Sunday Thought - Historically Good?

Quick thoughts...

I don't see this team as a top three seed unless their perimeter defense improves, although a healthy O'Neal will certainly help in the post.

While the addition of Rose will certainly help the Bulls, they still don't have any low post scoring - maybe they trade Gordon or Hinrich to address that problem.

The 76ers have to be careful that they keep Iggy - apparently, Golden State is making a pitch for him now that they've lost Davis, which could be addition by subtraction.

Miami will be better, but I'm not sure they have enough depth to really make some noise, especially with Wade as banged up as he is.

did Vincenzo Esposito do so bad in Toronto (it is an actual question, I never saw any tape of him playing in the NBA)? I actually read an interview of him last spring where he was saying he did not like the NBA too much because it was too much of a show business and not so much of a sport and that compared to his time, player's skill level has sunk and it would be much easier for players of his generation (including himself) to do well.

I got too late to the discussion on the previous post, but let me quickly give you my take: I'm not sold on Ukic, but i wouldn't rule him out as a backup PG either, after all most backup PGs in the league are not particularly great (Vaughn, Farmar, Bell, Dooling, Lowry, Marcus Williams...) Ideally the Raps would sign a veteran to a low-cost contract and let he and Ukic fight for the spot, but otherwise they should be fine with Roko.

Also someone mentioned Diamantidis? That sounds like a pipe dream, but he'd really be an ideal signing: a top-5 euroleague star, an outstdanding defender (European Defensive Player of The Year last 4 years) with great size, a great teamplayer and a +40% 3p shooter. However, there's no way his current team (Panathinaikos, a very rich greek club) would let him go free, even if he were to accept a drastic pay cut to play in the NBA like Navarro did last year.

I was at the first Naismith Cup in Winnipeg. I was a little tike back then, so I don't remember much. But I do remember watching Damon Stoudamaire and just being in awe that he was so little and doing so well. Gotta love Raptors TV this time of year.

The Bucks have been paper conference contenders for the last 4 or 5 years-pretty much ever since they drafted Bogut. But they've never produced. This year I think it will be different. Not because of RJ, but because of Scott Skiles. I think he can get those players who have the big contracts to play like they did to get those contracts.

"The summer is definitely a drag for TV viewing."

I disagree with that statement. Besides the CFL (every game on TSN) and the Olympics in August which you mention, July has the Tour de France on TV.

I take it you are not much of a tennis fan either. I've been watching some amazing play.

I second that, oldschool, Nadal vs. Federer are already all-time classics. And I don't know if soccer has much of a following in Canada (although Nash is a great fan), but the recent Euro championship was very good too, and not just because Spain won it :-)

Sergi P: How could I forget…the Euro championship. Congrats to you and Spain for your country’s win and demonstrating how exciting Soccer can be played.

Have to get back to your boy Rafa Nadal’s match.

I remember last year when the Raps finished up their off season pretty early, then we had to sit back and watch other teams improve. It is happening again. If Philly keeps AI2nd and adds a Brand or a Smith, they will be much improved. I do fear that the raps are basically done. Any updates on possible Summer league news? Anyone know if/think Bargnani will be on the team? Who on the current roster would you expect to get some time on the court in? Ukic, JG, Jawai and maybe Hump and Bargs? Then let some FA's fight it out for a last possible roster spot? I hear you Franchise, things are pretty grim for a while now.

Sergi, living in the UK, it was funny for me to watch the relative lack interest/bitterness not having anyone at the Euro championships. Not that I care, I tell everyone here that in Canada soccer is for girls.

Well, as per my name, I've been a die hard fan of each edition of the Raptors since , wait for it, day one.

Stoudemire played truly amazing in his seasons here, and I thought should've been booked for the Hall of Fame at the time.

He,he...what a difference 10 years makes huh Damon? I guess we both should've laid off the bongs years ago.
Seriously, he has had a decent career in the league, but never all-star status.

Don't know if you were around in T-Mac's first year, but that was a fun team to watch...Camby, Damon, T-mac (when he was allowed to play) were the only reasons to watch...but that team had talent.

I can go on and on, but most of you have skipped my post by now.

Esposito played like 26 career minutes, so we'll never know exactly how shitty he would have been.

I have to admit, we were all a lot more confident this time last year....this year feels a bit scarier, but I could see a return to 47 wins I guess.

To advance in the playoffs, I feel a defensive / slashing upgrade over Parker / Kapono may be needed; I don't know if that'll happen.

Franchise,
You make a good argument that many teams in the East could be vastly improved this year. We were all saying the same thing last year, though. I guess there was a little improvement, but not that much. Some of those teams with potenetial will flame out. With the Raps proven fraility,specifically Bosh and O'Neal, we are probably at the top of the list of teams that might be a big mover, up or down, the charts.
Personally, I think that the Pistons are prime to drop from the top 2. The Cavs still have not found a second serious scoring threat! And they are already over the Cap. They are thinking that they are going to lose Lebron no matter what they do, so they should be willing to make some bold and expensive moves to win this year and think about moving Lebron the following season for a package of first rounders and young stars. Either way, the Cavs are at the point in which they will soon burn out, so should be throwing their most into it. But, history suggests that management will find a way to spend big dollars on weak parts and they will be shy of the mark again.

