I am sure many are thinking I am sitting back, looking like a cheshire cat, reveling in the current state of affairs in Raptorland. Wrong. My spirits are actually somewhat buoyed and turning optimistic as I read comments around the web and even mainstream media relating to the upper management of this basketball club and how fans and writers are starting to feel a change is necessary. The candy coating is starting to wear off and a salty nut is all that is left.
In many ways, Bryan Colangelo is like Chris Bosh: he is better than most, but without a supporting cast of talent, he just isn’t going anywhere. Some poo-poo the notion that his father was the real mastermind in Phoenix, stating that he was just the owner and Bryan the brains. Believe what you will, but when USA Basketball wanted someone to run their squad, they turned to Jerry. Money wasn’t a factor there, but picking talent that worked together was. In that regard, Bryan has shown an uncanny ability to not follow in his father’s footsteps. Yes, losing begets animosity which begets finger pointing, which has started to happen according to recent reports. That is not a healthy environment and will, once again, make this city undesirable to many. Granted we do not have many pieces that teams will find desirable, but if the Bobcats can move Adam Morrison……
I will use this space to talk about what Maurizio Gherardini has brought to the franchise since we have been mired in this slump. Okay, done.
I have been a basketball fan my entire life. I grew up fighting for TV time so I could watch Dr Js Sixers and Larry Bird’s Celtics and Magic Johnson’s Lakers while my family wanted to watch football and hockey. I used to run to the store when the new SI was out just to read the NBA part, since it was difficult to get any NBA news other than quick snips and box scores. I bought my seasons tickets and went to every single game every single year, knowing that, sure we only won 20-30 games, but soon enough it will be alright. I wasn’t expecting that squad that took us to Game 7 against the Sixers to make up a perennial contender, but I did think it was a nice starting block. Even with the injuries to Vince and his trade, I felt enough pieces were present to move forward. Then we, admittedly, over achieved and won our first banner. Again, my expectations were held in check. I never once thought this team was built for a deep run in the playoffs that season. Games against injured teams and some lucky bounces are the seams of that banner, not a deeply talented, well built team.
Which brings us to now. The year we won the division, we would enter a game against a weaker/injured opponent and get the expected result: a victory. Today, with the best Raptors team Bryan has put together, we can barely stand to watch. There is no excitement in the fanbase, no joy in talking Raptors basketball at school or at the office, and I am sure that asking people to go to a game with your extra ticket is not unlike asking your best buddy to help you wax your privates.
As a supporter of this franchise, all I have ever wanted was to have a contending team. I know it is very difficult to build a championship worthy team, I really do. It shouldn’t be difficult, however, to build a team that starts out at .500 and inches its way up over the course of a few seasons. I think anybody can honestly say that we did not see what has happened coming when we were looking ahead 3 years ago. I would give Bryan a mulligan except that, when all the players are healthy (given that Jose is never 100% it seems), we still cannot compete with above average teams. To sit back and allow that to go on over the course of a professional NBA season is criminal, full stop.
At any given point in a season, I want to have the ability to go to a game or turn TSN2 on and think, “we can get this”. I want to say that as we face the Lakers, Celtics, LeBrons. I think I’ve earned that right. It’s time for Bryan to give it to me.
20 Raps
haha.
you want Bryan Colangelo to give it you.
Ever since the Micheal Bradley draft in 2001 and the Chris Jeffries draft in 2002, the problems had started. Deciding not to find actual young talent and just useless fillers for the bench was our downfall. Carter was sure a traitorous ass-cake, but failure to effectively draft people and wasting two sleeper years (ie Boozer a 2nd Rounder in 2002) of drafting killed us slowly and efficiently and probably make Carter more sure of leaving. Why the F!@$ pick up Michael Bradley? Because Grunwald needed some white ppl on the Raptors and he thought his team was talented enough to sustain his shittyness and also think there will not be injuries. Then Chris Jeffries….I don’t know hat he was thinking about, but it sure obviously wasn’t a good choice. Babcock made things worse (Minnesota Timberwolves style) with his drafting of Arujo, Graham and the Carter trade. I agree it was luck that got us the banner, and Byran Colangelo is still trying to fix this whole mess, but Kapono was his own problem for sure (THAT WAS VAREJAO MONEY DAMMIT!).
