Money or Rings

The Raptors are back at square one...again! This is pretty pathetic and should never have happened. Chris Bosh is almost officially gone and the Raptors are going to get basically nothing in return. What do we have on our team? Seriously, what the hell happened to this organization. I was very optimistic after the hiring of Colangelo but since then, I have seen nothing. Hindsight is 20/20 and everyone seems to be a thousand times smarter after the fact but couldn't anyone see that our team was doomed when we went out and signed Hedo? Come on, guy is not worth 5 years. Did Colangelo sign him to try and entice Bosh to sign because if he did, he better share whatever he was smoking with me.

Miami, enjoy Bosh. Enjoy Wade. Oh yeah, come Thursday, you may even enjoy LeBron too. If all this talk coming from all the free agents about winning first is legitimate, then we will see LeBron go to Miami. Salary cap issues and of course position flexibility put a downer on the chances of a Wade/Bosh/James combo but it would be pretty sick to see these guys play together.

How about Amare signing with the Knicks. Pretty sad. Should have tried to team up with one of the big free agents. Amare, enjoy losing. Without Nash you are basically another ballplayer who plays with goggles.

Boozer must be pretty lucky because he just signed a pretty big and fat contract with the Bulls. Did the Raptors even have a chance to sign this guy? Another few seasons of losing and just maybe a lottery pick will turn out to be a future LeBron.

McGrady and Co.

T-Mac has a new home and it happens to be a place where the impending free agent class will, apparently, gravitate to come the summer.

This move is a pretty bold statement to the fans of New York and the NBA that the Knicks are going to be a big player in the 2010 free agent frenzy. Just think about the possibilities that McGrady will be shown in the off season. If the Knicks sign two players to max deals and T-Mac takes a massive pay cut, the Knicks will have a pretty formidable team come 2010-11 season.

Throw T-Mac in the SF position, use him more as a role player, while Wade slots in as the SG, and Bosh/Stoudamire fill in as the PF. That would be a trio that could contend for multiple rings. Sorry goes out to the Suns, Heat, and Raptors. Life is tough.

See how I didn't mention LeBron James, the big prize in the potential free agent class. I'm starting to think that James is going to stay in Cleveland because of the love he is receiving from the fans and management. The true X-factor is Wade/Bosh/Stoudamire. If one of these guys gives James a call during the off season and wants to team up, I would assume that James would willfully comply. But with the PR mess that would ensue, it would make sense for him to stay.

James is the type of man who wants everything. He wants to be the leader, the man, and most importantly, the king of basketball when the dust settles on his career. Teaming up with one of the big free agents and winning multiple NBA championships would only solidify his reputation and legacy.

On the other hand, if James left the Cavs and, after teaming up with one of the big free agents, won multiple rings would anyone stand out and criticize James for not being the true NBA god he wants to be. He would be winning rings because he has the true supporting cast that All-star teams or Dream teams are made of. If he does choose to stay in Cleveland, it would show the world how great of a basketball player he really is. Taking a low-tier team and taking them to the promised land.

Only time will tell what the Knicks, with all their salary space, will do in the off season.

Now, just have to find a way to grab myself a T-Mac Knicks jersey.

Come Together

Can you believe that Wade and James will be free agents after this season. It is incredible how time flies when it comes to contracts and superstars that reside in the NBA.

Remember a few years back when the Celtics were a pathetic team and all of a sudden KG and Ray Allen appeared beside Pierce. That trio seemed to have worked out. All three players are great but we all know and will agree that they are not in the prime of their respective careers. That isn't saying they aren't great players, just not what they were at their peak.

People around the sports worlds have talked about uniting another "big three" somewhere else in the NBA especially with the free agents searching for some love after 2010. There are plenty of combination's that could change the landscape and power of the NBA but what interests me the most is a James/Wade union. What if these two guys got together in the off-season and came to an agreement to join forces and take the NBA trophy like the Celtics did in the 60's (actually, starting from 1957 to 1969, the Celtics won 11 championships).

