I hate mayo. That’s my big food phobia. It’s no secret, everyone who knows me knows I’m irrationally disgusted/fearful of the goopy, congealed, smelly grossness. The thought of it makes me cringe. It’s to the point where I won’t take the jar out of the fridge – that’s if I allowed it in my refrigerator.
I’d wager there are a few more mayo haters after that last one. We have every right to be angry after we let a rookie torch us for 14 points in the 4th quarter, ESPECIALLY after scoring only two the whole game. If you’re keeping track, that’s TWO rookies we’ve been destroyed by (Rose did a number on us back in January) late in the game.
I think Andrea, broken English and all, captured the state of the team the best.
“We have to start winning because we are playing very bad.”
A bit of perspective: we lost to a team that played Greg Buckner 31 minutes. In a game where a chubby rookie from Spain outscored and matched the rebounding output of our big, $20+mil off season acquisition. Against a perennial bottom feeder not yet acclimated to it’s brand new coaching staff (Henry Bibby and Damon Stoudamire became offiicial assistant coaches under interim head coach Lionel Hollins). This is worse than bad. Can Colangelo fire himself?
One look a the numbers and it’s clear our offensive flow has hit menopause. 29.5% from the field. 21% from downtown. Bargnani was 1-11. Parker was 2-10. The only player to shoot over 50% was Joey Graham, going 6-10 for 14pts. If we can’t score against a defensive juggernaut like the Memphis Grizzlies, then we’re screwed because we couldn’t properly defend my Thursday night co-ed TCSSC team.
The media will of course make it first mention that we were without Bosh for this game. Like that’s some sort of excuse. The Grizzlies were without THREE starters, Gay, Lowry, Darrell Arthur. For all intents and purposes Gay is their franchise player, and a young squad like Memphis should have been derailed without their cornerstone. Of course, the Raptors pose about as much threat as a wheel-chaired carjacker, and it’s clear there’s no team in the league that’s the least bit concerned about playing us. In battle, mental weakness is far more dangerous than physical deficiencies, and we’ve shown over and over that we just don’t have the headspace (and maybe the capacity) for focused, disciplined production.
I think it’s time we turned on the houselights. At least for 2008-2009, the show is over. There’s plenty of reason to be disappointed and plenty of people to point fingers at. But the most productive use of our time between now and the off-season is to set ourselves up for one of those overnight rebuildings that have become NBA vogue. A couple of key arrivals paired with the right departures, and we’re a playoff team again.
But until then, I’ll repeat the question: Can Colangelo fire himself?
56 Raps
Olives are worse.
Hahahaha. Great post. You must be a very patient man. Personally, I thought the show was over last Sunday when I was at the ACC for the Orlando game and the bench looked like a bunch of guys who had just watched a Requiem for a Dream/Platoon double bill.
The fire Colangelo stuff on this site is nonsense.
I won’t go any mistakes he’s made as a GM here. WE ALL KNOW THEM.
But let’s look at what he’s done and the impact of those moves.
He wanted Salmons, but got Fred Jones who turned into Juan Dixon. Jones sucked, but if Salmons had not been crazy he’d be filling a lot of holes on the wing right now. Plus, Dixon wasn’t terrible while he was here. This team won a lot of games with him and JC at the point at times last year.
Garbo was a great signing.
Who doesn’t want Rasho back?
How much does AP make? He’s been amazing value.
Delfino overachieved.
Hating aside, TJ was one of the most effective PGs in the NBA while with the Raps. Could Colangelo know he was gonna go nuts.
Moon, came from nowhere, and he basically plays for free.
But the biggest thing is, the team is under the cap. Give him the budget of the Nuggs. Who could he add with that kind of dough? Plus… this team can reload thanks to expiring deals. Some teams are failing and cannot.
And all this hysteria to resign Bosh and get results that will keep Bosh happy? Who cares if he walks. There are lots of great players in the league. Most of them are freeagents along with Bosh. If we resign him, won’t he just be more expensive with the same results.
