RaptorTalk

DeMar DeRozan Is A Gamble Worth Taking

RaptorTalk — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:29:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

DeMar DeRozan has landed at Air Canada Centre and Bryan Colangelo hopes he can fill the Raptor’s glaring weakness at shooting guard, next year and for many years to come.

The selection of DeRozan was a bit of a gamble which could pay huge dividends if he develops into the kind of player the Raptors feel he can become. Repeatedly, NBA analysts and insiders referred to DeMar has having one of the biggest upsides of any prospect in the '09 draft class.

DeRozan has the raw physical tools that made the Raptors’ brain trust drool as they watched him workout in a gym in Oakland last month. Our sources told us a month ago that Colangelo had honed in early on DeMar and nothing transpired leading up to the draft to make Bryan change his mind.

Chad Ford of ESPN had this to say about the ninth pick in the 2009 draft:

“The Raptors swung for the fences with this pick, getting a player with as much upside as anyone else in the draft. DeRozan is long and athletic and can run the floor. If he improves his jump shot and ball handling, he could be one of the best players to come out of this draft. Those are big ifs, but the Raptors made a worthy gamble.”

No doubt, the kid is raw and still unpolished in many respects. His long range jumper needs work, as do his ball handling skills. But his athleticism, a commitment to defence and a developing mid range game all point to someone who has the potential to become a solid NBA pro - if not a star.

DeMar finished last season strong

Even though he only played a year at USC, there are some important clues from his stint in college as to the type of player he can become in two or three years.

DeRozan showed marked improvement throughout his freshman year. In his final seven games, of which five were pressure tournament games, the newest Raptor averaged 19 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and shot 54% from the field. The kid got better as the season progressed and he performed his best under pressure.

And instead of sitting around at the end of the season waiting for the draft and a guaranteed million dollar NBA contract, he headed up to Oakland to work out and become a better player.

In fact, had DeMar stayed in college for another season and continued to improve it is not beyond the realm of possibility that he could have been a top five selection in the stronger draft class of 2010.

Most importantly, DeMar seems to have the mental make-up to succeed. Jay Triano pointed out that he is very coachable. His early media interviews show a composed and confident young man who is ready to take on a new challenge. The next step in his growth as a player is for DD and the Raptors staff to work hard and begin to improve upon his weaknesses this off-season, starting in Vegas summer league.

And while his 39” inch vertical and Carter-esque mannerisms makes comparisons to Vince Carter inevitable – the comparisons end there. In our estimation, a realistic future view of DeMar DeRozan may be a hybrid between Andre Igoudala and Richard Jefferson and not Carter-like at all.

If that’s how the DeRozan story plays out, then Bryan Colangelo will look back and feel he did very well with the 9th selection in the 2009 draft.

Evans For Kapono: The First Domino Falls In A Busy Raptors Off-Season

RaptorTalk — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:32:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk:

The first domino fell in Raptorland in what promises to be a very busy off-season for Bryan Colangelo. Here’s what we learned.

Very Busy Summer: Those were Bryan’s words. Clearly he is not standing pat. He mentioned the draft, trades and free agency as options to upgrade the Raptors. Look, what we have now isn’t working so I’m in favor of some bold moves and Bryan is prepared to take drastic action if required.

Reggie Evans: A nice acquisition who brings grit, toughness and rebounding. Colangelo says he’ll be the first big off the bench and he expects 15 to 20 minutes each night from Evans. The deal saves the Raptors over $1 million per season.

Jason Kapono: While we liked the Kapono signing, he never fit into the Raptors playbook. He clearly disappointed even though he was one of our favorite Raptors. I'll miss his quick shot release, but I won't miss his annoying 'dribble off the foot' turnovers. In Philly he could shine as the trailer in their fast break offence. Plus he’ll fill the void left by Kyle Korver’s departure.

Pops Mensah Bonsu: Pops is as good as gone. When Bryan discussed the frontcourt he mentioned everyone except Pops. Seems like the rumour that he’s signing a two year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv could be true.

Chris Bosh: Bryan’s making it clear that he’s not giving Bosh away for nothing. He feels that Chris is likely to re-up simply because the Raps can pay him almost $30 million more than anyone else. Having said that, the Raptors’ GM is making it clear that he’s willing to listen to solid, serious offers for Chris.

Carlos Delfino: The former Raptor will become an active Raptor again. Apparently his signing is a done deal. I liked Carlos’ game and I think he provides a quiet toughness off the bench that the Raps missed last season.

Rasho Nesterovic: Rasho would love to return to Toronto, where he resides year round and the Raps want him. Seems like this is another done deal. In fact, the savings on the Kapono deal provide the cap space needed to sign Rasho to a vet’s minimum deal.

Qunicy Douby: Word is he’s putting in 8 hour days in the gym in Vegas. Should prove to be an effective and cheap role player.

Shawn Marion: Bryan wants him back and seems to think that with few teams with cap space that Shawn might very well end up back in Toronto. Should he receive a surprisingly high offer from another club, Colangelo said he’d work a Sign & Trade and try to get some assets in return.

Marcus Banks: He doesn’t appear to factor into the equation. Bryan said, “I’m not sure what I get with Banks”. If there is any way to jettison Banks, you can bet Bryan will do it.

Iowa Hawkeyes: You can never have enough Iowa Hawkeyes, so the Reggie Evans deal is a win for us! The son/brother of the RaptorTalk team was born in the hospital on the University of Iowa campus. He just had a breakthrough year in the Oakville Steve Nash Youth and Halton Catholic school hoops leagues. Plus, in game one of the Philly/Sixers playoff series, Tommy “Hawkeye” from Oakvile was Chuck Swirsky’s first three ball radio shout out. Go Hawkeyes!

Fasten your seat belts: The NBA Draft happens in two weeks and Free Agency is a mere three weeks away. This time next month, we will have a pretty good idea as to who’s in and who’s out in Raptorland.

Bosh's Star Will Always Shine Brightest In Toronto

RaptorTalk — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:38:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

Because he would be leaving $30 million on the table, I don’t really expect Chris Bosh to walk away from the Toronto Raptors as a free agent in 2010.

Admittedly, there is a slim possibility Bosh could leave if the Raptors collapse (again) and struggle through a miserable 20 win season. Even then, my bet in that scenario is that Bryan Colangelo would move Bosh at the trade deadline and not let him walk with nothing in return.

There have been some rumblings that Chris Bosh feels like he would enjoy a higher profile in another market. Our sources reported to us months ago that Bosh has told those around him that being in Toronto has been somewhat detrimental insofar that he feels the lights of many other NBA stars shine brighter than his.

In today’s Toronto Sun, columnist Steve Simmons addressed that exact issue when he wrote:

“ What Chris Bosh doesn't seem to understand: He won't be a celebrity anywhere else he goes in the NBA. Especially if he goes to a team with LeBron James or Dwayne Wade. He'll just be the other guy.

