No matter where you stand on the optimist-pessimist spectrum one thing is undeniable: so far this season has been a massive disappointment. If you were wise enough to predict what has transpired so far, good for you, you’ve earned a right to say, “I’ve told you so”, just don’t rub it in every time. If you’re in the other category, the category which thought that this team just might have what it takes to progress in the playoffs, this season has been a total letdown peppered with disheartening losses that invalidate anything you might have believed in.
Raptors fans are often called bipolar because of they way they react to the team’s successes and misfortunes. A lot of that criticism is warranted but it is also bred by the fact that we seem to know all too well just exactly what we have in this team. We lose to the good ones, we beat the bad ones and we go .500 against teams that are on par with us. It’s a massive generalization but it is a correct one. After two years of humbling playoff exits it is perfectly natural to want more and so far this team has done little in showing that it can do any more than the last two versions. That is simply not good enough. Raptors fans would rather see a plan in place that strives towards attainable and sustainable success rather than see the GM assemble a team that hopes rather than plans for success and is impervious to the flaws in the product assembled.
We’re 31 games into the season and have seen both the possible heights this team might rise to if all is going well, and the depths that it can fall to if cogs in the wheel aren’t functioning at a high level. Either way, we’ve seen enough of this team to know what is right and what is wrong about it, what its limitations are and what its strengths are and more importantly, what the probabilistic outcome of the season is going to be if the current roster is left untouched. This piece isn’t advocating a trade or a major shakeup, it’s merely pointing out that certain decisions need to be made and relayed to the fans so they can be on the same page as the management to avoid misaligned expectations and results.
Decision #1: Tweak or not?
Since winning a playoff round would be considered a successful season, Bryan Colangelo needs to decide whether the current roster is good enough to get to the playoffs and win a series once its there. If he thinks it is and is simply waiting for Triano’s coaching to kick-in and for under-performing players like Parker, Kapono and Calderon to shift into a higher gear, then he doesn’t need to do anything. Judging by what we’ve seen so far it’s hard for anyone to pick this team as even a mild threat in the playoffs (if it makes it there). If Colangelo feels that only a tweak is needed, then the trade assets at his disposal are Graham, Humphries, Parker and Kapono. Kapono’s a specialist which teams would like to have but his contract, which runs beyond 2010, makes him hard to move. The rest are fringe talents that won’t yield much in the open market. Realistically, these aren’t great bargaining chips and any trade involving these components will add very little to the team, if anything.
Decision #2: Start from scratch or major shake-up
Assuming tweaking is not enough – as the results and play suggest – the next thing is to figure out the size of the shakeup. If Bosh is still deemed to be the centerpiece of the franchise then we need to surround him with wing players that reciprocate his talent. To acquire said talent we’ll need to give up more than Joey Graham et al, we’ll need to part with something other teams value and looking up and down this roster the three players that fit the bill are Bosh, Calderon (BYC) and perhaps Bargnani, assuming we find a GM who sees hope in him. Given Bargnani’s form and Calderon’s inability to leave a mark on this team, both should be considered tradeable commodities, especially given Calderon’s trade value. If a deal to bring a defensive-minded point guard and a top-tier wing can be swung Colangelo should look long and hard at it, even if it means giving up a draft pick, something he’s not good at using anyway. The perimeter defense has been a problem since 06-07 and the dire need for a slashing wing still hasn’t been addressed.
The option just mentioned assumes Bosh is the guy you’re trying to build around. If that isn’t the case and Colangelo’s eye gauges that he’s likely to bolt, then he needs to take action now. There’s no point in going through the motions of “competing” over the next two years with results like we’ve been getting only for Chris Bosh to pull a Tracy McGrady – that’s the last thing this franchise needs. I’m not going to speculate what we can get for Bosh, I’m simply suggesting that it’s an option that Colangelo will need to keep an eye on if he’s not planning on shaking things up and is simply hoping things get better, because if they don’t Bosh is out. O’Neal’s gargantuan contract will become a lot more tradeable next year but if Colangelo can find a buyer who is willing to give up young talent this year, it needs to be explored.
