GamePoint

A Tale of Two Cities

2012-01-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

The Raptors need a closer.

Last night, it was Andrea Bargnani.

For those that have actually tuned into every game so far, you know that this year's version of the Raptors play differently. The obvious stats don't show it, but there's something pleasantly refreshing about this team on both sides of the court. Ask the opposing coaches and they'll tell you, the Raptors are not a team you can sleep on.

The Raps have been in every game up until the home stretch. Suddenly, we're unable to get easy baskets, things slow down, and the other team goes to their closers to make buckets.

In Orlando, their unique perimeter approach had players like Reddick, Anderson, and Turkoglu finish the game out, while New York went to Melo down the stretch.

We were unable to overcome it against Orlando, but thankfully Bargs was able to come through at Madison Square Garden.

I'm now convinced the Raps will keep this up, and be in a lot of close games this year, and if the playoffs are a goal - then Andrea will have to get used to this.

Tidbit N Tweet of the Night: Raptors are now 1-0 on the second game of a back-to-back. We'll keep track of this all year, especially in a shortened season.

This is the first time #Raptors have held NY under 90 points since January 19, 2005 (W, 99-81) - @RaptorsPR

What caught my eye? I'm one of DeMar's biggest fans, but even his loyalists can't help but notice certain trends that are occurring with him in regards to the defensive end. Both in the last possession of the first half against Dallas and the end of the game against New York, Anthony Carter was subbed in for DeMar. On top of that, New York felt like it was more important to place Fields on Jose instead of DeRozan down the stretch, meaning they were totally cool with hiding Douglas on him too.

Fantasy Friday - A Bench Gem In Both Worlds

2011-12-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

Every Friday, we'll be bringing you some fantasy notes and tidbits exclusively from a Toronto Raptors perspective. We're well aware that not many people were sweating bullets on draft night, hoping that a Raptor wasn't picked before their pick came up, but the Raps do have that sleeper potential that could be the difference maker in winning your fantasy league championship.

This week, we've got to bring up the man that best represents the change in culture the Raptors are trying to undergo - James Johnson. The athletic wing was probably left undrafted in just about every fantasy league, but he's absolutely stuffed the stat sheet the first two games.

At the moment, he has lofty small forward averages in most categories with 5.5 pts, 7.0 reb, 3.5 ast, 4.0 stl, 2.0 blks, 45% FG.

The fact that he's also logging in heavy minutes despite coming off the bench means he'll have the opportunity to keep racking up the stats. The only knock on him is you'd like to see him put up a few more points, but considering fantasy basketball is won on categories, Johnson is a gem if you have room on your bench.

If you're in a 12+ team league, definitely pick him up and use him in spot situations late in the week, when you're trying to catch up or protect your rebounds, steals, or blocks.

DeMar Tebow

2011-12-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

In the last two games, for the Raptors, quite a few things have been consistent. For starters, the effort has been there. The Raps may not be the most talented, but that's two straight games where I've seen dives to the floor for a loose ball. Secondly, the improved help defense, especially by James Johnson and Ed Davis.

And then there's DeMar DeRozan, who has been consistently inconsistent. In the first three quarters, DeMar has shown a lack of confidence, and at times, looks completely lost. He's been a big part of why the Raps are unable to get their offense going early. And when the only other scoring option in the starting line up gets in foul trouble like Bargs did last game, even an improved defense can't save the team,

Here are DeRozan's averages in the first three quarters in comparison to the 4th quarter.

QRT 1-3

5/15 FGA

33%

Average Amount of Pts In First Three Quarters Combined: 6.0

QRT 4

11/ 13 FGA

85%

Average Amount of Pts in Fourth Quarter: 12.5

We'll see if this small sample size turns into a trend for Mr. No Props Needed.

What caught my eye? The Raptors opened up the game with six straight stops on the defensive end. Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on it on offense due to poor offensive sets and moving screens, but it was a nice change to see us work hard on the defensive end.

Raptors Revisited: The Bargnani Effect

2011-12-27T20:08:00.000-08:00

On Monday, January 26, 2011, the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-96.

Like noted in yesterday's post, the duo of Jose and Amir were able to pick apart Cleveland's interior defense with a healthy dose of pick and rolls. However, a big reason why it worked so well (besides the fact that the Cavs paint D isn't the most intimidating) is because of the dynamic Bargnani brings to the table.

Let's take a look at two plays that begin with a Calderon-Johnson pick and roll and end with an easy bucket partly because of where Bargnani positions himself on the court.

Jose and Amir initiate the pick n roll, while the Raptors keep both corner 3s occupied, establishing proper spacing. The key thing to watch is Jamison on Bargnani.

Irving goes over the screen due to Jose's hot hand, causing Varejao to leave Amir and switch to Jose. At this point (and due to Cleveland's lack of a shot blocking big), Jamison as the 4 man is caught between switching to Amir or staying on Bagrs

Jamison decides to stay near the perimeter with Bargnani, allowing Amir an easy uncontested basket.

Here's the second play, same concept, same result.

A switch is caused for Varejao on Jose, and Amir again rolls to the basket. Again, Jamison as the Cavs' 4, is assigned with shading Bargs near the top of the 3 point line.

As mentioned by Leo Rautins last night, Irving incorrectly commits himself to Calderon even though Varejao did a good job of leading Jose to the sideline on the hedge. This makes Jamison's job even more difficult when deciding between a wide open Amir or a wide open Bargnani.

Jamison decides to stick with Andrea at the perimeter, allowing Amir to get yet another easy bucket over the shorter Anthony Parker..

Jose-Amir 2K12 Lead Pass Cheese And Accountability

2011-12-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

First off - WELCOME BACK RAPTORS BASKETBALL.

With Dwane Casey preaching a culture change of a defensive mentality, Raptors fans can expect a team that won't necessarily be the most talented, but will always try to out work the opposition.

Last night against Cleveland, we saw just that. Make no mistake, this team doesn't look like it will challenge for a playoff spot, but it was great to see some of our players compete. Two that stuck out the most to me were Amir Johnson and Jose Calderon. Amir looked like he was serious about his Defensive Player of the Year goals, and Jose looked like TJ Ford was on his tail again.

And then of course, there was that pass...Anyone who's ever played a game of NBA 2K knows the way to a win is to abuse the paint with some lead passing. Check out 4:30-5:30 of this video to see what Jose and Amir had perfected last night.

What caught my eye? At 4:40 of the 3rd quarter, Bargnani gave up yet another offensive rebound, and at a critical point of the game as well. Immediately, Coach Casey subs in Ed Davis and puts Bargs on the bench. Accountability will key in truly changing the culture of this franchise.

Basketball Never Stops? Nike Explains.

2011-11-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

Even while in the midst of a lockout, Nike is capitalizing on their superstar roster and unleashing their "Basketball Never Stops" movement. The company decided to release a follow up video for their commercial to explain what exactly they meant - perhaps to avoid any sticky situations with the current labour dispute. Check out both the follow up video and the actual commercial below.

Mayor John Henry Knows His Power Basketball

2011-11-03T21:51:00.001-07:00

Oshawa Mayor John Henry was able to place the proverbial cherry on top on a historic night for Oshawa and Canadian basketball. With a convincing 107-80 win over the Moncton Miracles, John Henry can now look forward to seeing pictures of Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc sporting an Oshawa Power jersey at the next Moncton Council Meeting. This is all due to a friendly wager that involved Henry having to sport a Miracles jersey at his own meeting had the Power lost. But you know what they say, there are gamblers, and there are those who take calculated risks, and then there are those who just know their basketball.

Props to Mayor John Henry for showing support of the Power in my class' lecture yesterday morning. There was genuine pride in his eyes as he repeatedly mentioned the home opener to a lecture hall full of journalism students.

On that note, we hope to have members and players of the Oshawa Power as guests on Hoops N Hip-Hop this year.

Power Up.

One Last "What Could Have Been" Please

2011-11-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

"We just felt like nobody could stop us" - Tracy McGrady on his time with Vince Carter in Toronto.

Today on TSN at 5pm est, a very special episode of Off The Record with Michael Landsberg treats basketball fans all over Canada with guests Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Charles Oakley. The trio will be talking about their time in Toronto and possibly what could have happened had the dynamic duo decided to stay together.

I've always been of the opinion that had the cousins grown together in Toronto, they would have ended up being one of the greatest duos in NBA history. Vince Carter ended up being the face of the NBA for the next few years, while Tracy McGrady became the original Kevin Durant with better athleticism and defensive skills. Two legitimate MVP candidates on the same team.

If only.

Taking My Talents To Flag Football

2011-11-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

While players like Sonny Weems and Ty Lawson deal with racism overseas, several NBA players have chosen to keep loose with some good ol fashioned flag football.

Kevin Durant being the most recent notable NBA'er to sport the flags when he surprised some university students in Oklahoma by dropping in on their flag football game. The news here? Durant stays in OKC during his free time.

Moving to L.A. next, the usual suspects of the Drew League take a break and lace up for their own games. Here are pictures of DeMar DeRozan (which also includes Matt Barnes and Corey Maggette), Nick Young, and Brandon Jennings' squads.

Which got me thinking? Who's who in the NBA when it comes to the football world?

Most likely to turn into Megatron? LBJ or Dwade?

Most likely to be that QB who has more rushing TDs than passing TDs? Monta Ellis.

Most likely to form their own Revis Island? Debatable, but I like Rajon Rondo or Tony Allen here.

Most likely to compete for rushing title? Derrick Rose

Trick or Lockout!

2011-11-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Alright you got me. That's not a Halloween picture, but what that IS however, is Steve Nash not being common perception Steve Nash, so that's good enough for me as a costume picture.

Tonight, we're going to leave the grunt work in the negotiation room, and go light - really light. Here are some of your favorite NBA players in costumes (obviously not jerseys) in celebration of the one night you can be whatever you desire.

First off, New York Knicks superstar Amare Stoudemire. At first, I thought he was just being silly with the whole Jewish background thing. But maybe, it is truly in fact a legit part of his identity. Maybe.

This piece of fine art is apparently called Shaqeeta. Big ol Shaquille O'Neal is easily the most intimidating man in drag the human race can offer. Ironically, he soon got injured after this.

From one Superman to another...? C'mon Wally, you're not the Man of Steel. You're more like Aquaman, or the blue Power Ranger. A role player! Or you could have gone as a Wal Mart employee and won my heart.

Oh D-Wade, you sly character you. Just when I think the Raptors have you cornered, you always manage to sidestep this way, crossover that way, and get to the basket. So I shouldn't have been surprised when you didn't go with the stereotypical Flash costume and instead crosover'd to trying your hand at whiteface.

Marquis Daniels of the Boston Celtics - he's still with the Celts right? - gets an A+ from me for being ahead of the curve and getting a jump on preaching money saving skills to his fellow NBA peers last year.

Let's stay with the Celts for a second here and take time to admire this ensemble they've put on. I mean c'mon, just look at all that food.

P.S. Rondo's Tiger Woods such a good costume!

Rudy Gay and Ray Allen summon their inner King of Pop from different eras. Best part is that I've never seen robotic Rudy Gay look so smooth and usually smooth Ray Allen look so robotic.

And last but not least, this is Kobe Bryant stealing your soul.

Happy Halloween everybody!

Taking Their Talents To Toronto?

2011-10-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

While the NBA and the players union battle it out for financial supremacy, Toronto Raptors' General Manager Bryan Colangelo continues to search for the right man to take the job. Without as much worry as the other teams in regards to dollar signs (Forbes listed the Raptors as the 10th most valuable team in 2011), the front office can finally zero in on who will take over as the next GM.

We thought it was going to be Sixers GM Ed Stefanski. But according to recent reports, it looks like talks have slowed down, and the doors have been reopened for former Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard and former Hornets GM Jeff Bower. All three would bring credibility to our team and add another mind for Colangelo to bounce ideas off of.

The question is, which one is most appealing?

Is it still Stefanski? The man is credited with recently building the young and athletic Sixers team they have in Philly. He's very comfortable with bringing in a youth movement (Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner), but he also makes questionable decisions with useless veterans (Iverson, trading for Kapono).

What about Kevin Pritchard? Backtrack a few years ago, and the Portland Trail Blazers were the envy of the basketball world. Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Batum. There were whispers of the Western Conference having to go through the Blazers eventually. But then came the injuries. Toronto would gladly welcome Kevin, but will his reportedly unwillingness to play with others hurt a possible relationship with Colangelo? Portland didn't think his personality was worth their time.

Lastly, there's Jeff Bower. Forget his awful and short coaching career. Instead, consider the year he turned the Hornets from a stepping stone to a throwing stone. In the 07/08 season, we were treated to an exciting dose of CP3, Chandler, West, and Peja. Bower also knows how to turn things around in a hurry, demonstrating this best when he traded Hornets star Baron Davis and drafted Chris Paul with the 4th pick the upcoming offseason.

My guess? Ed Stefanski.

My hope? Kevin Pritchard.

Regardless, keep Kevin Garnett away from the negotiating room.

2K12 Sneak Peak: Ratings and New Raptors Court?

2011-09-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

With the NBA lockout in full swing, J-School eating up a lot of my time, and having to get people buy things they don't need - this blog has taken a back seat in my life once again. I've brainstormed a couple of ideas with my senior editor (the girlfriend) for a new blog idea I can do on the side while the NBA fixes this tiny mess. But after some thought and the encouragement of readers through email and twitter messaging, we're going to decide to stick this out and weather the basketball storm. The GamePointBlog staff will be ready and basically use this moment in limbo as our "preseason".

Make sure to keep a lookout for Hoops N Hip-Hop to be back on the air in October. Check out our Facebook page for downloads to the podcast. The GamePointBlog will also very likely have a few guest writers appear here and there (with us returning the favour of course). Lastly, if you go to Durham College or UOIT, keep an eye out for our very own DJ Johnson making his newspaper writing debut in The Chronicle.

Now for your featured presentation!

So it's that time of the year again! NBA 2K12 magically appears on game shelves everywhere in North America on October 6 - that's next week for those who've lost track of time. And as per tradition, basketball fans around the globe can't wait to break down the player ratings and subsequently throw F-Bombs at the developers for 2K Sports.

In the video above, you'll basically see a list of all the players and their ratings. Some people will be satisfied. Others won't. Ask the high flying Raptor DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan 2K Rating Response

Well, that's what happens when you play North of the 49 right?

On that note, 2K does seem to get a few things right. One of those things being their ability to get a heads up on what the teams' courts decal will look like for the upcoming season. Well - check 0:24-0:25 of the video to see what the new Toronto Raptors court may possibly look like for whenever basketball does start up again. It appears to be a remixed version of what centre court used to be a few years ago, as well as an all-red paint area. And oh yeah - us getting scored on in the interior.

Regardless of what becomes the final product of the game, it does look like for at least the near future, NBA 2K12 will be our sole fix for the NBA.

- Kris Cuaresma

David Aldridge: Valanciunas Could Be The Best Player In The Draft

2011-06-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Other than his skin colour, and the fact that he played basketball in Europe, I can't see any similarities between Valanciunas and Bargnani. We as fans are impatient by nature, but as more days pass by, I'm starting to like this pick better and better.

A 7 foot center that can block shots, loves to rebound the ball, and would rather pick-n-roll than pick-n-pop.

UPDATE: In regards to Jonas' 2.5 million dollar buyout, the Raptors have willingly offered the maximum amount of $500,000. On top of that, Val has agreed to pay off the 2 million dollars remaining out of his own pocket. This means that Jonas will be playing for the Raptors in 2012-2013 season, which works out quite nicely for Raptors Nation.

The likely lockout means teams will not be able to interact with their players (explains why Raptors players are already in Toronto taking advantage of the coaching staff before the lockout becomes official). However, because Val will be in Europe and technically not under NBA contract, the Raptors staff will be in Lithuania all year to help him out.

Take the best center in the draft, and most likely have a lottery pick in next year's star studded class where most of the talent are point guards and wings? This may be a solid plan after all.

Now That We've Calmed Down - Let's See What We've Got In Jonas Valanciunas

2011-06-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Believe me when I say this, Jonas was definitely not at the top of my list. In fact, my board had Knight and Walker at the top, with Kanter and Biyombo as my other 4 options. And as disappointed as I was, it's best that we put this decision into perspective.

First off, Val was projected on many mock drafts and by many experts to go anywhere from 3-8. He was and is still considered to be the best Euro in the draft, as well as having one of the higher ceilings out of anyone in this year's class. In fact, Cleveland was thought to be the likely destination for Jonas at #4. The fact that he went to #5 isn't a reach at all and is in fact where about he should go. On top of that, many teams were rumored to be very interested in moving up to pick Jonas up - one of them being San Antonio. And let's face it, the Spurs have an incredible track record with scouting and drafting players. If San Antonio is interested in him, then there's no reason we should be so extremely opposed to him as well.

Secondly, this pick was made with new Raptors head coach Dwane Casey's input in mind. Casey and the entire franchise want to establish a defensive culture and acquire players that can best execute Casey's 2-3 zone. Dwane has said he's totally behind this pick and I can see why. Val's athleticism and scary lanky-ness will help a ton.

Lastly, I want to shamefully admit that the biggest reason I didn't have Valanciunas at the top of my board was simply because - he's a European player. And you know what? That mirrors the thinking of many Raptors fans out there. And because of our history with Euros, it's not unjustified.

But let's get one thing straight here. Jonas is NOT your typical Euro stereotype.

This guy doesn't shy away from contact. Rebounding is a big part of his game. Most of his points are scored with dunks and shots very close to the basket. He may be physically weak right now, but at a mere age of 19, he has more than enough time to bulk up. And I would bet he has more mass on him than Ed Davis does in his first season when he turns 21.

Check out this highlight mixtape of him:

Best case scenario, this guy turns out to be similar to a Pau Gasol. A 2 way big who can be a factor on both sides of the court. Lastly, major props to the the front office, who had the guts to pick a player they knew would receive backlash. Long term is the big picture, and it's best we give this thing a chance.

The 2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise - Tristan Thompson CANADIAN Edition

2011-06-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise - Bismack Biyombo Edition

2011-06-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

So this year, the folks at Hoops N Hip-Hop will be behind a feature called "2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise". Leading up to the draft, a new article will be posted up on the GamePointBlog and RaptorSpace, introducing and analyzing every rookie that will be within range of the Raptors' 5th overall pick. Though much is uncertain, we know one thing for sure, one of these players will be asked the question every rookie dreams of hearing: "Are you concerned about the taxes up there in Canada?"

Meet Bismack Biyombo out of Congo

Age: 18?
Nationality: Congolese
Height: 6'9
Weight: 245
Position: Power Forward/Center

Hoops N Hip-Hop Co-Host and Producer DeeJae Johnson

I’m talking RAW, and not about meat…I’m talking about being so raw that your upside is highly considered. When I’m speaking about raw, two words come to mind, Bismack Biyombo. Is this young talent a potential Toronto Raptor in disguise? Lets see. Biyombo is an excellent shot blocker, and rebounder. He has a very big upside when it comes to hustling on the floor and has been said to always be all over the place on the defensive end, which is a positive for the Raptors who need major help on protecting the rim. Biyombo’s length is a constant disruption to players who would dare come into the post. The only downfalls are that he will most likely play the power forward spot, which is currently over flooded, and he is to small to be successful at the five. Biyombo is also very young. At the age of 18, he will need to come in and be strictly professional in an adult environment. Weight and strength is a concern for he needs to fill out his frame a bit in order to see his full potential., even at the four. He would be a really nice pick up for a team that needs a defensive presence at the four spot, but we have a young defensive power forward by the name of Ed Davis who will most likely man that spot down for a while. If you haven’t seen it, check out his triple double performance (12 points, eleven rebounds, and ten blocks) at the 2011 Nike Summit.

Hoops N Hip-Hop Producer and Writer Rose Arcana

Why are these players who are barely getting playing time in the Euro-league and Spanish League suddenly making a b-line for the NBA? Or maybe the better question is why would someone rank B-Smack to go as high as #5? Cool nick name aside the guy doesn’t have a whole lot to offer besides defense and an unbelievable wingspan. With the days of Hack-a-Shack over, I guess a new era of Hack-a-Smack will be born.

It’s true, with the weak draft this year people have been submitting their names from all over the world for a crack at the coveted NBA. This 6ft 10in Congo native is no different. One thing this guy has that many Euro/Spanish players don’t have is a good defensive game. It is that defensive game and freakish athleticism that has gotten him to where he is today. With high hopes of a PF/C that can play defense you would think a team like Toronto would take a stab at the 18 year old, however recent workouts aren’t showing him to be nearly as promising as suspected. He is now expected to fall as low as 14, that could actually be good news for Houston, a team that would be able to teach and train the raw rookie more effectively.

Basically Bismack has an incredible body for the game yet little proper training. I have no doubt that one day he will learn to play basketball and perhaps even rival some of the better PF/C in the game today. My problem with him is that at this moment he is so fundamentally raw that he really needs to be taught from scratch how to play basketball. If I were Bismack I would hope to fall a bit lower than 14 even and get drafted by the Spurs. If someone like Tim Duncan was to teach this kid how to play the game paired with his athleticism, then there is no telling where this kid could end up!

At the end of the day it would have to be a no for Toronto. Despite Bismack playing for the same ACB team as Caulderon, B-Smack just isn’t ready to be a Raptor. Toronto needs workable/mold-able pieces, not something they are going to have to train from the ground up. Fact is the young man is not NBA usable yet. His body may be NBA ready but his skills and mind are not.

Kris Cuaresma's Conclusion

Strengths: shot blocking, good defensive awareness, high motor, among the top of his class in athleticism, elite wingspan, fights for rebounds, has displayed leadership quality, mental maturity

Weaknesses: no sign of any offensive game outside of 3 feet, poor free throw shooter, questionable hands, date of birth concerns, lack of experience

Allow us to introduce you to the curious case of Bismack Biyombo. So is he a mature leader in the body of an 18 year old? Or is he really anywhere from 22-26 years old and just pulling a quick one on all of us? Either way, what he eventually brings to the table as a rookie will be quite clear.

Throw him out on the court, and all the positives he may bring to a team will come in the form of pure hustle and athleticism. Blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, tearing away 50-50 balls, diving on the floor for an extra possession - these traits all come to Biyombo instinctively.

And then of course, there is the other side of the spectrum, and many teams will find themselves playing 4-on-5 on the offensive end. Bismack is basically useless 5 feet away from the basket, and the fact that he has shown bad hands means it'll be tough to get him the ball down low. But that still shouldn't be the reason you draft this guy. If you want someone to intimidate paint (he may be undersized but has an excellent wingpsan that will help him block shots) and basically just wreck havoc on the court, this is your guy. Think best case scenario Ben Wallace and worst case scenario Joel Anthony. Realistically, he lands somewhere in the middle of that.

Will the Raps draft him at 5? I doubt it. The draft is a fairly weak one, but there are much better prospects to be had at 5. If Biyombo is the guy the Raps are interested in, then the best option would be to trade down or acquire another pick in the top 10, maybe even 15. Like Kanter, I think one of Bargnani, Amir, or Ed would have to be moved if we pick BB up.