There won't be companies wanting him to do DVDs or CDs or whatever the latest technology is. Here, he matters. Somewhere else, not so much.”

I couldn't agree more.

Brian James was 100% correct

Almost ten years ago, I was riding in a limo with then Raptors assistant coach, Brian James (one of the NBA’s real good guys). He told me that in his NBA career he had never come across a fan base like the one the Raptors enjoy. “What do you mean?”, I asked.

Brian responded by saying that he knew of no other fans who fall in love with their players like Raptors fans do. He went on to say that Chicago fans revered Michael Jordan in a manner which was beyond comparison – but James felt that the love that (then Toronto Raptors) Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady received surpassed by light years anything he had seen in the NBA except for Air Jordan.

Brian went on to say, “if Vince or T-Mac were to ever leave Toronto, they would never be as popular or enjoy the complete fan adoration that they receive in Toronto.” Reflecting back on that statement, Brian was spot on!

And that brings us to Steve Simmons’ point. Should Bosh leave the Raptors, he will discover that wherever he lands, he will not enjoy the celebrity status he gets north of the border.

We've watched this story play out before

Maybe that’s why when Vince, T-Mac and Damon Stoudamire announced a desire to leave the Big Smoke they were immediately branded as public enemy #1, #1A and #1AA. Toronto fans are like jilted lovers who turn very quickly after they've been spurned.

Vince, Tracy and Damon were absolutely and completely worshipped by the Raptor faithful when they were here. Yet when they left, the fans in their new cities did not shower them with the adoration they received in Canada. Not even close.

Are you paying attention Chris?

Bosh Decision Time For Colangelo Is Looming

RaptorTalk — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:44:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

The Raptors are getting close to having to make some very important decisions regarding the path they follow with Chris Bosh.

Within the next three weeks, Bryan Colangelo needs to decide if he trades Bosh for the best package available or if he chooses to hold on to Bosh and offer him a max deal in 2010. Of course, we all know that Bosh will not stay in Toronto for anything other than max money – 6 years/ $130 million.

While my personal preference would be to flip Bosh for a package of younger players and/or draft picks – let’s assume Bryan is leaning towards keep Bosh long term.



Is MLSE willing to be a big luxury tax payor?

Here is the key issue he needs to consider and he most certainly must make the MLSE Board aware of.

Whether signing Bosh to a max deal is either good for the franchise or detrimental to the franchise is predicated specifically on what MLSE's plans are regarding the luxury tax.

If the Raptors are willing to become a luxury tax team in the next year or two, then signing Bosh to a max deal may be considered a good decision.

If the Raptors are not willing to become a luxury tax team in the next year or two, then signing Bosh to a max deal is a very bad decision.

Rewarding Chris Bosh with a deal without the organization being willing to become a tax team is very risky. Unless the Raps hit lightning in a bottle with their draft picks and off season moves, it is unlikely they will ever assemble enough good parts around Bosh to win.

Despite glimpses of greatness, Chris Bosh is simply not as good as the small handful of superstar players who are in fact deserving of max deals like Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Dwight, Chris Paul and D. Wade. CB4 is just not as talented or as dominant, nor will he ever be. And in what is becoming a guard dominant league, his impact is less significant than it might have been earlier.

The real financial straight jacket will be felt by the Raptors in the latter half of his max deal, when Chris is earning well in excess of $20 million per year. Colangelo needs understand that over the longer term Bosh's bad knees may limit his effectiveness. This could be eerily similar to Jermaine O'Neal - who provides a good comparison as to what a Bosh deal may look like down the road should his knees get worse and his on-court effectiveness drops.

It's a risky move

Don't get me wrong, Bosh is a very, very good player. But signing him to a max deal without stepping into luxury tax territority in order to put a strong supporting cast around him is a very risky manoeuver.

History has proven that over the long term it is not smart decision to pay max money to a second tier elite player – which is where Chris is. The list of max money players this year included names like Steve Francis, Stephan Marbury and Jermaine O'Neal. In their day they were good, but not good enough. In hindsight, all look like very bad deals.

With a new CBA on the horizon, a cap that will likely drop and the lessons learned from max deals being paid to second tier players like Alan Houston and Jalen Rose – Bryan needs to know that if he locks up Bosh for big dollars, MLSE has no choice but to become a significant luxury tax payor if they ever hope to go deep in the playoffs.

In today's salary cap world only a top ten player is worth max money and even then I think that may be too many. When you look at it realistically, Bosh is not a top ten player - even though awhile back I felt he may have been. Arguably Bosh is behind Lebron, Kobe, Wade, Dwight, Duncan, Chris Paul, Pierce, Garnett, Dirk, Parker, Carmelo and Yao.

That's twelve players right there who are likely better than Bosh and of that list, I would only pay max money to five of them. And this is not just a Bosh issue. I wouldn't pay max money to Carmelo Anthony either - another solid second tier elite player.

No doubt, the next thirty days will be very intriguing for all Raptors fans. And it all revolves around the decisions Bryan Colangelo makes about CB4.

The NBA on NBC Theme Song and $20,000 in Prizes

RaptorTalk — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:09:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

Got an email from Michael at Tesh Media asking us to do him a favor. Because it is dead slow in Raptorland we are happy to oblige his request.

John Tesh, a former sportscaster, an early host of Entertainment Tonight and a musician/radio host is running a video contest with $20,000 in prizes. The reason we are promoting this is because John is the composer of one of our favorite pieces of sports music - Roundball Rock ....aka 'The NBA on NBC Theme Song'.

Every time we hear it we're reminded of that great Raptors/Philly playoff series. This music is the basktball equivalent of the Hockey Night in Canda theme and Monday Night Football's theme song. Anyway, watch this cheesy video and maybe you'll want to enter.

Tesh Media also sent us this live concert version of Roundball Rock which makes every hardcore hoops fan want to get ready for the NBA Finals! Interesting story about the initial inspiration for the song.

President Obama Shoots Hoops With The UConn Lady Huskies at The White House

RaptorTalk — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:01:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

As is tradition, President Obama welcomed the UConn Lady Huskies to the White House on April 27th. The Lady Huskies are the new reigning NCAA Womens basketball champions.

What is not tradition is to then be invited by the President to shoot hoops at the White House. That's a thrill that few hoops fans and players will ever experience.

Based on the video, it certainly appears that Barack Obama still has game.

Here's the hoops video, followed by the Official Welcoming Ceremonies.

Why The Raptors Might Not Want To Pay Chris Bosh Max Money in 2010

RaptorTalk — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:51:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

The talk after media day focused on Chris Bosh’s statement that he would "not demand a trade".

While that sounded good, we know from someone who was personally at the media scrum that those comments were literally squeezed out of a sweating Chris Bosh by Michael Grange and Bruce Arthur’s persistent prodding and questioning.