Decision #3: Jay Triano
Is he the coach of the future or is he just another scapegoat card waiting to be played if the team continues to struggle? Common sense suggests the latter. If Colangelo has a coach in mind he needs to be brought in immediately so that he can have as much time as possible behind the bench. Pretty soon we’ll have to be thinking about next season and it’s much better for a new coach to be acclimated with the players before training camp rather than use the first 20 games of the season to indoctrinate a playbook. If this season gets out of hand we need to use the remaining games as preparation for a new direction and system under the real coach. Let’s iron out these issues without further delay. If Triano is auditioning for the head coaching job and Colangelo’s playing the wait-and-see game of whether to hire him on a permanent basis or not, then he doesn’t have a real plan for the team, he’s just playing it by ear.
Decision #4: Style of play and personnel
The style of play needs to match the personnel. Triano’s style of play is great but he doesn’t have the horses to pull it off. The protect-the-paint-and-scramble-to-close-out-shooters approach works great on paper but needs solid defensive-minded guards and small-forwards to be executed properly. The Golden State game was a prime example of this. On the other hand we have personnel that don’t match the system: Jason Kapono’s shot attempts might have increased under Triano but the quality of the attempts remains poor. Enough isn’t being done to peel defenders off of him and he’s forced to get his shots through trailing, quick transition setups and by running off excessive screens. He’s a catch-and-shoot player who isn’t catching and shooting. Jose Calderon’s a pick ‘n roll point-guard and has basically run one play in his entire NBA career, asking him to find cutters, throw lobs, pick-out players in transition channels, drive ‘n kick might be asking too much. Although he’s made recent efforts to get better at the things he’s bad at, you wonder if he’s a guy who can play his position to a considerable advantage any given night. Even his great statistical game against Golden State was easily offset by rookie C.J. Watson’s uncontainable dribble-penetration and outside shooting.
Decision #5: Profitability or progression
If this team manages to stay under the luxury tax, sneak into the playoffs and get two or three playoff home games, the fans will come back. As long as Leaf season ticket holders are still buying Raptors tickets and there’s enough false hope in the air, the franchise will continue to turn a profit. The fact of the matter is that winning is not a prerequisite for profitability in Toronto and although that’s great for ownership, it doesn’t motivate the board in vying for meaningful success. Colangelo’s stated that he’d ask the board to cross the luxury tax if he finds a suitable player and Richard Peddie in his business-speak has also been open to the idea. Whether all this is just politically correct speak or not remains to be seen. A successful franchise doesn’t start from the players, it starts from the owners and unless tangible playoff success is mandated by the owners and the board, it will never come and if it does happen to swing by, it’ll be through fluke and chance and will never stick. We saw this with Vince Carter. If Colangelo is serious about building an Eastern Conference contender in Toronto he’ll need to make the owners swallow some hard pills and it means going over the luxury tax, at least until O’Neal’s salary remains on the books.
–
As a man who has an unhealthy addiction to Raptors basketball I want to see the team go in the right direction. If the right direction means going through a couple 10-win seasons where we develop true young NBA talent and play the game the right way, I’m all for it. As we stand right now we have one All-Star caliber player that has to be looking out the window, zero young talent to look forward to unless you count Bargnani, and such a supporting cast of players (Parker, Graham, Solomon, Moon, Adams, Jawai, Voskuhl) that the best thing you can say about them is that they’re no longer under contract after this season.
We have an opportunity to rebuild and if we cross luxury tax, we have an opportunity to re-tool, both are completely agreeable options. The thing that is not acceptable to a die-hard fan is the status quo because we know all too well what this leads to – total mediocrity. And we’ve seen enough of that.
71 Raps
Is it premature to declare the Raptor’s hopes of reaching the playoffs are next to nil ??
Surely it must be concluded now that this team has gaping deficiencies that cannot be mitigated with time .. only by trades.
This team has not improved so far and it’s doubtful they can jell as a team. It also seems doubtful they can improve much by the trading deadline in February.
Triano is giving playing time to players that BC wants to trade and is hoping to make them look good. Sort of advertising them while trying to look respectable. Maybe Ukic is not being played because BC wants to keep him in Toronto, and doesn’t want anybody to ask for him.
Bosh is most likely aware of what has to happen, and he must be preparing for his future too.
(These comments were being posted on another topic thread just minutes before this new topic appeared.)