Blah blah blah… I know.
Peace
all nice and lovely. How many games have we won? Have we won fewer games in every season since he has taken over?
Just wondering.
Are you asking me how many games? Are you being sarcastic?
“But the most productive use of our time between now and the off-season is to set ourselves up for one of those overnight rebuildings that have become NBA vogue. A couple of key arrivals paired with the right departures, and we’re a playoff team again.”
Was that sarcasm? I can’t tell if you are making fun of posters who talk about, ‘a couple key arrivals,’ and pretend like they know something.
Who are you gonna replace Colangelo with? How are you going to keep players from having career ending injuries? Who are you going to sign with free agent cash in the off season?
I’m asking; not being sarcastic.
——————————————
re: He wanted Salmons, but got Fred Jones who turned into Juan Dixon. Jones sucked, but if Salmons had not been crazy he’d be filling a lot of holes on the wing right now. Plus, Dixon wasn’t terrible while he was here. This team won a lot of games with him and JC at the point at times last year.
Garbo was a great signing.
Who doesn’t want Rasho back?
How much does AP make? He’s been amazing value.
Delfino overachieved.
Hating aside, TJ was one of the most effective PGs in the NBA while with the Raps. Could Colangelo know he was gonna go nuts.
Moon, came from nowhere, and he basically plays for free.
But the biggest thing is, the team is under the cap. Give him the budget of the Nuggs. Who could he add with that kind of dough? Plus… this team can reload thanks to expiring deals. Some teams are failing and cannot.
And all this hysteria to resign Bosh and get results that will keep Bosh happy? Who cares if he walks. There are lots of great players in the league. Most of them are freeagents along with Bosh. If we resign him, won’t he just be more expensive with the same results.
Blah blah blah… I know. – by Katyusha
——————————————
re: Salmons
Wanting a player who doesn’t want you is meaningless = 0
re: Dixon
Was traded for Brezec. Brezec was not re-signed this past summer = 0
re: Garbo
Garbajosa was a good signing. Buying Out Garbo is the problem. Garbo = 0
re: Rasho
Nesterovic was a good signing. Including Rasho in the Ford trade is the part. Rasho = 0
re: AP
Parker was a good signing. AP = +1
re: Delfino
Cost was two 2nd future Round Draft Picks. Is no longer here. Delfino = -1
re: Ford
Was and is a non-elite level PG in the NBA. Cost was Villanueva + the acquisition of O’Neal. Ford = -2
re: Moon
JM was a good signing. Moon = +1
re: the Salary Cap
The team is OVER the Cap and UNDER the Luxury Threshold. Money Management = 0
The math is self-explanatory.
================================
IMO,
Colangelo should not be fired … but when assessing the current state of the team it’s important to see with 20/20 vision.
I’m not sure Colangelo should be fired either, if we’re talking in Lollipops and rainbows and “what’s the right thing to do.” Unfortunately for NBA coaches and executives, what’s fair often takes a backseat to “what will keep the fans from revolution”.
It’s a time-tested pro sports tradition to assign individual blame when an entire franchise falls short. I just see BC as being a victim of that. Because things are NOT right. And he’s the one who created “things”.
Sorry, Dino.. what’s not right? (This is a carryover from the other post) But the franchise (I assume, I suppose) will/did still make hand over fist this year. The seat are not empty are they? Meaning the record in the standing has zero effect on MLSE’s decision to keep him or not. Do I wish the was reprimanded in some way for what has transpired this season, as a result of his moves? Absolutely! How? I have no idea. Again, does MLSE care? Not at all.
And I doubt anyone is really “blaming” him.. see some of the comments on here. It’s amazing to me how people fail to make the connection that it was, in fact, him that created the opportunities for those things to happen.
Unless there is another gambling GM we can take right now, I’m gonna take the crazy pills and stick with Colangelo for the 2010. Colangelo really starts his reign with Bargs, all the other players he signed for and signed back are really quick fixes and trade bait. As how things go in life, ppl have to move on if they are becoming weak at what they (or we thought) they would do best on. If you want a draft pick like Bargs to develop, I believe it requires us to tank a season, and that’s what I expected.