Where will he go? Biyombo looked like a lock for the lottery, but with his recent botched workout, it's all up in the air now. He could go anywhere from 1-20 as of one week before the draft. The earliest I see him going (other than Toronto) is at #8 to Detroit as a potential pairing of Biyombo and Monroe would be pretty nice. I definitely see him being picked up at #14 by Houston if he's still on the board. And if he somehow slips out of the lottery, I don't see him getting past New York at 17 as they need a shot blocking big pretty bad.

The 2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise - Kemba Walker Edition

2011-06-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

So this year, the folks at Hoops N Hip-Hop will be behind a feature called "2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise". Leading up to the draft, a new article will be posted up on the GamePointBlog and RaptorSpace, introducing and analyzing every rookie that will be within range of the Raptors' 5th overall pick. Though much is uncertain, we know one thing for sure, one of these players will be asked the question every rookie dreams of hearing: "Are you concerned about the taxes up there in Canada?"

Meet Kemba Walker of University of Connecticut

Age: 21
Nationality: American
Height: 6'0
Weight: 184

Hoops N Hip-Hop Co-Host and Writer DeeJae Johnson

To be or not to be, I’m sure this is what Kemba Walker asked himself when thinking of winning the NCAA tournament at the beginning of the season. By the end of march, that question was answered. The UCONN Huskies’ scoring machine, without a doubt played his best basketball this past NCAA season and proved not to only be a threat on the offensive end but as well whatever the team needed him to be. One word to truly describe Kemba is Clutch (see video below). Kemba has a presence about him that screams confidence, and his high basketball I.Q. doesn’t hurt at all. After a recent work out with the Toronto Raptors, you could see fearlessness in his eyes. To see him in a red and black jersey would help propel Toronto into an immediate playoff picture, the guy is just that good. Despite the lack of size, he can play above the rim and his shooting touch can alleviate a bad-shooting choice. Think Kevin Durant in a 5’10 body. If Kemba can show that he can be an excellent playmaker as a scorer, then the sky won’t be his limit. He’ll shoot above it.

You've probably seen it once before, but this is what DeeJae means when he says "Kemba is Clutch":

Hoops N Hip-Hop Producer and Writer Rose Arcana

One of the likely candidates for Toronto’s 5th pick in the draft will be Kemba Walker. Although many people were ecstatic for Kyrie Irving, I on the other hand have always had my eye on Walker. I watched the video mixes on him, I saw him in his March Madness success, and from the first time I saw him I was hooked.

This is a young man with a very high ceiling and a tremendous up-side. He spent a couple more years in college than most draft prospects which will only make him more valuable in my books. He will be more mature and more knowledgeable about not only basketball, but also about the political aspects of the game. He won't be a baby thrown into an adult world with all the thrills and frills so many rookies get caught up in. Not to mention he's a dancer. Sure most of you guys are going “WHAT?” but seriously there are so many NBA players that could improve their moves if they learned how to dance (ie Derozan.) When I first saw Walker, one of the first things I said was “I bet he can dance.” Sure enough he is an excellent dancer and has performed at the Apollo Theater.

Just look at his stats. Here we have a point guard that can do a bit of everything! He averages 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 23.4 points and nearly 2 steals per game. I would take him on my fantasy team any day of the week! Granted he is lacking in the 3-point area, but in all honesty maybe this is a good thing. With players like Bargnani shooting 3’s, someone needs to shoot from the inside. For years the Raptors have prided themselves on their 3-point prowess, it’s time to move away from that.

After all that, you are now wondering why he would even fall to 5th. Besides the obvious problems with his size, here are a few reasons he may fall to Toronto.

First off we are pretty sure he will not go 1 or 2; so I will start with #3 pick from the Utah Jazz. Plain and simple, they don’t need him. They have Devin Harris followed by Raja Bell, and Gordon Hayward. It would be a wasted pick for Utah unless they know of a certain team, down in let’s say Houston, that they could flip Kemba to. But with the 3rd pick, you are usually looking for something you can use for in the future, not something to trade for older players.

The #4 pick belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers. We all assume they will have already picked up Kyrie at pick #1 so they have no need for Kemba as well. However they could strike a deal with a team such as the Spurs who might be in need of a young athletic point guard in exchange for a solid piece or two. If I were picking for Cleveland, I wouldn’t pick Kyrie at #1. With the top rookies consisting of mainly point guards, I would go for Derrick Williams at #1 and hold off for Walker at #4, but that’s just me. I’m not so sure Cleveland can live with not taking the coveted top pick at #1. Men and their egos.

That leaves Walker falling to number 5 and the Toronto Raptors. This could be a win-win for everyone.

Kris Cuaresma's Conclusion

Strengths: Scoring ability, leadership, advanced ball handling, elite speed, amazing footwork, clutch, ability to contort body in mid air

Weaknesses: undersized, short wingspan, inconsistent jumper, lack of NBA 3 pt range, trouble with finishing at the rim, questions about point guard skills

After reading these strengths and weaknesses, do any particular recent Raptors come to mind? If you said "Jerryd Bayless", then have a cookie because it sure does match him quite well. And that to me, is the reason that's making me question Kemba Walker the most. Consider that the two have very similar play styles that resulted in comparable stats in their final collegiate season - Bayless (19.7 pts, 4.0 ast) and Walker (23.4 pts, 4.3 ast)

Now of course, there are several significant differences between the two. The first being that Walker actually was successful in putting a team on his back and leading them all the way to a National Championship.

Kemba had one of the most prolific years a player could have playing in the NCAA, marked with several highlights, clutch moments, and most importantly - wins. This guy has won on every level he's played, and that's a quality that every team doesn't mind in a player.

At the end of the day, it comes down to two things for Kemba; his measurements and his combination of speed and ball handling. If Kemba was four inches taller, he'd be going #1 and being compared as the next Dwyane Wade. But he's not, and the more likely outcome is he becomes the next Ben Gordon. What Walker does have going for him though is his crazy speed and superb dribbling. Derrick Rose has gone on record calling him one of the fastest people he's ever guarded.

Will the Raps draft him at 5? I think they do because he will be the best player available. I'm not sure they do though if Knight or Kanter is still on the board by then. The last point guard we've had that was this dynamic was Damon Stoudamire, so perhaps this will be Mighty Mouse part 2?

Where will Kemba Walker go? If the Raps don't pick him up at #5, expect Sacramento to pick him up at #7 considering the reports of the Kings being impressed with his workouts. A core of Walker, Evans, Thornton, and Cousins is though undersized, still a very nice group of pieces to move forward with.

The 2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise - Brandon Knight Edition

2011-06-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

So this year, the folks at Hoops N Hip-Hop will be behind a feature called "2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise". Leading up to the draft, a new article will be posted up on the GamePointBlog and RaptorSpace, introducing and analyzing every rookie that will be within range of the Raptors' 5th overall pick. Though much is uncertain, we know one thing for sure, one of these players will be asked the question every rookie dreams of hearing: "Are you concerned about the taxes up there in Canada?"

Meet Brandon Knight of University of Kentucky

Age: 19
Nationality: American
Height: 6'3
Weight: 177
Position: Point Guard

Hoops N Hip-Hop Co-Host and Writer DeeJae Johnson

In a land filled with despair, where velociraptors roam with a basketball in their hands. Winning and losing come down to talent, effort, and the willingness to strive for greatness. We need a hero. No… we need a (Brandon) Knight in shining armour, or maybe not? The 6’3, 177 pound guard is projected to go anywhere from three to nine, and with Toronto having the fifth selection in the draft, what makes him worthy of roaming with the rest of the velociraptors? The Kentucky product is an excellent shooter, especially from the mid range. Knight has an average handle on the ball but balances that with enough craftiness and speed to get to the rim. Knight averaged 17 points, four rebounds, as well as four assists as a freshman. My concern is that Knight is more of a scoring guard, for example, like current Toronto Raptor, Jerryd Bayless. With the hopes of continuing to develop Bayless, there isn’t a need for Knight. There is no doubt in my mind that Knight will be a successful point guard in the NBA and it doesn’t hurt he had a college coach like John Calipari, who has helped produce John Wall, Tyreke Evans and this years M.V.P. Derrick Rose. With a team that wants to accelerate their abilities on the defensive end, Brandon Knight may not be the correct pick at five, but at the age of 19, time is on his side if he makes an effort to commit to that side of the ball.

Check out this video from FoxSports touching on DeeJae's concerns about Knights play style and the journey he's going to have to take to become a point guard:

Hoops N Hip-Hop Producer and Writer Rose Arcana

If Brandon Knight were to actually fall to #5 then it would be a no-brainer to snatch him up without hesitation. Toronto needs some young fresh intelligent blood and I believe Knight paired with Derozan along with a real center could really push this team to new levels. I’ll be honest; I’m a Kemba fan which you will see in a later installment; however Brandon would probably be my next choice in this year’s draft for point guards. Sure everyone is on a Kyrie kick, but not this girl. If I were a GM I would pick Brandon and let you curse me this year because in about 3 years you will be calling me a genius.

One thing Brandon has proven this year is that he can be taught and he is more than willing to learn and improve. Raw talent isn’t everything. Let’s face it there aren’t any surefire superstars in this year’s draft so you need to look for someone that is moldable. That is one thing The Raptors need, a player that is willing to be molded, taught and works hard. This is a guy that had a 4.6 GPA in high school (due to accelerated classes that give you extra points) from an academic minded elite prep school and then went on to University of Kentucky to finish the year with a 4.0 (straight A’s)! He has grades that rival mine and I have nothing but respect for that. Of course this upside is only as great as the coach they bring in to teach him.

One of his greatest criticisms is that he isn’t a true point guard. If you look closer you will see he is exactly what he had to be for the team to win. In the beginning coaches said he was too selfless and team minded, passing up opportunities for himself and giving them to his team mates. His game changed because his coach wanted it to change. He became the elite scorer that he needed to be for the advancement of his team. With University of Kentucky losing Kanter’s contribution due to ineligibility issues, the pressure was on Knight to fill the scoring shoes of two possible stars. Others say Brandon is wiry and can’t handle contact. That is nothing that some extra workouts and training can’t overcome.

With the way the current Raptors line-up plays, Knight may not be the best choice only because Toronto’s team is not balanced. If Toronto was to commit to getting a solid low post presence on the offensive end, then they wouldn’t have to worry about Brandon’s weak inside shot as much. Long gone are the days of Toronto’s domination of the 3-pt stats. Bring in a real big man and a new era in Raptors basketball where they dominate the entire game and not just a stat line.

Brandon Knight is one of those rare pearls that come along only once in a blue moon. If he is still around at number 5 then the Raptors would be doing themselves and their fans a disservice not to take him and run.

Check this video out to see why Brandon Knight may very well have what it takes to be the best of his class:

Kris Cuaresma's Conclusion

Strengths: Good height and length for the point guard position, reliable jumper, attacking mindframe, coachable, showed improvements throughout his college year, excels in the fast break, clutch performer, good lateral foot speed

Weaknesses: Trouble finishing all the way at the rim and will rely too much on floater, could improve shooting mechanics; may be more of a combo guard than a point guard, slight frame, not as athletic as point guards of similar measurements in recent drafts,

Our second straight yet final Kentucky product comes in the form of the exciting Brandon Knight. When I see him, I instantly draw physical comparisons to other young point guards like Russell Westbrook and John Wall. He isn't anywhere near as fast or as athletic as those guys, but he has the frame, and I think that's what is most intriguing about him. Potentially, he could be a very good defender at the 1 spot because of his physical tools. The NBA is already moving towards bigger and taller point guards, so drafting a Brandon Knight would give the Raptors someone they could throw at these athletic guards every night.

As for being able to play the point guard spot, I don't think he's going to make a sudden transformation. What you see is basically what you're going to get, a combo guard that you can play full time at the 1 spot - which is not a bad thing at all. I like his ability to score the ball and the fact that he took over for Kentucky during pressure situations. If he puts in the work, he has all the tools needed to become a very solid pg in the NBA.

Will the Raps take him at 5? If he's on the board, I definitely see Toronto not even hesitating to make the pick and welcome Knight to the Raptors. The last time we drafted a pg in the lottery - he turned out to win rookie of the year. So - that's a good precedent. He's easily one of the best point guards in the draft, and at 19 years of age, would be perfect with our youth movement.

Where will Brandon Knight go? I think there's a legit 50/50 chance he lands in Toronto. The only threat to that reality would be Utah taking him at 3 to replace Deron (though they already have Harris). Or if Cleveland takes Williams at 1, and Knight at 4. Other than that, his future home will be in Toronto.

The 2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise - Enes Kanter Edition

2011-06-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

So this year, the folks at Hoops N Hip-Hop will be behind a feature called "2011 Rookies: A Raptor In Disguise". Leading up to the draft, a new article will be posted up on the GamePointBlog and RaptorSpace, introducing and analyzing every rookie that will be within range of the Raptors' 5th overall pick. Though much is uncertain, we know one thing for sure, one of these players will be asked the question every rookie dreams of hearing: "Are you concerned about the taxes up there in Canada?"

Meet Enes Kanter of Kentucky University

Age: 19
Nationality: Turkish/Born in Switzerland
Height: 6'11
Weight: 260
Position: Power Forward/Center

Hoops N Hip-Hop Co-Host and Writer DeeJae Johnson:

With the NBA lottery balls not bouncing in the Toronto Raptor’s favour, it seems that the dream of the backcourt involving Kyrie Irving and Demar Derozan are now down the toilet. President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo has stated that the first and second pick in the 2011 draft is either Arizona’s Derrick Williams or the fore mentioned Duke product, Kyrie Irving. Despite the draft being considered as a two pick draft, the Raptors find themselves with the fifth pick and more questions than answers as to how to progress from the 22 win season. The Raptors are in need of a strong low post player who can rebound, and the one name that comes to mind is Enes Kanter. With Enes’ being ineligible to play for Kentucky (due to issues with receiving over $33,000 while playing with a Turkish basketball team), the only game to go on was his 34 points and 13 rebounds performance at the Nike Hoop Summit against team U.S.A. The 6’11 center proved to be dominant against highly recruited high school players.

From seeing Kanter at the NBA Draft Combine, he is an excellent rebounder, is quick off his feet and has a bit of athleticism that surprised most scouts. I think if he was to become a Raptor as the fifth pick, he would immediately make the team better defensively with his length and his rebounding ability. Offensively, Kanter has plenty moves and counter moves that make most question how good he can possibly become in the future.

Take a look at highlights from the Nike Hoop Summit game that DeeJae and many other scouts will have to refer to of Enes Kanter:

Hoops N Hip-Hop Producer and Writer Rose Arcana:

I’ll be honest. I'm not thrilled with the concept of Enes Kanter as a prospect for the Raptors. He’s unproven, offensive minded with similar game and mentality as current Raptor players, and fills a position that the Raps don’t really need right now (yeah - I think he's a PF and not a C). Sure people can argue that he is a great player. Of course he is or he wouldn’t be in the draft, let alone considered in the top 5. You could also say that he isn’t a typical European player because he went to high school in the US and college at University of Kentucky. Yet I would counter by saying he played one year of high school ball and didn’t really play much of any college ball, he was just assisting the coach because he wasn’t eligible to play. Then people might bring up the fact that he played in the Euro-league and again I would remind them that he was a seldom used ‘reserve’ player that barely saw playing time and only played FOUR games in the Euro-league and only FIVE games in the Turkish Basketball League. No matter how good Kanter looks in workouts, Kanter isn’t Rubio. This is a guy that has potential but at the end of the day still falls ‘SHORT’ of being the big man that Toronto wants and needs. I say pass on him, Raptors don’t need another offensive PF pretending to play center….

All in all Kanter is a great player, he's a good but not a great fit for the Raptors. I say Kanter gets drafted #6.

Check out the vid below as NBA TV analysts breakdown the same concerns and questions Rose had about Kanter

Kris Cuaresma's Conclusion:

Strengths: NBA-ready body, good amount of post moves, looks comfortable down low, impressive footwork, can hit the mid-range jumper, high motor, goes after rebounds, hard worker, has more than enough strength to hold his own in the NBA

Weaknesses: lack of experience, injury concerns, athleticism question marks, trouble rotating on defense, not looked as a shot blocker, foot speed will need to improve

Personally, I think it's going to take awhile, but Kanter will definitely be an impact player in the NBA barring any serious injuries. He's only 19, so there will more than his fair share of bumps and hurdles, but it looks like he's got the tools to succeed. He has a body meant for the NBA on both sides of the floor, and seems to have a good grasp of the fundamentals. This along with the reports of him being a hard worker will go a long way in neutralizing his weaker athleticism. I know there was that video of his combine drills running the floor and dunking the ball, but he's always been able to do that, and still either refuses or is unable to in the middle of a game. Because of this, I also don't see him being a dominant shot blocker either.

However, his main strengths will be with his offensive arsenal and defensive rebounding. If all goes well in his career, I can see him being a taller and stronger Luis Scola/Al Horford hybrid. Both are power forwards who won't wow you defensively, but are solid offensive options and work hard on the defensive end.

Will the Raps take him at #5? If they somehow move Ed Davis or Bargnani on draft night, then probably. But realistically, I don't think they will. I like Davis at the 4 spot with his shot blocking mentality anyways.

Where will Enes Kanter go? He has the biggest question marks attached to him. He could go at #2 to the Wolves and team up with Kevin Love forming one of the best rebounding duos. Or he could go #4 to the Cavs who would probably give Cleveland their small-big combo of the future with Irving. I think the furthest he could potentially slip is to Washington at 6, where he and Wall could do some damage together.

The ABCs of 2-3-2s

2011-05-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

So if you've been following the NBA playoffs the last few years, you already know that the actual finals is treated differently in regards to format. Rounds one through three are played with a 2-2-1-1-1 best of 7 series. This means that the higher seed gets home court the first two games and the (if necessary) fifth and seventh game.

However, because we all love change, the "Finals" mixes it up and enforces a 2-3-2 best of 7 series. This means that the higher seeded team (in this year's case - the Miami Heat - will get home court the first and last 2 games.

NBA fans typically vary on their opinion of the 2-3-2 format, but personally, I don't like it. It places the lower seeded team at a bigger disadvantage than a 2-2-1-1-1 series would. Realistically, the Mavs could aim for a split in the first two (will be extremely tough to do in Miami where there Heat are undefeated in the playoffs), but will then have to win three straight afterwards to bury the Heat in Dallas. Consider that the playoffs are all about adjustments, Dallas will basically have to play out of their mind to accomplish this, and I'm telling you now - this is what the Mavs have to do if they want to become champions.

Because if this gets to game 6, Miami will not give this series up.

The Only Way To Stop Dirk = Mike Brown..?

2011-05-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, there's no one left in the Western Conference that can stop Dirk Nowitzki. Aldrige was overwhelmed, while Wallace crashed. Then of course the graphic abuse of Pau Gasol was broadcasted nationally for a few games. And now we get to see multiple attempts from Collison, Perkins, Ibaka, Mohammed, and even Durant - only to fail one by one.

If the Thunder somehow found a way to remove one of Dirk's legs - yes a friggen body limb - it still wouldn't prevent him from trying that fall-away shot he likes.

If you missed his legendary performance in game 4, here's a nice clip:

But wait! The Lakers have the answer in their new head coach.

Ladies and gentlemen...Mike Brown...

Quite a few Laker fans all over the world have this blank expression on their face, the same face Mr. Brown had during his tenure in Cleveland. Many felt he had no control over that team, so one can only hope the entertainment will be 100 times better in Hollywood.

And btw kids, you're witnessing history with the first ever GIF on the GamePointBlog. And you know what? It's a good first.

Top 50 Dunks of 2011

2011-05-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

So here's a video I came across recently on Youtube that was uploaded by azndaniel167. Here, you'll be treated to an opinion of which throwdowns were the best of the season. Unfortunately, this doesn't include some of the nice dunks we've seen in the playoffs, but you'll be entertained nonetheless.

No worries by the way, KIA is not sponsoring this video or this blog. Though they do know how to contact me!

Some Observations

- 43 had the sexiest pass. Definitely all about the pass.
- 41 one of my favourites from this season
- 33 is some 2K cheese
- 25 had perfect amount of elevation and extension.
- 7 and 6 may be too high for me
- I have no problem with #1 but Kevin Harlan definitely helps add to its awesomeness.

1st Is The Worst, 2nd Is The Best, 5th Is The One That Goes To The Raptors

2011-05-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

[Picture credit to Matthew Stasyna - Check out more of his work on his photobucket link: Click here!]

Okay. So that didn't go too well.

But we've got to just move on and make the best of the situation we've been given. Assuming we don't trade the pick, there are still players with a decent amount of upside at the 5th slot. They may not be the safer game changers like Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams, but that doesn't mean we can't luck out and find someone who makes everyone down the road question how he fell to five.

In case you were wondering, for your convenience, the last 15 years worth of 5th overall picks.

2010 - DeMarcus Cousins
2009 - Ricky Rubio
2008 - Kevin Love
2007 - Jeff Green
2006 - Shelden Williams
2005 - Raymond Felton
2004 - Devin Harris
2003 - Dwyane Wade
2002 - Nikoloz Tskitishvili
2001 - Jason Richardson
2000 - Mike Miller
1999 - Jonathan Bender
1998 - Vince Carter
1997 - Tony Battie
1996 - Ray Allen
1995 - Kevin Garnett

There are some nice names on that list, some of the more notable ones including Wade, Ray Allen, KG, and even Vince Carter. However, there has also been plenty of misses over the years. And unfortunately, this year's draft looks more like the 2000 version in regards to talent pool.

So...Mike...Miller...anyone?

Keep a lookout for our special Hoops N Hip-Hop "Draft Roundtable" feature as we break down each of the players that could possibly be there at the 5th pick for the Raptors to draft.

Oh, and screw you Lucky Charms leprechaun, bigger marshmallows my a**!

Just Another Disappointment Or The First Step Torwards A Championship?

2011-05-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight, is a significant moment in the history of the Toronto Raptors. As soon as the clock strikes 8:30 pm est, Raptors Nation will find out what the future holds for a franchise that has had more downs than ups.

It all comes down to the bounce of a ping pong ball.

There will be a total of 1000 ping pong balls - 156 of them belonging to the Raptors - and all we need is for one of them to fall our way.

This year's draft is said to only have two players likely to achieve all-star status in Duke's Kyrie Irving and Arizona's Derrick Williams (though even Williams has question marks in my opinion - we'll get into that when Hoops N Hip-Hop breaks down each draft entrant later).

With the amount of risks that fall after the first two picks, where we end up after tomorrow night has the potential to impact the success this franchise sees for the next 4-5 years. Get lucky and move up, and the Raptors likely add a future rookie-of-the-year to their roster. Stay put or fall down in the draft, and possibly set yourself up for a prolonged rebuilding period.

As of right now, the Raptors have the 3rd best chance to land the #1 pick with 15.6%. Here are the rest of the lottery teams' chances in comparison:

Minnesota - 25%
Cleveland - 19.9%
Toronto - 15.6%
Washington - 11.9%
Sacramento - 7.6%
New Jersey - 7.5%
Detroit - 4.3%
Los Angeles - 2.8%
Charlotte - 1.7%
Milwaukee - 1.1%
Golden State- 0.8%
Utah - 0.7%
Phoenix - 0.6%
Houston - 0.5%

Mission Control : Houston, We Have No Adelman

2011-05-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Today, we dip into the mind of Hoop N Hip-Hop's very own Southern Belle, Christie. She gives her opinion on the situation down in Houston, Texas as they continue their search for a new coach.