Thank you for this sobering article post.
I agree with FAQ. We will miss the playoffs this season due to emergence of New Jersey, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami.
Miami just beaten Cleveland. Atlanta almost beaten Boston.
Sadly our Raptors are at the near bottom of EC. Right beside Charlotte.
The Raptors are a bunch of no-pride putty cats. They should be thrown into Lake Ontario.
IF I WAS BC:
Decision 1
We ain’t winning the first round. Think Boston, Lebron or Superman. If I tweak, it’s minor — keep the fans from ripping my head off. But if I can find some sucker GM, I’m all in.
Decision 2
Trade one of Bosh, Calderon or Bargnani? Yeah — and without getting into the AB “what can we get for him” debate — do we expect to get more back? This is where I hear my echo …. But if I can find some sucker GM, I’m all in.
Bosh will make his call next year. O’Neil — I pray, will last the year, post good numbers and maybe, just maybe, take the first round to a hard fought 6 or 7 games — loss that is. Then he’s my big chip for the start of next season. Burn out that knee and I’m “f#@ked”.
But if I can move him at this trade deadline, I jump if it gets me some proven/future at the 2 and 3. The backup for JC will have to wait till next year.
Decision 3
I like you Jay … there’s always a place for you here. And if opportunities arises elsewhere, no problem. But next year, we’re going in a direction that depends on who’s out there [someone I really like]. I know transition sucks, but unless someone pops up mid-season, your good to go for this year Jay.
Decision 4
JO and Jay. Sorry guys, but this is business.
Decision 5
The Accountant called and he said I have 16 million in luxury cap costs — for the next 2 years. He said I can split it, 8 mil this year, and 8 mil next. Or I can go all 16 mil next year. I’m just wondering if I can survive till next year. Yeah, I will. So I’m waiting till next year.
Beat the bad teams? I think after losing to OKC there can be no more illusions; we are the bad teams.
We are lottery bound and we should be making the most of it (whatever that means…)
sigh. anyone see anything other than 3 more losses vs. Den, Hou & Orl? i’d like to think they could handle hou w/o tmac, but that’ll take a minor miracle. denver? hah! orlando? perhaps…but unlikely. you know rock-bottom has been hit when a 1-2 run is the best that can realistically be hoped for.
although…haven’t they sunk so far now that they’ll start playing well? isn’t that what TO teams do? play like shit, lower expectations, & then, when they’re out of it, start playing well, move up in the standings, get everyone excited again? ah, to dream…
Oh snap, I just noticed Bargnani was -23 in 26 minutes against GS two nights ago. That’s horrible.
Love the post and personally think the player moves have to get better. The league may have realized all this talk about 2010 was pissing off the home fans/corporate sponsers. That said Bosh’s value has never been higher and I have a hunch he’s ready to move on. In the past they have won without him and hopefully in the future they will win without him.
All teams are either buyers or sellers. Right now I see the Raptors moving towards a seller’s position. Go 6/14 over the next twenty games and all those easy games at the end of the season mean very little. By the end of Janusry they will be just one more lottery team telling the fans to wait to next year. That’s what they did in Miami and see where they are now.
As a random thought I believe there are quality players in every year’s draft. So trading away draft picks does not seem to make sense. Get the draft picks and bring in quality players to make the team better. Don’t trade them away and then have to go looking after the fact.
So I vote for a minor tweak, take your lumps now, trade the big contracts when the opportunity comes along and put in place a plan that can be sold to the fans.
I would love to see us start taking the draft more seriously. I will suffer some bad years if we end up like Portland with a bunch of young, likeable players, but Bargnani, Printezis and Jawai aren’t going to get it done. We don’t have the pieces to make big trades, no free agents want to come here, so we have to grow through the draft in my opinion. I’m not sure where the problem is, if it is scouting or management or plain bad luck, but we have a very poor history.
Indeed, it is very interesting to read today, a persective like this one, on the Raptors’ current plight, which echoes some of what was first published on-line back on September 22, 2006 … Credit where credit is due … more than two full years ago.
What someone like this can surely tell you is that one of the most important things in life, when it comes to determining success or failure, is the ability to read accurately the risks and rewards associated with a specific opportunity that presents itself, in advance of others who are operating in the same environment.