What is apparent is that right now Bosh’s future rests in the hands of Bryan Colangelo. Chris’ trade value is at its highest this summer and Bryan knows it. A year from now, Bosh holds most of the cards because he will be an unrestricted free agent.

As we’ve said before, we still don’t expect Bosh to walk. He stands to lose $30 million if he pulls a T-Mac and in these tough economic times that is sheer lunacy. Money talks.

If the Raptors do in fact sign Bosh to a max deal, then they have no choice but to become a luxury tax team if they ever hope of taking a serious run because CB4 can’t carry a team on his back like Lebron or Kobe.

Is Bosh a top ten NBA talent?

Is Bosh a top ten NBA player? Yes.

Is Bosh an elite NBA player worthy of a max deal? No.

That doesn’t mean Bosh won’t get max money, but in our opinion – there are only a half dozen players who really deserve max money and Bosh isn’t one of them.

Bosh is nowhere near the level of Lebron or Kobe and a few other real superstars. You can't win with Bosh unless you surround him some more high priced help. Surrounding Bosh with low ticket players means the Raps are mired in mediocrity which means the Raptors must be prepared to becoming a luxury tax team.

TSN's resident hoops blogger Tim Chisholm made an interesting post regarding Bosh that is in line with our point of view:

" Bosh is going to need a lot of help if he is going to win meaningful games in the NBA.

That is a point not to be understated.

If this team keeps Bosh, they actually NEED Bargnani scoring nearly 20 ppg and Marion and Calderon averaging 15 and 10. Bosh needs help at that level if he hopes to beat a lot of the teams in the NBA, because as talented as he is, he isn't at the level of his contemporaries that can simply win games by themselves.

He isn't Dwyane Wade, who can lead a weak Miami team from the basement of the NBA to the upper-reaches of his Conference. "

The point is that Chris Bosh (while very, very good) is not on the same level as Lebron or Kobe or Garnett or Howard or Dwayne or Duncan or maybe Chris Paul. Bosh needs a much stronger supporting cast to bring a winner to Toronto than do any of those other guys.

Flip any of those top six or seven superstars with Bosh and the Raptors probably make the playoffs this season. That’s the difference between the NBA’s upper eschleon elite and Chris Bosh. If those players are A+, then Bosh is an A.

No player wins on his own. Not Lebron, not Kobe and not Shaq in his prime. Even Michael "Batman" Jordan needed Scottie "Robin" Pippen. The difference with Bosh is that he doesn't need a Robin - CB4 needs another Batman at his side.

Which is why we don't believe Bosh deserves max money. A GM needs an extra (say) $5 million per year for another piece to play next to Bosh that you wouldn't need if you had Lebron, Kobe, Dwayne, etc.

Raptors win if Bosh's contract maxes out at $22 million

Bosh is deserving of a high paying contract that plateaus around $21 or $22 million at the high end and not at the almost $27 million that he would receive in a max money deal.

The dilemma facing Bryan Colangelo is whether Chris Bosh would willingly accept a little less than max money so that the Raptors can have more financial flexibility down the road to build a championship squad (following the Detroit Pistons model). The answer is likely ‘no’.

Because of that, Bryan will seriously entertain offers for Chris Bosh between now and Draft Day. If the right offer presents itself, Bryan will pull the trigger and Chris will no longer be a Toronto Raptor.

If nothing materializes, expect Bosh to re-sign a max money deal in Toronto during the following summer.

At that point, MLSE better be prepared to be a luxury tax payer if there is to be any hope of bringing enough decent pieces to make a run at a championship ring when you will have so much of your available cap being paid to one single player - who is not named Kobe or Lebron.

Jay Triano Certain To Return As Raptors Head Coach With Marc Iavaroni A Lock To Join The Coaching Staff

RaptorTalk — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:02:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

The post season speculation and rumors around Raptorland began to heat up the day after Toronto’s season ended.

It started on the FAN590 with Doug Smith, Jack Armstrong and Doug Maclean and it continued on RaptorsTV Hoops later in the day.

Doug Smith of the Toronto Star said that its 95/5 likely that Jay Triano is appointed the full-time head coach by the first week of May. Jay will get 2 years and a third year team option starting at around $2 million to $2.25 million with incentives.

Apparently Jay and Bryan get along very well (which Sam and Bryan did not) and Bryan is most definitely willing to take the ‘interim’ tag off Jay.

Marc Iavaroni will be joining the Raptors

Doug Maclean said he heard from sources that former Memphis Grizzlies head coach, Marc Iavaroni is a lock to be the lead assistant and that he's already got a condo lined up here in Toronto. Doug Smith agreed and it seems that this is public knowledge among those close to the team. There was more to Iavaroni's consulting assignment than we were led to believe.

Word is that the Triano/Iavaroni deal has been done for as long as 3-1/2 weeks.

Speculation is that Gord Herbert will be back, but the rest of the staff including Alex English and Mike Evans will probably move elsewhere next season. The coaching staff this year as a unit was too passive and Iavaroni will bring some intensity along with a strong defensive skillset.

Of course, if Triano stumbles we can immediately cue the rumors that Iavaroni is ready to assume the head coaching position!

On another front, Doug Smith said he's spoken to Bryan Colangelo and it seems that Chris Bosh will almost certainly be back next season and that Bosh seems more optimistic about the Raptors future than he has in a while.

With that said, the vibe we get from Jack Armstrong and Eric Smith is that Bryan needs to seriously consider any and all offers regarding Chris Bosh. The team simply can’t afford to let him walk in 2010 and get nothing in return. Doug Smith's response to that is the Raps then end up with a ton of cap room to spend on 2010 free agents to which Paul Jones responded, 'so did Chicago a few years ago and no one wanted to take the Bulls money." Touche!

More Raptor rumors

Other Raptorland speculation according to Doug Smith included:

- Anthony Parker will almost certainly be back next year in a new position on the bench as a back-up 2/1.

- Joey Graham will almost certainly NOT be back next year

- Whether Shawn Marion returns depends on money. The Raps want him back, but only at the right price. However, Toronto can offer Marion the highest annual increases. Thinking is that Marion could be had for $6 million to $7 million per year.

Jack and Doug spoke about Chris' comment after the game that the Raptors were a potential top 4 seed in the East if they had this squad together and healthy since October. Both Jack and Smith felt that was not realistic, but they agreed that with a couple of the right additions (like at the SG spot and better depth) the Raptors could finish ahead of Chicago, Detroit and Philly.

On the other hand, Jack Armstrong was spot on when he said “don’t be fooled by a 9-4 record down the stretch”.

No doubt, changes need to be made sooner than later to this roster which simply did not get the job done.

Top Ten Positives From A Toronto Raptors Season Full Of Negatives

RaptorTalk — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:01:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

Yes, no doubt it was a very disappointing season for Raptor Fans - maybe the most disappointing ever based on the high expectations from last fall. No one can argue with that.