It’s been a rough few years for the Houston Rockets with injuries mounting every season and superstars doing little more than warming the bench. This wasn’t the way Rick Adelman had planned it, and not the way he wanted to end his career. Morey has decided to play young ball for the first time in a very long time, and Adelman wasn’t up for the challenge. So we are saying goodbye to the Adelman era and hello to……. Something.

I will not pretend to tell you what the higher-ups are thinking with their list of prospects, but one thing is for sure, they want a lapdog above all else. Reported to be in the final running are Lawrence Frank, Dwane Casey, and Kevin McHale. I’m not surprised however that Sam Cassell didn’t make the final cut even though he was considered. But to put Kevin McHale there? Seriously? As some of you may know I have a soft spot for the Cassell man, after all he is from Houston and played on the Houston Rockets during their 2-peat championships just to be traded for Charles Barkley in his decline.

There are other prospects who didn’t make the final cut that I think should have….

Mario Elle for starters. He use to play for the Houston Rockets and is currently the assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. Not only that but his wife is here in Houston working as an anchor for one of the top television stations in the area. Not only would he be delighted to be with his wife a lot more often, but he has the Rockets' pride drilled into his brain and will put forth a tremendous amount of effort to not only win, but to also kiss Morey’s backside as often as needed. It’s a win-win for all involved and could have been a start to a very heartfelt Disney movie in the making!

Mike Budenholzer is also a prime candidate, especially after the season he just had as the assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs. Actually I would be willing to say he may be my top candidate. Sure there may have to be a bit more PR to get him accepted here right away just because the Spurs and the Rockets have a fairly intense rivalry, but not any more than they have with the Mavericks; and I seem to see Dwane Casey listed as a finalist up there. So what’s the deal? Why Casey and not Budenholzer? Why wouldn’t you want the man who is seen as the best assistant coach in the NBA? Could it be that he will not bend over backwards for Morey? I think so…

Quin Snyder (76ers) wouldn’t be a bad fit if the Rockets are really dead set on building from the ground up. He has proven himself with young players and developing young talent. He is thought to be a great communicator with his players, but on the down side I could see him becoming like Toronto’s current coach Triano and babying his players too much. To the upside, the men upstairs should like his ‘yes man’ attitude.

At the end of the day they have to pick someone, anyone at this point, but to what end? I don’t think they have explored all their options. I agree with not promoting anyone from the current coaching line-up, because that is not a way to change a team. However, I don’t think they have explored all the avenues. They want to have someone chosen before the draft. At the end of the day does it really matter who the coach is by then? No it really doesn’t. The Rockets have again put themselves in one of the worst positions come draft time. Not only did they ensure they couldn’t make the play-offs but they succeeded in securing the worst possible lottery option as well. This year’s draft is so shallow that a typical 20th draft pick will now go around number 10. Odds are that the rockets will end up with a benchwarmer with less basketball IQ then the local towel boy. It’s going to be a sad few more years for the Rockets. When Obama shut down NASA, I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean ALL rockets had to be grounded.

Written by: Christie

With A Side of Red - Playoff Edition [Social and Physical Awkardness]

2011-05-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

Something we liked to do here at Gamepointblog when we first started out was a feature called "With A Side of Red".

Basically, we'd gather a few videos and links that would hopefully entertain you while you do what you do. And with the playoffs in full swing, we thought it'd be a good idea to get back into it.

So without further ado:

Chris Bosh had a pretty good performance in game 4 last night, helping the Heat take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Maybe this bounce back to respectability was fueled by the press conference he had after game 3. It's been well documented that the attention of the bright spotlight was what Bosh was seeking when he left Toronto. Unfortunately, no one still seems to care about the 3rd member of Miami's "Two and a Half Men". While Wade and LeBron get to sit together during their Q&A, Bosh is forced to endure a lack of questions by himself.

So as the Lakers' season came to a excruciating prolonged end, Mr. Andrew Bynum became a third time offender when he decided to take himself out of the game via ejection. This is what happens when you forget this isn't a game of 2k and you can't rage quit.

And in case you haven't seen it yet, or want to relive it, Bynum's 2nd and 1st offense. Looks like the Lakers were able to get another 3peat...:

Home Is Where The Wins Are

2011-05-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

With the end of an era in Los Angeles, another battle rages on between two teams who are very similar at the core.

Many basketball fans around the world rioted upon hearing the announcement that LeBron James and Chris Bosh would be joining Wade in Miami to form a super team. But a lot of people forget they weren't the first team to do this. In fact, the very blueprint Miami followed was inspired by the Boston Celtics and their formation of their own Big 3.

And now even thrown into a fight where only one of them can survive, the Heat and the Celtics continue to mirror each other in regards to the intensity they play with at home.

Call it a more efficient offense or a less attentive defense, but one thing's for sure, the home team has so far been the better team.

And this isn't surprising when you remember that both the Heat and the Celtics are unbeaten at home in the playoffs so far. After 3 games, here are both team's percentages as the home and away team.

Miami

Home: 46%FG
Away: 43%FG

Home: 45%3pt
Away: 22%3pt

Celtics

Home: 50%FG
Away: 43%FG

Home: 50%3pt
Away: 53%3pt

Other than the fact that Boston has been lighting it up from 3 point land regardless of where they are playing, it's clear that both teams are hitting at a higher clip at home than on the road.

Even when you throw the stats out the window, anyone who actually watches the games can tell that both teams just play at a higher level in front of their home crowd.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, they only have three home games in this seven game series. Late in the season, both teams decided to duke it out for the 2nd seed in the East, knowing full well it could come in handy when they crossed paths in the post-season. With injuries mounting, the Celtics decided to ease up on the gas pedal (stating it wasn't worth it) and instead focused on getting to the playoffs healthy.

So now here the two teams stand, both brimming with talent and hunger for a championship. The only thing that sets them apart is that one team doesn't even have to win on the road to advance.

Don't be surprised if the Heat win in seven games.

The Grizz Have An App For That

2011-05-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Memphis Grizzlies are a legitimate championship contender.

Why?

Because they literally have an answer for anything and everything you throw at them.

If you happen to be a methodical, precise, and cerebral half-court team like oh, I dunno, the Spurs; then they have enough athleticism, youth, and speed to play at a hectic pace.

But unlike previous run-n-gun teams like the the SSOL Suns and Warriors, Memphis can also efficiently execute half-court sets. And on top of that, the Grizzlies can vary their attacks in the half-court. Bullying their way inside with Marc Gasol, or making it rain from the perimeter with the likes of Mayo, Conley, and Battier results in a pick-your-poison offense.

Let's face it, at the end of the day, to succeed in the playoffs means having that one superstar to take over in the clutch and bring home the win. The Grizzlies? They go to Mr. Zach Randolph, who in my humble opinion is currently playing like the best power forward in the league. Everyone knows Z-Bo is going to get the ball, but more often than not, there's nothing you can do to prevent him from scoring when the game is on the line.

On the flip side, you're not going to get very far in the playoffs without stopping the other team's best player. Where most teams have one defensive stopper, the Grizzlies have an army of them. Even if you combined a super team comprised of Spurs and Thunder players, - let's roll with Westbrook/Ginobli/Durant/Duncan/Perkins - the Grizz could still match-up defensively with Conley/Allen/Battier/Randolph/Gasol and get away with it.

With the Lakers now down 0-2 to Dallas, the Grizzlies may very well have a real chance of making it all the way to the finals. Getting by the Thunder will not be an easy task, but don't be surprised if they manage to find a way to slip by OKC and then the eventual winner of LA/Dallas.

And then considering I have the Heat coming out of the East, I don't see a team right now (other than the Thunder) currently better equipped to handle Miami's Big 3.

Do you?

Hoops N Hip Hop #14

2011-04-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Hoops N Hip-Hop would like to announce that we've found a new home at Vimeo.com for all our archived videos, shows, and podcasts. It's a great site that has everything you need, highly recommend it!

On that note, here was one of the last shows we were able to do in the studio before we move out to our new digs. We had Darnelle "DJ DNYCE" Patterson stop by to grace us with his presence. The young DJ can be reached here through his facebook for any inquiries. As an official member of the Hoops N Hip-Hop staff, you'll definitely be able to find a lot of his stuff on this site and on our Facebook page!

Hoops N Hip Hop #14 from Hoops N HipHop on Vimeo.

Cue Jeremy Piven - The Playoffs Are Here

2011-04-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

I know we're a little late to the party, but you can #blameschool for that. Besides, better late than never is the motto we'll be using to usher the end of the school year and the start of the summer here at GamePointBlog.

If you tuned in to our final in-studio show of Hoops N Hip-Hop, DJ Johnson (follow him on twitter here: DeeJae_03) and I had guest Chris Willis come in to play a fun game of "Playoff Predictions".

But because teams decided to ruin our fun (we're looking at you Miami and Boston), we had to re-do our our predictions because of seed changes. So without further ado, here they are:

Eastern Conference

#1 Chicago Vs. #8 Indiana
Kris: Chicago
DJ: Chicago
Chris: Chicago

#2 Miami Vs. #7 Philadelphia
Kris: Miami
DJ: Miami
Chris: Miami

#3 Boston Vs. #6 New York
Kris: Boston
DJ: New York
Chris: Boston

#4 Orlando Vs. #5 Atlanta
Kris: Orlando
DJ: Orlando
Chris: Orlando

Western Conference

#1 San Antonio Vs. #8 Memphis
Kris: San Antonio
DJ: Memphis
Chris: San Antonio

#2 Los Angeles Vs. #7 New Orleans
Kris: LA
DJ: LA
Chris: LA

#3 Dallas Vs. #6 Portland
Kris: Dallas
DJ: Portland
Chris: Portland

#4 Oklahoma City Vs. #5 Denver
Kris: Denver
DJ: OKC
Chris: OKC

East Finals

Kris: Chicago Vs. Miami
DJ: Chicago Vs. New York
Chris: Chicago Vs. Boston

West Finals

Kris: San Antonio Vs. LA
DJ: OKC Vs. LA
Chris: San Antonio Vs. LA

Finals
Kris: Miami over LA
DJ: LA over Chicago
Chris: Boston over LA

And there you have it. Our petty predictions in a nutshell. Make sure to keep an eye out on a few things like more podcasts and articles from us at GamePointBlog. We'll be breaking down the playoffs as they happen, as well as a promise from Matt Devlin himself to make a guest appearance.

Now I'm off to go back in time as a creepy kid in an attempt to prevent Araujo from ever declaring in the 2004 draft.

2011-03-23T21:57:00.001-07:00

HHH#13

Hoops N Hip-Hop Podcast #11

2011-03-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

School. Work. Sleep.

That's the routine over here at Hoops N Hip-Hop Headquarters. But to quote DeMar, the plan is to go H.A.M. moving forward. Here's the 11th episode of Hoops N Hip-Hop. In the meantime, save a kitten by liking our Facebook page.

Hoops N Hip-Hop Podcast #7

2011-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

So if you haven't heard, the second semester for schools are well underway. In my eyes, that means two things:

1. Early mornings
2. The return of Hoops N Hip-Hop

DJ Johnson and I are back in the swing of things with the one radio show that brings you everything that has to do with the Toronto Raptors, the NBA, and the music culture that goes with it.

We'll be incorporating RaptorSpace segments from here on out, bringing in an entertaining line of guests, as well as beginning our "Top 50 Project".

0:00 - Intro
2:05 - I Can't Remember (Playa's Circle)
4:51 - Raptorspace Segment
8:55 - Be With You (David Banner ft. Ludacris)
12:16 - RaptorSpace Segment Continued
17:15 - I Need A Doctor (Dr. Dre ft. Eminem and Skylar Grey)
22:29 - Around The NBA
26:04 - Moment 4 Lyfe (Nicki Minaj ft. Drake)
30:13 - Locals Only (Dom Kennedy)
33:00 - Revisiting the bet with Chris Willis
35:39 - Outro
38:05 - Mix Provided by DJ DNYCE

A Closer Look At Triano's Out-of-Timeout Sequences

2011-01-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

If you managed to catch the Raptors' last game against the Atlanta Hawks, you know how tight of a contest it was the entire way. With so many lead changes, the value of every possession was magnified. Make the best of your opportunities, or fall behind in the hectic pace that the opposing team was playing at - that was the mind frame on a snowy Wednesday night in Toronto.

Coincidentally, I chose to keep track of every sequence the Raptors ran out of timeouts. They say this is where coaches earn their money, as games can often be decided by one possession.

So here is the full version of my transcript from last night's out of time out plays. It includes the time, score, and a quick point form description of what we ran. Keep in mind, it's not to be taken concrete. Teams (especially young ones) who lack experience in execution often end up running broken plays. Let this serve more as an idea of what direction Triano decides to go after every timeout.

***

Score: 8-12
Time: 5:50 - 1st QRT
Sequence: Bargnani receives the ball at the high post, DeMar takes the ball on a dribble hand-off off a curl around Bargs, made layup by DeMar. (10-12)

Score: 18-19
Time: 2:30 - 1st QRT
Sequence: Handoff to Barbosa at the top of 3 point line, drives to the rim and draws defender help, kicks out to DeMar along baseline for jumper or drive, DeMar turns ball over due to defensive pressure. (18-19)

Score: 20-25
Time: 0:34 - 1st QRT
Sequence: No play run. Free throw for Davis, and fastbreak by Bayless.

Score: 21-27
Time: 12:00 - 2nd QRT
Sequence: Bayless hands ball of to Davis at the top of 3 point line, Bayless sets pick at high post for Bargnani curl, Bargs catches and shoots, misses. (21-27)

Score: 33-37
Time: 8:00 - 2nd QRT
Sequence: Bargs calls for the ball at high post but is denied, Bayless can't make the entry pass and instead drives to the rim, misses layup. (33-37)

Score: 40-45
Time: 5:40 - 2nd QRT
Sequence: Barbosa takes the ball to the top of 3 point line; waits for an Amir screen, drives to opposite side of screen and makes layup. (42-45)

Score: 50-56
Time: 2:15 - 2nd QRT
Sequence: Bargnani with the ball at the wing; Calderon runs through two off-ball screens, catches ball and shoots a 3 at the top of 3 point line; miss. (50-56)

Score: 55-60
Time: 0:20 - 2nd QRT
Sequence: Bayless hands off to Barbosa at the top of 3 point line, Barbosa penetrates to the basket and misses layup. (55-60)

Score: 55-60
Time: 12:00 - 3rd QRT
Sequence: DeMar/Bargs/Calderon swing to each other on the perimeter, Calderon with the ball at the wing uses a Bargs pick to drive the rim but is cut off, Jose passes it to Amir at the free throw line who is closed out on, Amir throws it back out to Jose in the corner, the broken play results in Jose passing it to DeMar on the opposite wing who shoots at end of shot clock, miss. (55-60)

Score: 66-70
Time: 5:27 - 3rd QRT
Sequence: Kleiza comes off a curl expecting a pass from Jose, pass is deflected out of bounds. (66-70)

Score: 70-72
Time: 2:20 - 3rd QRT
Sequence: Bayless passes to Barbosa at top of 3 point line, ISO against Crawford, drives to the rim and draws foul. Two free throws made. (72-72)

Score: 77-75
Time: 12:00 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Bayless with the ball at wing; Barbosa comes from the baseline and sets screen on Amir's man near the free throw line, Amir curls off screen to the rim for an alley oop, Bayless decides the pass isn't there and instead passes it to Barbosa for an ISO at the top of the key, ball bounces off Crawford's foot and out of bounds. (77-75)

Score: 83-80
Time: 8:34 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Barbosa drives baseline, kicks out to DeMar at the wing who is closed out on, quickly passes it back to Barbosa in the corner for 3, misses. (83-80)

Score: 87-86
Time: 6:00 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Barbosa gets ball on the wing, Amir sets screen, Barbosa drives to basket and makes layup. (89-86)

Score: 93-91
Time: 2:58 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Calderon pick n pop with Bargnani, Bargs catches ball at 3 point line, drives when defender closes out on him, pull up jumper at the free throw line and makes it. (95-91)

Score: 101-99
Time: 0:20 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Jose waits for Amir screen at the top, Amir sets illegal screen, foul called. Turnover. (101-99)

Score: 101-102
Time: 0:08 - 4th QRT
Sequence: Raptors get the big on small switch for Horford on Jose. Jose drives to the rim, layup is blocked, ball bounces off Jose and out of bounds. (101-102)

***

A few quick things I noticed:

- There was talk about freezing our DeMar after his hot start on the forums and on twitter. It seems as though other than our first two plays after timeouts, DeMar did not see a single play run for him. The only other time he was involved was on a bailout at the end of the shot clock.

- A conscious effort was made to feed the hot hand in Barbosa and force Jamal Crawford to play defense. For the most part, having Barbosa go 1 on 1 with Jamal worked out for the Raps. Crawford had to put in work on the defensive end, while Barbosa could sneak a rest with our 2-3.

- Bargnani was able to receive the ball only 3 out of 17 times in these sequences. The duo of Smith and Horford may have caused the Raptors to steer away from Bargnani.

- The Raptors turned possessions into points only 4 out of 17 times. Ultimately, they're going to need to have better execution than that if they want to win close games like this one in the future.

NBA 2K The Life - Spotlight With Warriors Owner QJB

2010-12-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Only four days into the second season of The Life, and a front runner has already emerged. Boasting an enviable record of 16-3, QJB has his hot Warriors squad sitting on the top of the entire league.

Fresh off his thrilling victory over the Spurs, we sat down with the humble professional who holds the keys to what I like to call the "Showtime Warriors".

Q: You just wrapped up a close game against Emo's Spurs squad, what was going through your mind on the last possession?

QJB: There was 1.1 seconds left on the clock. I was expecting to go to overtime after he hit a clutch 3 pointer to tie the game. So I inbounded the ball to Eric Gordon, one of my best shooters, and he tossed it up and made it. My team was going crazy on the court after he made the game winner against such a great opponent

Q: You're Warriors team is leading the league in PPG, 2nd in assists, and 3rd in FG%, it's safe to say you have your team running like an offensive machine, is that an identity you pride yourself on?

QJB: Our team is doing our best to win games. It isn't a big deal what we are ranked among the league in those categories as long as we have wins. Everyday we strive to get better and even though John Wall is a rookie, he is playing like he has been in the NBA for years.

Q: This is basically your first season in The Life League, considering you arrived on the scene late into the last season. There was some controversy with your first round match-up, is that early exit/elimination something you think about still?

QJB: Yes, of course it's still in the back of my mind, but you have to push on and strive to get better to prevent something like that from happening again. Everyone in the league is competitive and good, and even though we get into it sometime, it's all in the love for the game.

Q: Describe your game in one word.

QJB: VeryveryveryFAST

Q: We know about John Wall, we know about Smoove, but who's been the unsung hero of the 1st place Warriors up to this point?

QJB: Everyone has contributed in their own way up to this point from Nick Young, to Gordon, Anderson, all of the big men and Jeremy Lin coming off of the bench to fill in for Wall and continue to run the offense at a high level.

Q: As of the 14th of December, you have the best record in the entire league, what's your message to every other baller in the league right now gunning for your spot?

QJB: It's a tough road to get to this point. Every game my team has played has been a test for my guys. Everyone brings their best on each night out there, especially if they know you are a good team. We will continue to accept every challenge and look every team straight in the eyes and dare them to play 110% on the court with us.

Hoops N Hip-Hop Podcast #5

2010-12-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Kris Cuaresma and DJ Johnson. For this show, we brought in special guest underground rapper Prince Black, CEO of Dynasty Bully Gang. We take a look into his life, career, and listen to some of his tracks. As well, we dive into the Toronto Raptors, and a lot of Miami Heat talk.

Make sure to check out Prince Black on Twitter. Also check out his MySpace and Youtube Channel

Digital Table of Contents

0:00 - Intro
1:04 - Fancy (Drake ft. Mary J and Swiss Beatz)
5:45 - Q&A With Prince Black
9:18 - Don't Act Surprised (Prince Black, Prod. By DJ Johnson)
12:50 Q&A With Prince Black Continued
17:01 I Love You (Chris Brown ft. Ester Dean)
20:16 - Raptors Basketball Talk
26:33 - Prince of the City (Prince Black)
29:39 - Miami Heat Discussion
31:51 - Hoops N Hip-Hop Throwdown Question
35:32 - I Shot A Warhol (Murs)
39:10 - Wrap up
41:01 - What The Bleep Of The Week
42:00 - Outro
43:15 - DJ DNYCE Mix

Hoops N Hip-Hop Podcast #4

2010-11-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

What's up readers (and passerbyers) of the GamePointBlog.

To bring up what some have taken the time to email me about, I haven't been able to put in as much work into this blog due to the Hoops N Hip-Hop project. Combined with school and a new part time job, and you can see this kid is feeling the pressure. But no worries, the plan is to switch gears and get this going.

To assist with that, I'm going to include all blogs, podcasts, and videos associated with the Hoops N Hip-Hop show with the GamePointBlog.

A lot of really cool and big things planned. Thanks for sticking with me, and keep the emails coming!

Meanwhile, here's the official online upload to the 4th show of Hoops N Hip-Hop. It was our "Throwback Special" and was hosted by myself and DJ Johnson.

Digital Table of Contents:

0 - Intro
0:34 - This is Me (Common)
5:29 - Opening
7:20 - Raptors Basketball
12:23 - Do For Love (2Pac ft. Blackstreet)
16:56 - Top 10 Favourite Raptors Of All Time
22:21 - Respiration (Black Star)
26:15 - Woo Ha! (Busta Rhymes)
28:52 - All-Retired Team
32:08 - Greatest 3-Point Shooter Of All Time
34:00 - Mo Money Mo Problems (Notorious BIG ft. Mase, Puff Daddy)
38:09 - Back In The Day (Pharcyde)
41:32 - Greatest Player Of All Time?
44:39 - What The Bleep Of The Week
47:14 - Outro
47:56 - DJ DNYCE Mix

Hornets Give A Bit-O-Honey To The Raptors

2010-11-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a post from guest writer Rose Arcana. If you guys don't remember, she was the first ever guest on the Raptors Rundown podcast. She's our resident American - or Texan as she prefers - and a loyal Rockets fans.

Here's her perspective on the recent 5-player trade between the Raptors and the Hornets:

There has been a deal struck between the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Hornets. It involves the trading of Jarret Jack, Marcus Banks, and Davis Andersen from the Raptors in return for Predraq Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless from the Hornets.

To some it may seem like New Orleans was ripped by the Raptors in the deal, but at the end of the day I believe the Hornets are just sharing a bit of the sweet stuff from the honey pot. The Hornets received a couple of serviceable players on cheap contracts. The added depth to their roster will come in handy as the season progresses and they make their play-off run. They are going for it all now, so there’s no need to keep an expiring contract the size of Stojakovic when he isn't helping their cause.

The Hornets are also getting Jack who will be a great back-up point guard for any contending team, he really never has been a great starter. Not to mention he is buddies with Chris Paul.... Jack has friends in high places, too bad he has to ride coat tails to be wanted.