20/20 vision… what does that mean? That doesn’t make sense. Plus my “rap” was about good moves Colangelo has made, not if today they are still on the team.
re: Salmons
Wanting a player who doesn’t want you is meaningless = 0
18 pts 4.2 rebs and 3.6 asst. Is not meaningless.
And why is a player that doesn’t want you but is a consistent producer meaningless? That’s not a rational argument. Maybe if you said that Salmons is a lockeroom cancer, that might make more sense.
re: Dixon
Was traded for Brezec. Brezec was not re-signed this past summer = 0
No. Dixon played well for us. Good move.
re: Garbo
Garbajosa was a good signing. Buying Out Garbo is the problem. Garbo = 0
Garbo was key to our Atlantic Div. Crown. Good move.
re: Rasho
Nesterovic was a good signing. Including Rasho in the Ford trade is the part. Rasho = 0
True.
re: AP
Parker was a good signing. AP = +1
re: Delfino
Cost was two 2nd future Round Draft Picks. Is no longer here. Delfino = -1
We still have his rights.
re: Ford
Was and is a non-elite level PG in the NBA. Cost was Villanueva + the acquisition of O’Neal. Ford = -2
Ford had the third highest player efficiency rating amongst guards until his was injured. Plus he hit clutch shots. Today, and the second half of last season he was not great. But that has to do with his injury.
re: Moon
JM was a good signing. Moon = +1
re: the Salary Cap
The team is OVER the Cap and UNDER the Luxury Threshold. Money Management = 0
Got me for sure on that one. But what could we do with Denver’s cash? A lot I think.
I guess my biggest beef with BC is that he looked at this roster and failed to see that nobody really has a great handle. I mean dribbling for christsake!
Shit, now I’m starting to sound bitter.
Dinosty,
I’d be willing to wager several thousand dollars of my own hard-earned money if anyone could point me to an on-line betting proposition which speculates on the possibility of Bryan Colangelo being fired by MLSE between now and the start of the 2009-2010 regular season.
IMO, given how MLSE operates, that specific possiblity has absolutely ZERO ["0"] chance of happening.
I would also be willing to wager several thousand dollars of your hard-earned money on that. Let’s do it!
I’d be willing to go double or nothing with Khandors money that Triano is here longer than Bosh.
Flux,
Speaking about on-line wagering propositions …
It’s definitely a pleasant Sunday afternoon when both the jello-eaters [+6.5] and the Showtime Crew [+5] come through in spades on the same day. : )
Hopefully your friends & associates who might be so inclined are smiling this evening as much as those associated with me were grinning ear-to-ear last Sunday evening [re: the Cardinals & the Steelers].
Khandor, I gotta tell ya, the cane users are shocking me to no end. Of course, the Big Show is the real test, but I did not see this coming.
I’m still looking for more info on the services, btw.
Oh… Khandor. I do have one question. You post on this site all the time, you also have your own blog. How do you have the time to earn cash hard?
someone rush Khan to the burn unit!
I think we should give Colangelo this summer to correct is mistakes. I know I said the exact same thing last summer but let’s play the three strike rule. The summer he signed Kapono = FAIL. The JO trade = DOUBLE FAIL. If he screws up again and plays the 2010 trade deadline the wrong way, then MLSE should look in another direction. They’re probably paying him a ton of money too and right now aren’t getting the bang for the buck product-wise.
I gotta say one thing though and this scares the shit out of me. I saw a link on the web articles thingy on the front page which talked about him shopping Joey Graham. That is not cool, we need more of Graham and less of Kapono. BC’s got to make that switch of philosophy in his head or at least have a scout or assistatnt tell him how fucked up that is.