However, there were some positive signs that emerged from an otherwise dismal season which ended less than two hours ago.

In no particular order, here are our Top Ten Raptor Positives from the 2008-2009 season:

#1. It’s over!!!
That’s it. This awful season is officially behind us.

#2. Jose Calderon
Jose shattered the single season NBA free throw record by shooting a remarkable 98% from the charity stripe

#3. Andrea Bargnani
Il Mago proved all the naysayers wrong by consistently being a 20 pts/ 6 boards guy since mid-December and the calls of Bustnani are no more!

#4. Three Pointers
The Raptors kept their NBA three ball shooting streak alive for another season. Some games – that was all there was for Raptor fans to cheer about

#5. Chris Bosh
CB4 finished the season averaging 22.7 pts and 10.0 boards after a remarkable 19 rebound game versus the Bulls

#6. Draft Pick
By virtue of a horrible 33-49 record, the Raptors secure a top ten pick in what may prove to be a half decent draft

#7. Late Acquisitions
Bryan Colangelo made three solid, low ticket, late acquisitions in Pops Mensa-Bonsu, Patrick O’Bryant and Quincy Douby who could all be back next year

#8. Shawn Marion
If the Matrix returns, he could provide the ‘glue’ the Raptors have been missing since the days of Jorge Garbajosa. Solid end of season run for Marion showed he has lots left in the tank.

#9. Strong Finish
The Raptors closed the season by winning 3 straight and enjoyed a season ending stretch of 9 wins and 4 losses.

#10. Jermaine O’Neal
When it was apparent that the JO experiment wasn’t working, Colangelo moved him and got Shawn Marion and valuable cap space in return that can accelerate the rebuilding process.

Certainly, the negatives outweighed the positives. Having said that, there are many reasons for optimism as Raptor fans look forward to a very exciting off-season and hope for a major turnaround in 2009-2010!

Chris Bosh Nails The Third Crazy Raptor Three Ball For Another Wild Finish In Washington

RaptorTalk — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:29:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

The Verzion Center in Washington, DC has been the home of three of the craziest three balls in Toronto Raptors history.

The first was Mo Pete's famous last second Hail Mary after Michael Ruffin's bonehead turnover. Then there was Anthony Parker's game tying three ball at the buzzer.

Last night was no different. Ex-Raptor Juan Dixon unexplainedly coughed up the ball and gave the Raptors new life. Chris Bosh, who had missed his last eleven three ball attempts came through with the dagger this time. No doubt CB4 was huge in the clutch.

Three Memorable Three Ball Videos From DC

Here is video of the final 30 seconds of an amazing comeback by the Toronto Raptors which was especially sweet because on Friday the Raps lost a heartbreaker to this same Wizards team on Caron Butler's buzzer beater.

Now, here is Chuck Swirsky's call of Mo Pete's game tying shot from a couple of seasons ago that sent the game to overtime and an eventual Raptors victory.

And finally, here is the Washington Wizards' announcer's now famous call of the same shot with the memorable line - "Noooooo, not possible, not possible ...." along with Anthony Parker's three ball buzzer beater.

For a year that was most forgetable, last night's big comeback win from a late double digit deficit was at real late season treat for loyal Raptor fans.

Raptors Fans Drink Less Than Leafs or Toronto FC Fans

RaptorTalk — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:14:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

We came across some interesting information regarding the drinking habits of Raptors fans.

After bad behavior from some Toronto FC fans who travelled to Columbus, an MLSE official made a few observations that compared the alcohol consumption of Raptors, TFC and Leafs fans.

According to the Toronto Star, "We have some fans who get a little fuelled up before they get here (BMO Field)," vice-president Tom Anselmi said. "But we haven't had an enormous amount of alcohol-related evictions, no more than at the ACC."

He couldn't say exactly how much beer is sold at games, but said "per-capita consumption is high. Higher than the Raptors (games) and on a par or higher than the Leafs."

According to the Star’s account of Anselmi’s comments, “The difference may be that Leafs fans don't do a lot of drinking before they arrive at the game. Toronto FC's firms gather at taverns near BMO Field, unofficial clubhouses of sorts, where they drink for several hours before weekend games. Then they march en masse to the field, singing and chanting.”

Leafs fans drink more

After 42 years of mediocrity it is no surprise that Maple Leafs fans drink more than Raptor fans. Leafs fans are the NHL equivalent of Cubs fans.

Growing up, I remember the string of Stanley Cups and the parades down Bay Street like it was yesterday. Now the team is so pathetic (and led by the two least likeable sports execs on the planet – Brian Burke and Ron Wilson) that I could not muster the energy to head to the ACC to watch this past Wednesday’s Leafs vs. Flyers game. Instead, I gave away a $350 lower bowl pair.

If I was still a big Leafs fan, I'd be drinking, too!

Raptors fans drink less

There have been complaints by some (including Chris Bosh) that Raptors fans should be louder. I wonder how much of this is due to the lower alcohol consumption at Raptors games?

As a former Buffalo Bills season ticket holder, I know that a lot of the noise at Ralph Wilson Stadium is fueled by alcohol – to the point where you don’t want to take your wife or kids to a Bills game.

The best Raptor crowds are on Friday night, where fans are in more of a party mood. In fact, the only time I’ll have a beer at a Raps game is on Friday night. It seems like a good night to sip on a brew or two!

Raptors fans are also younger and more ethnically diverse and this may play a role in lower beer sales at Raps games. Now, I am not advocating TFC style drunkedness at Raps games. Not at all.

On the other hand, when the men in red are winning and playing hard - Raptor crowds can literally blow the roof off the ACC. Hopefully, this dismal year will not be repeated and we can turn the ACC into the rockin’ place its been in the past.

Our apologies to RaptorTalk readers

To those who have written us, we apologize that we have not updated RaptorTalk as often as we should. One of us has been busy launching a new business in southern California, while the other has spent three weeks travelling throughout the US Midwest on business, with a 10:00 flight to the Twin Cities again tomorrow morning.

Please understand that RaptorTalk is a hobby for us. We have real jobs, family and otherwise busy lives. Having said that, we appreciate the 1,000 people per day who visit us daily!

Thanks!

Bargnani Makes The Heat Fall Like Bowling Pins

RaptorTalk — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:09:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

We were sitting centre court for Friday's loss to the Miami Heat and saw two very sweet, jaw-dropping moves.

In that game, Andrea Bargnani made a drive, stop and fake move that resulted in Canadian Joel Anthony and ex-Raptor Jermaine O'Neal literally fall down like a couple of bowling pins. Andrea then calmly hit the short jumper.

Have a look for yourself:

Andrea's averages as the starting center for the Raptors are updated and are:

19.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 48% FG, 45% 3PT

Now, this was the second move like this. The first was early in the game when Dwayne Wade broke Anthony Parker's ankles and left him on the floor, while D-Wade nailed an easy jump shot.