Now for the Raps piece of the candy. They will get a large expiring contract in Stojakovic which will be a great trading chip, and yes I think they will trade him before the season is out. In my opinion it will be a joint trade to sweeten up a deal to get rid of Calderon. Plus they got a young guy to grow with the team and hopefully they can actually get some great chemistry, the kind of chemistry the Raps have been showing lately on this three game winning streak. Tossing Andersen in the deal frees up time for Ed Davis when he returns, which should be pretty soon right? One more thing that this trade does for the Raps is give them a legit line-up to tank with so they can get K. Irving in the next draft….. Then the year after next, 2012 - Atlantic champions…… 2014 - Eastern champions, and finally 2015 - NBA Champions!

Long term planning for sure, but all these young, long contracts give the Raptors a chance to have players grow with them and grow together not apart. Best thing about honey is that it makes everything stick together and tastes ohhhh so sweet in the end!

The Ex-Girlfriend Tour

2010-11-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

Orlando, Florida - November 12, 2010
Miami, Florida - November 13, 2010

If I could make a spiffy looking shirt with these tour dates on the back, I'm sure I could sell a few while waiting in line for the next Raptors game.

Vince was always criticized for smiling too often during games, especially those of the blowout variety. But now it all makes sense. Maybe he knew something we didn't.

With the Raptors making their first visit to Orlando this season, along with their first ever look at the Miami Heat, Raps fans will be treated with an interesting clash of the old and the new.

So what exactly have our former flames been up to lately?

Well Mr. "Air Canada" recently found himself grounded.

While CB4got to get involved last night...

Being realistic, the Raptors lose the next two games and fall to 1-9. To some fans, that's good news as it would bring us one step closer to a top 3 pick in next year's draft.

MEMO To Future Raptors Franchise Players:

It may be sunnier in Florida, but it's definitely not always greener. In fact, do yourself a favour and stay a couple more years than you'd prefer. If T-Mac had done so, he and Carter would have formed one of the most dynamic duos in the modern NBA. And if Carter had done the same, he and Bosh would formed an excellent wing-big combo that often works well.

Failure to adhere to this advice may lead into choking two pivotal free throws during the playoffs, or admitting you look lost on the big stage.

Just sayin...

What Kind of Raptors Fan Are You?

2010-10-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

With the 2010-2011 NBA season already well underway, I ask every member of Raptors Nation this: What kind of Raptors fan are you?

Going into our first season without Chris Bosh, we can still REALISTICALLY go one of two ways.

1. Overachieve and scrape by with the 7th or 8th seed.
2. Meet expectations and finish at the bottom of the league.

Most casual fans would look at the standings, see a lowly "1-4" record next to the Raptors, and feel validated in their lack of confidence within the team. But for those who have actually watched the games this year, you know the Raptors have been been in every game they've played so far.

When it comes down to it, the Raptors have been within striking distance of a win in each of their first five games (yes, even against the Jazz and Lakers). One of the other encouraging signs revolves around the intensity and effort this team has shown night in and out. Regardless of how many points we may fall behind, this year's installment of the Toronto Raptors refuse to hang their head and give up.

So with that in mind, which route would you like the Raptors to go?

There's no question the players want to make the playoffs. You don't make it to the NBA without that insane obsession of winning. These are professional athletes, all they've been used to is success.

I'll go out and say this now. If the Raps continue to play like they've been playing on this road trip, they will be within reach of one of the last two playoff spots. It's a funny thing to say, but this team is better than last year's in some aspects.

But is that what's best for the franchise long term?

If expectations and predictions come to fruition, the Raps will likely come out of this with a top 3 pick in next year's draft. Don't worry Raptors Nation, I know, the draft has hurt us plenty of times in the past. But truth be told, it'll be hard to mess this one up. And if you take into account our last two drafts, we've come away with two very nice pieces in DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis.

Imagine pairing these two up with the likes of Kyrie Irving or Harrison Barnes?

Suddenly, the Raps would actually start to look more like the "Oklahoma East" DeRozan coined us to be earlier in the season.

Establishing a winning culture? Or roll the dice for the big payoff?

The Raps will go one of two paths. Which one are you holding the sign to?

Raptors Rundown Podcast - Episode 6

2010-10-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

That's right folks! The Raptors Rundown Podcast is back! Introducing the most amateurish yet informative podcast dedicated to your favourite NBA franchise - the Toronto Raptors.

Guest James Borbath of the Dino Nation Blog stops by to review the Raptors' preseason and what's in the store for Canada's lone NBA team's future. He also gives us some of his Raptors predictions for the upcoming 2010/2011 season.

EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention on the show, a reminder that I will continue to be doing a mailbag, so I encourage listeners and readers to continue where we left off last season and keep them coming in.

Peace!

Marvel Comics: The Toronto Raptors Need Sasquatch and A Gay Superhero

2010-10-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, the NBA teamed up with Marvel Comics to produce these playful novelty NBA-inspired comic covers. Every team got their own cover, and yes - you are looking at the Toronto Raptors cover.

If you don't know what exactly you're supposed to be looking at, allow me to break it down for you. Before you is the starting 5 for your Raptors - minus Linas Kleiza and Reggie Evans - or at least according to Marvel's adaptation.

Using our pathetic defensive performance last season as justification, Marvel has decided to generously go out of their way to help us out. At centre, we have an 8 feet tall monster (literally). Yup - that's the friggen Canadian Sasquatch. I can dig it. His freakishly 20 foot long wingspan will come in handy when providing the much needed help defense that Bargs lacks. I'm loving the headband look on him by the way, not to wipe the sweat though, but obviously to keep his ears warm from the deadly Canadian blizzards.

And to play the passing lanes, the speedy Marvel superhero Northstar - one of the first openly gay superheroes to appear in American comics. Aside from being known as one of the most controversial comic book characters to have come out of Marvel studios, Northstar is also known for his ability to travel superhuman speed. Seven seconds or less offense? Psshh. That's nothing. The fact that he somewhat resembles Kurt from Glee gives it bonus points.

As for the more famous comic book characters in the back? Well obviously, they have no clue who these guys are...But that makes sense. Peter Parker's never come off to me as a sports guy, The Thing is still trumped by the last time the Raptors bounced the Knicks from the playoffs, The Hulk is not sure what basketball even is, New York native The Human Torch is upset Lebron opted for a different kind of Heat, while Wolverine (though Canadian) is clearly one of those "Hockey Guys".

Hedo: From Toronto, With Love

2010-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

The highlight of the yesterday's Raptors/Suns game (besides getting the W obviously) occurred late in the 2nd quarter with under a minute left. Even through my league pass stream, I was able to hear a very disgruntled fan voice his displeasure with the Pizza Man Hedo Turkoglu.

At first, it was kind of bugging me that the attendance was so weak - seeing an empty ACC during a Raptors game is something I find depressing - but then without such a small crowd, this beautiful moment wouldn't have been made possible.

The awkwardness of it all was enhanced by the complete silence of the moment. The only thing that would have made it any better is if a camera had been on Turk's face at the time, or if someone had thrown pizza at him.

To whoever you are dude, thanks for representing Raptors Nation. You made all of us proud. And to Mr. Turkoglu, this is only preseason, wait until the games actually mean something, we'll really bring it to the table then - unlike some people.

Lace Em Up; Running With The Bulls

2010-10-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

The problem? Our stagnant offensive sets.

The solution? Look at how Chicago did it.

If there was one thing you could count on the Bulls for last season, it was their struggles on the offensive end. Even with the dynamic Rose, Chicago often found it difficult to put points up on the board. Fortunately for them, they were always solid on the glass and on the defensive end.

So how did new coach Tom Thibodeau decide to work around it?

Well based off that one preseason game against our Raptors last night, it was through speed. The Bulls were relentless when it came to running the ball down our throats. Time after time again, our defense found themselves backpedaling and unable to get into a comfortable position to guard the basket. The Bulls coaching staff realized that fast break opportunities result in easy points; something Raptors fans are hoping Jay and Co. begin to clue on soon.

The current Raptors' offense is elementary. Pure and simple. The last two games have exposed that fact. We may have been able to get away with it against the Suns, but as soon as we ran into defensive squads like the Bulls and the Celtics, the Raps were unable to move the ball. It was like watching 90% of video gamers play NBA 2K11 for the first time.

This team has the tools to pick up the pace. DeMar and Weems more than excel in the open court. Amir, Bargs, Dorsey, and eventually Davis are all bigs fully capable of running the down the floor (Heck, Noah did it against us last night). The Raps easiest buckets last night came when Barbosa took the ball and flew like a jet down the court.

In my eyes, this has to be done. We don't have anyone on this team who can consistently create for themselves and others. On top of that, we don't have someone we can isolate or dump the ball into the post to. Ball movement is great and all, but that's usually most effective with teams who have been together for some time. Our easiest buckets will come in transition.

The next question now though is: What happens to our defensive philosophy?

The Raps have shown lately a dedication to putting pressure on the ball, even to the point where we'll apply full court pressure in the first and second quarters. If this team is going to run on the offensive end, asking them to also go full court on defense may be too much - for any team.

NBA 2K11: Where 30th Overall Happens

2010-10-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Take a good look at that folks. Let it soak in for a minute. We've finally accomplished something not many sport franchises get to do. We are the worst team in a basketball video game.

Remember all those unrealistic trades you pulled off? What about the even more unlikely trip to the NBA finals that took place in last year's installment of NBA 2K10 (but only because the online servers were down)? Well now you have the exciting privilege of taking the 30th overall Raptors and turning them into NBA champions. A true rags to riches story.

Ignoring the fact that a 29th defense and a 28th offense somehow equals a 30th overall, let's take a look at the entire Raptors lineup in what is expected to be one of the most bought sports games this year.

75 - Leandro Barbosa (SG)
74 - Andrea Bargnani (C)
72 - Jose Calderon (PG)
69 - Jarrett Jack (PG)
67 - Ed Davis (PF)
64 - Julian Wright (SF)
64 - DeMar DeRozan (SG)
63 - Joey Dorsey (PF)
63 - Reggie Evans (PF)
63 - Amir Johnson (PF)
62 - Marcus Banks (PG)
60 - Sonny Weems (SG)
57 - David Andersen (C)
55 - Linas Kleiza (SF)

I know. It's a bit underwhelming. And you know what? I usually don't care about ratings when it comes to sports game, because more often than not, they don't matter. DeMar DeRozan was one of the best players in NBA 2K10 because of his speed, dunk, and layup rating. Once you were able to learn how to shoot with him, he became one of the most unstoppable forces in the game.

But since you're here, allow me to point out a few things:

- Linas Kleiza - our most significant pickup this off-season - was given a rating of 55. Fifty-five? We're talking about one of the more prolific scorers at this year's FIBA World Championships. The Lithuanian averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds during the entire tournament, and was the focal point of an intense American defense in the semi finals game. Kleiza rates lower than Nuggets' Coby Karl (56), Sixers' Tony Battie (57), and is only 1 point higher than Lakers' mustache man Adam Morrison. Expect perhaps the biggest improvement out of any player in 2k history by the time the last roster update comes out. I'll predict a 76.

- Most Raptors fans are looking forward to the growth of the Young Gunz and the excitement they'll bring. Unfortunately, 2K either felt differently, didn't care, or were blind to it. DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems clocked in at a low 64 and 60 respectively. During this year's Summer League, both Raptors swingmen tore it up. By the end of their schedule, the consensus from the media was that the duo were two of the most impressive players amongst their peers. I did some digging, and here are the 2k11 ratings of the top 10 guards and swingmen in terms of scoring averages from the 2010 summer league. Yes, it's just summer league. But what else could they possibly base these stats on when you can argue this entire group are unproven in the NBA?

John Wall - 24 pts, 32 min, 38%FG (81 ovr)
Reggie Williams - 23 pts, 32 min, 41%FG (67 ovr)
DeMar DeRozan - 21 pts, 26 min, 58%FG (64 ovr)
Sam Young - 19 pts, 28 min, 54%FG (65 ovr)
Marcus Thornton - 19 pts, 32 min, 44%FG (69 ovr)
Jermaine Taylor - 18 pts, 29 min, 47%FG (62 ovr)
Nick Young - 18 pts, 28 min, 55%FG (66 ovr)
Sonny Weems - 18 pts, 27 min, 44%FG (60 ovr)
Dominque Jones - 17 pts, 32 min, 42%FG (66 ovr)
Jordan Crawford - 16 pts, 31 min, 42%FG (64 ovr)

And as for Amir Johnson - the athletic Young Gun 4 man fresh off his contract extension? A pathetic 63 overall. That's lower than Josh Powell (64) and the overweight Eddy Curry (64). On top of that, they have Amir listed with a 67 dunk...A 67? Clearly they haven't seen this:

BTW - Reggie Evans has a 68 dunk. And no offense whatsoever to Reggie, but all of Raptors Nation knows that Reggie doesn't dunk.

And what about our prized draft pick Mr. Ed Davis? A 67 isn't that bad at all, but let's compare him to the rest of his draft class.

John Wall - 81
Evan Turner - 76
Derrick Favors - 73
Wesley Johnson - 73
DeMarcus Cousins - 70
Ekpe Udoh - 68
Greg Monroe - 67
Al Farouq-Aminu - 68
Gordon Hayward - 64
Paul George - 71
Cole Aldrich - 64
Ed Davis - 67
Pattrick Patterson - 72

As you can see, the one thing Raps fans can be pleased with the most is 2K's assessment of Ed Davis. Rookies are always overrated in the game, but at least 2K had the presence of mind of clocking Ed in at where many draft experts expected him to go in the draft (7-10)

Lastly, note how the Raps' best player comes in at 75 overall - Leandro Barbosa. Toronto is one of 5 teams (along with Cleveland, LA, Detroit, Minnesota) to not have a player rated over 80. The only player with a legit shot at cracking that by the end of the year is Andrea Bargnani. I'd throw in Kleiza in there as well, but I don't see 2K Sports allowing a 26 point rating increase to happen.

And in case you guys were interested, here are the ratings of a few Ex-Raptors:

Antoine Wright - 64
Marco Belinelli - 66 (Apparently we traded away our two best swings)
Kris Humphries - 62
Chris Bosh - 87

To wrap it up, let's take a quick glimpse (courtesy of Youtube) at how the worst team in the game will play on consoles all over the world.

The Format of The Future

2010-09-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

If there's anything that yesterday's practice indicated, it's that the Raptors plan on a culture change. Defence. Defence. Defence. No seriously. For real this time. Yes, we've heard this before over the last few years, but I think this may be the first time I've actually believed it.

Why?

It starts with the departure of Chris Bosh. Don't get it twisted. Bosh wasn't known for his defensive prowess, but that's because we asked him to carry the load on offense. That's not to say he wasn't capable, evident with his time on the American Olympic team. The fact that we paired him up with Bargnani to form our paint presence also magnified our defensive problems.

But now with Bosh gone, the Raptors can finally scrap their experiment and put a defensive minded and rebounding big next to Bargnani. Amir Johnson's extension, the selection of Ed Davis and Solomon Alabi, the pickup of Joey Dorsey, the attempted acquisition of Tyson Chandler, and the now rumoured interest in Eric Dampier also suggest this is in fact the plan.

No matter how the frontcourt ends up looking, I think we can all expect better rebounding and interior defense than last year - though that's not saying much.

Now what about the first line of defense?

On the wings, we have what may be the most athletic group Raptors Nation has seen in awhile. The speed, energy, and youthful enthusiasm that DeMar DeRozan, Sonny Weems, and Julian Wright bring to the table will interesting to watch. Roaming the court also will be who many NBA fans refer to as the Brazilian Blur - Leandro Barbosa. The former Suns combo guard has averaged at least 1 steal per game throughout his career; a team high on the Raps.

Will we able to lock teams down? Probably not. This year's installment of the Raptors will go through its growing pains. But the change in culture is what matters the most here. Gone are the days we place Turkoglu or Kapono out there to defend the perimeter.

Defence will be key this year. As Triano put it: "Our transition buckets will be an indication of our defense this year". Without key stops or rebounding, our biggest strength in running the floor will be negated.

Other than a steady big to further bolster our injured and inexperienced group of big men, what do the Raptors need next moving forward? Assuming the coaching staff continues to teach DeMar Kobe's pet moves and show support for Bargnani, then Colangelo needs to find himself a young and athletic point guard. There's a fad going around in the NBA that revolves around the dynamic and super athletic point guard. Think John Wall, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, and of course Derrick Rose. I was hoping we'd be able to snatch up Avery Bradley, but to no avail. Whether it be through the draft or a trade, the Raps need to match up better at the 1 spot.

Defense wins championships. So if we're really intent on starting over, let's do it the right way.

With A Side of Red - Sept.28/10

2010-09-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

One of these things is not like the others...

Goodbye Mr. Bosh (who still owes me a signed jersey). And hello to what Sonny Weems so elegantly describes as the "After-Bosh" Era. But before we put the second foot through the door, let's stop by Ira Winderman's twitter. The man has the exciting job of getting to cover the Miami Heat this year. Here some of his tweets regarding Chris Bosh and their practice today.

"Chris Bosh on getting to work with Wade, LeBron: "Having the opportunity to work with those guys I think is a very special thing."

You think? I still think you're the best PF in the NBA, but you've been regulated to clean up duties.

Chris Bosh on the value of these drills: "Getting back in shape isn't easy."

Especially after an ankle, knee, or face injury. But don't worry, according to The Sun's article on you, just hit up Dr. Anthony Galea on speed dial.

Chris Bosh tries to attack lane off the dribble. Turnover.

Ah. There's the Chris I remember last seeing.

Alright. There. Out of my system. No more Bosh posts for the rest of the season; unless it involves a game against the Heat of course.

In other more relevant news, FAN 590 Raptors play-by-play man Paul Jones had a rather interesting tweet regarding today's practice.

Unfortunately, this is going to happen with a young group, especially during this time of training camp. The eagerness may be there, but the consistent focus understandably won't. However, I do like the fact that Triano is setting the tone early. He told us during the end of season presser that he had learned a lot. So far, he's putting that acquired knowledge to work.

Next up, the big question that comes with every Raptors training camp - at least with BC in charge. "Who will start?"

Well according to this article, it looks like we have two players locked in.

And to top it off, just in case you haven't caught the onslaught of new videos Raptors.com have posted, you can check out some of them below.

I'm looking to get big things done with the GamePointBlog this year. More posts, new staff, more podcasts, more interviews, and a video section. Thank you to the readers for giving this blog a chance, this is only the beginning. Whatever it is you're doing, I hope you enjoyed it "With A Side of Red".

Raptors Media Day and Day 1 of Camp

Day 2 of Camp

A New Raptors Season Just Around The Corner

2010-06-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

So like with many of you, the new Raptors season doesn't begin for me until draft night. Regardless if we have a pick or not, the NBA really doesn't seem all that real to me until we get the commissioner up on that stage and announcing names left and right.

Draft Night. There's nothing like it.

It only seemed like yesterday that Raptors Nation was caught up in a buzz of hysteria, wondering and/or debating as to who the Raps would pick up at the 9th slot. As we all now know, we ended up taking DeMar DeRozan. Though we still may not know how that pick will turn out, it was the build up to that pick that made last year's draft night so memorable.

Little did we know, but it turns out this year's draft will far eclipse the excitement and importance of last year's version. Raptors Nation realizes we're at a crossroads here. With Chris Bosh likely hitting free agency, a new era in Raptors basketball is likely to occur. What we end up doing with our 13th pick will have a huge impact on what kind of team we'll be looking at for the next 3-5 years.

So with everyone having their own opinions on who we should take, I'll hit you with the three players I feel like would be awesome additions to the Raptors.

With the 13th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select...

Cole Aldrich

.
Okay, I'll just get it out of the way since I know some of you are thinking it. But no, he's not comparable to Hoffa. Whether it's on the message boards or during discussions with my friends, Rafael Araujo's name always comes up when Aldrich is being discussed. But truth be told, they're nothing alike.

This guy is a legit NBA center. Listed at 6'11, Cole has all the tools needed to survive in the league. He proved to the entire nation during his time at Kansas that he can be that guy that holds the paint down. He plays with a high motor, is an excellent rebounder, and blocking shots is a specialty of his - something we Raps fans aren't accustomed to hearing.

On top of that, he's a smart kid. He was named the Academic All-American of the year, which shows that he puts in the work needed to be successful both on the court, and in the classroom. I get it - he's not the sexy pick. He's not overly athletic. He has one of the ugliest looking shots I've ever seen. Nor will he ever probably be a 20 point scorer. But you can guarantee that he'll be a very solid rotational player who will put up 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks throughout his career. Think of a Kendrick Perkins or a Sammy D. These are the kind of players you need to be successful in the NBA.

Paul George

Check it. This guy doesn't even have his own Wiki page yet. But you can bet by now, every single team in the lottery knows who Paul George is. He's got the height (6'8) and length of a SF, and the shooting ability of a SG. Combined with the ability to jump out of the gym with the simplest of ease, and you've got a very intriguing prospect. Just imagine him running down the court with the Young Gunz?

The best part is that he's actually already quite familiar with one of the members - DeMar DeRozan. Having been quoted from his twitter feed of loving the idea of playing with DeMar, a duo of DeRozan and Geroge would be the closest we could get to duplicating the Vince/Tracy duo next season.

The only drawback is that he did play for Fresno State, and no offense to them, but the competition Paul played against was obviously inferior to that of Division 1 teams. With that said, I do like his height, length, and the ability to shoot the long ball; especially if he's going to be playing with DeMar and Sonny. Hopefully he improves his handles, because we still lack that wing who can create.

Avery Bradley

Let's put it this way.

Worst Case Scenario: Juan Dixon

Best Case Scenario: Russel Westbrook

Avery Bradley represents the current NBA fad - the lightning quick and super athletic scoring combo guard. Think Derrick Rose, Russel Westbrook, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings. The NBA is starting to see an influx of players who are too undersized to truly play the 2 spot, so are placed at the 1 to reek havoc. They're basically point guards who are given the green light to shoot the ball, and can take over at any point of the game. A pass first point guard? Pssh. Who needs that anymore? That's why John Wall is going #1. Teams want their PG to be amazingly athletic and have the ability to score the ball.

This is what Bradley thrives in doing. He can score the ball from anywhere on the court, has the quickness to break his man off the dribble, and the athleticism to finish at the rim. On top of that, he's been noted as perhaps the best perimeter defender in this year's draft.

So why could he potentially be at the 13th pick? Well like Aldrich (low ceiling) and George (played against weaker competition), Bradley too has his shortcomings. For one, Bradley had a very rough year while he played for the University of Texas. Being heralded as one of the top recruits in the country only a year ago, Bradley's stock has plummeted partly due to how the Longhorns put up a stinker of a season. On top of that, he was one of the worst finishers at the basket last year. You can imagine why that scares off some teams. Think of a Westbrook or Rose without the finishing ability..Yikes.

So with that all said, who do I want the most? Well I rank them like this:

1. Paul George
2. Cole Aldrich
3. Avery Bradley

With Turkoglu surely on his way out, I would love to bring in another wing who doesn't only happen to be taller than DeMar and Sonny, but also has better range. A future wing core of DeRozan-George-Weems is a nice thing to have moving forward. I also took into consideration that we could find a center through free agency or trade (Bosh for Bynum, Turk for Dalembert, etc.)