Do THIS enough times and, regardless of the field, riches will eventually flow your way.
Conversely, fail to do THIS, regardless of the field, either enough times or, perhaps, even just once when a significant opportunity is presented … say, like, the chance to choose No. 1 overall from amongst Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, etc. … and, it is going to be an uphill struggle from there, where only the very best in their chosen field will be able to recover fully due to their authentic expertise and the gradual passage of time.
When a person like Mr. Buffet speaks, although it might not always be easy listening, it is foolish to disregard those words, given in advance of others, if/when the topic is the successful financial investing of your own hard-earned money.
Within the realm of basketball and sports, in general, who are the equivalents to Warren B. that you should be atuned … with your ears and eyes … on a regular basis?
Food For Thought … on a merry New Year’s Eve day morning.
Enjoy and please be safe tonight … one and all. : )
There are no dress hearsals in this life.
————————————-
Jaques:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139–143
I have faith in the raptors tonight. They will beat Denver and Jason Kapono will have a good night at the office. 9-9 from beyond the arc.
*someone wake me up*
As much as i don’t want this to happen i think Bosh will leave in 2010. Since we’ve already blown so many chances to building a championship calibre team by wasting our picks. I think even if Bosh re-signs it would just be like Mats Sundin. Cmon BC, Move Bosh and rebuild again.
Keep JO until next year then trade him. Let Andrea Barney play a C and move JO to PF after Bosh is gone. If BC said Barney was a project, i think the best thing to do is this. Let him grow playing a consistent role as instead of moving him and shattering his confidence.
Use Bosh to get Draft Picks or 2-3 spots.
I’m gonna go on Trade Machine. BRB!
I agree……..trade him right….not a VC garbage deal. Put Bustnani at centre and leave him there to die. Just watching Portland these days can make a fan jealous. The writings on the wall, if Bosh is your premier player your not going to far…..he’ll make a good second banana in the West…..its time to execute this blueprint
Trade O Neil now!
We gambled on his knee, and so far have won. Now that other teams can see his value as a one year addition for a playoff push then a salry dump or trade chip next year, Toronto could move him for a real Shooting guard or Smll forward.
Throw in Parker, Kapono,and Bargs, too but I see JO and the centerpiece.
I like what JO has done of late but it subtracts from Bosh more than compliments him. He is the biggest trade bait we have for any real return.
Bosh is next years decision. I still say the only way to get talent in Toronto is trade or draft for it because free agents don’t come here, or stay.
Lets all go to the trade machine and match up Jermain with over-priced but talented 2″s and 3’s.
Spewdog,
I think we should trade Bosh instead because we need JO to toughen up Barney.
But heres a good trade if we were to pick up O’neal.
Outgoing Raptors:
JO
HAHAHASSAN Adamns
Incoming Warriors:
Marco Belinelli
Corey Maggette
Ronny Turiaf
Andris Biedrins
Which leaves the Warriors with a line up of what?
Do you think the Warriors would trade their two top post presences (one of them the leagues top 3 rebounder if I’m not mistaken) for JO?
I love the enthusiasm, but just because the salaries match, does not make the trade realistic. It must be beneficial for BOTH parties.
victor…that’s a great trade for the raptors. horrible for the warriors…zero chance that happens.
Perhaps Calderon would be a better passer in transition if we had better wings. He’s perfect for a more athletic team.
IMO, here’s a major reason we are underperforming this year: “The last two games, we didn’t get rewarded at all” – Jay Triano quote from The Star. Teams get “rewarded” when they work hard and make good decisions. It’s hard to argue that we’re doing either. Moon making a swan dive to avoid contact going to the hoop and missing the basket in the GS game is a prime example.
As a coach or manager, there are times to manage democratically, times to manage authoratatively, and times to manage with a stick.
Until these guys show consistent effor and execute at least basic fundamentals, they need to be managed with a stick. Coddling them will only make things worse. There is so little talent, they need to be given specific roles withing a well defined system and torn a new asshole if they stop performing that role. Under his system, they’ll perform their roles for half the game and then get lazy. Then the coach says it’s his faut and maybe the team is tired.