Let's push this a little further. What if James/Wade persuaded a third big time free agent to join the team, say Bosh or Stoudamire. Wow, wouldn't that be absolutely insane to see these three guys, who are in their primes, come together and play on a nightly basis?

If these guys are telling the truth about only wanting to win and secure as many Larry O'Brien trophy's as they can, they would take the pay cut and come together and dominate the NBA. What they lose in salary they will easily make it up in endorsements.

To the reader, it may seem that I am dying for this to happen, I'm not going to lie it would be nice to see this happen, but what would happen to the NBA. Think about what would happen to the markets in Cleveland, Miami, and my hometown Toronto if these players all left and signed with a new team. All three cities were just starting to rebuild through these players and would have nothing if they leave.

Making the NBA a less competitive and even more predictable league is not something I would enjoy on a nightly basis. Yes, it would be nice to see the guys dominate the league for a year but taking 6 championships in a row kind of destroys the game of basketball and the enjoyment it gives me everyday.

Wouldn't it be nice for big time NBA players to turn down a max contract and go for what they, as kids, dreamed of doing every time they touched the hardwood, to win the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Do Dreams Come True?

Steve Nash
Guy comes into the ACC and brings the roof down.

Holy crap, what a performance Nash continues to put up night after night, day after day. When Nash signed an extension, keeping himself planted as the PG of the Suns, I felt a little sadness come over me. Dreaming of having Nash suit up in Canada as a Raptor was something I was itching for, even though it was something only left for the world of dreams. Oh...dreamssssss.

Another 20pts and 16assists and a few wipes to dry some of the tears from my eyes and he's gone. Only if Nash was a Raptor. I enjoy having Calderon around but he's no Steve Nash.

How come it isn't working?
Looking at the Raptors lineup, I am a little surprised at where we are in the standings. Having Bosh, Bargnani, Hedo, and Calderon in the starting lineup, IMO, is not a 7-11 team.

We all know what Bosh can do on the court and how much energy he can bring so let's move on. How many centres out there can handle Andrea? Guy can hit the 3, put it on the floor and stop for a mid-range shot, and go straight to the hole. He's averaging 17pts a game but he should be in the low 20's. How about Hedo. I was not a fan of the signing but he is a decent player. Hits a few 3's and can play on the perimeter. Looking at Calderon, he's the PG most coaches want. Handles the ball and keeps the TO's to a minimum, under 2 a game, while contributing some at the offensive end.

I know we don't have the interior guy to clean up the garbage and the big stopper on the defensive end but it just doesn't seem right at the moment, sitting at 7-11 with this lineup? Defense wins championships and at this point the Raptors don't have that and maybe this is the main reason we have a 7-11 record going into December.

At the moment, all I want is a guy to come in and grab 10-12 boards a night. A guy who can dish out the hard foul when needed (how are you balls feeling Bosh?). A guy who can make the picks, grab the loose balls, and do all the little things that earn him a reputation in the locker room.

Is there someone out there that wants this role? If so, give Colangelo a ring.

The Underbelly

"Slow down Vince, we haven't seen the underbelly yet."

Words from the great Johnny Drama.

After a quick read through the sports pages, I landed on the Sports and The City blog (head on over, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it). His latest post got my attention and made me head over to see the game highlights.

EVERYONE...go to the 4:50 mark in the above video and watch.
Seriously, go and watch it!!!

Okay, now that you are finished, what the fuck was that?!?!

Chris Bosh, the guy who is going to be a free agent and will most likely leave Toronto unless something serious appears, was absolutely embarrassed by Paul Pierce and what made things worse was what his teammates did...N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily for Bosh, head coach Triano, stepped in and stood up for him when he was holding his balls after being kneed. I am disgusted by this lack of respect Bosh's "teammates" (I use that word loosely) showed for the guy we are trying to keep in town. Ummm, if Bosh goes, so does hope. Ever think about that boys?!

When your main man is down and you have a player jumping and prancing around like Pierce, you go and get a technical. No, you go and get the double tech and you show that no one in the league can do that to your main man because if they do, they'll feel it.