I don’t fault Colangelo for picking up O’Neal (except for including a decently high pick). After watching the Raps get destroyed on the boards game after game, I too thought that having a good defender/rebounder like JO would be a good addition. Plus, I thought his injuries might be better (and I’m not sure those were his issue this year). I didn’t expect him to dominate or anything, but I thought that if he can average 15 and 8 and be tough, well, than the roster wouldn’t be too bad. I didn’t think Moon would regress like this, combined with Calderon’s injury, Bosh’s unclutchness, and Bargnani’s and AP’s terrible start…it turns out the team sucks. I know BC should be smarter than an average fan, but still, I didn’t disagree with the trade.
So, I’ll give him another summer. I’ve liked what he did the last few years (getting Delfino, Garbo, Ford, and JO) and yes, the team and roster took a big step back this year, I say he still has another chance before I’ll turn on him and join the wolves that haunt this site!
I think Garbo was really the man who made everyone on this cruddy team better. ‘Nuff said.
I guess on another point, both coaches that BC has stuck with are not very good. Smitch shouldn’t have been resigned and Triano has simply not been very good so far. BC should make it a priority to get a decent coach this summer.
Are you suggesting this Ratpor team is neither athletic nor basketball-wise …???!!!!
Katyusha,
It’s okay that we disgree about several of those moves being good or not. Contrary to what others might think, I am someone who tends to view personnel moves in a more long term way, e.g. Delfino isn’t here 1 full season later AND neither are those two 2nd Round draft picks; while holding the rights to someone has little practical value until that person actually returns to play in the NBA [if that ever happens].
Personally, I would have been quite happy to see the Raptors take the following path since the 2003-2004 season:
Year Record Finish
2011-12 57 – 25 .695 … Make Playoffs but lose in the EC Final
2010-11 52 – 30 .634 … Make Playoffs but lose in the 2nd Round
2009-10 47 – 35 .573 … Make Playoffs but lose in the 1st Round
2008-09 42 – 42 .500 … Make Playoffs but lose in the 1st Round</b? and have drafted Roy Hibbert, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Joey Dorsey, George Hill or CDR
2007-08 37 – 45 .451 … Miss Playoffs but have drafted Ramon Sessions, Marc Gasol, Dominic McGuire, Kyrylo Fesenko, Glen Davis, Gabe Pruitt, Carl Landry, Arron Afflalo or Rudy Fernandez
2006-07 32 – 50 .390 … Miss Playoffs but have drafted Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy
[post-Colangelo]
=======================================
[pre-Colangelo]
2005-06 27 – 55 .329 … Miss Playoffs but have fired Sam Mitchell and held onto Charlie V, Joey G & Jose C
2004-05 33 – 49 .402 … Miss Playoffs but have held onto Wince Carter
2003-04 33 – 49 .402 … Miss Playoffs but have drafted Chris Bosh
2002-03 24 – 58 .293 … Miss Playoffs
2001-02 42 – 40 .512 … Make Playoffs but lose in the 1st Round
2000-01 47 – 35 .573 … Make Playoffs but lose in the 2nd Round
——————————–
re: Oh… Khandor. I do have one question. You post on this site all the time, you also have your own blog. How do you have the time to earn cash hard? – by Katyusha
——————————–
“If you do this there’s no going back.” : )
So… you gamble on sports professionally?
“all he does is work out and pick winners”
my favorite trailor quote of all time.
—————————–
someone rush Khan to the burn unit! – by Duncan
—————————–
Might that be because I’ve been on fire lately? : )
That one was good.
Some might say that you are just flaming
Sorry Khandor,
Don’t take that one personally,
That used to be one of my go-to insults way back in
high school and I thought I’d bust it out for my own personal amusement.
No hard feelings.
not exactly, Khan. I was really making fun of katyusha’s weak shot at you….
Katyusha – I can’t see how you can defend BC after what has transpired this season and last. Question or laud his previous signings all you want but the bottom line is: IS THIS TEAM IMPROVING AND ON A CLEAR TRAJECTORY TO CONSISTENTLY BE AN ANNUAL PLAYOFF THREAT – and the answer is clearly NO.