Enough of this bullshit. If you don’t expect more you won’t get it. And if you don’t manage performance properly you won’t get it either. No more excuses. Can you imagine Jerry Sloan making excuses like this?
J.O. & Kap,out for tonight…
KD – very good points. That Moon play you’re talking about is the difference between a team that deserves a win and a team that deserves to stay close but lose. I remember Phil Jackson used to call an immediate timeout when something like that used to happen (at least with the Bulls, don’t watch the Lakers enough now) because it indicated the wrong mindset in a player.
Vitor – Why oh why would the Warriors make that deal?
Adam – I would too would like to see the Raptors take more interest in the draft, I don’t care how much the European game has advanced, we can’t be picking little free agents here and there as core pieces of our team. For what its worth, I think Babcock was heading in that direction after the VC trade.
RapthoseLeafs – I’m thinking Colangelo have a 100% clear picture of what this team is capable of by end of January and will start to make the decisions outlined in this post.
BTW, for those of you counting, the number of actual quality wins for this season is……..ZERO. We’ve lost to Orlando, Cleveland, Boston (twice), Denver, Utah, Lakers, Portland (twice), Dallas, New Orleans and Detroit. In other words, we haven’t beaten once single unarguably good team. The best we’ve done is a home win against Atlanta and that road win against Philly (turns out they suck too).
Hey Chris Bosh…..
Charles Barkley just said his Grandma could drop 30 & mother could drop 45 on us….. are you going to take that!?
Well, I used to want the playoffs this year but with the emerging young talent reshaping the Eastern Conference almost every team is better then us…wait… I’d need to see the Raptors Vs Bobcats again to decide who is better :-(.
We’d going nowhere in the Playoff anyway. Be out in 4 games with the current mess. It would be more embarrassing to make the playoffs and get ‘Our Asses Handed to Us’ then tank now.
Oh, what to do? For starters BC needs to get on his hands & knees and beg Bosh no to make any harsh decisions.
I’m glad I’m a Arm-Chair Fan and not BC right now…. ahhhhh….
yeah, i know GS would never do that. considering the facts you’ve point out. Isn’t it funny how 1 player is all we needed to change this team around!
if carlos delfino was on the raptors instead of HAHAHAHASSAN adams…then we wouldn’t have been in this position. he can play 1 if will decides to go on a turnover frenzy. plus he would be able to play 2-3 spots as well. we still wouldnt have super strong wings but the balance of CD, JG, JM, KP, AP is more versatile/depth for match-ups. MLSE you shoulda went over luxury tax to keep Delfino.. cause your practically throwing money to HAHAssan, Soloman, Voskul. Sigh…
i don’t like Jay Triano..shoulda kept sam for this season. if he didnt save us then burn him and hire someone else.
Put me in the I told you so category. Hell, when Colangelo took over a few years ago, I called the cap situation going down the crapper and I was deemed an idiot and that I knew nothing about the game. Yeah, well…
I admire those that had great hopes prior to this season starting. I actually really do. Realistically, I can’t see any NBA team being able to run the course of the schedule with both a depleted roster and one which has little to no mid/upper level talent. For us to win on any given night, we need 3-4 guys to play above their average level. Personally I saw no way (and continue to see no way) that this roster is capable of that.
well, i’ve got two hours (give or take) of ‘work’ before i’m off for the rest of the year. it will be spent on the trade machine. it’s completely useless, but it will kill time very nicely.
my new year’s resolution: care less about the raps.
anyone else?
I’m at work right now and Trade Machine is pretty cool.
JO makes so god damn much … so hard to try his ass.. lol
AltRaps, a quick refresher course on how BC screwed our cap would be nice.
yertu, I think I want to care less about the Raps but this site is forcing me to do otherwise.
Victor, when you do punch in trade after trade in that thing be sure to try to see things from the other team’s perspective. They better have a damn good reason to take on JO and give up real talent.
Victor-you are right my friend. I thought Delfino was undervalued when he was here.
Bring Back Delfino!!!
ARSENALIST-Good point re: JO I think a team that would take JO would be a team team that is looking for a bonified post presence and 1st scoring option OFF THE BENCH…a team who needs to secure their second unit for the playoffs…like the spurs, or boston, or pistons, or even nuggets…unfortunately his contract is so problematic.
Thoughts?