The Raptors underbelly has finally been exposed.

Stat of The Day

5 for 5 from beyond the arc!

Chris Bosh is known for his inside presence but it seems he has found a new weapon. He has drained all five of his 3-point attempts this year.

This Week in Basketball

Things are moving pretty quickly now that the Laker's have been crowned the 2009 champs.

Hedo to the Raptors

If the Raptors sign Hedo to the reported 5yr $53million deal, I will be forced to find a new team to cheer for. This deal makes no sense! Dude is 30 years old. If he was named Kobe Bryant than being 30 at this point would be fine but he's not, he's Hedo Turkoglu. As expected his stats peaked when he was 28 years old. This season, his stats dropped just a little. He is not worth $53million over 5yrs. I know this move is all about making Bosh happy so he will stay in Toronto (in my mind he's already gone but I'll leave that for another day) but this move doesn't help Toronto keep Bosh. The only way this move helps Bosh is if the Raptors take the championship away from the Laker's next season which is not going to happen. Hedo is not the solution for the Raptors. If this rumour does come true, the Raptors will be screwing themselves for years to come.

Artest to the Laker's

I love this move! Having a guy like Artest on the team adds that physical, gives no mercy, I'll kill you, get the hell out of my way, mentality that the Laker's will need when they defend their championship next season. Artest can play lockdown defence which allows Bryant, and his 30 year old body, some down time on the court instead of him shutting down the opposing superstar on defence. Just looking at the Laker's team it seems more and more like the Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Jackson combo. Absolutely dirty!

The Rockets are Cursed

This is an off-season that the Rockets wish never happened. McGrady is most likely out for next season and if he does return he's a shell of what he used to be. Artest is off to the Laker's and rumoured in return is Trevor Ariza. Ariza is a role player and nothing more. His great play in the playoffs will bring some cash but the GM who signs him (thinking he'll be a true leader instead of being a role player) for big bucks is going to look stupid when the season unfolds. Now to the big news. Yao Ming, their superstar centre, seems to on the side of not returning next season due to injury. I feel for the Rockets. Losing their "big 3" is something no GM could anticipate. I always thought that the combo of Ming and McGrady would do damage in the NBA and bring them to the Finals but it never happened.

Sunny Skies for the Raptors?

With the bottom-feeding Raptors taking a step back in there pursuit of a playoff position by losing game after game, this is news I welcome. Chris Bosh made an appearance on CTV as a weatherman and I thought it was kind of funny to see. We all know the story about how there is going to be "the free agent class" coming up in 2010 and Bosh is going to a part of it. GM Colangelo and the people of Toronto need to do everything in the world to try and sign this guy because if he leaves, the organization might as well get use to the bottomfeeder status because it will take a long time until we see a true playoff contending team at the ACC.

Or does our GM see something else in his crystal ball. Is he going to let Bosh sign somewhere else and try to build a team around another high prize player. Maybe with the likes of Wade, Stoudamire, or even, I know I shouldn't say his name, LeBron. Just wait and let me explain. We all know that LeBron is looking for world exposure and of course the championship rings. Exposing yourself to Canada, check. Winning championships and bringing it to a team outside the US would classify LeBron as the king of a franchise and he wouldn't have share it would the likes of former greats who played for the Knicks (assuming he signs with the Knicks). Taking and giving the Raptors 3-5 Larry O'Brien Trophies would classify him as a saviour, king, and what LeBron is searching for, arguably the greastest player ever to step foot on an NBA court.

Okay, I just woke up and I am back in the real world. Enjoy the video and the pictures of Bosh.

Poor Performance

As I skimmed through the box scores of tonight's games I bumped into a stat I usually don't see sitting beside Steve Nash. In a game that brought together former teammate, Boris Diaw, Steve Nash found a way to finish with 4pts, 6to's, and only 5asts. Right after seeing his stats I started to wonder where Nash will sign when his contract is finished with the Suns. He still has a team option for the 09/10 season.

Going into free agency, Nash has the right to choose any team he wants to sign with. As a veteran who is in search of a NBA championship and having the one true equalizer, age, creeping up on him, I do wonder where he will land.

