Going extinct: Why Chris Bosh and Toronto Raptors are struggling December 21 08  Like the global economy, the Toronto Raptors have serious problems with no immediate solution. Home fans are booing in disgust. On the road, they lost to lowly Oklahoma City. The coach, Sam Mitchell, has already been fired. Andrea Bargnani is officially a bust, at least in Toronto. And trade rumours are swirling around Lake Ontario like another toxic pollutant. Worst of all, reports have Chris Bosh leaving ‘The Big Smoke’ in July 2010 when he can exercise an opt-out clause in his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Can an on-court stimulus save the Raptors’ season? They lack a second-star. Right now, franchise superstar Bosh has no running mate to alleviate pressure. The lanky left-hander must drop ridiculous numbers for Toronto to have a realistic chance at winning. Unfortunately, management failed to find their Batman (Bosh) a Robin. T.J. Ford didn’t work out. His replacement Jose Calderon is having an up-and-down season due to injury. And Jermaine O’Neal, while useful, is no longer an All-Star. The current situation is unsustainable. Front office suit Bryan Colangelo can continue hoping Bargnani, Calderon, O’Neal and Anthony Parker fill the second scorer role by committee or he can bring in outside talent via trade. They need an identity. Colangelo, after assuming the GM post in 2005, wanted a running team, while former sideline boss Mitchell wanted a defensive, blue-collar team. And Jay Triano, the interim coach, is left with something that doesn’t work in the middle. The bench is thin. Two years back, the Raptors were one of the NBA’s deepest team. The players unconditionally accepted their roles, giving the coaching staff the ability to go twelve deep. Something has changed. Useful reserves like Carlos Delfino and Derrick Martin are gone, while Joey Graham and Kris Humphries have struggled with consistency. Yesterday, Toronto lost their second game in two nights against a strong San Antonio side. They must make immediate changes or their season will be lost. What must the Raptors do to save their season? Get at us with the thoughts and come back to HoopsVibe the Blog for further NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Daniele Sartori.
Posted by
Kent Kanada
on 12.23.2008 | just to add to my previous post below....Although the Celts did 100% revamp their roster last year...the main reason why they won was because they were playing their hearts out. They aimed for a common goal and did everything they could for the fans, the celtic legacy, and for the future...to ultimately bring home the ’ship. Im not say the raps need to think back to 1995. but maybe they need to think that they are playing for canada basketball. Whether they are Canadian citizens or not...they play for toronto and they play for the only canadian nba team. Support from the team and the fans could help our only team . | Posted by
on 12.23.2008 | I think Toronto is going to have to be alot more appealing in order for the team to improve. Our fan base sucks...even the new TFC (soccer) has a solid fan base when they are loosing. Canada is cold enough as it is, we dont need cold hearted fans driving away our only star players. Toronto has played well when there has been a fire started under their asses. Theres not many guys that would take abit of a pay cut to stay with toronto. I think Bosh should be untouchable but whose to say he will even want to stay after 2009. I applaud Colangelo for creating a poor mans team, but toronto is going to need more than just some blue collar guys. Toronto NEEDS a robin to Boshman. If you look at everyother team you will see they have atleast one superstar and then another one or two other star. When looking at the benches of many other teams (ie. boston, portland, lakes, etc) I feel like some of their bench players could be starters in Toronto. Toronto should key in on players who think they are more deserving of playing time to maybe give the Raps some life. Jamario did have that at the beginning of last season, but I think the Raps should send him back to get some education. The Raps obviously need a change....but for the time being I think the blue collared Raps need what blue collared workers need ...something to work for....they certainly dont want to work for toronto fans who boo them. If Toronto fans are unhappy with the way they are playing WE need to start the fire under their a**. . | Posted by
mrslowflow
on 12.21.2008 | My biggest problem with Raptors is, they do not at all play with sort passion or anger. There doormats for the league, and it starts with there leader. I’m sorry, but I lost a lot of respect for Bosh. Since he didn’t stick up for Calderon when Garnett was talking smack to him. An if roles were reverse an Bosh was talking to smack to Rondo, Garnett would of laid him out! I’m sorry but I would trade Bosh right now, because he’s not a superstar player and he’s no MVP!!! and he’s softer than Stay Puff Marsh mellow man. . | Posted by
Jason G