Based on that fact, and that fact alone, renders BC a failure so far as a GM in this town. When evaluating him you need to focus on the whole canvas and not just a few strokes of the brush.
Again, the bottom line is results, and they just aren’t there… period.
Can he turn it around? Hopefully he can. I’m sick of watching all this non-TSN2-aired losing. I wouldn’t say he deserves to be fired but he doesn’t deserve a pat on the back either – and I’m sure he’d agree with me on that one, too.
Birdman,
In Colangelo’s interview this week with the FAN590’s Morning Show he actually said that he still believes in the quality of THIS team.
i.e. The one that has been unable to play through the injuries, thus far, to Jose Calderon, Jermaine O’Neal, Kris Humphries and, most recently, Chris Bosh, which is 11-25 since Sam Mitchell was fired, 14th in the EC, and is now 15 games under .500 [19-34].
Could you believe your ears when you heard it?
Believe my ears? Yup. Colangelo has an image to maintain, especially publicly. It’s the garbage that all professional athletes and management spew every day. There is no way he’s going to say, on public radio no less, “you know what, this year is a wash. This team stinks.”
Ironically, that’s the title of this post, isn’t it… but that’s what you get from people who don’t have MLSEs corporate hand up their asses controlling their mouths; that is, unless you have something to share, Dinosty?
Keep in mind, though, that this is a systemic issue with all mainstream media, not just MLSE.
uh, aren’t you the one who’s continually proclaiming that THIS team, as currently constructed, does have sufficient talent to contend in the east, if only they’d go with a different lineup?
that’s what i love about you khan…you rip BC (and hey, i’ve got no objections) for putting together a shyte team…and in the next breath, you insinuate that said team could contend if they’d simply re-jig the lineup.
re: He wanted Salmons, but got Fred Jones who turned into Juan Dixon. Jones sucked, but if Salmons had not been crazy he’d be filling a lot of holes on the wing right now. Plus, Dixon wasn’t terrible while he was here. This team won a lot of games with him and JC at the point at times last year.
Garbo was a great signing.
Who doesn’t want Rasho back?
How much does AP make? He’s been amazing value.
Delfino overachieved.
Hating aside, TJ was one of the most effective PGs in the NBA while with the Raps. Could Colangelo know he was gonna go nuts.
Moon, came from nowhere, and he basically plays for free.
But the biggest thing is, the team is under the cap. Give him the budget of the Nuggs. Who could he add with that kind of dough? Plus… this team can reload thanks to expiring deals. Some teams are failing and cannot.
And all this hysteria to resign Bosh and get results that will keep Bosh happy? Who cares if he walks. There are lots of great players in the league. Most of them are freeagents along with Bosh. If we resign him, won’t he just be more expensive with the same results.
Blah blah blah… I know. – by Katyusha
——————————————
re: Salmons
This whole signing was crazy. I can’t remember a time a player took the SAME contract with another team after signing with one team because of God. But it at least shows that BC had the right idea and it gave of RARE insight of what a gm was trying to do.
re: Dixon
Fred Jones was doing nothing, this trade helped us a couple of games (BC has a history of positive small trades like this)
re: Garbo
Garbajosa was a good signing. How they handle the injury/playing overseas messed up everything. Although Im don’t think Garbo has been playing at the same level (post injury).
re: Rasho
Nesterovic was a great trade.
re: AP
Parker was a good signing. AP = +1
re: Delfino
Cost was two 2nd future Round Draft Picks. Was and still is great value. Even for 1 year delfino probably gave us more than 2 2nd rounders (Based on BC’s past drafting)
re: Ford
Ford was a good pick up @ the time. But BC should of trade Ford/Calderon while both of there values were high. Instead he waited to long and had to sell low (His worse trade with the raptors by far)
re: Moon
Good signing, should be playing less.
re: Kapono
Seemed like he signed him for the New Jersey Series. Unfortunately he couldn’t go back.
re: the Salary Cap
Most teams are over the cap. Bosh/Calderon/Bargnani/Parker/Hump/Moon/Graham are all good value. We just have one bad contract (Kapono) and one HORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIBLE contract, but if he can trade JO for an expiring, suddenly our future looks good. If he can’t trade JO, then in the summer we have a large expiring, that might come in handy with so many owners losing money.