Of course, I should note that I also think out of the 3 players listed here, I think George is also the least likely to still be on the board come the 13th pick. If that happens, I hope we can take Aldrich at 13, and somehow obtain another pick in the first round, thus snagging Bradley. Picking up two players who pride themselves on the defensive end would be absolutely huge for this Raptors team.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Detroit Pistons Piece

2010-05-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Denver Nuggets

Today's Piece: The Detroit Pistons

Players Of Interests
Richard Hamilton
Tayshaun Prince
Ben Gordon
Jason Maxiell
Rodney Stuckey
Austin Daye
Jonas Jerebko

Ladies and gentlemen, to your left, you'll see a prime example of what happens when you mess around with a formula that works: The Detroit Pistons! Having been built recently through players with high basketball IQ both on the offensive and defensive end, the Pistons went a different route last summer. Their off-season blockbuster acquisitions included the likes of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. And not to anyone's surprise, they were teased for picking up two dudes only known for their offensive arsenal but with no interest whatsoever in playing defense.

As expected by many, this experiment turned out to be a failure. Both Charlie and Ben were hampered by injuries, and neither player was able to tap into what made them so successful in their contract year.

But through it all, I fully expect this team to bounce back next season. Why? This franchise is just too proud to have another horrid year. Keeping in mind they stay healthy, this very same team would challenge for a late playoff spot. But I don't think that's good enough, so let's say they take a shot at Bosh.

The problem with Detroit is that they're kind of like us. There's a lot of serviceable players on long expensive contracts, but no stars, future stars, or players on bargain deals. With that in mind, we are pretty poor potential Bosh partners.

One thing I can see Detroit wanting to do and BC probably not minding is taking on Piston players with long term deals. I'm talking about Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon. If a Bosh deal went down, one of these guys would definitely be sent our way. We take the contract off their hands, while we provide a change of scenery to a player still capable of lighting it up.

I think obviously their most attractive piece is Tayshaun Prince. Again, he doesn't do anything special, but he knows how to win and more importantly, he's got a 11 million dollar expiring contract attached to his name. There's nothing ever wrong with adding more length.

Three other players that wouldn't be bad pickups are Maxiell, Jerebko, and Stuckey. If for some reason we can't retain Amir Johnson, Maxiell wouldn't be a bad pickup to replace him if we were to deal with Detroit. Jerebko is another big in that mold who would probably be just as effective as Maxiell but at a much cheaper price. And lastly, Stuckey would be a fairly decent option as a scoring point guard next to Hedo Turkoglu.

My Preferred Scenario:

Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon,
Pistons Trade Tayshaun Prince (expiring), Austin Daye, Rip Hamilton

It was tough to come up with a trade that both made sense for the Raptors and the Pistons/Bosh. I'm not exactly sure Bosh would be amped up to play with Stuckey/Gordon/Villaneuva. But if you're asking me what I would prefer back from Detroit, this package would be it. Prince provides us with salary cap, Daye gives us that length and a young piece moving forward, while Rip Hamilton becomes the perfect player to pair up with Turk. For the Pistons...umm...well, I dunno. I guess if you could find a decent rebounding and shot-blocking big, as well as a defensive stopper at the 3 spot, you could have pretty well rounded team there....

More Likely Scenario:

We just stay away from each other.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Denver Nuggets Piece

2010-05-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Dallas Mavericks

Today's Piece: The Denver Nuggets

Players of Interests:
Kenyon Martin
J.R. Smith
Chris Andersen
Ty Lawson
Aaron Affalo

If there's one team who can top off the previous team we discussed in regards to disappointments, it would definitely be the Denver Nuggets. Not your typical 4th seed (only 1 game back of 3rd, 2 games back of 2nd, and 4 from the 1st seed), heavy expectations were placed heading into the post-season. They had everything you could want in a team destined to make a strong push for a title. The leadership and ability to hit the clutch shot at point guard with Billups. Length, athleticism, and paint intimidation at the 4 and 5 spots. 3 point shooters and instant offense off the bench. And lastly, a swingman with the ability to take over the game.

So what happened?

Well, they ran into an equally tough and well coached Utah Jazz team. Perhaps the absence of George Karl played a role in it. Or maybe the right fit wasn't there. Personally, I put a lot of blame in their lack of a post presence on the offensive side of the ball.

Here are the scoring averages Denver's bigs put up in the post-season:

Nene: 11.4 pts
Martin: 10.0 pts
Andersen: 4.5 pts

If you compare that to the teams are left in the playoffs, Denver really doesn't have that one big that they can rely on to score when things get really gritty in the playoffs. Phoenix has it with Amare (20.5 pts), the Lakers have it with Gasol (20.2), Boston has it in KG with one leg (17.1), while Cleveland uses a combo of Jamison (16.5) and Shaq (10.5). And then of course there's Orlando who still has Dwight averaging 15 points a game in the playoffs, but also can rely on the biggest army of 3 point shooters in the NBA.

So why not add Chris Bosh to you team folks!

First and foremost, Ty Lawson has to be included in whatever deal could potentially be made. If I'm Bryan Colangelo, I don't make a deal with them unless Lawson is included. This is just my opinion, but if there's one point guard who could have shared the glory and spotlight with Jennings, Evans, and Curry if he had been given a chance, it would be Ty. Playing behind Billups unfortunately means you won't be getting heavy minutes, but every time Chauncey went down, Lawson filled in beautifully. And imagine grouping our Young Gunz with an athletic speedster like this:

Next, one player that has to absolutely be involved is Kenyon Martin. Even though he's as injury prone as you can possibly get these days, it's his expiring contract that will be attractive to the Raptors. Most likely picking up his player option, Martin will turn into a 16.5 million dollar expiring. Even if he doesn't play a single game for the Raps, my mind is racing with what we can do with that amount of money in possible trades.

Other players that come to mind are JR Smith, the Birdman, and Aaron Affalo. Of the 3, Smith and Affalo would probably interest the Raps more. Chris "The Birdman" Andersen would be a decent big off the bench for us, but I don't think the Raps are looking to lock themselves up in expensive long term deals at the moment. Besides, I would rather give the money I'd be spending on Andersen to Amir Johnson.

My Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Nuggets Trade Kenyon Martin (expiring), Ty Lawson, JR Smith (expiring)

I'm actually really liking this. I'm not sure if it'd be agreed on by both sides or if the trade works financially (should be close though). But it really is perfect for us. We get to dump Jose Calderon's contract on them (which expires only 1 year after Billups and Melo). At the same time, we acquire a gigantic expiring contract, our possible point guard of the future, and an explosive wingman who might flourish with a change of scenery. Meanwhile, Denver heads into the Western Conference War with a Big 3 of Billups/Melo/Bosh.

More Likely Scenario:

Raptors Trade Chris Bosh
Nuggets Trade Kenyon Martin (expiring), Ty Lawson

Still a pretty good return in my eyes. And pretty self explanatory if you read what I wrote above. Yeah, I'd still prefer to dump Jose and pick up JR, but beggars can't be choosers.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Dallas Mavericks Piece

2010-05-06T09:54:00.001-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Cleveland Cavaliers

Today's Piece: The Dallas Mavericks

Players of Interests:
Dirk Nowitzki
Erick Dampier
Caron Butler
DeShawn Stevenson
Rodrigue Beaubois
Brendan Haywood

If there's one city that had the most craziest basketball year, it would have to be Dallas - HANDS DOWN. Obviously, there was All-Star weekend. The world's best basketball talent all converged onto the Texas city only to be greeted by a snowstorm? Yup. On top of that - because everything has to be bigger in Texas - the actual All-Star game was played at the new Cowboys Stadium that clearly was built with the U.S. stimulus money. In regards to the basketball side of things, Dallas had another very successful year. Already one of the best teams coming into the trade deadline, the Mavs made a splash by acquiring Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from the Wizards. And after tearing up the NBA soon after, many were convinced that Dallas was the most equipped to make a title run this year.

However - it all came crashing down in the first round of the playoffs.

See, if there's one thing that Dallas has taught me, it's that spending money doesn't guarantee you anything in the NBA. Going into tax territory may increase your chances of playoff success, but at the end of the day, you still have to play the game. So, the question for me now is: Has owner Mark Cuban learned that lesson as well? Depending on the answer to that, the Mavs could go many different directions this off-season; especially with the possibility of Dirk Nowitzki opting for free agency.

But let's say Cuban does whatever it takes to bring in Dallas-native Chris Bosh. What could be sent back our way in a Sign and Trade? Like I said, it really depends on Cuban's willingness to continue spending money. If he has no problem with being locked into a ton of long term deals with no cap relief, then they have a few things we could ask.

For instance, Caron Butler, Erick Dampier, and DeShawn Stevenson all hold very large expiring contracts. Combined with the our expirings of Marcus Banks and Reggie Evans, we could use these contracts to speed up the rebuilding process.

Of course, we have to take into consideration the unlikeliness that Cuban parts with all three contracts, but if there's one I'd love to have the most of the 3, it would have to be Caron Butler. Not only would he give us close to 11 million dollars in expiring money, but he'd also be the perfect mentor to someone like DeMar DeRozan. I see a lot of similarities between the two. When Caron first came into the league, he didn't have the greatest of handles (he still doesn't for a wing player) and he was a horrible 3 point shooter (still is - 31% career 3 pt. percentage). But if there's one thing Caron could be applauded on, it was his ability to capitalize on what he did do best, and that's make that mid range jumper, slash to the bucket, and get to the free throw line. Those are all the things DeMar relied on in his rookie season. So if we could get Caron to help out DeMar even for just one year, I think it would pay dividends down the road.

Lastly, the other player that I hope we could squeeze out of Dallas is someone they're pretty high on: Rodrigue Beaubois. This guy just oozes talent on the court, and could very well burst out once Jason Kidd leaves. But does Cuban let him go knowing it may have been a mistake to let Devin Harris go?

Mr Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Mavericks Trade Caron Butler (expiring), DeShawn Stevenson (expiring), Rodrigue Beaubois, TPE

Ignoring the semantics, the premise of this transaction is pretty simple. Dallas brings Chris Bosh back home to team up with Dirk, Kidd, Marion, get to put Terry back at the 2 spot, possibly re-sign Haywood, and get to keep Dampiers' awesome expiring contract. At the same time, they get Jose Calderon to platoon that point guard spot with Kidd, something Jose is quite familiar with doing already. Meanwhile, the Raptors get roughly around 15 million in expiring money in Butler and Stevenson. Butler will be advertised as DeMar's mentor and the wing scorer we need to stay competitive this year, while Stevenson will probably be advertised by BC and MLSE as a stopper who has a competitive swagger (lol). I laugh because it'll probably happen that way too. We also get to dump Jose's contract for a wicked young point guard prospect in Beaubois. Just imagine him running the fast break with the Young Gunz...

More Likely Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Mavericks Trade Erick Dampier (expiring), DeShawn Stevenson (expiring), Brendan Haywood (re-signed), Draft Pick/TPE of some sort.

In this trade, I go with the assumption that Cuban keeps both the present and future in mind. He keeps Caron Butler who prove to be that wing scorer for next season in a championship run, but also expires for cap relief. He also gets to keep Beaubois, not wanting to have the feeling of letting two young point guards go with nothing to show for it. I'm just not sure how a Dirk and Bosh front court works though, but that's not our problem. Preferably, I'd love to get Beaubois, but if not, I definitely want a re-signed Haywood coming our way to play next to Bargnani.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Cleveland Cavaliers Piece

2010-05-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Chicago Bulls

Today's Piece: The Cleveland Cavaliers

Players of Interests:
Anderson Varejao
Delonte West
Antawn Jamison
Anthony Parker
J.J. Hickson

Fresh off a stinker in game 2 against the Celtics, the Cavs now must step back for a quick second and look themselves in the mirror. While doing so, they've got to ask themselves one simple question: "Are we good enough?"

My answer: "I'm not even sure anymore."

See - to be honest - I'm not the biggest LeBron fan out there. Am I a hater? No way, I recognize obvious talent when it's there, and it's hard to hate on talent. But for some reason, the dude just rubs me the wrong way.

So what's got me interested in whether this year's Cavs team is good enough? Easy, this link: LeBron Won't Stop Until He Brings Championship To Cleveland.

To me, it's like this. If LeBron wins a title this year, he'll be more likely to leave Cleveland for the bright lights of New York. That brings forth two ugly problems to the table. One being we'd have LeBron in our division, meaning 4 dates a year. And two, another max free agent (maybe CB4) would be more enticed to join LBJ in New York as well. That doesn't sound very appealing to me.

So Raptors Nation, let's all hope that our best friends the Boston Celtics take care of business! Assuming that happens, and the crazy Danny Ferry (see Varejao's contract) decides to up the ante by luring Chris Bosh to Cleveland, what could we possibly want in return?

Sideshow Bob would have been pretty nice if he wasn't locked in to such a disturbingly long contract. His lack of scoring prowess is made up with his hustle and ability to guard a respectable amount of 4s and 5s. He would be yet another big that would look ideal next to Bargnani.

A more realistic (and almost guaranteed to be included if a deal were to go down) option would come in the form of J.J. Hickson. The 6'9 North Carolina State product - who's currently on his cheap rookie deal - would give us a young forward prospect to move forward with. Most fans who can see the bigger picture realize that if we let Bosh go, the best thing to do next would be to rebuild with young players on cheap contracts. Hickson meets that criteria. Let's call him a poor man's Jeff Green without as good of a jumper.

But while on the topic of the Cavs, we can't forget that we have Bryan Colangelo as our GM. And if there's one thing I've learned during his tenure here, it's that he hates to lose. He hates it so much that he never starts from scratch. If a mistake is made, he would rather get a quick fix than press the reset button. In some ways, that's an awesome trait from a GM, you can't fault always wanting to stay competitive. But would it be the best idea this off-season? Let's say BC sticks to his guns, I could totally see him trying to pry Antawn Jamison away from the Cavs. It would be torn to shreds by the fanbase and media, but somewhere in the back of your mind, you know it could happen. All the Cavs would need to do is re-sign Shaq for a much smaller deal (word is will happen if the Cavs don't win the title) and re-sign Big Z for the minimum, and they can afford to do this.

My Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh,
Cavaliers Trade J.J. Hickson, Delonte West (expiring), Anthony Parker (expiring), Sebastian Telfair (expiring), TPE

Assuming Telfair picks up his 3 million dollar player option, which he'd be stupid not to, the Raptors would acquire roughly 11 million in expiring money in this trade plus a decent TPE. It's isn't the prettiest looking of returns for Bosh, but it would probably be the best in regards to short term and long term impact if Chris wanted to go to Cleveland. And who wouldn't love Anthony Parker back raining 3s from the corner? As for Cleveland, Shaq gets to team up with who he calls RuPaul.

More Likely Scenario:

Like with Boston, we just stay away from each other. Or we show Chris Bosh this:

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Chicago Bulls Piece

2010-05-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Charlotte Bobcats

Today's Piece: The Chicago Bulls

Players of Interests:
Luol Deng
Joakim Noah
Kirk Hinrich
Taj Gibson

Raptors Nation is quite familiar with the most recent incarnation of the Chicago Bulls. After all, they were the ones who successfully snatched a first round date with the Cleveland Cavaliers away from us. Down the stretch, they clearly wanted that 8th seed more than us - most evident by the spanking they gave us on April 11 at the ACC. Well after a decent showing against the Cavs, where does it all go from here?

According to Chris Bosh in his end of season press conference, he feels that this year's Raptors squad was just as good if not better than the Bulls at full strength.

Meanwhile, back ~~at the bat-cave~~ in Chicago, Bulls fans are more than confident in Bosh benefiting more from their core than the one in Toronto. And who can really blame them for that? A trio of Rose, Bosh, and Noah seem like a pretty solid foundation to build upon.

So let's say Bosh wants to end up in Chicago - which is a very real possibility by the way. What can happen?

Well for starters, Chicago can outright sign him because they are one of the teams under the cap. If Bosh chose to, he could sign with the Bulls for a maximum of 5 years, with about 8% yearly increases. This kind of contract typically clocks in at about 100 million over 5 years. The next question now though is: Will Bosh take that deal over what the Raptors can give him?

If he chooses to re-sign with Toronto, he can sign for a maximum of 6 years, with about 10.5% yearly increases; which adds up to be around 130 million dollars over 6 years. That extra 30 million and security is hard to pass up on. So if Chicago wants CB4 that bad, it'll probably have to be through a sign and trade.

Assuming D-Rose is untouchable, the next player that the Raps would covet is Joakim Noah. Can you imagine our Raptors team putting a player who plays with that much intensity, hustle, and heart on the court every night? He'd be a perfect fit next to Bargnani. But unfortunately, he'd also be perfect next to Bosh.

Two players the Bulls might be willing to throw at us instead are Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich. Both have contracts that are arguably overpriced, and Chicago could easily use us as a dumping grounds. On the flipside, both Deng and Hinrich would help us out on the offensive and defensive ends. The only thing that bugs me is Deng is owed around 50 million over the next 4 years. Having to deal with that as well as Turk's ugly contract is something difficult to stomach.

It should be noted that because Chicago is under the cap, they hold more leverage over us than a team over the cap would (like Houston). In a potential Sign N Trade, Chicago could absorb more of Bosh's contract, while a team like Houston would have to give us assets in return that match within a certain range of Bosh's outgoing contract. In a nutshell, Chicago doesn't have to give us much to make the deal work. And so, this is where the mind games and chess-work start. How much are the two teams willing to compromise, and does BC take garbage if garbage is what's throw at him? If he doesn't, how does that affect what the fan base thinks of him?

Sigh.

My Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Bulls Trade Joakim Noah, Krik Hinrich and/or TPE

Yeah. I realize this is a pretty lofty request, but still. This trade probably would be more complicated than what's listed above, but you get the premise. We dump Jose Calderon's contract on Chicago in return for Kirk Hinrich; who has a somewhat similar contract but ends one year earlier. We also manage to get our centre of the future in Noah, who would look absolutely awesome next to Bargs. As for Chicago, they get to pair up the best future PF in the league with one of the best young PGs of the league. At the same time, they get a point guard in Calderon who is familiar with Bosh's play style and will strengthen one of the Bulls' biggest weaknesses last season - 3 pt. shooting.

More Likely Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh
Bulls Trade Taj Gibson, James Johnson, Draft Pick or TPE (If the Bulls are nice about it), Luol Deng (If the Raps can get rid of Turk first or soon after)

This trade scenario has a lot of "IFs" in it, but you can pretty much guarantee that when dealing with a team under the cap. Because the Bulls are considerably under the cap, they can pretty much absorb a good portion of Bosh's max deal while giving us young players on rookie contracts. With Bosh there, they have no room for Taj Gibson, and we'd be able to reunite Taj with his USC teammate DeMar DeRozan. We'd also get James Johnson, a young wing prospect that Colangelo was very high on in last year's draft. If the Bulls would like some breathing room to make other moves, they could try to throw us a TPE or Luol Deng's ridiculously bad contract. But I only see us taking that if we can get rid of Turk first. Meanwhile, the Bulls can move forward with a Big 3 of Bosh-Rose-Noah.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Charlotte Bobcats Piece

2010-05-03T12:36:00.001-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Previous Piece: The Boston Celtics

Today's Piece: The Charlotte Bobcats

Players of Interests:
Tyson Chandler
Nazr Mohammed
D.J. Augustin
Tyrus Thomas
Gerald Henderson

After what was one of their best seasons in franchise history, the Bobcats went out with the smallest of bangs. Being manhandled by the Magic, the Bobcats newest majority owner (Michael Jordan) must now consider what is best for his team moving forward. It was mentioned many times this year on numerous broadcasts - the Bobcats made moves to win this year. That's why they traded away Okafor and agreed to take on Stephen Jackson's ugly looking long term deal.

But even while boasting one of the best defenses in the entire association, the Bobcats' struggle to score is what led to their demise. To be more specific, the fault really lies in their inability to score from the 4 and 5 positions. We all know Felton and Jackson can light it up from anywhere on the court, while Wallace attacks the rim relentlessly; but the Bobcats had no one that could attract a double from the block or the paint. This surely played a role in their horrendous 3 point shooting as well.

So enter Chris Bosh.

As Raptors fans, we would love an acquisition of Gerald Wallace or Stephen Jackson, but Bosh would not agree to play in Charlotte if that happened.

So looking elsewhere, the next thing that pops out is Tyson Chandler. Though his injuries have been well documented, it's his post presence and lane intimidation that's attractive to this Raps team. With a 13 million player option that he'll almost certainly pick up, it also turns into a rather large expiring for the Raps to play with. The question now is: Will Charlotte be willing to give up Chandler knowing he'd be perfect next to Bosh?

The two other players that I wouldn't mind seeing shipped off to the T-Dot are D.J. Augustin and Tyrus Thomas. Even though Felton didn't have the greatest of playoff performances, word is that the Bobcats were impressed enough with his season play to seriously consider re-signing him. So that once again leaves Augustin out of the equation. With Tyrus Thomas, we have a 6 million expiring that plays above the rim and would bring that defensive mentality this Raptors team sorely lacks.

My Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Bobcats Trade Tyson Chandler (expiring), D.J. Augustin, Tyrus Thomas (expiring)

I'm actually liking this scenario better than I thought I would. Breaking it down, you'll notice that we could easily use Charlotte as a dumping grounds for Jose Calderon's contract (something the Raps are considering trying to get out of). At the same time, we pick up two players in Thomas and Chandler who will bolster our team defense to a respectable position. We could finally play Bargnani at his real position - PF - while having insurance in Thomas just in case we can't re-sign Amir. On top of all that, we get our hands on some really nice expiring money. Meanwhile, if Jordan chooses to re-sign Felton, Charlotte gets to throw out a line up on the court that includes Bosh/Wallace/Jackson/Felton. Combined with a filler centre, that's a guaranteed playoff team that could possibly win a round or two.

More Likely Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh
Bobcats Trade Nazr Mohammed (expiring), Gerald Henderson, Tyrus Thomas (expiring), Future Draft Pick

Though this scenario isn't as enticing as the one above, it's still respectable in regards to the amount of expiring money we get back. Remember, in combination with Marcus Banks' and Reggie Evans' expiring deals, we could easily flip that to one of the many teams struggling financially for very good players in return. We also manage to get a nice wing prospect in Gerald Henderson. He's got basketball in his blood, was a lottery pick, a Duke product, and someone who could easily make something out of himself once he gets the playing time (only averaged about 8 minutes as a rookie last year). As for Charlotte, well, they get to boast a formidable starting 5 of Felton or Augustin/Jackson/Wallace/Bosh/Chandler. That's a nice combination of offense and defense if you ask me.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Boston Celtics Piece

2010-04-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Yesterday's Piece: The Atlanta Hawks

Today's Piece: The Boston Celtics

Players of Interests
- Rajon Rondo
- Kendrick Perkins
- Glen Davis
- Their fans to admit what the TD in "TD Garden" really stands for?

Breakdown:
We all realized that the Celtics sold their soul to the devil when they signed on to bring the Big 3 to Boston. To summarize: Mortgage your future for a few years of legitimately contending for a championship. As well worth the ride was, it's now time to finally break it all up.

Everyone but Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins are expected to hit free agency this year - yeah I know, not exactly the most threatening of teams. Right now, the biggest variable (and what has most Celtics fans concerned with) is whether or not they choose to re-sign Paul Pierce. He has a player option for next year worth around 22 million. But as lofty as a payday that may sound, he's better off opting for free agency and trying to snatch what will probably be the last big long term deal of his career.