By the way, Wade is good .... real good. Watching him live and healthy, it is clear he is an elite player in the same category as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James as far as being a difference maker. With no Dwayne in the line-up, the Raptors would have won.

No doubt, Dwayne Wade is a top five NBA player right now and a strong case could be made for top three - he's that good.

Bargnani's Numbers As The Raptors Starting Center Are Impressive

RaptorTalk — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:27:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

Andrea Bargnani spent the early part of this season as the Raptors' seven foot ping pong ball.

The Raptors had him bouncing all over the place. He was coming off the bench, then he was starting as a small forward, then it was back to the bench – we all know the story.

And through it all, Andrea was posting less than impressive numbers. His numbers were generally languishing around 25 minutes per game, .420 FG%, .380 3 PT%, 4 RPG and less than 10.0 PPG and the tag of Bustnani seemed appropriate.



However, some of us still called for patience and insisted the end of his third year would provide us with a clearer indication as to the type of player Andrea Bargnani would potentially become.

So far this season, Bargnani has played 61 games and started 42 of those games. However, he played the small forward position in 15 of those games. In the 19 games he came off the bench, he played at all three front court positions with little consistency.

Play the kid at Center

Early in the season, many analysts including RaptorTalk and Raptor analyst Jack Armstrong questioned the manner in which Andrea was being used. It is hard to get into a rhythm when you are being bounced from position to position. More often than not, it appeared that Andrea was being put in "positions to fail" instead of being "put in a position to succeed".

We surmised that Andrea would be more successful if he was given a regular roster spot and told to play one position – period.

Surprise, surprise!

When that finally happened, Andrea’s numbers have taken a significant spike upwards. There have been 27 games this season where Andrea Bargnani has been the Raptors #1 Starting Center. Here are his rather impressive numbers over those 27 games:

35.5 Minutes per Game
47.0 FG%       (178 of 380)
43.0 3 PT%     (50 of 116)
18.8 Points per Game
6.6 Rebounds per Game

Before the season started would Toronto Raptor fans have been delighted with Andrea averaging 18.8 pts/6.6 boards? Absolutely!

Plus, as Michael Grange noted Andrea is “a guy who's become an average to better-than-average individual and team defender.” (Where we disagree with Grange’s analysis is that he looks at Bargnani’s full-season offensive numbers, which are somewhat misleading based on his poor early performances that were a result of not having a clearly defined role).

It is clear that for Andrea to develop into a top tier NBA player, he needs to be placed into his best position on the court and learn that position. The Raptors have decided that center is where he is best suited and his improved numbers indicate that has been an excellent decision by Raptors’ management.

Looking at the numbers and considering Bargnani’s overall improved play, it is not a stretch to project Bargnani to develop into a 20 ppg/7 rpg player next season – assuming the Raptors make him the team’s full-time starting center. Particularly if his supporting cast is improved.

Despite all the criticism that Andrea and Bryan Colangelo have taken, it certainly appears that after Brandon Roy - Andrea will be widely regarded as the second best player in the 2006 NBA Draft once all is said and done. Considering all the negative predictions from his critics, that's not bad at all.

Clearly, Andrea is proving his critics wrong. No one can argue with the 18.8 ppg and 6.6 ppg he is putting up as the Raptors starting center.

UPDATE: Bargnani's numbers including the Houston game.

35 Minutes
47.0 FG%
45.0 3 PT%
19.0 PPG
6.6 RPG

Top Twelve Reasons the Toronto Raptors Suck This Season

RaptorTalk — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:53:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

After the ugly blowout loss in New York City, which signalled the beginning of the end of the Raptors' playoff hopes, we got to thinking about the chilly Ed Sullivan Theater north on Broadway where the Late Show is taped.

So with thanks to David Letterman - RaptorTalk is pleased to present our Top Twelve (not ten) Reasons the Toronto Raptors Suck This Season.

"TOP TWELVE REASONS THE RAPTORS SUCK THIS SEASON"

#12. Matt Devlin’s hairspray is making game balls sticky

#11. Toronto. Where Losing Happens.

#10. Need Matt Bonner to give KG another smackdown

#9. Raptors coaches don’t break lamps anymore

#8. Who knew? Raptors were motivated by Swirsky’s lame nicknames

#7. In-game Team Water Bottles now sponsored by MGD and filled with draft beer

#6. Bryan goofed and built the best Raptors team ever ‘on paper’ – not ‘on the court’

#5. Raptors not making enough “shats" since Sam was fired

#4. Head of Scouting, Jim Kelly has naked pix of MLSE board

#3. Canadian Coach Triano is confusing American players by drawing up plays in metric

#2. Colangelo thought deadline deal was for Kobe O. Bryant - not Patrick.

#1. They think they’re the Leafs!

Bryan Colangelo is a Victim of Bad Luck More than Bad Judgement

RaptorTalk — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:38:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

Lately, Bryan Colangelo has been feeling heat from the media and fans in Toronto.

Hindsight is 20/20. I'd love to see what kind of team Colangelo's critics would have built?

Remember, Bryan's teams have averaged 50 wins per year and in his last two years at Phoenix he won 62 and 54 games, while following that up with 47 wins his first year in Toronto.

Bryan is trying my patience, no doubt - but I'm not ready to jump off the bandwagon yet. Colangelo's track record speaks for itself. He is a top tier NBA executive who didn't become a stupid, incompetent idiot overnight. He a graduate of Cornell University and a professional in every respect.

Every GM makes mistakes, even the good ones. Joe Dumars drafted Darko. Danny Ainge tanked so he could draft Oden or Durant and got neither. Mitch Kupchak traded Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. No executive is right 100% of the time.

To be honest, both good luck and bad luck play a role, too. Unfortunately, Colangelo's luck has been on a downhill slide starting with the terrible injury to Jorge Garbajosa.

The events that led us to the Marion deal

Let's look at the sequence of events over the past couple of years that have not gone the way we had hoped.

The critics and wannabe GM's look at Bryan's job in a vacuum.

First, Bryan has financial pressures from MLSE and there are variables beyond his control. Like it or not, that affects his decisions. MLSE's primary focus is profits.

Second, Bryan had no control over getting the first pick in the worst draft in a decade. Remember, he should have been picking Oden if not for a change in NBA draft eligibility rules. Bryan looks a whole lot smarter if he had Duncan, Shaquille, Iverson or LeBron fall in his lap at #1. Obviously there must be a lot of bad GM's because this is the draft order in 2006. Not one pegged Roy as #1:

1. Bargnani
2. Aldridge
3. Morrison
4. Thomas
5. Williams
6. Roy

Lets be fair. Was there anyone definitively suggesting Roy be picked first? The reality is that this was a weak draft and the best of the top five will probably prove to be Bargnani.