on 12.21.2008 | I think they really need some out side scorer. Because when you have Chris Bosh and O’Neil, you really want to have a good shooter and knock down the out side jumper. Kapono is a shooter, but can’t shoot too many. Joey Graham is not a shooter, Anthony Parker has showing signs of slow down, he is the odd to out. I think they might think about bring back Morris Peterson. Why not, fan favorite, although he has been beaten by AP 2 years ago, but right now AP is not as good as he used to be. But they still need more back court scorer. I think they really need a PG who can score. Because Calderon has been told that he is not a big time scorer. The result is Raptors has been out score by the opponent game by game, and nobody found out that it’s the reason for the raptors struggling. Ukic is only score 3 point per game, then Calderon 13, so it’s only 16. That’s why raptors is 96 point per game, WHo can they bring in? J. Pargo, the guy can score 9 point off the bench. . | Posted by
CTS
on 12.21.2008 | Yah man, being from Toronto (I don’t know where you’re from) I’ve got a couple of other views about it all. First of all, stats aside, Joey Graham’s play has been one of the only positives about this entire season (coupled with the rare occasions when the finally use Kapono as he should be used - set motion offence to open up that incredible shot). The problem entirely was the JO deal. It was rushed after a shitty season and early first round playoff departure after an Atl Conf Champs season paired with another all to quick playoff departure. This is what Colangelo needs to do; get off his high horse. Admit he was wrong about a lot of stuff. Bargnani, O’neal, not signing Delfino, keeping Jamario for too long, and resigning Sam Mitchell. I don’t neccessarily think the raptors need a second star persay, but they do need someone. Wallace is way to expensive, we can neither afford nor want that contract. And JHoward I think is good in Dallas butwouldn’t be as good in Toronto, he seems to have a increasingly poor work ethic now that he thinks hes the shit. I mean, if Dallas is losing use for him (don’t get me started on the downfall of that team) how would the Raptors find use for him. I would love if the Raptors could get rid of JO, but that won’t happen, so you’ve got to look at what they can trade. Kapono is a good player I’d rather keep around, but is the Raptors top commodity. Joey Graham continues to play well, someone might take him, and quite frankly I’d be surprised if anyone really wanted Bargnani and I do think he’s gonna continue to get better and the Raptors shouldn’t deal him. So, I think the Raptors need Azubuike from Golden State. You could pair Jamario and one of the trade-ables that would fit in GS (sadly enough, that’d probably be Barg or Kapono) and get a proven guy who can score and rebound without needing a pat on the a-------from his coach every minute.And I still stand by this, Colangelo f*cked us this year, and because of that Bosh will leave. Mitchell was Bosh’s only coach and it was dumb to fire him so quickly (when he got the first chance) and bringing in Jermaine Oneal rather then someone who has actually played more then 40 games in 3 years would have been a good idea too. Colangelo built up the Raptors just to tear them down. When they won Atl they were the European team of the league, that’s why they were successful. Now you give away KEY players (stats disregarded) in TJ Ford, Carlos Delfino, Rasho Nesterovic to try and buy success, and this is percisely what happens. Roko should’ve been brought over where the pressure of being the #2 pg wouldnt have gotten to him, and he wouldn’t suck as much as he does now. Big men take time to develop, so let Bargnani grow. 2 years for a Euro big man is not enough time to deem him unsalvagable, he’s had some great games this year.Colangelo can’t draft a team, he can only buy them, as was seen in Phx. He only drafted Amare, which was a no brainer, and his dad was really the one calling all the shots over there anyways. So thats a lot to take in, but being a Raps fan since the Mighty Mouse ROY times, I’m pissed that our franchise has dipped as quickly as it did with one after the other of stupid decisions. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 12.21.2008 | Sorry Atl 4 Life I meant trade Bargnani ... I had just woken up and responded to your comment. Still sleepy, I guess. Thanks ... . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 12.21.2008 | Hi ATL for Life ... Thanks for commenting. A couple of points: first, I agree O’Neal should be traded. However, it is political. That would mean Colangelo would have to admit publicly he was wrong, which he was, and that is never an easy thing. There also has to be a market for Bargnani. Right now, no market exists. Second, the Raps need a second star, not Josh Howard or G. Wallace, but a legit second in command if they want to keep Bosh. Third, Johnson would be great for a young team, but they had a strong, defensive-minded coach in Mitchell, so do you bring in the same type of guy in AJ? Just thoughts. Thanks for commenting. . | Posted by
ATL 4 Life
on 12.21.2008 | When you go Get a player like JON, who earns as much as he is, you have to be willing to pay for an immediate return. This is why Bargs should be traded. They need to go after a J. Howard or G. Wallace type of player. They still have some good role players and if they could get a good player like this for cheap (E.g Wallace for Bargs & salary pieces) they would be a very good team. This player may not be a superstar but there wouldn’t be too many better starting 5’s out there. Avery Johnson wouldn’t hurt either. . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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