So then it comes down to this: Do you give Pierce a big contract out of loyalty to one of the greatest Celtics of all time? Or do you finally part ways and realize it's best to rebuild while you wait out the remaining years on KG's and Wallace's disgusting contracts. I'm not sure what management is thinking, but I do know a lot of Celtics fans are either leaning or at least expecting what they call "A Return to the Dark Age".

Toronto and Boston really aren't the best of trading partners when it comes to Bosh; actually they're quite awful. The Raps don't want to trade Bosh to a divisional rival, and Bosh doesn't want to play on a rebuilding team. On top of that, I'm pretty sure Boston can just outright sign Chris if they wanted to depending on the cap amount next year. Of course, you also have to take into account the unlikeliness of that happenings considering Bosh really would like that extra 6th year only Toronto can give him in a Sign And Trade. Precedent in the NBA shows that no one can turn down an extra 30 million dollars.

I know Raptors fans would love Rondo, but that's certainly not happening. Ray Allen would be nice, but he won't be on the team next year. So what the heck do they have? Draft picks perhaps? But certainly, they would hold onto those right? If Bosh MUST go to Boston, I'm expecting whatever expirings they have in return, a fat TPE, as well as whatever draft picks they have for the next year or two.

The Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trades Chris Bosh
Boston Trades Kendrick Perkins (expiring), Glen Davis (expiring), TPE, future draft picks

In this ugly looking trade, the Raps get the best of what Boston is willing to give up. I would prefer Rajon Rondo coming back, but obviously we'll try to keep this as realistic as possible. With this, Boston transitions from one of the best PFs of the last decade in Garnett to one of the best future PFs in Bosh. Paired up with Rondo, they could become one of the best big-small duos in the league. But with a rapidly aging team around them, the Celtics need to get young and athletic quick before they can start thinking championships again (hard to do with Garnett and Wallace' contracts). On the other hand, the Raptors get two small expiring contracts and serviceable big-men that will bring much needed swagger to this team. With the possibility of Boston struggling, those draft picks may turn out to be lottery picks as well.

More Likely Scenario:
We Just Stay Away From Each Other

I can pretty much guarantee this happens.

Solving The Bosh Puzzle: The Atlanta Hawks Piece

2010-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

So one day in late April, I checked in on my blog and noticed a lack of something. Sifting through them, I found pieces on Hedo, the Young Gunz, the Amazing Race, video games, the Olympics, etc. But the one thing that was truly missing was a piece about the franchise - CB4. And yeah, sure, maybe I did that because every other media outlet was beating the whole "Chris Bosh" topic to death; but still.

Like many others, I don't want to take Bosh for granted. And so with the realization that he may be gone very soon, I wanted to dedicate the next 30 days or so to him with my writing and this very blog. After all, this may be my last chance to discuss him on here.

The mission - should you choose to read it - is simple. Everyday, I'll breakdown a different team's outlook in regards to acquiring our franchise player. We'll take a look at how a potential transaction will affect both sides of the spectrum, and whether or not such a move could potentially go down.

Disclaimer: Let's please keep in mind that I'm not majoring in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement; so if there's a few errors here and there in that regards, please let me know. Thanks!

Today's Piece: The Atlanta Hawks

Players of Interests:
- Joe Johnson
- Josh Smith
- Jamal Crawford
- Marvin Williams
- Al Horford
- Jeff Teague

Breakdown:
Atlanta's an odd case - probably so odd that it may not have been the best of teams to start off with this month long project. On one hand, the Hawks boast a plethora of talent that Toronto could find intriguing, yet at the same time Atlanta's future outlook isn't exactly as clear cut as some may think. The organization has always struggled to put fans into seats, and their owners have always been picky in regards to the financial side of things.

Right now, the word on the street is that they would like to sell their draft pick this year, and do whatever it takes to get Joe Johnson to re-sign. And so it really hinges on that alone - the value of the Hawks as trading partners varies depending on whether they retain Johnson or not. I feel with Johnson, Atlanta ownership will be more inclined to go way over the tax with two max players.

So let's say they do re-sign Joe Johnson for the max and then attempt to grab a 2nd max player in Bosh. What can they give the Raps?

Well obviously we can cross Johnson out. Because ATL doesn't want Bosh if JJ isn't their to pair them up, and Bosh doesn't want anything to do with ATL if he can't play with Joe.

They really don't have any expiring contracts of note - other than Jamal Crawford - and I don't think they send him off to us. As the reigning 6th man of the year, Jamal played too big of a role for the Hawks. On that note, I think he's just as important to the Hawks as Johnson is.

What does catch the eye right away however is their 4 and 5 position. With Bosh incoming, the Hawks present themselves with an interesting scenario. Right now, they have Josh Smith and Horford manning the inside. In my opinion, there's not enough room for a trio that includes Bosh. So possibly - we could end up with either Josh Smith or Al Hordford, both of whom would significantly help our pathetic defense.

And then of course there's the other "scenario". Atlanta could simply play Smith at the 3 spot - something he's well capable of - and have a nasty front-court of Horford/Bosh/Smith. With Bibby, Johnson, and Crawford providing the threats from the perimeter, that's a championship kind of team.

In this case, a Sign and Trade would most certainly revolve around Marvin Williams. Though not exactly the best of returns in regards to our defensive needs in the paint, Marvin provides us with that scoring wing who is capable of defending the perimeter as well. Fairly young at 24 year old, the North Carolina product has proven he can be efficient and score in bunches when given the touches. He hasn't quite become what the Hawks expected him to be when they picked him with the 2nd pick in the 2005 NBA draft. But perhaps a new scenery - and getting away from the shot heavy duo of Johnson and Crawford - will inspire him to breakout. Throw in a couple fillers as well as a TPE, and we're as set as we could possibly be in a trade that involves Atlanta.

My Preferred Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh
Hawks Trade Josh Smith, and Maurice Evans (3 mil expiring)

Perhaps the details need to be worked out in that trade to match everything up, but an ideal return if the Hawks were to be our partners would involve Josh Smith. He'd provide us with one of the best help defenders in the league, as well as some much needed athleticism. For Atlanta, they get Bosh to return to the place where he played college basketball and gives Joe Johnson another max player to roll with. Immediately, they have one of the best inside-outside combos with Bosh and Johnson/Crawford.

More Likely Scenario:
Raptors Trade Chris Bosh
Hawks Trade Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans, Jeff Teague and/or Future 1st round draft pick, small TPE perhaps?

In this scenario, Atlanta goes all-in kind of like how Boston did a couple of years ago. They throw away their future for a chance at genuinely contending. The only difference is their talent isn't in the twilight of their careers. This would bring a ton of excitement to Atlanta, and would send us back into rebuilding mode with assets we could develop or flip in a future trade. It doesn't look like much, but it would probably be what we'd end up getting if Bosh was dead-set on going to Atlanta.

Raptors Rundown Podcast E.5 [Season-In-Review With Dino Nation Blog]

2010-04-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

So check it out.

Yeah, the NBA Playoffs are already well underway, and our Toronto Raptors are once again sitting on the outside looking in. But that doesn't mean we can't look back on the season that was and breakdown what exactly happened. True, the season turned out to be disappointing, but no one can deny the intrigue and entertainment that came out of it. This will always go down as a Raptors season quite like no other.

For episode 5, I have special guest James Borbath of the Dino Nation Blog to help me dissect what he describes as the "Raptors Rollercoaster". Topics include the home opener, the point guard situation, the Hedo Turkoglu mystery, Jay Triano's performance as a head coach, the Raptors' 20-7 stretch, Chis Bosh's amazing season and future, and many more.

Follow Dino Nation on twitter: @dinonationblog

Raptors Rundown Episode 5

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

The Address of the Raptors Senate

2010-04-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you

One of hip hop's most classic bars sums up a rather classic Raptors scenario we fans finds ourselves in once again. Let's see if we have all the ingredients needed to cook up the typical Toronto Raptors disaster of a season:

1. Huge signing that turns out to be a disappointment. ✔
2. A merry-go-round of injuries ✔
3. Miss the playoffs. ✔
4. Fanbase calling for the head coach's head. ✔
5. Franchise All-Star thinking about leaving. ✔

Yup. We've got pretty much everything covered. Except one thing that is, and that's the yearly Bryan Colangelo Press Conference. So yesterday at around noon, Raptors fans and media members sat, watched, listened, and learned.

Plenty of topics were discussed. The media did their job in attempting to dissect and maneuver around Bryan Colangelo; but if there's one thing we can't knock BC on, it's his ways with the media. In this franchise's entire history, he's probably the one GM that has not been intimidated.

But let's get right into this, and let me give you my take on the issues discussed.

The point guard duo of Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack was brought up by both BC and reporters a number of times today. Obviously, everyone is wondering if they can co-exists. At times throughout the season, it seemed they could, but more often than not, it proved to be problematic. BC wants to use the off-season to find out "if they can work together". I take that as he'll be discussing it with both players' agents to see where each of them stand.

My Prediction: Don't expect both of them to be back next year. Bryan noted how minutes being split affected the consistency of both players, and the days of the "Two-Headed Monster" formula BC has used at the 1 spot ever since his arrival may be over. Right now, there isn't any clear cut option as to which one will be shipped off. Jose Calderon is who the fans want to see go because of his poor defense and his struggle to play with Hedo, but it's Jack who holds the more favorable contract and will also fetch a better return in a trade. If Bosh goes, don't be surprised to see both of them gone either.

Naturally, the issue of Hedo Turkoglu was addressed. You sign an aging vet whose best days are behind him to a 5 year-50 million dollar contract, only to see him play like a shell of his former self; well you're going to have to answer some questions. And to BC's credit, he didn't beat around the bush. He fully acknowledged that Hedo Turkoglu was a disappointment. Bryan placed the blame equally on the coaching staff (for not utilizing Turk correctly) and on Turk himself for not taking full advantage of the situation. Though the word "Lazy" was consistently associated with Hedo this year, Bryan made sure to stress that Turk worked very hard this year. Unfortunately, with the assistance of many setbacks (injuries, mother's illness, etc), Turk just wasn't able to get into a rhythm.

My Prediction: Expect a better Hedo Turkoglu next year. Why? Because Bryan Colagenlo says so. Now whether or not that is with the Raps is an unknown, for the savvy GM didn't specify. Chances are he does wear a Raptors uniform next year. Little known fact, but his contract actually increases in pay if he is to be traded, so that little clause alone scares other teams away. Next season however, expect the Raptors to handle Turk much differently. No longer will he be exempt from training camp, and don't be surprised to see the coaching staff constantly on him like the Orlando staff was during his tenure with the Magic.

The first ever Canadian head coach Jay Triano was actually a topic that I thought would be discussed in greater detail than it actually was. But I guess the media let it go when they realized the message BC was giving them loud and clear: He will be back. Colangelo reminded the reporters that Triano was basically a rookie head coach, and that he deserved a chance to prove that he learned something. Like Triano explained to the press last week, BC and the coaching staff wish they could have done certain things differently in retrospect.

My Prediction: Of course he'll be back. Regardless of the questionable coaching decisions, and his view on how the Raps played in certain games, there was improvement. And at the end of the day, the team finished with a better record than they did last year. If he continues to improve every year, then there really is no reason to fire Jay. And when you consider the fact that we're still paying Sam Mitchell, it only makes sense for MLSE to keep Triano on board for at least another year.

During Chris Bosh's end of season press conference, he mentioned the need for a presence on the wings, someone who could create his own shot and even create for others. The media relayed this concern to BC during his own presser. His response? Kobe Bryant isn't available, but we do have untapped potential in DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems. Colangelo went on to talk about the guard play of the Raptors and how that "20-point" scorer is needed. He did allude that we do already have that kind of presence on the team, but of the inconsistent variety.

My Prediction: I'm not sure about you guys, but in my eyes, I felt that this was Bryan doing his best to temper expectations. Many people are expecting the organization to act out on CB4's words and somehow obtain that kind of star wing player. But like Colangelo, I'm of the opinion that it won't be as easy as some make it to be. These kind of players just don't grow on trees. Sure, the front office will probably do what they can (realistic players like Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay, and Danny Granger come to mind). But just in case they can't snatch these players away from their teams, BC went out of his way to remind us about what DeRozan and Weems could become in the future. I think DeMar definitely has the potential to reach that coveted 20 point average that was talked about. The Compton product already has that ability to get to the free throw line, a prerequisite for scoring wings.

Now onto the main event - What will happen with Chris Bosh? Like many people already know, the Raptors want to retain Chris, and Chris is certainly open to returning. But what exactly do we have going for us? Well Colangelo brought a few points to light during the PC that we're sure he'll bring to the table during negotiations. First and foremost, we can guarantee Bosh of being the # 1 guy here. Nothing better than stroking the ego, and reaffirming what many people think: He is the most coveted power forward in the NBA. And believe it or not, but this is very important to him. Yes he does want to win and contend, but the truth is, precedent shows that players his age usually choose the money and franchise player tag over championships. It's a trend that continues to this day, just ask Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Secondly, Colangelo brought up the fact that he is already established here. He's made a lot of contacts (one being Universal Music Canada) and this is a comfort zone for him. Many past Raptors have gone on record saying they regret ever leaving Toronto. The most prominent being Toronto's first ever basketball star - Damon Stoudamire. He's gone onto say he thought it would be greener on the other side, but boy did that turn out to be wrong.

My Prediction: This one is the toughest to call. Obviously, the ball is Bosh's court. Unfortunately, we're not the ones with the leverage in this scenario. If Bosh wants to leave, he can leave, there's nothing stopping him. On top of that, if we want to involve him in a "Sign and Trade" scenario, we will have to trade with whatever team Chris chooses; ultimately tying BC's hands. Let's put it this way. If Colangelo goes out and brings in attractive enough players (at least borderline all-star), then Chris will re-sign. He will give this franchise one more shot, and if it doesn't work out, then he'll quietly ask for a trade. However, if there are only minor pieces brought in, then Bosh will ask for a "Sign and Trade". That extra 6th year and nearly 20 million would just be too much to leave behind. In this scenario, we will probably end up with a TPE, cap relief, young players, and draft picks; thus truly sending us back into rebuild mode.

So now this remains. What is to become of Bryan Colangelo? And more importantly, how does he see the future unfolding? Well first off, the once titled "Golden Boy" made it clear that he is under contract and has the backing of MLSE. For those who are calling for his head on a platter, chill out for awhile, because Bryan isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And really though, is getting rid of Colangelo honestly the sensible thing to do? Regardless of the back-to-back disappointing seasons, BC is still the most credible member of this organization; and perhaps the most recognized and respected person to ever work for the Raptors. Lest we forget Glen Grunwald (who gave ridiculous contracts to players and couldn't make it work with Vince during his superstar years) and Rob Babcock (who set this franchise years back with trading Vince for scrap).

The most encouraging thing to take from BC's presser was that MLSE will go over the tax threshold if that's what it takes to put a contender out on the court. If the right players become available, then BC can work his magic knowing that there are no limitations being placed on his creativity. He made it clear that he understood fans were disappointed, and that more was expected of not only the team, but himself as well. So hearing that MLSE will finally go over the tax definitely softens the harsh blow of this past season.

My Prediction: I'll use a line BC threw out there a couples times during the conference - "That's something that's impossible to answer right now". Many variables must come into effect before we can even get a good idea of what's in store for this team. The most important variable being where Chris Bosh ends up. Colangelo noted that it all starts with LeBron first: If he leaves, then the rest will fall into place like a domino effect. There are really 2 scenarios that our GM prepared us for in the hour or so he was up on the podium...

1) Assuming Chris Bosh returns to the team, Colangelo's first priority is shoring up the horrible defense. Expect a big man to intimidate/protect the paint, and more importantly, grab rebounds. Next, a guard will most likely be brought in to help strengthen the perimeter defense (which at times consisted of Jose-DeRozan-Turk - sigh). The point guard situation will also look different next year. Either Jack or Jose will be gone, or even both. Lastly, look for the expiring contracts of Marcus Banks, Reggie Evans, and the draft pick we own to be dangled in an attempt to get Bosh his 20 point scoring swingman. When you take in the likely re-signing of Amir Johnson, then we'll probably be well into the tax.

2) Assuming Chris Bosh leaves, then Colangelo has made it clear what becomes important - and that's entertaining the fans, and more importantly, the season ticket holders. There was much talk and bragging about what DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems could become, how they're still very young, and how there's untapped potential there. This team would look different in a sense that it would be filled with young, athletic, and raw players at every position. The only veteran presence I would see in this rebuilding scenario is Turk, and that's only because he's practically untradeable. But from what I got out of the press conference, if Bosh leaves, the team's main focus is attempting to keep their fanbase. And considering our position, the only way you get that done for a season is to play a high-octane athletic kind of basketball.

And there you have it Raptors Nation! General Manager Bryan Colangelo putting himself up on the podium to answer the media and your questions in his yearly end-of-season press conference. Look - I know many of you are sad, annoyed, and even pissed off about how the season went. But understand this, Bryan is someone who hates to lose, and he is easily known as one of the more competitive executives in the NBA. Today, the media asked him questions about his reputation. And though he jokingly mentioned it was ruined because of us, let's put things into perspective: This dude has a reputation to hold up and protect. Not many teams can say that about their GMs. Ours has already paid his dues and made something out of himself, and you can bet he will do whatever it takes to build on his previous success.

Even though we sometimes question his moves, we can always fall back on the fact that Colangelo doesn't just sit on his hands. He's as proactive as a GM can get, and you can be rest assured that he will do something "Big" for the 3rd straight off-season. This summer, not everything will be in our control. But like Bryan Colangelo told the media today, we can "control the intent to make it happen."

Let's Take Up Bird Bull Watching

2010-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

So it's not in our hands anymore.

Instead, we must rely on our new favorite team in the entire freaking universe; the Boston Celtics. It feels morally, biologically, and physically wrong, but whatever it takes right? Damn straight.

Tonight at 8pm on TheScore, we will all be glued to our televisions as if our very own Raps will be taking the court. All we ask is that those whining, chest thumping, illegal screen setting dudes in green beat the Chicago Bulls by at least 1 point. That's all.

Because once that happens, then Raptors Nation will be back in the driver's seat.

Right now, the Bulls have the Celtics and the Bobcats left on their schedule. Ever since we put up that stinker against Chicago, I've had a lot of friends feel free to point out to me that Boston and Charlotte will be resting their starters. Thus leading them to believe that Chicago will have an easy time getting these last two games.

But hold up!

The Boston Celtics still have something to prove. With 2 games left in the season, they can still grab the 3rd seed away from the Atlanta Hawks. Heck, all they have to do is tie the Hawks in order to accomplish this. And let's be real here. But these old and very much beatable Celtics would much rather take on a Bogut-less Bucks team than a Heat squad led by D-Wade.

And then you have the Charlotte Bobcats. Now this is a bit more difficult to call considering they are already locked in to play the Magic in the first round of the playoffs. But Larry Brown has consistently gone on record saying that he will not sit his guys all for the "integrity of the game". He also went on to acknowledge the tight race between the Bulls and the Raptors, and that it would only be fair to these two teams and the rest of the league.

So there you have it! A very much meaningful season remains for anyone left on the Raptors bandwagon. If the Celtics win tonight, all the Raptors need to do is win against the Knicks on Wednesday, and they clinch the 8th spot. And yeah, that would mean a date with the Cavs, whom we would realistically lose to. But I don't know anyone who could deny how crazy Raptors playoff games are like at the ACC. Personally, I don't want to go another year without the Sea of Red.

And secretly, neither do you.

Red and Black Attack or Retract?

2010-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

It's really simple right now. If we want this:

Or this...

Then there can no longer be any limping to the finish line. It's as simple as that. Boiling down to one game against the Chicago Bulls, everything will be on the table, ready to be taken by whichever teams wants it the most.

Very rarely does it ever come down to this.

More often than not - at least in races this close - teams must rely on others to get the job done. There is after all a reason why tight races involve two evenly matched teams. And so regardless if you take care of your own business, you must still hope that the other teams aid you with hurdles. But this year, the Eastern Conference's 8th seed will most likely be determined with a do-or-die game between the very two teams trying to outrace each other.

No one else will be involved. There can be no excuses. You either win and enjoy the result, or lose and deal with the consequence.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will very well be interested in the outcome of this game, but this isn't about them right now. This is about two teams wanting to make it to the playoffs; where anything can happen. Sure, you have the typical fan or two who actually prefer missing out on the post-season. But it's these same people who most likely have never been in a scenario like this before. If you've played any kind of team sport during your school years, you know that the playoffs and the championship are the only goal one should have in mind. It doesn't matter how unrealistic your chances are, all that does matter is that you get to that "2nd season". Because you don't put in all that work only to finish early. That's never the point. You don't work hard all year to only be told you're not good enough to continue.

Put yourself in their shoes. Would you honestly throw away another year of your career just so that some random college player can be added to your roster with the 12th pick?

Tell Jarrett Jack that - who has never been to the playoffs before. Earlier this season, he and his mother could not contain their excitement at the mere thought of it.

Tell DeMar DeRozan that - who coped with the fact that he wasn't asked to play in the rookie/sophomore game by leaning on the possibility that he would be playing in the playoffs and his peers would not.

Tell Hedo Turkoglu that - who though has been more than disappointing this year, was in the NBA Finals last year. Even he would not be fine with the possibility of not playing in April like he's accustomed to.

And finally, tell Chris Bosh that - who has his entire future and legacy as a Raptor on the line.

Believe it or not, but the Toronto Raptors want to be in the playoffs. Despite what you may see on TV, or hear on the radio, these players want nothing more than to beat the Chicago Bulls and secure the 8th seed. And after tonight's game that will without a doubt have a preview of what playoff basketball is like at the ACC, you'll feel the same as well.

With A Side Of Red - Apr.9/10

2010-04-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

With just over three hours until tipoff between the Hawks and our Raptors, here's another installment of your favorite Raptors side dish. Today, I'm going Raptors video happy, lots of good stuff on Raptors.com...

Just like with every road game, you know your favorite broadcast crew will be busting out a new episode of "Life on the 2nd Bus". Keep up to date with the most entertaining 2nd bus in all of sports.

Last post, I talked about a possible future with the Young Gunz era. No matter what happens in the future with Bosh, I totally see us moving forward with DeMar DeRozan. He could very well turn out to be anything from a #1 option to a #3; that's how raw he is right now. It's hard to gauge a 20 year old rookie because of the numerous ups and downs, but give it some time - there's clearly potential there. Here's chapter 11 of the the Raptors original documentary that spotlights DeMar - "One Rookie".

In other news..

With all this talk about CB4 possibly leaving us for the US; it's funny that this recent update popped up. The "Baller" Adnan Virk (who used to work for The Score, and is currently employed by Raptors TV) has accepted a job in the States to work for ESPN. That's big man. Though you'll be missed, good luck to you.

Adnan Virk to ESPN

Lastly, to get you all hyped up for the game tonight. Check out a replay of the last game between the Raps/Hawks all in just six minutes. Amazing performance from Jamal Crawford in this one, and though Bosh struggled throughout, he hit the one that counted: the game winner.

I lied - one last thing. The Heels On Hardwood Blog of the The Score Sports Federation is having a contest where they will be giving away courtside tickets to the Raptors Knicks game. Real simple to get involved in, and the prize is crazy. Check it out!

And there you have it Raptors Nation. Whatever it is you happen to be doing, I hope you enjoyed it With A Side of Red!