================================
IMO,
Colangelo has made two bad decisions, Kapono and O’neal. But the O’neal trade was especially crippling because he gave 3 assets (mid round pick, young player, and expiring) for an unproven player (JO post injury). But overall, I trust his decision making I just think BC needs to develop an identity for this organization ASAP. With Bosh and Bargs frontcourt, we can be an offensive team we just need a wing that can create and a bunch of shooters.
We were 100 shats for the preseason. We were the Euraptors but that left with Garbo/Rasho. We were Pick and Roll till Smitch left.
Now? We an average shooting team that takes way too many jump shots.
We’re* an average shooting team that takes way too many jump shots.
i like earl clark, i know he had 12-8 today, but he’s a small forward that can get rebounds, which we need if andrea is our starting center for the future.
We need picks. Period. You want to get bang-for-the-buck talent with minimal strings attached? draft them. Trade/rent expiring players (Parker, Graham, Moon for picks or rookie contracts. Don’t expect a home run out of free agency this summer either because free agents are notorious for ruining the future. In fact I would be more than happy if BC never signs more than low-level free agents in all his years here and instead uses cap-space to acquire players. Its all about supply and demand. Think about it this way:
Free agency = several teams bidding for one players services (advantage: Player)
Salary Cap Dump = several teams willing to trade skilled players for pocket change in order to stay under cap and/or resign their franchise guys after rookie contracts. (advantage: Team)
Stop with the Tj Ford Hate,
for once a player wanted to WIN, without pulling off an allen iverson greedyness (Philly years)
without selling out like Vc Did (or was it similar as to what bosh is doing, and we’re just RUSTY Toronto fans who love to Hate, clearly the management is the issue// ps; before u guys get all up on me, i too agree Vc admitting to not trying was’nt cool but i still got love for him, atleast he got to see more playoffs in his career that way).
without refusing to play in Canada like Alonzo..(no comment)
All i wanna say is, Tj and Bosh did’nt speak since the loss to magic? who ever said that needs to check himself. That what we’re told lol. . . remember your the same one question bosh about not leaving toronto. So we dont know for sure, and the media here is whack !!
TJ FORD WAS OUR POINT GAURD !!!! plain and simple, and ppl need to stop hating on BC for bringin Tj in..
ahem ahem, BC isnt GoD.. he didn’t know he wud get a P*ssy flagarant foul by hardford when the game was almost done.
TRADING TJ was the DOWNFALL OF THIS FRANCHISE
MARK MY WORDS. . .
CURSE OF THE Tj
It is the end of the season. Your 1-2 punch at point guard can no longer co-exist. Jose Calderon has proven he can start games, and his contract expires at the end of the season. Other teams cannot wait until free agency to see if they can snag him away. TJ Ford is plagued by back ’stingers’ all season. He plays well, but not noticeably better than Calderon. TJ also, it is said, might be causing chemistry issues in the locker room.
You are Bryan Colangelo. What do you do? Maybe you wouldn’t trade for JO, but it was either trade TJ, or let Jose walk for nothing. At least you try to get something in return for losing a player off the roster.
uh, couldn’t do a sign/trade w/ jose?
if Bryan Colangelo fires himself, who do you think will replace him? NAh
GIVE IT UP !!! Toronto Raptors suck ass!!!
If I dont hear a block buster amazing trade (like getting rid of this whole team) I am done with this season and I think the Raptors for good.
Hockey is our sport and MMA.. Sports that can take a punch..
Pussy Boy Toronto fans are a disgrace and so are the players..
They said it best .. If they dont care why do you…
I dont anymore RIP Toronto Raptors..