Third, no one thought Jose would develop into solid PG. Most scouts pegged him as a good back-up, at best. If Bryan knew Jose would emerge as a legit 'one guard', he doesn't trade for TJ Ford in the first place and the Charlie Villaneuva trade looks completely different.

Fourth, the Raps biggest weakness is on the wing. Is it Bryan's fault that the Raptors have Graham and Humphries as back-ups because Rob Babcock passed on Danny Granger and Andre Igoudala? Just one of those 'obvious' picks would have a huge impact on the Raps today and Bryan looks a lot smarter.

Fifth, Bryan had no way to predict that Garbajosa would suffer a gruesome injury that virtually ended his career with 2 years left on his contract at $4 million per season. The Raptors of the past two years are better with a healthy Garbajosa. Instead they were stuck taking a cap hit and being without their 'glue guy' for the two seasons.

Sixth, Colangelo identified John Salmons a steal and until God intervened, Salmons was a Raptor. If Salmons had not backed out, then the Raptors are a different team and Bryan's a genius.

Seventh, Bryan would not have dealt for Jermaine O'Neal last summer if he foresaw that Andrea Bargnani would break out after a disappointing second year.

Now Bryan has corrected the error that was the JO for TJ trade by acquiring Shawn Marion.

And before you bash Bryan for the O'Neal deal, remember that all GM's go on hot streaks and cold streaks. Plain old dumb luck has a massive impact on a GM's success or failure. Was Jerry Krause a genius or just lucky when Michael Jordan fell in his lap? If Portland had selected Air Jordan at #2, then Jerry Krause and the Bulls are also rans.

What was Danny Ainge's Plan?

Again let me say that I am not happy with the way the Raptors have evolved. But I must say that I am sympathetic to Bryan's misfortune. He keeps rolling the dice and lately comes up snake eyes.

I can empathize with him because in my entrepreneurial career I have either struck out miserably or hit a grand slam. In both scenarios I followed the same game plan. The only difference is whether the factors beyond my control fell in my favor or against me.

There is no such thing as a definitive roadmap to success in the NBA, as some may suggest. Its a matter of:

(1) making smart basketball moves
(2) being opportunistic
(3) getting freakin' lucky

Look at former Toronto Blue Jay, Danny Ainge. His original 'Celtics rebuilding plan' failed miserably. Ainge's plan was to build a young team with lotto picks. The icing on the cake was to (1) land either Oden or Durant in 07 and (2) trade Paul Pierce. When the lotto balls didn't fall in his favor he started dealing and the consensus from experts was he lost his mind. Paul Pierce was asking to get out and had Garnett vetoed a trade to Boston.

Then the tables began to turn with a trade that was largely panned. Not many experts thought acquiring an aging, high ticket, injury prone Ray Allen for Jeff Green made any sense at all. In fact, Celtics fans were down on that deal like many Raptor fans were down on the JO and Marion deals.

Then Kevin McHale came along. McHale turned down a better deal from Chicago and moved KG to Boston. All of the sudden the tables had completely turned and Danny Ainge looked like a genius. Did he follow his plan? Hell no. To his credit - Ainge pounced on opportunity and changed his plan to win a championship.

Has Bryan Colangelo made mistakes? Yes. But I also would argue that he has had an extraordinary run of bad luck. The challenge facing Bryan is to turn it around and the Marion trade was the first step in that direction. Clearly, Jermaine O'Neal's presence has not helped.

Its easy to play Monday morning quarterback and that's what being a sports fan is all about. On the other hand, the way some fans and media critics analyze events in Raptorland is quite naive, to be honest. Then again, right or wrong, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

At the end of the day, I'm prepared to let Bryan's retooling plans play out over the upcoming weeks and months.

I just hope Bryan's luck improves for the benefit of all loyal Raptor fans.

Shawn Marion to the Raptors is a Solid First Move

RaptorTalk — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:29:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

The acquisition by the Raptors of Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks and $3 milllion from Miami for Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon and a conditional 1st round draft pick is a win/win for both teams.

By no means is this trade a game-changer either way. Both Toronto and Miami got better, but not significantly better.

The key to grading this deal is to wait for Bryan Colangelo's next move which will be the follow-up to this transaction. And there will definitely be more moves to come. If not before the deadline, something will happen in June.

Let's first look at the highlights from Colangelo's press conference/call last night with some of my observations:

1. Shawn Marion: He is a good athletic piece next to Bosh and Bargs. His numbers were down in Miami because of Heat system. Bryan is looking to re-sign him if it works out. Chemistry between CB, Andrea and Marion will be better than with Jermaine in the mix. The days of Bargnani at the three are over. Bosh prefers playing inside, so Bargs and CB are a good match because Andrea is comfortable moving outside. Offensive spacing should be much improved. Marion, CB and Bargs form a very good front court along side Parker and Calderon. Clearly, the big move for 2009 will be the acquisition of a top tier SG.

2. Flexibility: Now the Raptors have money to bring back Carlos Delfino from Russia, re-sign someone like Anthony Parker (at a reduced ticket), sign an MLE free agent in July and re-sign Shawn Marion. Plus, the Raptors should have a lottery pick. This provides an improved club for 2009, as Bryan tries to convince Bosh to stay in Toronto.

3. The Pick: Giving up a first rounder is over valued by many. If the Raps need a 1st round pick there are plenty for sale. That's what the $3 million does. The pick is lotto protected and if we lose it, its likely a mid to later pick. At that slot, its not likely to yield an impact player. The poor economic climate will yield many opportunities to purchase a 1st rounder down the road for $3 million. The funds are allocated for that purpose and apparently will not simply line MLSE's pockets.

4. Banks: Marcus provides depth and defence at the 1/2. He's not a true PG. Will he didn't fit in Miami, he is a bulldog, tenancious defender which should shore up Toronto's perimeter defence. His $4 million contract with 2 years remaining is a negative, no doubt. Now, the Raps have too many PG's. They could use another big, particularly with Kris Humphries and Nathan Jawai not contributing at this point. This may open the door for another smaller deal.

Henry Abbott of ESPN TrueHoops invited David Thorpe to comment on the deal. He makes some interesting observations which are quite valid:

" I do not think it's likely [the Raptors] will sign [Marion] to a long term deal at big money. But if it proves, this off-season, with the economy as it is, that he has low value, then maybe they'll re-sign him cheaply.

In every business there's book value and then there's actual value. Shawn Marion might have a book value of $8 million a year. But if no one has that much money to give him maybe he's yours for $4 million.

In the meantime, Toronto just saved a whole bunch of money they won't be paying Jermaine O'Neal next year. I bet a lot of owners are a little jealous of that right now.

And Marion -- he has been motivated. He just had a game-winning dunk last night against Chicago. They'll get to see, up close, what he's like at this stage of his career."