The Raps are hard to feel out. We have a lot of x factors at work (Ukic, Bargnani) who will be more important than the stars in some ways, like Rondo was with the Celts. Who will be our Rondo's and Poseys and Powe's?
We are counting on our stars being healthy are our O-Factors becoming X-Factors. All goes perfectly, top 2. Goes well, top 5. No x-Factors, late entry with an early exit. Injuries to the stars,Lottery.

Hey, does anyone have any better source than some rumors floating around regarding Maggette going to the Magic? I really hope he ends up in San Antonio, Utah, New Orleans, LA or any other Western team supposedly interested. The Magic automatically jump into the 2 spot in the East, and maybe even give Boston a run for their money, with Maggette suiting up for them next year (well, at least in my head). But, apparantly he still has his family living in Orlando from his rookie year there. Hopefully this does not influence his decision making. And also reportedly, he is considering signing for only the MLE. Please, let this not be true.

My bad...I guess by summer doldrums I was thinking of right now. There was some great futbol on for the Euros and Tiger's recent showing made for some amazing television...and I usually can't stand watching golf! Not a big tennis fan but yes, some classic matches, especially today's, and big up to Mr. Doubles of Canada, Daniel Nestor for winning his first Wimbledon title.

On that note...back to RaptorsTV...

I don't know if this is BC's plan, but I'd like to think he figures that right now and up until the end of the year, most teams will probably be too optimistic to trade any of their stars, but maybe towards the trading deadline, he figures might be the best chance to trade some expiring contracts (Bargs if he isn't doing much again, Parker and Graham) for a legit starting scoring 2, perhaps by taking him away from a team that has come to the conclusion they're going to have to rebuild from scratch. I think maybe he's thinking the same with Ukic, give him a chance to play 10-15 until February, see if the Raps are staying in top 4 contention or not, and maybe try to get a second PG if Ukic isn't doing so hot in his rookie year.

Man, I am so bored
I can only think about
basketball haiku

Please update us soon
on Raptor trivia as
much as you can! Please!

I think we can all chill
Bargnani will be just fine
Just you wait and see

And O'Neal is a
gift from the basketball gods
A true number five

I can see playoffs
I can see us over the Nets
In five games or less

I can also see
serious knee injuries
derailing the year

Calderone can pass
Bargnani can hit long threes
Bosh, O'Neal inside

I cannot stop this
Please make my brain stop doing
this. Please kill me. Please

Been moving the last week (to the GTA - yay more raptors!!) so I haven't been able to comment, though I've been reading on my phone.

Have to say I have high hopes for the roko experiment. Though I'm with you franchise, if he is bad, it could be a disaster for the team. He plays no defense whatsoever, but seems to have some gumption going to the hoop and if delfino is gone, we'll need that.

As far as that, I say good riddance to delfino. Why is it that some players just can't have two decent games in a row? Sometimes he was crafty and aggressive, others, he just chucked and hogged the ball.

Funny you mention the Naismith cup, as I attended one of those in edmonton (may have even been the first one) and it really took my NBA fanhood to the next level even though I was more of a lakers fan at the time. I really wish van still had a team. As far as this year's team, lots of stars have to align a la bargnani, roko, JO's knee, etc, etc, but if they do, I'm feeling this has to be the best raptor team so far. I like this group, I think they match and complement each other and the coach.

As far as summer tv goes, I'm glad to turn the damn thing off, no way I'm getting into another sport to suck my time away.

I can't really say if this will be the best ever incarnation of the Raptors, since I only really started to pay attention to them when BC arrived. I also knew very little about basketball before that point. However, from my point of view they seem to be in pretty good shape.

They no longer have two of their three best players at the same position.

JO is the most complete inside player they have had in a long time, possibly ever.

They are no longer completely dependent on Bargnani's development for their success.

Really the biggest question mark for me is whether Parker can still play at a high level. He really never got going at all last year and the Raps need some decent play from the 2-spot if they are going to be successful.

The SF spot could also be problematic. If kapono plays the way he did in the playoffs he should start. Otherwise, they can really expect too much. Moon is ok and Graham is well... I feel kind of strange saying this, but I would actually like to see more of him. I seem to remember him playing pretty well towards the end of the 06-07 season. He's 26 now, I seem to remember that as the age where I really started to mature intellectually and emotionally, maybe he will too. He's had the physical tools all along.

What I'm really trying to say is that I think this team has the potential to be quite good. Of course, I thought this last year too, so who knows.

Oh and Bedhead, what you wrote is not Haiku. There is a lot more to that form of poetry than having the 5-7-5 syllable form.

Sorry, the bastardized form of Haiku that english speaker like to write was a pet-peeve of a very good professor of mine. I seem to have inherited it.

I have high hopes for this years team but I dunno if it'll be as good as the Vince/Keon tag team. That year it seemed like every time either of them touched the ball it would be a good scoring opportunity, plus they had great supporting players as well.(A Will is still my fave raptor pg). Here's to hoping 2 boshes is as good as a VC and a Keon.

Sorael said: Oh and Bedhead, what you wrote is not Haiku. There is a lot more to that form of poetry than having the 5-7-5 syllable form.

Everyone's a poetry-nazi these days. Yeesh.