We’ll all have to witness what happens in the trade deadline.
I do hope he is trying to fix it. Holding out for the perfect deal might not be the answer right now, though. If there is tension in the locker room, it might be time for some fresh blood. Not sure the AllStar break will be the bandaid we need.
AltRaps,
1. My sincere sympathies go out to you.
2. re: I think anybody can honestly say that we did not see what has happened coming when we were looking ahead 3 years ago.
There was someone who could see where this franchise might be headed as far back as 3 years ago.
3. There are still some solid working pieces here … as long as the team’s President/GM is in fact one of the best in the business and not merely average.
There was no NEED for this season to turn out this way, if the situation had been handled differently … beginning with the acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal … and, there remains no good reason for the Raptors to be anything other than an Upper Echelon Team in the Eastern Conference, going forward from this point.
It depends on Bryan Colangelo, and his level of Basketball Acumen. Period.
Khandor, you (hopefully) know me well enough to know that I also was filled with great dread when BC came aboard. I predicted salary cap issues and a Euro influence and I was mocked and told I didn’t know the game of basketball very well. Hmm..
AltRaps,
Not to worry. I do know you well enough.
You were right … and THEY were wrong. Happens quite frequently, from what I can see. : )
Those who tend to mock the loudest, in Raptorville, usually end up being the most wrong with the passage of time.
I would love to have a few moments alone with Maurizio. Here is an intelligent basketball mind wasting away before our eyes. When he first got here, he blogged, he was in the media, he was doing meet & greets with fans. This year the only reason you know he is alive is because you see him standing in the tunnel.
He has to be disappointed beyond words with this franchise and its direction.
AltRaps,
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I would love to have a few moments alone with Maurizio. Here is an intelligent basketball mind wasting away before our eyes.
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Out of curiosity …
What would make you say that MG is an intelligent basketball mind?
[not saying that he isn't only asking what you've seen thus far to give you this specific feeling]
He does have a pretty nice track record in Euroball and gave the impression of having a good eye for talent. Maybe it is now painfully obvious that a Euro eye does not a good North American eye make. Maybe we should heed that warning when looking at a particular new head coach.
Great post, Sir.
It is what it is.. and that’s reality. The only thing that pains me on this website is the age difference amongst the readers. I’ve mentioned this before on Arse’s site, it sux how some of the people commenting are 16 years old on average (that makes them 8 in 2001 btw) and cannot see the same thing that the older crowd does. As far as they are concerned, thing are bright as day and we’ll be hoisting the chip banner next year. I blame it on them being raised on Chuck.
Anywho, what’s really scary is that I just don’t see what moves can be made to turn this around, or at least turn it around soon. I didn’t think BC could run this into the ground until the JO shenanigan.
I wish the man would just come out and state what his approach is towards digging the team out of this mess.
oooh how touching.. altraps and khandor lovefest.
delusional self-worth party at its best… not to shatter your egos but surprise: BC, raptors or the basketball world for that matter, just dont care what you 2 genius’ think. bu f..ing hu…
You say you’ve been fans of raptors since the start, well the team has been around almost 15 years..under what GM did it have its most succesful season? plus…even this bad, this one is not the worst so take it easy.
When Colangelo first came here I was thinking man he can really turn this team into a top 3 team in the east. After the 47 win fluke year I believed this team can turn the corner. I ignored all the signs and even believed that even though bosh (SG in a PF body) that he was the best upcoming 4 in the game. I was in denial through last years 41 win season that bosh and Colangelo would be the solution to all our problems and that we could win the roster we had. Then that pistons game happened near the end of the season (you know when abc replaced the cavs vs. heat game for the raps at the pistons). Where Bosh was getting abused and I mean abused by maxiel and amir johnson for the whole 2nd half. That was the first time I just to my self he isn’t the franchise player I thought he was. Even after the whole Olympics and bosh starting off super hot I still thought to myself man we cannot be an elite team with a six feet ten power forward who has no post moves and if you put a big 3 on him hes neutralized. Now with all the talks about “bosh wanting out” says to me this time we grow a pair make trade b4 he walks (Tmac) or we trade when it is too late and get nothing back (Carter). With Bosh gone we can start all over again not just the team but the fans to. We will stop booing former player (Carter and Tmac) we should stop overreacting over everything and most important STOP ACTING LIKE LEAF FANS.