Bryan could have saved our cap space instead of signing all the euros with it. Draft Brandon Roy and trade Charlie for Aldridge or Gay which was possible and we’d be set today. Include Millsap instead of PJ Tucker
for our second rounder we had.
Calderon
Roy
Fernandez
Bosh/Millsap
Aldridge
We had Kris Humphries right? Miami wanted him in exchange for pick 20. We draft Rudy Fernandez. This very well could have been our team.
Now add on to that the 16 mil + of cap space we had. Are you fucking kidding me?
arse: i think colangelo has a handle on what this team is capable of now. he doesn’t need till the end of january. he will however need that long to get the pieces in that will fix this team. and by getting the pieces, i mean putting together coke and hooker parties to get other gm’s in compromising pictures so he can trade our rags for their riches.
look, they can either tinker & try to rebuild quickly by replacing a few pieces & hope that the guys they bring in fit better than the ones leaving.
or they blow this mo-fo sky high and trade the only guy on the roster capable of bringing back both legit players, future prospect(s) &/or 1st rd pick(s). either way, done correctly, can yield positive results. and both can be complete disasters. but last time i checked, they were well on their way to an unmitigated disaster anyway. reminds me of chicago from a few years ago…i don’t think anyone really expected the drop-off from one year to the next to be so severe, but it was, and they’re only now starting to dig out of it (and that’s with having 3 guys taken in the top 5 of the last few drafts – ty, noah, rose).
We play int the east and were not Oklahoma or Minnosota were we will lead to nowhere in the West. New Jersey and Miami have rebuilt in 1 year and are in the playoffs now. We can do the same thing. I think Bryan has quit the Euro experiment and will get us more athletes and tough guys this offseason. He’s not a stupid man
lol
Chicago could have got Kobe, Garnette, Gasol but they thought there talent would reach there potential. Never happened. It was Kobe for Deng and draft picks
Sorry Joe, not quite true. The reason they Bulls did not pull the trigger on tradind Deng is that each of those teams wanted Ben Gordon as well. Chicago thought it was too much to give up both Gordon and Deng.
Does Marion play well with beasley?
anyone know?
This trade could work for both teams
JO
HAHAssan Adams
For:
Haslem
Marion
JO will be a faster shotblocking Shaq to Dwade
Toronto will get perimeter d & rebuilding on SF from marion who can score.
Besides Dwade, when i watch Miami play i really enjoy watching haslem. he really hustles and would bring the energy and intensity we lack.
And then of course,
Barney would have to step up big time.
Jose/Soloman/Ukic
Marion/Moon/Graham
AP/Kapono/
Bosh/Hump
Haslem/Barni/Voskul/Jawai
Haslem is valued by the Heat. They were unwilling to swap him for TJ Ford in the summer and they were actually looking for a point guard at the time. I’m not sure there’s that much value added for the Heat even if they to decide to swap. From the Raptors perspective the trade is obviously great, we get Marion who comes off the cap sooner and a great interior defender in Haslem who won’t take shot attempts away from Bosh. Marion was actually one of the players Colangelo was looking at earlier in the season (according to ESPN Mag).
Over the last month or so I’m becoming very luke-warm to the idea of continuing to build around Bosh. Maybe Marion can help, maybe Bosh has already checked out. I’d look at all options if I’m BC.
I dont think this season is done but honestly the raptors cannot afford another 4-5 losing streak in the new year. The only way i can see this team coming together and gelling is by them going on multiple 4-5 game winning streaks and getting some sort of confidence. Unfortunately, or unless we get “Jesus” and Dr. Naismith I just dont see how this team will have the capability of stringing together that many wins.
Remember last season when Bosh & Jose were looked upon as our Malone & Stockton…Oh how the times have changed :D
quick refresher:
took over with cap space and the #1 pick.
we are no better than a .500 team and don’t have a full complement of a player roster and have little wiggle room without going into luxury territory.
refresher over.
Happy 2009.
Arsenalist,
I’m with you on the Bosh feeling.
Seeing as we are where we are (12-19), I don’t feel as confident about Bosh staying. And if JO manages to hang around till the end, he will be gone. So I’m reluctant to trade Jose & AB at this point or for some time. Both their contracts are reasonable, and upside is good. Despite how some people are disappointed with Jose, I think he’s still learning.
