce on the idea. That’d be silly. Additionally, Danny Ainge’s stated plan (btw, he is a former Blue Jay so I give him much respect) as summarized by you (if your recount is even correct) is a little facile don’t you think:

“Draft well, develop youth, acquire veterans to aid to Pierce…”

Wow. Pretty groundbreaking stuff. I’m pretty sure that is what every single team is trying to do. If that was his only plan, I’d wonder how he won an NBA Championship. I’m pretty sure, as a prudent businessman and GM, he is hiding almost everything else he is doing.

See you on the Court.

Secondly, Toronto fans are insecure for good reason…allow me to explain:

When Danny Ainge was brought in to run the operation in Boston, he stated:

1. His goal (to bring a championship to boston within 5 years time)
2. How he planned on executing his goal (draft well, develop youth, acquire veterans to aid to Pierce, the franchise player who wouldn’t be going anywhere)

The difference in Toronto is that when Colangelo was brought in to run the franchise, he only stated:

1. His goal (to bring a championship to Toronto)

Let it be known that all GM’s have the same goal.

Since Colangelo hasn’t let the Toronto fans know of his ACTUAL PLAN, it is IMPOSSIBLE to know how if he is executing his plan.

So, Toronto fans SHOULD BE CONFUSED because they don’t know if BC’s plan is being executed or not. Simply put, if you don’t know the plan it is impossible to understand if it is being executed or not. They simply have no way of making an informed decision about weather Colangelo is doing a good job or not.

That’s my 2 cents…thoughts?

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re: 2) Khandor: I don’t know the content of your Raps (besides the few that I think made the Rap of the Day) so I don’t feel qualified to judge. If you need affirmation, love, support or a just someone to hold you, perhaps ask Flux. – by B-star
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You should have stopped after the first nine words. : )

affirmation, love, support, or just someone to hold?

Hmmmm …

“Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
- Monsieur Rick

——————————-
re: 2) Khandor: I don’t know the content of your Raps (besides the few that I think made the Rap of the Day) so I don’t feel qualified to judge. If you need affirmation, love, support or a just someone to hold you, perhaps ask Flux.
——————————-

You should have stopped after the first nine words. : )

affirmation, love, support, or just someone to hold?

Hmmmm …

“Louie, I think is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
- Monsieur Rick

2) Khandor: I don’t know the content of your Raps (besides the few that I think made the Rap of the Day) so I don’t feel qualified to judge. If you need affirmation, love, support or a just someone to hold you, perhaps ask Flux.

Stince … Bosh’s agent has got to be beating BC’s head, to trade him because Bosh’s value will tank horribly if he is held in Toronto. Just looking at Bosh collapsing on the floor and doing stupid things like lofting 3-pointers 7 seconds into the clock …. Bosh is struggling physically and mentally .. so obvious.

Bosh has committed himself to the Raptors until 2010, and he has given the franchise a solid return on their investment. Now Bosh must look out for his own welfare, because the Raptors have let him down with their incompetent assembly of this team of scrubs and benchers. Bosh plays in desperation and fear for his future … just like Vince did … and I’m pretty sure he wants out now.

Would you and Toronto fans begrudge him that …????

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re: The roster is a big problem, no doubt, but NOT the biggest problem at present. – by Scott G
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Given that:

i] Sam Mitchell is no longer the head coach,
ii] It doesn’t look as though MLSE has designs on selling their stake in the Raptors
iii] It doesn’t look as though BRyan Colangelo is ready to run away, just yet, from what he’s built here, thus far

it looks like the roster might just be the biggest problem at present.

And the same goes for BC. No one is arguing that he wouldn’t have had a shot somewhere else, but perhaps one should know what his motivation was for coming here. I am going to assume that you believe it’s because he has deep rooted affection for the citizens of Toronto.

Oh I can take it, just don’t be surprised when it’s dished back.