Rant over.
“Games against injured teams and some lucky bounces are the seams of that banner, not a deeply talented, well built team.”
thats the money quote. any bc apologists need to think about that long and hard
I recall posting at the start of the regular season that a team with 5 new players of doubtful talent should not be expected to flourish in the NBA … and then when Mitchell told the media just days before the start of the season that “this may not be an athletic team but it is basketball-wise” … well that confirmed the worse.
This group of Raptor players are not a “team” in the true sense of the word. They are individually deficient and do not cover up each others faults. It’s painful watching them play .. not much more left to say.
Haha, there is seriously a lot of back-patting and self-congrats on this site. Are we supposed to analyze and rant about the Raps and the league or just discuss how prophetic we are? The greatest thing about Blogs is how delusional we are! We throw out possible trade and predictions about games and seasons, but we have no power or anything. And that’s alright. It’s fun to imagine what we would do if we had some control. But really all we can do is watch the games and scream in joy or frustration. And that’s professional sports for you.
And Flux, stop being an old timer. Just cause some fans/commenters are young, doesn’t mean they don’t see the whole picture. Maybe their observations are accurate and their optimisim is warranted. Your negativity surely doesn’t always represent the truth (although I’m not suggesting you are always wrong).
You are right, sort of unfair to for me to bunch everyone under one umbrella. The point I was trying it make is that, it at least seems, SOME of the younger crowd is not nearly as critical or realistic of the realities surrounding the team. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion… perhaps what is frustrating is the abuse some people have to take for having a difference of opinion. They back their opinion with analysis and bball related statements, while the people I am referring to throw around insults. See some of the comments on here.
As far as the back-patting…I gotta say it’s more of a “Hey, remember when you were calling me an idiot and negative pessimistic loser or know-nothing about basketball?”
I do agree with you about the trades thing, not my cup of tea. But can’t fault others for enjoying theirs.
This team gets turned around in a relatively short period of time, if …
1. They hold onto Bosh … until he says tells them he no longer wants to be a Raptor.
2. They make a productive trade for Kapono.
3. They make the RIGHT trade for O’Neal.
4. They use the assets they have now properly, re: Bosh, Calderon, Humphries, Moon, Graham, Parker, Bargnani, Ukic, Voskuhl and Delfino.
5. They actually have a President/GM who is capable of convincing the ownership that it is okay to exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold if/when that Pres/GM thinks the timing is right to do so [i.e. whenever that might be according to the Pres/GM].
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The major problem on the horizon is that …
* It is simple folly to think that Bryan Colangelo is a superior GM in comparison with:
Danny Ainge
Joe Dumars
Danny Ferry
Otis Smith/Dave Twardzik
Pat Riley
Rod Thorn/Kiki Vandeweghe
Ed Stefanski
Larry Bird
John Paxson
John Hammond
Donnie Walsh
Ernie Grunfeld
and that the other teams in the Eastern Conference WILL NOT also be doing everything in their own power to improve their teams at an “even or better” rate than the Raptors over the next several years.
Jord,
I agree with you that how an individual actually thinks is more connected with that person’s age of psycho-emotional maturity rather than his/her chronilogical age … and, although I could well be wrong about this perception, my guess would be that Flux believes THAT, too.
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oooh how touching.. altraps and khandor lovefest.
delusional self-worth party at its best… not to shatter your egos but surprise: BC, raptors or the basketball world for that matter, just dont care what you 2 genius’ think. bu f..ing hu… – by MoneyCarlo
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Not to be a stickler but … Do you happen to be BC, the Raptors or the basketball world in disguise?
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You say you’ve been fans of raptors since the start, well the team has been around almost 15 years..under what GM did it have its most succesful season? plus…even this bad, this one is not the worst so take it easy. – by MoneyCarlo
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Glen Grunwald, 2000-2001
Speaking of injured opponents, Minnesota loses Al Jefferson just in time for us to play them!