Truth is, this really is Jose’s 1st year all alone — and he’s really alone, as we all know. I don’t know how it impacts him, worrying that if he screws up, we’re dead in the water. Adding 2 different coaching styles doesn’t help.
I’m not ready to start 2010 with just one of those guys (Jose & AB) and nothing else – outside of some serious credit.
One of the biggest roadblocks we have, is not so much that Canada is a fringe destination, but that it’s outside the “Basketball World” for a great number of players. We might attract up and coming players, who think they can start, and will make that move — for that opportunity. But we take a risk, hoping this translates well for us. I don’t know if I’m up for 2 more years of that, past 2010.
That’s why I think we need to take a big gulp, and get back to training the parts that might go forward, and beyond.
Funny thing is, if you look at the Leafs, I’m enjoying that “back to the rookies” concept. Guys who make many mistakes, but who leave some hope — a thin commodity in Leaf Land I realize.
Maybe we need to think that way.
Holinger on Calderon’s FT shooting:
God willing, Trevor Ariza this summer. Hopefully the Lakers fail to find interest in the grossly overpaid Walton, Radmonovich, and Vujacic.
The LA Lakers will re-sign Trevor Ariza when the time comes.
How come?
Because he is on schedule to become the Scottie Pippen of their team, riding shotgun to the ShowTime version of MJ [i.e. Kobe Bean Bryant] for the foreseeable future.
The level of Raptors analysis:
Idiot Rautins: “you want to avoid turnovers that lead to a basket”…
This when he takes a break from talking about his fucking barber….
How is it possible to be that stupid and still have a job?? Oh, right….it’s Toronto….
why the fuck does vokushul play but not hump? triano must have some fucking brain problem.
Hopefully certain Raptors fans are paying attention to how well this team is playing this evening without Jermaine O’Neal and Jason Kapono in the line-up.
Although the Raptors might still end up losing tonight’s game, those who say that this collection of players NEEDS to have individuals with the respective skill sets of O’Neal and Kapono on the court in order to be competitive with a solid team like the Nuggets do not really know what they are talking about.
Right now … if the Raptors come back with either:
1. Moon and Graham, to go with Calderon, Voskuhl/Hump and Bosh;
or,
2. Moon/Graham, to go with Calderon, Parker, Voskuhl/Hump and Bosh;
this game will be decided in the final minute.
05:05 left in the 4th Q …
Calderon-Parker-Moon-Bargnani-Bosh
TOR 95, Den 99
This is more of the Denver Nuggets losing rather then the Toronto raptors winning the game.
Yikes, this is typical
The best thing about this game was watching the halftime show on The Score. Who was that hottie in the studio?
TURNING POINT IN THE GAME=BOSH JACKIN A 3 WHEN WE DOWN 3 WITH CROWD INTO IT=SWING=DOWN 8=BOSH IS A FUCKEN LOSER.
SO everyone realises
With Bosh as our Leader and focal point of the Raptors we have not yet beat one good team so far this season. You can blame his supporting cast, his minutes, his injuries but that wont cut it with me. He does not make his teammates better and doesn’t instill confidence in himself
Can’t disagree about that
I don’t see Lebron, Wade, Gasol, Millsap, Ming, Dirk, Carmelo, Amare, West, Aldridge folding against elite teams. Bosh does however.
it’s OK if you are italian…gotta figure who that reporter was
With Vince as our leader we made it and did well in the playoffs, we competed against the best of teams ( Prime Shaq and Kobe ), he made his team better and pushed them to play to there potential, we were on ESPN, NBC, he was dropping 30 a night, had highlight reels each night, his jersey was a top seller in the L with Iverson’s. Vince’s first season alone was better then Bosh’s 2,3,4,5,6 season. Sad to say
wow, saw her at the end of the game. Who needs The Baller anyway
I pray to god that we trade Jose, play shitty enough to get a good draft pick and draft Brandon Jennings. OMG That dude isnt scared to play in a different country and is an amazing player with tons of swagger. Him and Bosh would make a deadly duo!
