***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

[SPTO]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

When Bosh comes back, I want him to be a part of the offense, not THE offense.

Who said he'll be THE offense? I just said they have the option to do that kind of stuff. At least by doing that it opens the court up and creates space for the other guys. In my mind it would be similar to the Stockton/Malone dynamic but with the Raptors they have other quality guys who can step up and be heros every night.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

Though the trip ended in a loss, it is a positive step forward that they went 2-2. They can go into the new year knowing that they have put themselves in a good position to make a move for a postseason spot, with the comfort of having alot more home dates than road dates in '07.

I think that this team has a great chance to get back to .500 very early in the new year, and hopefully this coincides with Bosh getting back to health. Things are looking up for this franchise, and it's only gonna get better in the short and long-term future as the team becomes more cohesive and as Bargniani continues his development.

I'm looking forward to some good times from here on out.

[SPTO]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

I expected them to lose to Seattle anyways so it wasn't that huge of a loss in my mind. I did like that they had enough heart and fought back to within 2 points of Seattle in the 4th I believe. So it's not like they lied down and died.

Also with the Nets losing Kristic for a season that gives the Raptors even more of a chance to win the division. I don't whether to jump for joy or be beside myself over the suckitude of this division...Still I think we may see playoffs for the first time in a dog's age for the Raptors franchise.

I've also been hearing that it looks like Colangelo will trade Mo Pete away rather then lose him to Free Agency. This makes me sad as Mo Pete has always been the quiet and stoic face of this franchise for so long and now he doesn't have a place in the future for the Raptors anymore. I'll miss him whether he's traded away or leaves in FA.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

I expected them to lose to Seattle anyways so it wasn't that huge of a loss in my mind. I did like that they had enough heart and fought back to within 2 points of Seattle in the 4th I believe. So it's not like they lied down and died.

Also with the Nets losing Kristic for a season that gives the Raptors even more of a chance to win the division. I don't whether to jump for joy or be beside myself over the suckitude of this division...Still I think we may see playoffs for the first time in a dog's age for the Raptors franchise.

I've also been hearing that it looks like Colangelo will trade Mo Pete away rather then lose him to Free Agency. This makes me sad as Mo Pete has always been the quiet and stoic face of this franchise for so long and now he doesn't have a place in the future for the Raptors anymore. I'll miss him whether he's traded away or leaves in FA.

I haven't heard about the Mo-Pete thing, but if true I have mixed feelings about it. Consumate pro, terrific defender, great shooter all the things you'd want in a 6th man. But IMO, I would rather see Joey Graham (my new 2nd favourite Raptor. VC will always be No. 1) get the minutes and see where that goes. He came into this season with alot to prove and he's been a consistent contributor, at times coming up with some big games. I think the turning point for his state of mind was the Cavs game earlier on where he scored in the high teens, but also defended Lebron very well, helping them win that game.

But no doubt, I will miss Mo-Pete. Been here through the good and the bad and just as it's getting good again, there may be no room for him.

[Vince]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

roz, personally, I'm not a big fan of Joey. I think PJ is the better player. Joey lacks a real feel for the game. At times he still looks stiff out there, especially when he's handling the ball. He's also still a horrible defender IMO...But anyway, for Mo, I'll miss him dearly, but he needs to go IMO. We need a legit swingman. A guy who doesn't always need the ball, but can do a multitude of things.Most importantly, create his own shot. Some Raptor fans say Magette, but I wan't no part of him.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

roz, personally, I'm not a big fan of Joey. I think PJ is the better player. Joey lacks a real feel for the game. At times he still looks stiff out there, especially when he's handling the ball. He's also still a horrible defender IMO...But anyway, for Mo, I'll miss him dearly, but he needs to go IMO. We need a legit swingman. A guy who doesn't always need the ball, but can do a multitude of things.Most importantly, create his own shot. Some Raptor fans say Magette, but I wan't no part of him.