Unless Nash comes and plays for his country this team has no pride … So thanks Vince Carter for making Toronto Raptors known but when you left this franchise died ..
LOL we are going to sell this franchise to states that dont have a nba team
Like Las Vegas Raptors lol!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
The Las Vegas Raptors LOL!!!!!!
I live in Berlin, so this party is probably over. But I just wanna say one last thing.
Khandor it’s true that deals should be long as well as short term winners. I think think we’ve all lost sight of the fact that BC pulled a rabbit out of his hat to get is that Atlantic Div.
Thanks to the Garbo and TJ injury (two starters) the magic pretty much ran out.
This team does suck. But we have flexibility. I think BC can get the ship right.
Either way… great discussion ya’ll. Not many hoops fans in Germany to bicker with.
yertu,
———————————
uh, aren’t you the one who’s continually proclaiming that THIS team, as currently constructed, does have sufficient talent to contend in the east, if only they’d go with a different lineup?
that’s what i love about you khan…you rip BC (and hey, i’ve got no objections) for putting together a shyte team…and in the next breath, you insinuate that said team could contend if they’d simply re-jig the lineup. – by yertu
———————————
… and, THAT is one of YOUR major problems, my friend.
YOU do not seem to be capable of understanding how both of THOSE observations can indeed be accurate, simultaneously … which might well indicate a deficiency of some sort on YOUR part but not mine.
Is understanding the distinction[s] between these different options [for example] really THAT diffciult for someone like YOU?
Option 1 [How the Raptors opened the season, 8-9]
STARTERS: Calderon + Parker + Moon + Bosh + O’Neal
KEY BENCH SUBS: Solomon or Ukic, Kapono & Bargnani
OTHERS: Ukic or Solomon, Adams, Graham, Humphries & Jawai
COACH: Mitchell
Option 2 [How the Raptors have played since firing Mitchell, 11-25]
STARTERS: Calderon + Parker + Graham + Bosh + Bargnani
KEY BENCH SUBS: Solomon or Ukic, Kapono, Moon & O’Neal
OTHERS: Ukic or Solomon, Humphries, Voskuhl & Jawai
COACH: Triano
Option 3 [One way the Raptors could have played successfully since Oct]
STARTERS: Calderon + Moon + Graham + Humphries + Bosh
KEY BENCH SUBS: Parker, Kapono & Bargnani
OTHERS: Ukic, Solomon, Jawai, Voskuhl, O’Neal
COACH: Mitchell
Option 4 [One way the Raptors could have played successfully since Jul]
STARTERS: Calderon + Parker + Moon + Humphries + Bosh
KEY BENCH SUBS: Ivey, Delfino, Carney & Bargnani
OTHERS: Ukic, Kapono, Graham, Garbajosa, Nesterovic & the 2008 No. 17 Draft Pick [e.g. Roy Hibbert, Ryan Anderson, Courtney Lee, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, Darrell Arthur, DJ White, Walter Sharper, Joey Dorsey, Mario Chalmers, DeAndre Jordan, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, CDR, Sean Singletary, Trent Plaisted, Bill Walker, Darnell Jackson, Mike Taylor, Sasha Kuan, Joe Crawford & Deron Washington]
COACH: Sam Mitchell [or, perhaps, someone like Jeff Van Gundy, Paul Silas, Eddie Jordan, etc.]
Option 5 … [etc.]
——————————–
Any yet, some sensitive souls, in Raptorville, seem to take considerable offense when it is said that there is still a lack of basketball sophistication in a significant part of this team’s fanbase and the media [conventional & unconventional] that covers it on a regular basis?