The Atlantic Division; The Cure For Your Raptors Blues

2010-04-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

With the depression levels of Raptors fans reaching a season high in the last two days, I thought I'd go a different route than most of the morning papers I've sifted through this morning.

Let's ignore the Chris Bosh injury, the Turkoglu mystery, the Bulls stampeding behind us - let's forget about all of that for a few minutes. Everyone outside of Toronto keeps focusing on our future, a future without Chris Bosh that is. Well Toronto fans finally got a true glimpse of that last night against the Celtics.

Let's call it the Young Gunz era.

Assuming Chris Bosh's tenure in Toronto has finally ended, this is what the city has in store for it:

A high octane, fast paced and athletic offense led by a group of young fellas. That's what I saw last night. It may not have the same star power that Bosh has in one hand, but it's a good start nonetheless. Perhaps a proper rebuild is on the horizon for the Toronto Raptors? Again - assuming Bosh chooses a new home - Toronto could very well end up with the necessary pieces to rebuild a team like the OKC Thunder.

Before you get it twisted, i'm not trying to sugarcoat anything here. If we go into next season with a resigned Amir Johnson, DeRozan, Weems, Jack, Bargnani, and Turk (which looks pretty possible) then we'll surely lose more than our fair share of games. But then again, so did young teams like Portland and Oklahoma. But as soon as they were given a chance to develop together, it all clicked. Obviously, the Blazers had Roy, and the Thunder had Durant; but who's to say that Weems (23), DeRozan (20) and Amir (22) don't have the potential to be very good players in the future? They didn't get the nickname "Young Gunz" for no reason.

So let's put things into perspective. Regardless of how bleak you may think the future looks, remember this: An NBA season is truly won within your division. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Atlantic Division:

Do any of these teams really strike immediate fear moving forward? Well - not really. And that's my point. With the steady decline of the Boston Celtics, this division is once again for the taking in the years to come. Let's look at each team here.

The Celtics: Let's be real here. This is the one division leading team of the entire NBA that many people feel are on its last leg. Their age is finally catching up to them, and that championship window is about an inch away from finally closing shut. Even Celtics fans are ready to go back to what they call the "Age of Darkness". They threw away their entire future for a couple glory years. Was it worth it? Of course. Absolutely. But will they now have to pay their debt? Yup.

The Knicks: This is obviously the wildcard of the division. They've gone all-in for the 2010 off season. If they manage to get LeBron, then everything changes and this becomes their division to own. But with recent reports coming out of Cleveland saying LeBron isn't going anywhere, there's a good chance the Knicks may end up with something like Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay with a resigned David Lee. Bosh could also end up here as well - which would only make the rivalry between the Knicks and Raps heat up even more.

The Sixers: They finally get it. This team isn't good enough, at least not when you consider what their being paid. The Philly front office has been more than ready to part with Iggy, Sammy D, and Brand. Not because of their talent, but due to the fact that they can't afford to keep them around. They are really the one team that resembles the Raptors' scenario the most. They too have some young talent moving forward, but are currently strapped down with some bad contracts.

The Nets: They almost made history this year as the worst NBA team ever. They'll most likely end up as the team with the worst record, which would ultimately give them the best chance of landing the #1 pick. John Wall anybody? No one in the Atlantic wants this Wildcat phenom to settle down here. But remember this, having the worst record entitles you to a 25% chance of landing the first pick. Well with that in mind, in the last 20 years of the draft, the team with the worst record has only won the lottery a total of 3 times.

Surely, Colangelo will sell these points when he attempts to re-sign Bosh. But even if the greatest player to ever rock a Raptor uniform departs, know that there is a very manageable future just around the corner. Winning your division guarantees you a top 4 seed in your conference. From there, anything can happen.

Raptors Rundown Podcast - Episode 4

2010-04-07T00:06:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the week again folks. Check out episode 4 of the Raptors Rundown podcast! Remember to keep the feedback and listener questions coming, you guys know I appreciate it.

This week, Joel Reilly of Boshtown makes a special guest appearance to talk about the Canadian trending twitter topic that's taken Raptors Nation by storm. On top of that, the creator of the Boshtown movement also gives his thoughts on the games to come for the Raps, Hedo Turkoglu, and his pick for this week's Raptor Factor. Oh and by the way - Joel also drops the exclusive scoop of a sick Boshtown contest he has planned for Raps fans.

Check out the facebook group as well: Boshtown on Facebook

Raptors Rundown Episode 4

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

A Very Easter(n) Raptors Weekend [WSR]

2010-04-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Lots of Eastern Conference implications over the weekend...

In a matter of 2 seconds, the season was summed up quite nicely. The Raptors pulled off the unexpected, then Chris Bosh went up, before falling back down. I know a bunch of people are still not over the crazy finish at the ACC last night. I know I wasn't - which is why I couldn't take my eyes away from the video above. I had to watch it over...and over...again.

BTW - was am I the only who found the Nellie/Warriors moshpit a tad hilarious?

Second on the docket of this edition of "With A Side of Red", I've got another Easter Egg of news that Raps fans may like.

Here's a snippet from an article that can be found at Cleveland.com

"One option the team may consider is giving James and some other players some time off this week and then putting a full team out on the floor for the final two games against the Magic and Hawks next Sunday and Wednesday. There is a chance Shaquille O'Neal could return for one or both of those games."

Okay. I like it!

Lastly, here's a video regarding the recent Autism Awareness Night that was held at the ACC. For those that don't know, April is considered Autism Awareness Month. It was good on both the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs to go out and show their support for a great cause. Autism is a serious thing, but at the same time, those with it should be considered just like everyone else. They're fully capable of probably more than what you expect. On top of that - they can be huge basketball fans as well. Trust me - I know one that could talk ball for days!

And that's it from me today. Just wanted to let everyone know that I appreciate the surprising success everyone has brought to this blog and the Raptors Rundown podcast. After a mere 3 months, everything has come quite quick, and I'm enjoying every second of it.

With that said, I've gotten emails regarding the drop in activity over the last 3-4 days. Before I get bombarded with anymore, I would like to point out that it's been Easter weekend, I had my birthday to celebrate, and final exams were taking place. But now that it's all out of the way, expect me to have all hands on deck as we approach the finish line.

To prove that, I've already got an interview with Joel Riley of Boshtown lined up for tomorrow. He'll be appearing on episode 4 of the Raptors Rundown to talk Raptors basketball. So keep a look out for that.

Whatever you happen to be doing Raptors fans, I hope you enjoyed it With A Side of Red!

Sonny Weems Is No Joke

2010-04-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

While you're dodging April Fools jokes left and right today, let's take a closer look at the one Raptor that has been a surprise of the pleasant variety. His name is Sonny Weems (real name is Clarence - but don't tell him that), the 23 year old starting shooting guard for the Toronto Raptors.

Born out of Arkansas, Weems was the typical super athlete growing up. Excelling at football and track and field - especially high jump where he manaed to clear 6'10 - there was little doubt that Sonny was born with God given athleticism and talents. Shooting up to a respectable height that complimented his play style, his athleticism ended up translating quite well onto the basketball court. As a senior, he ended up leading West Memphis High School to a state championship. The 20 points and 14 rebounds he averaged was good enough to have him recognized as one of the best high school players in the Nation.

The early success didn't end there however. After high school, Sonny attended the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith where he eventually was thought to be the #1 junior college player in the entire country. Soon after, Weems declared his commitment to the University of Arkansas through a transfer. In 06/07, he was actually listed as the #1 junior college transfer in the nation by CollegeHoops.net. In his junior year, he played a noteworthy role (11 pts a game) that led to the Razorbacks' 3rd straight winning season. Unfortunately, the party ended abruptly in a first round knockout in the NCCA tournament.

In Weems' final year at Arkansas, the high flying guard made it his mission to go out with a bang. Earning his spot on the first team All-SEC, Weems led Arkansas all the way to the NCAA tournament once again; where they would ultimately ruin a couple of brackets all over the world with an upset win over Indiana. The 31 points he scored (on 12-14 shooting) gave the Razorbacks their first NCAA tournament win in 9 years. He followed that up with a 22 point performance in the next round, but unfortunately could not overcome a beastly UNC squad. Wanting to end his collegiate career on his terms however, Sonny topped the experience off with an entertaining win in the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest.

Many scouts expected Weems to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in an attempt to raise his stock prior to the draft. However, he ultimately decided to skip out and instead opted to workout for several NBA franchises. Already 21 years old and running out of time on his NBA dreams, Weems pushed as hard as he could in order to impress somebody, anybody. Even in the days leading up to the draft, Weems was projected to go somewhere in the low to mid 50s; to possibly not even being drafted. All he wanted to do was for some team to give him a chance.

Fortunately, that chance came - but not in the way Sonny had been playing it out in his head ever since he was a kid.

Selected with the 39th pick of the 2008 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Weems wasn't even given a chance to smile. Immediately, he was traded away to Denver for scrap (2nd rounder). Already considered a fringe player, consistent and nagging injuries glued Sonny to the Nuggets bench. Eventually, the franchise sent him down to the D-League.

Playing for the Colarado 14ers, Sonny Weems put up 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game; a stat line very similar to something he'd put up in college. Yet regardless of his steady production and seemingly translatable game, the Nuggets still refused to put Weems on the court. His time soon ran out in Denver, and the team traded him for next to nothing to the Bucks (Malik Allen who's averaging 2.3 points, and 1.6 rebounds this year).

Ten days later - that's right, ten days... - Sonny Weems was traded once again. But this time, it was to the Toronto Raptors. Used as nothing more than a filler, he and Amir Johnson were sent to Canada in exchange for Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic. Considered merely an afterthought in the grand scheme of things, many fans expected and even preferred Weems to be wearing a suit every game. With their young lottery pick rookie DeMar DeRozan, prized free agent Hedo Turkoglu, veteran wing defender Antoine Wright, and fellow Italian countryman to Bargs in Marco Belinelli; Sonny Weems found himself in a particularly crowded field.

But just like always, Weems fought through it all. Always being noted to be one of the hardest working players by the coaching staff, the 23 year old athletic wingman put in the time to make his case for head coach Jay Triano. The message was heard loud and clear: "I deserve to be here."

Fast forward to today, and with the playoffs just on the horizon, Sonny Weems now finds himself as the starting 2 guard for the Toronto Raptors - a team bound for the post-season. Peaking at the absolute right time, Sonny is putting up career numbers in the month of March and appears to have the starting gig locked for the rest of the year. He gives this Toronto team an aspect and element that this franchise has lacked for years now, and that's athleticism on the wings.

The best part is that:

1) He's basically a rookie. Recording practically no minutes in his rookie year, this is in a sense, his first season that he's been given a chance to play. At the age of 23, he's got plenty of time to grow.

and

2) Weems is earning the minimum in regards to salary. The Raptors can either choose to use their team option on him next year, or just outright extend Weems. Either way, Toronto will end up with very good production per salary. Amazing bang for your buck? I think so.

What does the future have in store for Sonny Weems? No one knows for sure, though Raptors fans can only hope it involves them. It was only two years ago that I remember first seeing him. He was assisting J.R. Smith in the Dunk Contest, and commentators Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith took no liberties in making jokes at Weems' expense. But in their defense, what they didn't realize at the time is that Sonny Weems is no joke. There's a hidden gold mine of potential somewhere there that the Denver Nuggets couldn't find; and all it took was a Raptors jersey for Weems to realize that.

Raptors Rundown Podcast - Episode 3

2010-03-31T09:36:00.001-07:00

Check out episode 3 of the Raptors Rundown Podcast. All the great feedback on the show is helping me stay consistent with the show. Keep them coming! If you'd like to guest co-host for an episode, don't hesitate to contact me via email, and I'm sure we can get something worked out.

This week, I have Abish from tdot-sports.com to help me discuss the latest happenings in the world of the Toronto Raptors. Topics include recent lineup changes to the starting 5, the laziness and lack of effort shown by the team, controversy surrounding Colangelo and Turk, Chris Bosh's recent play, and the week to come for the Raps. On top of that, Abish gives you his pick for this week's Raptor Factor.

You can find Abish on twitter here: TDotSports

Raptors Rundown Episode 3

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

The Amazing Race

2010-03-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Other than the weekly reality show that airs on your television screen every Sunday, there is one race that truly pushes your mental and physical strength to the limit. To succeed, it requires cutthroat strategy, an unprecedented determination, and even a little bit of luck. With every team's eyes set on the same prize, you have to make a decision: Step up or be stepped on.

I'm no Phil Keoghan, but let's take a look at the final leg of the race for the post-season. Here are what challenges lay ahead for the Raptors, Bobcats, and the Bulls:

Raptors Schedule (8th):
vs. Clippers
@ Philly
vs. Golden State
@ Cleveland
vs. Boston
@ Atlanta
vs. Chicago
@ Detroit
vs. New York

Bobcats Schedule (7th):
vs. Philly
vs. Milwaukee
@ Chicago
vs. Atlanta
@ New Orleans
@ Houston
vs. Detroit
@ New Jersey
vs. Chicago

Chicago Schedule (9th):
vs. Phoenix
@ Washington
vs. Charlotte
vs. Milwaukee
vs. Cleveland
@ New Jersey
@ Toronto
vs. Boston
@ Charlotte

On a quick first glance, it seems as though the Bulls have the most difficult schedule. The only games they really should be expected to win no matter what would be the games against Washington and New Jersey. Every other team on that schedule will be fighting desperately for playoff positioning.

The Bobcats' schedule isn't that bad, but I wouldn't say it's the easiest of the 3 provided. They have three games that can easily be had against Philly, New Jersey, and Detroit. But the rest include a formidable group of teams that have either something to prove or want to finish ahead of Charlotte.

As for the Raptors, I can honestly say they have the easiest schedule of these teams. This is of course assuming they play with the same type of effort they've shown the last three games. If they do, and that's a big IF, I see them having no problem taking care of the Clippers, Sixers, Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, and Knicks. Getting even 1 of the BIG 3 stretch (Cavs, Celtics, Hawks) would also prove to be huge.

Remember Raptors Nation, Toronto holds the tiebreaker over both Charlotte and Chicago. This little fact could prove to be very significant down the stretch. This makes it even more difficult for Chicago to pass us and for Charlotte to finish ahead of us.

Since my NCAA bracket went down the drain a long time ago, I'm going to attempt to make myself feel better here and give you guys my crazy prediction for all 3 teams:

Raptors: 7-2
Bobcats: 6-3
Chicago: 3-6

That would leave us with a final Eastern Conference standing of:

7. Charlotte: 44-38
8. Toronto: 43-39
9. Chicago: 38-44

Unfortunately, that wouldn't be enough to finish ahead of Charlotte, thus giving us a date with King James and his Cavs. Obviously, this is just some prediction from some random Raptors fan, and a lot can happen from here on out; but I totally expect it to play out something similar to this.

Regardless, this is a race and the Raptors are in it. And though it took forever for them to get a clue, the point is it looks like they've got it. But now it's the final leg of the race. And with the last pit stop in sight, it's time to shift into another gear, because the last team there will be eliminated.

With Spring Comes Meltdowns Or Sunshine

2010-03-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things work sometimes.

At around this point last year, the Toronto Raptors were playing very inspired basketball. After a horrendous and disappointing season, the team managed to get everything to come together. As a result, the Raps ended up winning 9 of the last 13 games of the season. The kicker? They were already well out of the playoff race.

Fast forward to the present, and here comes the depressing part.

While in the center of the storm that is the playoff race, the Raptors have managed to lose 10 out of the last 14 games. To say the month of March has been a total disaster would definitely be an understatement. It almost seems like every game, Toronto finds a new way to lose. To make matters worse, everyday fans read another new yet disturbing revelation about the team in the papers. One day it's Colangelo saying he feels the team has individual agendas, and then the next day it's Turkoglu seemingly faking a stomach flu. On top of that, this team has had some of the most frustrating meltdowns I've seen a Raptors squad go through. Yet the most frustrating of all has been the season itself.

And even still, it's not too late to save it.

Currently sitting in the 8th seed, only a half game above Chicago and three games below Charlotte, the Raps' remaining 10 games of the season is quite manageable. Ignoring the Charlotte game tonight for just a minute, the 9 games after that looks like this:

Clippers
Sixers
Warriors
Cavs
Celtics
Hawks
Bulls
Pistons
Knicks

Regardless of the fact this team has lost its last two games despite the new starting lineup, fans who have stuck with the Raptors can still spot the difference in play. This isn't the same team that got blown out by 30 to the Thunder and the Jazz. The plays have clearly turned up the intensity and sense of urgency, but have unfortunately unable to finish strong.

Let's say they keep that exact level of play for the last 10 games. I think if they can manage to do that, wins will probably come against the Clippers, Sixers, Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, and the Knicks. And even if the Raps lose the games they're expected to lose, they'd still finish around .500 - which sadly will be good enough to finish in the 8th seed.

Of course, finishing in the 8th seed may be just as bad as missing the playoffs to some; but not to the players. It's these players - the same ones many in this city have given up on - that put in the work each and everyday to get a chance to play in the post season. They realize they've let Toronto down tremendously. I say give them a chance to redeem themselves and make it up to us. This roster just needs a brand new start, and that's exactly what the playoffs is. If this team plays hard, win or lose, I can guarantee a pretty exciting first round match-up.

Obviously, things wouldn't look very good for Toronto as they'd have to stay in front of the train that is LeBron James. But that's why there are such things as "upsets". And if the NBA Playoffs turns out to be anything like this year's NCAA tournament, you'll end up attached to your couch, eyes glued on the television, while cheering on the team you're so hopelessly in love with.

Effort Too Mellow For Jazz

2010-03-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Really? That was it?

Exactly where was the effort tonight? Does this team not get it? Tonight's performance by the Raptors had to be the worst display of effort ever seen by a team fighting for a playoff spot - Ever.

This is the time of the year you want to hit your stride. It's at this point of the season where all excuses are left at the door. With the playoffs just around the corner, you're either doing one of two things:

1) Getting ready for the lottery.
2) Jockeying for better playoff positioning.

And truth be told - based on the last few games - the Raptors look like they're going with number 1 on that list. What absolutely boggles the mind is the fact that it's not like the Raptors are in a bad position. The magic number countdown that so often pops up with Leafs fans is irrelevant (for now) in Raptors Nation. And it's not like the Raptors are necessarily trying to chase an 8th seed, nor are they depending on other teams to help them out. Their playoff destiny is entirely in their hands.

And yet time after time again, the effort isn't there. How many blowouts can one team victimize itself through before the intensity picks up? Is it too much to ask for the Raptors play hard every game? Scratch that - make that every other game.

The magic Raptors formula: Effort + Skill + Some Luck = Success.

Just look at the recent Atlanta game.

My solution: Triano - it's time to be bold.

And no, I'm not talking about something like taking Jack out of the starting lineup for Jose. Nope. Think bolder. Why? Because whatever you've done so far, well, it's not working. It's not even close to working. If it were up to me, I'd want to blow this team up and do a complete rebuild. A different theme, a different attitude, and a different perspective on both sides of the court. But with the season dwindling down, it's too late for that. Such an act would have to wait. So how do we change it up with the resources we have and the realistic options we have available to us?

Play anyone and everyone ready to commit on the defensive end. From keeping your man in front of you, to boxing out, to cleaning up the glass. Triano shouldn't care about whether or not someone scores 20 points. All that should matter is you play defense.

Disgusting Fact of the Night: The Raptors have given up at least 100 points in 14 of their last 16 games. A petty Knicks team almost got there with 96, while the juggernaut New Jersey Nets could only put up 90.

Triano should not hesitate to take away minutes from Reggie and Bargnani if it means getting more court time for Amir. He shouldn't be afraid to give Banks some of the time Jack and Jose are seeing. And go ahead and give Sonny more burn as well. Do something, anything! Because teams are clinching playoff spots left and right.

The time's ticking Toronto.

With A Side Of Red - Mar.23 [Being Lazy Is A Skill; Not Everyone Does It]

2010-03-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

Just like hustle right?...

Regardless of what your answer is to that, let's kick off another edition of "With A Side Of Red" - your favorite side dish of random Raptors related tidbits. A good number of people seemed to have enjoyed the God of War 3 theme I used in the last WSR, so I find it pretty hilarious that the theme this time around involves the one word that has been thrown around a lot in Raptors Nation lately: Lazy.

From Kratos to laziness...nice.

If you looked on twitter, message boards, your IM - you'd know what I was talking about. If the topic was the Toronto Raptors, then the word "lazy" was included at least once somewhere throughout the day. What started it all? This handy dandy article from Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.Com:

Toronto's Bargnani still searching for a little consistency

The piece starts off with this line:

"The fifth month of the fourth season, and still no conclusion. Except that Andrea Bargnani is lazy."

First, if there's one thing that us Raptors fans can conclude, it's that our neighbors South of us sure do know how to reel us in. Journalists and whoever else associated with the media know by now, if you'd like to see the biggest increase spike in traffic you've ever seen in your career, all you have to do is say something bad about the Toronto Raptors. It works like a charm every time.

Btw: Bargnani finished last night's game with 19 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl and was the Raptors' broadcast crew's "Just Energy Player of the Game". Funny stuff.

And then of course, this morning we have an article out of the Toronto Star by Dave Feschuck. Check it out here to help me avoid my tendency not to include sources:

Raptors nearly felled by lowly Timberwolves

This time around, we have Sonny Weems (who keep in mind is 24 years old and is practically an NBA rookie) with this quote:

“Just play defence, that’s all we’ve got to do,” said Weems. “I think some people just don’t buy into it. It’s just some people being lazy. Once we buy into it, we can be a great team.”

Ah - there's that word again. Just never seems to escape us. It's like the Raptors' version of Jason, Freddy Kruger, and Michael Myers rolled into one.

Next on WSR - how can I have a "lazy" theme and not include the one Toronto Raptor that has been ragged on all year for looking out of shape. Hint: He loves pizza!

Hedo Turkoglu!

But of course, as Raptors fans know, you can always expect the unexpected, or better yet, you can always expect what doesn't make sense. When the Raptors are on a high, they show up with a weak performance, and vise versa. So with all this talk about laziness, it was only fitting that Turk had one of his best 4th quarters of the season.

When the game got close, the team constantly put the ball in Hedo's hands to make plays. The ball handling skills he possesses at his height makes him deadly in PnR situations. Here's perhaps the most significant play he created late in the 4th with the Raps only up by 2.

Jack brings the ball up the court to begin the offensive set. Meanwhile Turk goes as far up the wing as it takes to bring his man near the free throw line extended. He uses a small Bargnani screen (or what is supposed to be...) and makes his way towards Jack to receive the hand-off.

Hedo gets the ball and is now in the basic and fundamental triple threat position (though he could have gotten the ball a little closer to the 3pt line just in case he wanted to shoot). Bosh prepares himself to go set the screen for Turk. Everyone on Minnesota knows what's about to happen, so they set their entire focus on stopping it.

Bosh sets the pick, and Turk takes his dribble towards the basket. Knowing they can't give Turk the shot, the Wolves defender goes over the screen. The goal here is to make the defense react and take whatever they give you. Having run this set to death throughout his career, Hedo knows what will be available to him. If Hedo takes it strong to the basket, Al Jefferson - the Minney player in the middle - must pick his poison. He can either stick on Bosh's roll to the basket, and hope Brewer fills in (which leaves Wright open in the corner); or he can stick on Hedo and hope Love helps him with Bosh's roll to the bucket (which leaves Bargnani open for 3). Being about 6'10 helps Turk see over the defense for the best decision.