Of course, the only team in Canada, the Toronto Raptors, would be a plausible choice. This season isn't going well for the Raptors but if GM Colangelo can turn things around with a few trades and FA acquisitions you never know. Nash is there last priority right now since Bosh's free agency is looming and Colangelo needs to make him happy before doing anything else.

How about the Big Apple. Listen to this scenario. Former coach D'Antoni is there. They are clearing cap space for the huge free agent period of 2010. Imgaine the Knicks pulling off a Celtics kind of big three. Bring in Bosh/LeBron/Nash. You could also think about Nash bringing his current teammate, Stoudamire, along as well.

What about New Jersey. Jay-Z and his friendship could bring in LeBron and his favourite players of choice. They have to either find a bidder for VC try and build with VC there. You know how I feel about VC, former post.

Or even the Cavs. LeBron could sign with his current team and have management bring in players like Bosh and Nash.

So many scenarios that could play out. With a free agent class that boasts Bosh, LeBron, and Wade most forget about the "smaller" players out there.

Hello Okafor

Dwayne Wade keeps on driving to the hoop and this is why his 2010 value is squarely based on his health. As long as Wade can keep healthy and continue to serve up facials, ask Okafor how it felt, Wade is going to fill, not only the stat sheet, but the bank as well.

Just think of the possibilities when 2010 rolls around. Wade/Bosh, LeBron/Bosh, Lebron/Wade. Some dirty combos.




PS. Love the way he enters the lane!

Laker Territory

The Staples Center is home to Kobe and the Lakers but it seems Chris Bosh of the Raptors wanted to show Kobe, the reigning MVP, who might be the new MVP.

Check out highlight number 8. Bosh just schools Gasol. The Raptors and Colangelo better find a way to bring in a supporting cast for Bosh because if they don't 2010 is going to be a franchise breaking year.

Chris Bosh

For those of you who don't know who Chris Bosh is well that time is over.

As for players who play for "smaller" market cities, like Toronto in the NBA, Chris Bosh is putting together an all-star calibre season which might even turn into MVP consideration by seasons end. After playing in the Olympics and earning a gold medal, Bosh has settled into the regular season by throwing up some outstanding numbers.

Bosh is averaging 26.6pts, 11boards, while shooting 54.7% from the field, and 81.5% from the line all in 41:47mins.

Don't let the Kobe, LeBron, Wades, and Amare's take the spotlight because Bosh deserves some of it too.

Oh by the way, as I mentioned before, when 2010 comes along make sure to take note of Bosh's name. Teams aren't just looking at James.


Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.

LBJ...again

Well it seems the talk of LeBron James leaving the Cavs when he becomes a Free Agent comes up everyday or at the very least every other day.

ESPN's Daily Dime kind of puts a little finishing touch on the topic until the actual time comes around when teams will be legally able to open negotiations with LeBron without having any tampering charges laid.

What the Daily Dime is saying is there are way too many variables that are in play and with, not only the fast pace of NBA play, the fast pace of transactions, events, unhappy then turning happy superstars, and the ultimate factor an NBA ring. Just think about last year before the Gasol deal was made and the Lakers were not only riding the typical temper tantrum being thrown by Kobe. The Lakers were in a midst of a falling out with the superstar until winning cured everything, which it usually does. Now, the Lakers are winners and contenders for the NBA title for the foreseeable future. Therefore, Kobe is happy.

So, if LeBron wins a championship with the Cavs and ownership is reasonable and responsible and maintains a core group of guys that will surround and be a supporting cast for LBJ, you might see the exact same thing happen with the Lakers and Kobe...absolutely nothing. LBJ will be happy and content with his situation in Cleveland.

My point is, lets try and stay away from the talk about James moving towns because so many things can change from now until the Free Agency period begins for 2010. Even though it is, as a fan, very fun to talk about where King James might land.

Oh by the way, did anyone think about the other 2010 free agents? Think Bosh, Dirk, Amare, and Joe Johnson.


Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com