Khandor, the Lakers cap situation may prevent it. How come? Well, if Ariza’s agent shares your opinion of Stealth, he will seek money befitting Pippen-type potential, something the Lakers’ may not be able to offer due to their existence over the tax threshold and the fact they already have 3 role wings signed to long-term contracts (Vujacic, Radmonovich, Walton).
Assuming the Lakers do not find expiring replacements for any one of them and/or do not win the title, since Buss has said he will gladly ignore the cap for the chance at multiple championships, Ariza will be let go in a Joe Johnson style salary concession.
And then, in an obvious progression of the preceding facts, the Raptors will sign him.
Our gm likes mild mannered, calm, soft people in general. He hates Flash he rather keep it simple. Jennings, Blake Griffin, Derozen all of them are not a BC type player.
We will draft someone from Europe with our top 10 pick trust me on this.
I’m sure that the Lakers arent stupid enough to let Ariza walk. In fact theyre probably shopping radman and walton. And if thats not the case im sure Kobe would demand the Lakers management to resign Ariza.
Anthony Parker is officially washed up. I mean 12 points in 43 minutes?!
And thats one of his better games this season?! His shooting percentage dropped 10 fricken’ percent over a year and his defense is crap!!
TRADE HIM!!!
The same GSW team that beat us 2 days ago just got beat by OKC.
DAMN!!! WE SUCK!
Sigh… there was at least a game to watch in the 3rd and 4th quarters, but no one REALLY expected us to win tonight. Ah well…
Killa:
He should never have been signed in the first place. Bryan decided to sign Euro players who were on there last legs. We needed a complete rebuild, not a quick fix. Well, we went the quick fix route and now we have nothing to show for it. Tough guys wins championships not gentle guys
chemist14307,
The Lakers will not sacrifice Ariza for Radmanovic, Vujacic or Walton.
When your team is unafraid to exceed the Salary Cap and/or the Luxury Tax Threshold, if need be, to compete for a championship, it gives your entire operation a bountiful sense of flexibility.
——————————–
Given the obscene amount of money which MLSE makes … it is simply ludicrous that any Leafs or Raptors fan should tolerate a President/GM or owner who says that it’s one of this organization’s goals to remain below either of these two artificially imposed barriers to on-the-court/ice success.
For the owners/operators of this specific franchise … it SHOULD BE about Winning.
I agree. They make alot of money but the owners don’t have a sports mentality. They have a make money fast approach. They do want to win but not at the expense of the teachers.
A lot of things are seriously wrong with the raptors. It makes me sick just watching them look so good a few minutes then loose everything in a matter of minutes.
1. Bosh. Bosh is not getting enough minutes. First few games of the season Bosh averaged 42 minutes, he was having a career year and raptors winning record was above 500. More minutes for bosh more points, more wins. It’s not Rocket Science.
2.Game Plan, Coaching and Rotation. I don’t know why Jay (current head coach) Triano has this mentality of having his players rotate every game. It brings predictability on the table and at the same time players who are hot are cooled down thus not getting their groove, once their time is up on the rotation. I’ve always believed and history has proven that great coaches and teams has always implemented situational and match up substitutions not rotation. It maybe the Sam Mitchell effect on Triano or the fact that he coached a Canadian Team to international Basketball. He has to understand that coaching international basketball is different than coaching professional league. In international basketball all players were handpicked and has different roles, where in pro basketball we have to admit, some players are there to fill up the spot. No game plan is clear on every game. The game against New Jersey where they gave one of their star players (Devin Harris) a look of everything. They threw in Moon, Calderon, Parker against him, thus negating him and making other players beat you.
3.Bargnani. I don’t even know where to start. The guy is a decent player. Not what they are building him to be “the future of the franchise”. Upside? Maybe, but if Colangelo is intending to build around Bosh and wants to win now, better make the sacrifice while value of Barngani is still high so he can get a good wing player.
4. Wing. We obviously need a good wing player, nuff said. Moon is another decent player, think he deserves to be in the NBA. I think he would be good off the bench. But he has to admit to himself. He is not a good shooter. Please drive to the hoop and take the foul. If I were a coach of the opponent team (and from what I see they always use the the player who guards Moon for the double) I’ll make Moon beat us with jump shots.
Arsenalist, just wanted to say maximum respect for supporting the double red: Arsenal and the Raptors.