I certainly agree with that assessment. It certainly appears that Bryan can re-sign the Matrix for a reasonable ticket.

Re-signing Shawn Marion

I guarantee that Bryan and Marion's agent have spoken prior to the trade deal being finalized. Bryan already has a very good idea of what Marion is looking for in terms of contract moving forward. By all accounts, this is not a 'rent-a-player' deal.

If you recall, Marion turned down 3 yrs/ $30 million. Now, that is almost as dumb as Sprewell turning down 3 yrs/ $21 million. The difference is that the Matrix signs another contract, Spree did not.

Marion is only 30 yrs old and younger than Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Tim Duncan, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to name a few. Marion is far from done as a decent palyer.

The list of potential Matrix suitors in 2009 with cap space is small. No team with an eye to 2010 wants to take on Marion. These are the only teams with off-season space to make at least a $7 million offer to Marion:

Atlanta Hawks
Detroit Pistons
Memphis Grizzlies
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Jersey Nets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Portland Trailblazers

Not sure that he really fits in any of those places, nor would he be any better off than if he were to remain in Toronto. So the Raptors could very easily sign Marion to a deal in the $7 million to $8 million range - which is a big win for Toronto. It is simply a case of supply and demand. The economic climate in the US also plays a role in the Raptors favor.

Final thought

While I liked Jermaine O'Neal, he clearly did not have the impact on the Raptors that we thought he would. Also, Bargnani's emergence made JO's presence irrelevant. I'm also not sure that JO and Bosh ever clicked on a personal level.

The fact that Bryan could dump a $23 million contract is a big bonus. Yes, he still has over $4 milion invested in Banks, but he also should land Marion in the $8 million range next season. So we're potentially looking at Marion + Banks + over $10 million remaining next season for Jermaine O'Neal. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

If I were to grade the deal, I'd give it a "B". Let's be patient and see what transpires next.

The Numbers That Might Make Colangelo Consider Trading Chris Bosh If The Right Deal Came Along

RaptorTalk — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:28:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

There has been a lot of discussion about Chris Bosh's future with the Toronto Raptors. Bottomline is that it is unlikely Chris Bosh will sign elsewhere.

Odds are he will take the Raptors guaranteed cash. I can't see Chris walking away from the $34 million additional dollars that Toronto can offer. Remember, his next contract won't be as lucrative because he will be in his thirties and the new CBA will not be as player-friendly.

And 'no', Bosh will not make up the difference in marketing dollars if he goes to a big US market, particularly when sponsors are cutting back on endorsement deals.

After CB4 re-ups with Toronto and if Chris is still unhappy, he can 'pull a Vince' and demand to be traded. That way he gets his max deal and he can move on out of Toronto.

Here is a recap of Bosh's max deal salary numbers which Toronto can offer, with his age(s) in each contract year:

Year 1 - $17.25 Mill - (26/27)
Year 2 - $18.97 Mill - (27/28)
Year 3 - $20.87 Mill - (28/29)
Year 4 - $22.95 Mill - (29/30)
Year 5 - $25.25 Mill - (30/31)
Year 6 - $27.78 Mill - (31/32)
Total - $133 Million over six years

Basically Bosh can resign with Toronto for 6 years and $133 million guaranteed or leave as a free agent for 5 years and $99 million - a difference of $34 million.

Max deals can be bad deals

Now, let's look at the biggest max deals in the NBA today and see if we can learn anything from what has transpired over the past few years. Here is a list of the top ten NBA salaries:

1. Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics, forward): $24,751,934
2. Jermaine O’Neal (Toronto Raptors, forward/center): $21,372,000
3. Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks, guard): $21,372,000
4. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers, guard): $21,262,500
5. Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets, guard): $21,126,874
6. Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks, guard): $20,840,625
7. Allen Iverson (Detroit Pistons, guard): $20,840,625
8. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs, forward/center): $20,598,704
9. Shaquille O’Neal (Phoenix Suns, center): $20,000,000
10. Steve Francis (Houston Rockets, guard): $18,364,480

The late years of a big contract can become a franchise killer. Bosh's last two years (when he is over the age of 30) are $25.3 million and $27.8 million.

As a point of reference, only three out of seven of the top ten NBA salaries are really worth their contracts (Garnet, Kobe & Duncan). Two guys don't even play anymore (Marbury & Francis). Only Kobe and Duncan remain with the team they originally signed the max deal with. It is interesting to note that almost all of these max deals are in the final years of the contract.

Based on these numbers, only 30% of max money deals provide good value over the long term. Wouldn't two solid $10 million players deliver more value than Kidd, Iverson, McGrady, Marbury, Francis and both O'Neals?

The risk of max money deals

Fact is that most max deals don't provide value to the team in the final two to three years because the player is past their prime. However, evidence proves you can always move your bad contract. Problem is that the team needs to take back contracts of relatively equal value.

The risk in signing Bosh to a long term deal is that he is not at the level of a Garnett, Duncan or Kobe. Bosh is at a skill level which is more in line with Jermaine O'Neal or Jason Kidd. In fact, you could easily argue that Chris is a lesser talent than both Iverson and Shaquille - and they are no longer worth their contracts.

Unless Bryan can get great pieces for Jermaine O'Neal which can turn the Raptors into a contender in 2009 and 2010 - it might be best for the franchise's future to trade Bosh now.

The other concern is the status of Bosh's knee. Chris left the Lakers game with a strained knee. It is not a good sign that Bosh is wearing a bulky knee brace at age 24. What happens when he's 28 or 29 and his knee gives out? Then what do the Raps do?

They may find themselves with a massive contract with limited on court production which is virtually untradeable. Is it worth the risk? Remember, Bosh has not played more than 70 games in the past three regular seasons.

And a trade in the next two weeks might return more value because Chris' new team gets two runs at the playoffs. I'm not proposing a Babcock-esque trade with spare parts coming back. However, if Bryan can get say an emerging wing player, a solid veteran big and a good lotto pick (or two) - then its worth considering.

Look, I like Chris a lot - but he's not an upper eschelon elite player. History tells us that signing a second tier superstar to a max money deal rarely pays long term dividends.

Will Bosh in his thirties be worth as much as $27.8 million? Odds are he won't.

I have a feeling that Bryan Colangelo is at least willing to listen to trade proposals regarding Chris Bosh. With the team the way it is now - no one should be untouchable. Not even Toronto's all-star power forward.

Bargnani Is Sweet After Sixteen

RaptorTalk — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:18:00 GMT

By RaptorTalk

After sixteen games as the Raptors starting center, Andrea Bargnani sure looks sweet.

The seven foot Italian is finally showing Raptor fans the full package we expected when the Big Rook was drafted three years ago.

It was obvious he had a remarkable skillset for a legit big man. Just watching him in early pregame warmups convinced me of his raw talent back in year one. Andrea possessed great offensive skills which are difficult to teach. On the other hand, a good coach can teach improved defence and rebounding.