Hmmmm …. : (
look, man, i’m just trying to understand where you’re coming from when you insinuate that BC has done a shitty job & made significant mistakes in compiling the current roster, and then also state that this roster would be substantially better if the lineup had been used in this this or that.
i don’t think you’re trying to be insulting, but you are. and once again, i ask a simple question, and you go off on a tangent, the whole point of which is to obfuscate. i get that you think the roster is flawed. and i get that you think that the (flawed) roster could have played ’successfully,’ if used in the proper manner. so, doesn’t this mean that the players have simply been ‘misused,’ one of your favourite reasons why player x or y hasn’t lived up to their billing? i’m willing to give you that, but then doesn’t that also mean that the pieces are, in fact, in place, and that maybe the teeth-gnashing over what an incompetent boob BC is is somewhat misplaced? or is he really a boob, the roster does suck, and no manner of mixing/matching of said talent would produce a ’successful’ season?
Katyusha,
——————————-
Khandor it’s true that deals should be long as well as short term winners. I think think we’ve all lost sight of the fact that BC pulled a rabbit out of his hat to get is that Atlantic Div.
——————————-
I am not to be counted among those who believe in someone else’s ability to “pull a rabbit out of his hat”, regardless who that person might be.
Nothing comes from nothing; nothing ever will.
Luck is the providence of design.
Deals made with the Devil, in the end, produce pain not gain.
Short term gain with long term pain is a zero-sum game, and not my cup of tea.
The proof of the pudding is [always] in the eating.
It’s where you go from here that counts the most not just where you’ve been.
——————————–
It’s a pleasure to have made your acquaintance, please do come again. : )
sorry …
please substitute “residue” for “providence” above. Wouldn’t want to run afoul of baadassssss, again. : )
That’s right. I am always watching.
Who’d you rather have Brook Lopez at rookie salary for the next 3-4 years or O’Kneel at 23 mil for the next 2??
Nobody can tell me that BC couldn’t muster up a deal for a solid young post player like him with all the assets he had this summer.
BC hasn’t brought in any good players in the 3 seasons he’s been here and he’s made this team impossible to watch.
How you BC apologists continue to defend him is beyond me. Why don’t you explain to me why his teams haven’t made it past the second round in 13 out of 15 years now??
——————————–
look, man, i’m just trying to understand where you’re coming from … – by yertu
——————————–
Which is fine, except when YOU too [: )] do it in an insulting way. Capeche?
——————————–
i don’t think you’re trying to be insulting, but you are. – by yertu
——————————–
If my intention is to not be insulting … which it is … then, that is what’s more important [relatively speaking] than the way in which you choose to perceive my words.
I will gladly acknowledge that written messages on-line are not easy to understand properly, especially when they are far from simple to begin with and they attempt to make subtle distinctions between things which most/many others see simply as being either Black or White [i.e. w/o any tints or shades of grey].
——————————–
Here’s something [a fact?] for you to consider:
* When I try to explain something specific to you, you get upset and complain about the level of specificity involved with that.
* When I speak in more general terms, you get upset and complain about the seemingly unexplained contradictions involved with making those types of statements/observations.
Maybe the difficulty WE HAVE in understanding one another properly is both of our problem, not just one or the other’s. : )
———————
IMO …
* Bryan Colangelo is not a boob … but neither is he something other than an average GM, in the NBA; at least, thus far, in his career as a full-fledged GM in this league.
* This roster, as constructed this summer, had major flaws in it.
* That said, for whose who really do approach life in a Kobayashi Maru sort of way, there is truly no situation which is ever totally unproductive and devoid of a path [or two, or three, etc.] to eventual success.
We will either find a way, or make one! – Hannibal [the non-cannibal : ) ]
Statement,
Not to worry. : )
Keep On Truck’n
Ahh what would the RR be without Khandor….(proceeds to have a wet dream)
—————————-
(proceeds to have a wet dream) – by Edgar
—————————-
: ) LOL : )
[please accept my apology, in advance, but ... the level of irony involved in that disagree of personal dis-satisfaction, I could just not resist]
Speaking of shutting ‘er down, if I am Bosh, I would take off as many games as possible between now and the end of the season. Same with Jose. It is time for Roko to get some serious burn and see if he can improve his game to an NBA level. Roko should start every game immediately after the all-star game.
Duncan,
No problem. : )