The Wolves collapse into the paint in an attempt to contain Hedo's penetration or Bosh's decision to roll or pop. This leave both Antoine Wright and Andrea Bargnani open for a clean look at a three pointer. Turk makes the easier pass of the two, and Wright eventually knocks down the basket.

The Raptors went to Turk consecutive times late in the game to make plays for them and it worked out well. Some would point to the fact that it was against the Wolves, but when done right and consistently, Turk can be a force in the PnR scenarios. Just ask Boston and Cleveland.

Last up on the biggest edition ever of "With A Side of Red" [The lazy edition mind you], I've got episode 2 of the Raptors Rundown podcast. This episode is co-hosted with Anton, who is the author and creator of the Toronto Huskies Blog. Topics include Chris Bosh's performance and level of play since his return from the injury, the team's inability to feed the hot hand, Wright's criticism of DeRozan and Weems, Jack's demotion to the bench, and the meltdown against OKC. On top of that, Anton gives you his pick for this week's Raptors Factor.

Hope you enjoy it!

Raptors Rundown Episode 2

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

Whatever you happen to be doing Raptors fans, I hope you enjoyed it With A Side of Red!

Raptors Rundown Podcast - Episode 2

2010-03-22T08:56:00.001-07:00

I want to say sorry to the readers of this blog for not being to churn anything out over the weekend. I was pretty busy on Saturday, and yesterday - well - I can safely say I was working hard on this. Check out episode 2 of the Raptors Rundown Podcast! The soon-to-be one podcast you refer to for the latest happenings in the world of the Toronto Raptors.

This episode is co-hosted with Anton, who is the author and creator of the Toronto Huskies Blog. Topics include Chris Bosh's performance and level of play since his return from the injury, the team's inability to feed the hot hand, Wright's criticism of DeRozan and Weems, Jack's demotion to the bench, and the meltdown against OKC. On top of that, Anton gives you his pick for this week's Raptors Factor.

Hope you enjoy it!

Raptors Rundown Episode 2

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

Thunder Is Just Loud Noise; And Raps Ready To Make Some Of Their Own

2010-03-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

If the Raptors can sustain the effort and level of play they showed off against the Hawks, then suddenly, their objective changes. No longer is it simply just: Make the playoffs. But now it's: Do whatever it takes to finish above the 8th seed.

Winning a playoff series would be monumental in the grand scheme of things. Not only would it be the team's first playoff series win since that guy who jumps high was here, but it would play a huge role in convincing Bosh to stay here. It's all about moving forward, and the Raptors have their best shot at doing that with the 7th, 6th, and 5th seeds. Fans of this team may quickly point to the fact that we've played Cleveland very well this year - and they would have a legit point.

But let's face it. Does anyone honestly think that LeBron's potential final year in Cleveland will end in the first round of the playoffs to the Toronto Raptors? I don't see it happening. Our defense is already bad enough. But imagine not even being able to breath on James? Frustration to no end.

So now with a confidence building win over Atlanta, the Raptors now welcome yet another team very similar to the Hawks. Kevin Durant and his OKC boys practically embarrassed Toronto in their one and only previous meeting this season. And it was expected. I've said it time after time again; Toronto has trouble playing against teams with fast and athletic wings and that boast undersized yet skilled and strong big men. If we can somehow find a way to steal the win tonight, it'll help solidify one very important fact - The Raptors can hang with anyone at home.

Adding the Thunder to a list that includes the Cavs, Lakers, Mavs, and Hawks looks nice on that NBA resume doesn't it?

You never want to look too far ahead, but if you can grab a win tonight, the Raps are potentially looking at a 5 game winning streak (Nets and Wolves just around the corner). How big would that be? A basketball game is said to be a game of runs. But when you think "bigger picture", that same observation could be made about the entire season. Obviously, what matters most is that you finish strong.

For Toronto, that started against the Hawks, and will look to continue tonight.

Batman and Robin(s)

2010-03-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

The headline on NBA.Com?

Bosh Saves The Day

But for those who actually took in the game last night, they know what really happened. Sure, if you want to get technical, then yes - Bosh did save the day. After all, it was he who was relied on in the clutch situations of last night's game. Two of the final three possessions went through Bosh, and consequently, CB4 converted those 2 possessions into buckets. Bosh also managed to eclipse the 10,000 point mark - the first ever Raptor to do so. But there was no doubt in the minds of Raptors fans everywhere, that with our backs up against the ropes, there was no bigger pair of points than this particular bucket:

Yet - could Bosh's shining moment have been made possible without the help of his team? Most definitely not.

Going into the 4th quarter, Bosh had a petty 6 points. For most of the game, the Raptors' captain did not look like the All-Star we had been spoiled with throughout the season. There wasn't any explosion in his first step. His jumpers were short. And the emotion wasn't there for about 44 minutes of the game. Some will quickly say "Who can blame him?" And those same people would be justified, because this team has let him down one too many times.

Going into last night's bout, anyone and everyone pegged Atlanta to blow Toronto out of the water for the third straight meeting, and perhaps Bosh did as well. Fortunately for Raptors Nation, Bosh's teammates had other ideas. While Bosh was practically invisible on the court and the stat sheet for about 3 quarters, his team stepped up and matched the Hawks punch for punch.

Bargnani - someone often criticized for not being able to provide the load when Bosh went down with injury - was perhaps the best player for Toronto last night. The Italian finished the opening quarter with 11 points, and ultimately the game with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

The young rookie DeMar DeRozan finally became that athletic wing player the Raptors have so desperately coveted. He played respectable defense (despite Crawford filling it up) and constantly attacked the rim. The fast break points he provided was something that I felt wasn't applauded enough.

Believe it or not - but Turk also made his case for most effective Raptor of the night as well. His shot showed signs of coming back to form in Portland, and luckily for us, it seemed to have traveled with him back to Toronto. He made plays, rebounded, and even dove for a couple of loose balls. On top of that, he even got out of that 1st quarter without recording a foul! Canada's "Do You Believe" campaign can now finally end

Lastly. Let's give it up to someone who has been under constant fire since the Raptors went into a downward spiral. Though not an actual player on the roster, this specific individual also played his part in setting up Bosh for his game winner. Congratulations Jay Triano! After drawing a foul, Hedo Turkoglu went to the line in an attempt to tie the game. Before the second free throw, Triano subbed in Amir Johnson for rebounding purposes. Turk surprisingly missed the second shot, which Amir (unsurprisingly) quickly tracked down before scrambling for the loose ball amidst the overwhelming number of Hawks players around him. The result? Toronto regaining possession with 10 seconds left.

Make no mistake about it, Chris Bosh isn't the only one on this team who cares about winning. Bosh felt like the route of calling his team out in the media was what was necessary, and his teammates responded. Sure, you can point out the fact that Bosh has certainly carried his team more often than his team has carried him, but why keep score? The main point that was made last night was that this team isn't ready to give up on Bosh or on the city.

Success and failure are usually placed on opposite ends of the spectrum; when they shouldn't be. Because at the end of the day, they're companions, like the hero and the sidekick. And on this night against the Atlanta Hawks, Bosh couldn't have saved the day like Batman without his army of Robins.

Johnson and Wright Won't Come Out To Play Today

2010-03-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

The good news?

Due to an Achilles injury, the Batman of the Atlanta Hawks will not be able to suit up tonight against the Toronto Raptors. Which works out nicely considering the recent struggles of this Raptors squad. Basically averaging 21, 5 and 5 this year, Johnson has played his role in cementing Atlanta's place in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

The bad news?

The Hawks usually kill us using a balanced attack.

Interesting Fact: The Hawks had 9 players score in double digits in our first meeting, and 6 players score in double digits in the second game. Evans, Williams, and Smith finished with 9 points.

Sure - having Johnson sit will help. But it's the style of play Atlanta thrives on that hurts us. The constant pressure from their defense forces turnovers, which helps them run teams out of the gym.

As for the Raptors, a combination of good and bad news: Antoine Wright will not be able to play tonight. It's good news because he hasn't exactly been playing great lately. During the 4 game trip, he managed to score a whopping 1 point in total. Think about it - he's actually played at least 10 minutes a game in the last week, but he hasn't made a single shot since March 7 (where he went 2 for 10...). Obviously, the bad news is that he still happens to be a very good piece we can throw at an athletic and gifted wing team like Atlanta...

3 Keys to the Game:
1. Transition D (ATL wants to play athletic and fast with us)
2. Squeeze The Orange (Like NBA2K10 always says...)
3. No helping/Stay on Shooters (No need to double down on Horford. Instead worry about Bibby, Crawford, and Evans.)

It's a big night for Toronto Raptors fans. If we can manage to win this one - it would do wonders for the locker room, media, and Raptors Nation. Catch the game tonight on TSN2 @ 7:00 EST.

With A Side Of Red - Mar.16/10 [In the End, There Will Only Be Chaos]

2010-03-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Said the man in this picture: "If all those on Olympus would deny me my vengeance, then all of Olympus will die."

Get er' done BC?

In honor of the release of God of War 3 today, I bring you the deepest shade of "With A Side Of Red" ever. Just like on Mount Olympus - it's not looking good right now in Raptors Nation. Colangelo is panicking more than Zeus is. Why? Because he knows that the wrath of Raptors fans was what gave birth to whatever Kratos is so upset about. The despair and treachery the God of War games use as themes have nothing on what the Raptors camp looks like at the moment. Here's Jack and Bosh opening Pandora's Box:

Next up on our ascent of Mount Olympus, we have this guy. Remember him?

Don't get it twisted, us Raptors fans, we played our part in driving Sam Mitchell out of town. The media got on it, fans were calling for his head. And don't pretend like you forgot the official "Fire Sam Mitchell" website. Yet now, there's already a handful of us who are wishing he was back with the team. This team needs a kick in the butt, and Mitchell would be the type of guy who would rain chaos - just ask Rafer Alston. Sam dropped by to speak on the FAN590 this morning, take a listen:

Sam Mitchell on the FAN590

And lastly, if you missed it yesterday, (since we did upload it a bit later on in the day) here's the first ever episode of the Raptors Rundown Podcast. Thanks again to Rose Arcana for helping me out. For those who'd like to help me co-host an episode, just let me know via email.

Episode 1

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

And there you guys have it - your daily fix of Raptors related tidbits before we take on that really athletic team we hate so much. Unless this team gets angry enough to want to change something, tomorrow will not be pretty. Solution? Sign Kratos to a 10 day contract and watch him intimidate anyone who comes into the lane. I'd pay to watch.

Whatever you happen to be doing Raptors fans, I hope you enjoyed it With A Side of Red!

Raptors Rundown Podcast - Episode 1

2010-03-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the first episode of the Raptors Rundown podcast. It's something I want to be able to do weekly at the least. In this episode, I and fellow guest/fan Rose Arcana discuss topics that include the recent four game West Coast trip, Bosh venting to the media, 3rd quarter meltdowns, and more.

If you want to help me co-host a future episode, feel free to send me a message via email which you can find on this very blog you're on. A show made by the fans, but more importantly, made for the fans.

Thanks again to Rose Arcana. You can add her on Twitter here:

Rose's Twitter

NOTE: I realize the sound quality could have been better, but bare with us here, first episode was a learning experience, and I'll look to keep getting better every episode. Thanks!

Episode 1

Kris Cuaresma's Podcast

Raptors @ Warriors [Fantasy Basketball At Its Finest]

2010-03-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

For those who are playing fantasy basketball this year, a good portion of your fantasy leagues are playing out its final season week. With Saturday and Sunday being the last two days before playoffs, it's do or die for some of us struggling to grab the seed we're aiming for.

Thankfully - the Raptors and Warriors are playing each other tonight.

Need points? There's sure to be plenty of that.

Assists? Jack, Jose, Turkoglu, Curry, Ellis, Watson will surely provide the load.

Rebounds? Tons of shots will be put up, and more than a fair share will hit rim.

Steals? Well let's just say both the Raptors and Warriors have been TO prone lately.

If all plays out like it's expected to, basketball fans will be treated to some fantasy basketball gems in the form of stat lines. Both the Raptors and Warriors are in top 5 of the NBA in points scored and points given up per game. The two teams are also in the top 10 in regards to field goal percentage and and opponents' field goal percentage.

To say this game will be a defensive showcasing would be an understatement; so on that note - you're going to need to look elsewhere if you're trailing in the "blocks" category.

What I CAN guarantee however is the abundance of 3pt shots taken, and most likely 3pt shots made. After all - we are pitting a team that currently has the longest streak of games with at least one 3-pointer made; against a team who just happens to have the son of a 3-point specialist Raptors fans may be familiar with:

Prediction?

Raptors 114 - 104 Warriors

It's bound to be a high scoring game. Being this late into the season, teams aren't going to significantly deviate from what the stats say they are. If the Raptors end up finding a way to somewhat fix their broken defense, it'll be back in Toronto where they'll be able to work on their schemes in the comfort of their own practice court. Still, I think the Raps come away with this. The sense of urgency will be there, and this is a must win before they take on a tough Portland team tomorrow.

Catch the game tonight at 10:30 pm EST on TSN.

With A Side Of Red - Mar.12/10

2010-03-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

Do Raptors fans remember this guy? If not, here's a better picture of him in all his glory...

Yup. Same dude. Same guy that beat Jose for a 50-50 loose ball. Well, it seems as though he has succumbed to the wrath of Raptors fans. Recently, Lapo Elkann released an apology to Raptors fans, and even more specifically, to Italian Raptors fans.

"“Having two Italians on the team and being Italian, I wished for them to win,” Elkann told ESPN, referring to Raptors’ duo Marco Belinelli and Andrea Bargnani."

Check out the rest of the article here:

Juventus Patron Lapo Elkann Apologetic Over LA Lakers Mishap

Next up to the plate, DeMar DeRozan. Why? Because we're touring Cali - duh. Raptors fans will be the first to admit - our rookie has struggled recently. But who can honestly blame him? He's only 20 years old and as raw as they get. Patience is the key here. But if we stick with this guy, it'll turn out to be well worth the wait.

Forgetting the fact that we're 0-2 after games against LA and Sacramento, DeRozan is starting to show glimpses of what he did so well earlier in the season. Hopefully, the prolonged stay in California will rejuvenate him for the rest of the year.

Here's one of the better mixes I've seen of DeMar DeRozan as a Toronto Raptor.

Lastly, I want give out a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has helped me reach the finals of the Raptors Pros Vs. Joes Debate Tournament hosted by Whotheman.com

Without my family members, friends, and readers of the blog, I wouldn't have been able to get to this point in the contest. Now I get to take on the winning Pro in "Phdsteve" of RaptorsRepublic.

He's been an absolute juggernaut in this competition. Even James Borbath of DinoNation couldn't get by him (and he's the author of - hands down - the most popular Raptors blog). So though it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll end up losing this last debate, I still can't wait to get it going just for the lone fact that it'll be a great experience.

Feel free to check out some of the highlights from the tournament!

Raptors Debate Tournament Highlights

And there you guys have it. Before I leave, I also wanted to let everyone know that a future audio and video podcast is in the works. The show will basically go into mainly Raptors related topics, as well as a few NBA tidbits. With that said, I'm also looking for a co-host. Whether you have your own Raptors blog, or simply a hardcore fan of the team, hit me up via email if interested!

Whatever you happen to be doing Raptors fans, I hope you enjoyed it With A Side of Red!

One Step Forward; Two Steps Back

2010-03-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Make no mistake about it, we let that one get away. And no offense to Sacramento, but that was a game we should have won. Unfortunately, in the world of sports, you don't win games you should win, you win games you do win. And on a Wednesday night in Sacramento, the Toronto Raptors didn't even come close to getting to that W.

This was a tough one to swallow. Especially after the game against the Lakers. You show all that courage, heart, and determination one night, only to follow it up with disgusting performance the next night? That's unacceptable - and downright anti-climatic. It was like watching Jerry Stackhouse dunk after Vince in the dunk-off all over again.

And talk about embarrassing...

This was a Kings team that had only won 21 games before their dismantling of Toronto. And this was a Raptors squad that was fighting for their playoff lives, and coming off a very gritty performance against the defending champions. How did this happen?

My shot in the dark guess? Overconfidence.

Yes, I'm still talking about the same Toronto Raptors team who's reeling right now. But perhaps their showing against L.A. caused them to maybe overlook Sacramento as an easy win. Case in point - When a fan asked Bosh if he was coming to Sacramento next year, CB4 replied with a resounding "Hell No!" Later that game, Jack went on to tell the fan "Ain't nobody coming here...nobody even knows it's in California."

Clearly, our Raptors squad felt like they were above Sacramento; you don't say stuff like that if you weren't confident about it. But in all honesty, we're in no position to be feeling that way. No - I'm not echoing Lamar Odom's words, because I have no problem with the Raptors showing confidence. In fact, every night, I think the Raptors should play like they know they can hang with every single team. What I don't think we can do right now is something that only elite teams do, and that's act like they're above anybody. We can't take anyone lightly nor can we feel like there's absolutely no way we can lose, especially with our defense regressing again. The Raptors can play on anyone's level if they don't ease up on the pedal, and when they realize that, this team will easily get back their 5th seed.

But at least for one night, that Sacramento Kings fan was the one that felt good after watching the game - and he didn't even have to switch time zones.

This Post Was Decided Before I Even Wrote It...

2010-03-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Like in many forms of entertainment - movies, professional wrestling, plays - the outcome is already decided before it even begins. Without being bluntly direct, let's just say that last night, Toronto Raptors fans were left scratching their heads. In a unison stream of thought, they wondered whether or not they were watching a competition, or a scripted reality show...

Many basketball experts, analysts, and those who follow the team close, openly admitted that last night's Raptors-Lakers game had suspect officiating. Time after time again, the Lakers were gift wrapped opportunities to win this game. Twitter, facebook, and basketball forums throughout the world ended up discussing how the Raptors got punked on national TV.

The Raptors ended up losing on a very difficult (yet classic) Kobe fadeaway with time ticking down. Yet in my opinion, it shouldn't have even come down to that. What I'll forever remember about this game were all the questionable calls - or no calls. Here's some that instantly come to mind:

- Chris Bosh's foul on Kobe as he attempted a lay-up
- Amir Johnson's weak offensive foul/scuffle
- Antoine Wright being called for a foul for putting his hands straight up
- Fan interference with Jose Calderon

Sigh.

In other news from that game (which I'll be expecting a YouTube mix of eventually), Lamar Odom came out with a gem of a quote:

"They ain't done s***. You know what I mean? As a team, as individuals."

Seriously Lamar? What have you done individually? Thank God you've got Kobe to fall back on. Without him, you'd be messing up all over the place. Oh wait -

Lastly, here's a quote from Chris Bosh regarding last night's game and Turk's overall play:

"I think we want to see that," Bosh said. "I think he's still trying to figure out how he can do that. We just have to let him know that he has the opportunity and the chance to be aggressive. He's can do that. He's going to have the ball in his hands a lot. Anytime he wants to make a play, the opportunity is going to be there."

You hear that Turk? It's there. The "Ball" is there. Now go and make the play. We need you bud. We need you right now.

Ready to see if Turk steps up to the plate? Well, tonight will be your chance when the Raptors take on the Kings tonight on TheScore @ 10pm EST.

NOTE: I appreciate the increase of support and readers the GamePointBlog has been getting as of late. Thanks to everyone who's linked back here, means a lot. Keep a look out for a future podcast/video blog we have in store for the future!

Raptors @ Lakers [Big Stage, Big Names, Big Game]

2010-03-09T14:58:00.001-08:00

Wow, these lights are bright. As if we needed anymore pressure...

Tonight, the Toronto Raptors find themselves in the City of Angels, where they will be guests to Kobe Bryant and his Lakers. Most people are expecting a loss. And who can blame them? After all, the Raptors currently find themselves playing some very uninspiring basketball. On top of that, Chris Bosh is still shaking off some of that rust. Combined the the fact that the Lakers will be hungry after their 3rd straight loss, and it doesn't look good right now.

HOWEVER - do any of you remember this?

Beautiful game. And probably still my favorite yet this season. Sure, the win was at home. The crowd and atmosphere probably helped a lot as well. But when it comes down to it, the Raptors still won, and the Lakers still lost.

With that said, I'm gonna predict that the Raptors either win tonight or at least go down fighting. I'm sure most Raptors fans are aware of the fact that we struggle against athletic and fast teams (especially when they use undersized bigs).

Think of:

ATL, Philly, OKC

These teams kills us by being more athletic and running it down our throats. Think about it. Hasn't it ever crossed your mind how odd it is that we are able to beat teams like Dallas, Cleveland, and LA? Heck, we even took Cleveland to overtime without Chris Bosh. We're a better half court team than we are at running and gunning.

So remember, even while some of your friends have checked out or jumped off the Raptors bandwagon, don't be surprised if you end up watching a competitive Raptors team out in LA tonight. Besides, that's what this city appreciates most. You don't have to win every game, but you do have to try and show you care. Tonight, the Raptors do just that.

Red And Black Retract?

2010-03-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

I want to you know?

I want to smash that protective glass. I want to put my hand over it, feel the shinny glossy red exterior and just slam it down with all the world's effort. But is it panic time just yet?

Maybe.

As of today, here's what the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoff race looks like:

5. Milwaukee: 33-29
6. Toronto: 32-29
7. Miami: 32-31
8. Chicago: 31-31
9. Charlotte: 30-31

I don't know about you guys, but that's an awfully close race. Milwaukee, Miami, and Charlotte are all on winning streaks, while Toronto and Chicago are the teams that are struggling. This is a perfect example of how fast things can change in the NBA. It was only a little while ago when Toronto and Chicago seemed destined to take the 5th and 6th seeds, while the rest struggled for the last two spots.

Unfortunately, the tables have turned and the Raptors now embark on a 4 game West Coast trip. What horrible timing...we never do well with these road trips out west. For those that don't remember, here's what our last trip looked like:

Clippers W 104-89
Suns L 100-101
Nuggets L 112-130
Jazz L 94-101

Can we afford going something similar to 1-3 during the next 4 games that consist of bouts with the Lakers, Kings, Warriors and Blazers? Considering where we are in the grand scheme of things, I don't think so. Being realistic, I feel like splitting this trip will be a success. I think it plays out like this:

Lakers - L (going to be tough to sweep the Lakers, it's in LA, they remember the loss we gave them earlier, and they're hungry to get back on track)
Kings - W (we're a better team, no way we should lose this, if the Raps come out with a sense of urgency, this should be an easy win)
Warriors - W (the most unpredictable game out of the 4, raps need to come out focused, our defense has regressed back to its poor ways, and all it will take to lose is a bad shooting night; we play hard on d, and we win)
Blazers - L (2nd game of a back to back, I think the Raps are looking forward to going home, and I just can't see them edging this one out)

Obviously I'd love to see us go 3-1 or even win all 4 games. But with Bosh still shaking off some rust, and the team not being able to practice at full health, I think going 2-2 would be more than just fine.

And for more on this 4 game stretch, let's bring in my favorite duo Matt Devlin and Jack Armstrong with another edition of "Life on the 2nd Bus", as well as a nice little preview of the Lakers game from Beverley Hills.