Don't get me wrong, Joey's got a ways to go, but his play has been night and day since last year. I think he's still trying to find his role in the offence, but I see enough good things that leads me to believe he can be the Raps X-factor night in and night out. When his minutes were up while Mo-Pete was gone, he played terrific, IMO.

As much as I like Maggette, he doesn't belong on a team like this...though it would bring back the high-flying days of Vince

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

T.J. Ford...wow.

[SPTO]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

I don't miss Charlie V anymore.

BTW I was listening to the FAN morning show and Landry was saying how he thinks Bosh could be another Marcus Camby. I just had to laugh at this. I mean Bosh has gotten hurt a lot this season but he's more or less been injury free his entire career.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

I don't miss Charlie V anymore.

BTW I was listening to the FAN morning show and Landry was saying how he thinks Bosh could be another Marcus Camby. I just had to laugh at this. I mean Bosh has gotten hurt a lot this season but he's more or less been injury free his entire career.

Landry and Stellick have to be the least-informed hosts on the FAN when it comes to anything but the NHL. Those guys don't have a clue.

Bosh will be fine

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

So I'm listening to the FAN590 on the way home from the Hawks game last Friday, and I couldn't believe how misinformed Paul Jones and Eric Smith are. Two examples:

1) A caller finally phoned in and sang Joey Graham's praises, mentioning how he is one of the strongest swingmen in the NBA and how well he defended both Joe Johnson and Josh Childress. All true, Graham's a tank and he has done a great job defending players like Johnson and Lebron James, players other teams don't have an answer for.

Smith and Jones both say that Graham is nowhere near being the strongest guys in the NBA, and if he works at it he could be a very poor man's Nocioni. Wtf? Are these guys watching the same NBA? Graham's game does not fit Nocioni's and if anything, he can be a poor man's Joe Johnson. These guys are stoned.

2) Another caller calls in to say that Derrick Martin is showing a few glimpses of Mike James, often holding on to the ball far too long and looking for his shot before looking for his teammates. Again, observations myself and my buddy made at the Hawks game. What do Smith and Jones say? Martin is the consumate pro who is the biggest team guy on this team yada, yada, yada. Really? Team first PG's go up against two of Atlanta's taller defenders, hoisting up a rainbow fadeaway with Bargniani, Bosh and Parker all open? Team first PG's hold onto the ball until 6 seconds left on the shot clock and then go onto ignore the pick set for them by a big man so he can hoist up a stupid three?

End rant. It'd be nice to get some guys here in Toronto that know what to look for.

[Vince]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

Graham is more Nocioni than Johnson.

Johnson can handle the rock, Graham can't.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

Graham is more Nocioni than Johnson.

Johnson can handle the rock, Graham can't.

I have to disagree. My buddy and I were looking at each other time and time again as the Raptors would conciously defend Johnson from going to his left, often times leaving a penetration to his right wide open and he would still force it to his left.

I just think overall, Graham's game fits Johnson's more than Nocioni's. Johnson is alot stronger than Nocioni and that is such a huge part of Graham's game especially around the basket on both the offensive and defensive side. There was a play in the game where Childress tried posting up Graham and actually ended up further from the basket than he began.

[Vince]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

Johnson can play about 3 positions, including being a very capable point forward. Until Graham can do that, I don't see how they can be comparable.

[sroz39]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

Well, I don't think we'll ever see that because the Raps don't need Graham to play more than 1.5 positions (plays at the 4 with a small lineup). The Hawks have so many similiar players, that moving Johnson around is one of the only ways they can be competitive.

I agree Graham is nowhere near the ballhandler Johnson is, but I still think Graham's game fits his a little more than Nocioni's. If Graham continues to develop and improve the way he is, he can be a real tough matchup for opposing teams, just like a poor man's Johnson would be.

[Vince]

Re: ***Basketball Club of Toronto: 2006-2007 thread***

We'll agree to disagree then. But I think Graham can be a really poor man's Glen Robinson with better defense. Joey's strength is clearly his mid range jumper.