The issue in my mind wasn't about physical talent - it was all about whether the light bulb would go on. Seems that it finally has! The game is coming together for him. Gone are the deer in the headlight looks. Gone are the plays without hustle or determination. Something has clicked mentally and now his true underlying talent is taking over.

A former Canadian college player told me last week that he was convinced in December that Bargnani's next gig would be back in the Euroleague. Then the overnight transformation occured. Now, he said, "Andrea gets it and the game is playing out in front of him in slow motion."

For the record, Andrea's numbers since O'Neal's injury are:

21.2 points per game
   6.7 rebounds per game
   1.0 block per game
   49% FG percentage
   50% from beyond the arc
   81% from the line

Raptor fans needed patience

Now, I've long maintained we needed patience with Il Mago for a number of reasons. The adjustment from Italy to the NBA is not an easy jump for a youngster. Andrea had adnoid problems with left him ill much of last season and he had his appendix surgery, too.

Also, Sam Mitchell may have been the worst coach to coax the best out of Bargnani. Andrea needed time to develop the mental toughness, court awareness, determination and confidence that is necessary for him to succeed in the NBA. I don't think Sam had the patience.

Look, now there's no turning back for Andrea. The genie is out of the bottle.

Its time for Raptor fans to sit back and enjoy Bargnani's development. Is he a complete player now? No way. But, give him another year or two and Bryan Colangelo could have that highly skilled big man on his team that he envisioned back on draft day.

By the way, hats off to Jay Triano. I think Jay's ability to understand the mindset of a young European like Andrea helped accelerate his development. That's in sharp contrast to Sam's coaching style which held the kid back and damaged his confidence. I wrote about this last year and I still believe it to be true. The fact that Andrea's newfound confidence and relaxed style of play occured so soon after Smitch's dismissal is not a coincidence.

The skeptics

Oh yes. Let's not forget all the wannabe GM's out there who were convinced that Bustnani was his name. You know, the guys who phoned the FAN and littered message boards with Bargs bashing? Stats and history told these cynics that Andrea was no better than an 11/4 bust. Hmmm? Seems the skeptics don't have the massive basketball IQ they thought they had.

Its really quite hilarious when you think of all the supposed experts who hammered Bargnani. Where are they now?

As a goodwill gesture, RaptorTalk is pleased to present a fine meal to each and every one of Andrea's critics. The 'crow' we prepared is ideal to 'eat' as a pre-game meal prior to the next Raptors game where Bargnani is sure to continue his breakthrough season.

Obama, the NBA and Words of Praise and Hope That America Can Get To Where Canada Is

RaptorTalk — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:59:00 GMT

By Raptortalk

On this momentous occasion, when Barack H. Obama was officially sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America – a number of NBA players took notice.

There is a tremendous article on NBA.com that deserves a read by all hoops fans on how now having an African-American President affected the stars of the National Basketball Association. See the link below the photos.

                   The Meaning of Obama: NBA Embraces Leader's Message

Of particular interest were comments by the Houston Rocket’s Ron Artest, who extolled the virtues of Canada:

"I'm glad that the best man won," Rockets forward Ron Artest said. "And I'm hoping that America can get to where Toronto is, where everyone is kind of getting (taken) care of, you know? I just hope everyone can eat, because there are people out there starving ... everyone has concerns. My concerns are war and hunger. I'm hoping people can get a chance to eat. I'm getting tired of war.”

Artest has seen with his own eyes on his many visits to Toronto, that Canadians go to great lengths as a nation to look after those who are less fortunate. Our way of life and history of compassion does not go unnoticed by other NBA players.

And Artest is not the only one. Former Raptors head coach, Sam Mitchell was very vocal in his support of the Canadian Universal Healthcare system which he hoped would someday be adopted in the United States.

Biggest event of the century

"It's one of the biggest events of this century," forward Joey Graham said. "It's history in the making and I actually wish I could be there for it. I know everyone is going to be watching on TV. Barack Obama -- I look at him much like Martin Luther King Jr. -- he's a trailblazer, a pioneer. We might not reap the benefits of the things that Barack is going to be able to do right now as president, but just like Dr. King, we will reap the benefits of the things he did back then at a later date. It might take some time for what he's trying to accomplish in the White House, but our prayers are all with Barack Obama."

Toronto Raptors Chris Bosh has also come out in full support of President Obama. Bosh has commented publicly and on his website about the significance of an African American leading America moving forward.

Jermaine O'Neal knows it too, particularly when it comes to the next generation, like his daughter. "The significance on a 9-year-old -- forget what race she is -- she's a female. She believes it (she can be President). That's the impact of this for me, " said O'Neal.

O'Neal believes people are capable of achieving more than they realize and to hear his daughter say that the highest office in the land was possible for her demonstrated the impact of Obama's change message.

Great day for Canada and USA

So while this is a great day for America, we here in Canada need to remember the greatness that we have in our country and that many eyes are looking north and admiring what we have.

Today is a day that my two dual citizen kids can take extreme pride in both great countries of which they are citizens - Canada and the United States of America.

News And Views On The Raptors At The Halfway Mark

RaptorTalk — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:33:00 GMT

By Raptortalk

At halftime of the Raptors vs. Pacers game, there was an interesting conversation on the FAN 590 between the FAN's Eric Smith and Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.

There made a number of observations about the Toronto Raptors at the halfway mark of the season, though most of the comments below were courtesy of everyone's favorite beat grunt:

Bargnani is a huge bright spot in a difficult season

1. It is 95% certain that Colangelo will make a trade before the deadline

2. Bryan is working hard to trade JO. He’s looking for 5 to 7 solid games in which he can showcase Jermaine.

3. For the Raptors to have had any chance to stay in the hunt, they needed Jose and Jermaine to both play at least 70 games each. That won’t happen.

4. With the current poor performance, Bryan does not have many valuable trading chips – no team wants our scrubs

5. Parker and his expiring contract is Colangelo’s most sought after asset (other than Bosh, Bargnani & Calderon who are not available)

6. Bryan is looking for a 2/3 because he knows it’s the team’s #1 most glaring weakness

7. Anthony Parker’s skills have definitely eroded. He is a step or two slower.

8. Jamario Moon has shown no improvement over last season. Joey and Kapono have not shown much either

9. Back-up point guard play, while improved lately, is a major disappointment. Bryan thought Solomon would be better.

10. Only way Jay Triano becomes the full-time head coach is if he makes a miraculous run and leads the team to the playoffs.

11. Bryan pulled the trigger on Sam Mitchell too early

12. Doug predicted 48 wins. That is now impossible. A playoff spot is remotely within reach, but highly unlikely. No point in squeaking into the playoffs, only to get blown out by Boston, Orlando or Cleveland.

All in all, the season has been a huge disappointment for fans, players and management alike.