The Atlantic Division is one that will not be much of a race and I only have one of their teams in the playoffs right now.
1. Boston Celtics: KEY PLAYERS: PF Kevin Garnett, SF Paul Pierce, SG Ray Allen OUTLOOK: The Celts have a chance to bring back that 2007 swagger because they have a healthy KG plus Rasheed Wallace coming off the bench. In addition, Boston will be the most badass team in the NBA this year. PREDICTION: 1st in the Eastern Conference
2. Philadelphia 76ers: KEY PLAYERS: PF Elton Brand, SF Andre Igoudala, PG Lou Williams OUTLOOK: The Sixers look like they have a chance at the playoffs but I feel they really screwed themselves with the Jrue Holiday pick this year. Also I dont trust Brand to stay healthy. PREDICTION: 9th in the Eastern Conference.
3. Toronto Raptors: KEY PLAYERS: PF Chris Bosh, SF Hedo Turkolgu, PG Jose Calderon OUTLOOK: Expect a huge year from Bosh in a contract year but I think Hedo will not work out at all for the Raptors. This is a huge year for the Raptors to keep their franchise players which I dont think happens. PREDICTION: 10th in the Eastern Conference.
4. New York Knicks: KEY PLAYERS: PG Nate Robinson, PF David Lee PF Al Harrington OUTLOOK: The Knicks are going to hope that they have one more year and then it will all change. This year will not be pretty again with no real true scorer. PREDICTION: 12th in the Eastern Conference.
5. New Jersey Nets: KEY PLAYERS: PG Devin Harris, C Brook Lopez, SG Courtney Lee OUTLOOK: It could be an ugly year for them and once the Moscow Assassin take over Lawrence Frank will be fired plus the team will be brand new in a couple years. PREDICTION: 15th in the Eastern Conference.
-Charlie.
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Showing posts with label Toronto Raptors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto Raptors. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Illness Known as Marion is now a Maverick
I believe I told everyone that I felt Marion would be dealt when the Raptors sign Hedo last week and now it comes to fruition. You want to talk about a move that I cannot stand in the NBA off season so far and that would be the deal that sent Shawn Marion to Dallas in a three-team deal. First off lets break down the deal and then I will explain why its pretty much proven with Marion is a bad teammate for whatever reason denounced to man.
The deal goes down like this according to Ric Bucher via Twitter "Here's the deal: Marion/ Kris Humphries/ Greg Buckner to Dallas Devean George/Antoine Wright to Toronto Jerry Stackhouse/ Quincy Douby plus cash to Memphis. I like the deal for Toronto as Bucher said because they free up more cap room and now are able to sign Chris Bosh next year. I will go out on a limb and tell you this, I think Douby could have a break out year in Memphis because he gets an opportunity to actually play watch out for Douby.
This is why I hate this deal for Dallas. It has been proven over and over again that Marion doesnt work with teams. Phoenix, he just didnt seem to work with Nash and he wanted the ball way too much during his time there. Then things do not seem to work in Miami with Wade and then it seemed like his career went to die in Toronto. I mean he hasnt panned out the way he should have; shoots the ball way too much and even though he brings it on defense at times, he seems to give up again. Also the other Marion issue is he seems to react differently to coaches and it takes him awhile to get comfortable there. In addition, a lot like Boston they have become very old all of the sudden... Jason Kidd-Dirk Nowitzki-Josh Howard-Marion-Eric Dampier. Other than Howard, all of those guys are hovering around thirty plus Jason Terry being your first man off the bench. I have a gut feeling this will not work as well as Cuban hopes it does.
-Charlie.
The deal goes down like this according to Ric Bucher via Twitter "Here's the deal: Marion/ Kris Humphries/ Greg Buckner to Dallas Devean George/Antoine Wright to Toronto Jerry Stackhouse/ Quincy Douby plus cash to Memphis. I like the deal for Toronto as Bucher said because they free up more cap room and now are able to sign Chris Bosh next year. I will go out on a limb and tell you this, I think Douby could have a break out year in Memphis because he gets an opportunity to actually play watch out for Douby.
This is why I hate this deal for Dallas. It has been proven over and over again that Marion doesnt work with teams. Phoenix, he just didnt seem to work with Nash and he wanted the ball way too much during his time there. Then things do not seem to work in Miami with Wade and then it seemed like his career went to die in Toronto. I mean he hasnt panned out the way he should have; shoots the ball way too much and even though he brings it on defense at times, he seems to give up again. Also the other Marion issue is he seems to react differently to coaches and it takes him awhile to get comfortable there. In addition, a lot like Boston they have become very old all of the sudden... Jason Kidd-Dirk Nowitzki-Josh Howard-Marion-Eric Dampier. Other than Howard, all of those guys are hovering around thirty plus Jason Terry being your first man off the bench. I have a gut feeling this will not work as well as Cuban hopes it does.
-Charlie.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hedo Heads to Canada
Right after arguably his best season ever, Hedo Turkolgu decided that he wanted other teams to show him the money as he opted out of his Orlando Magic contract to sign somewhere else. At first, we thought it was going to be the Portland Trailblazers then he made a quick decision and decided on the Toronto Raptors.
It was a very interesting move by Turkolgu because he spurned an up-coming team who made the playoffs last year for a team who underachieved to the highest degree. Everyone believed that they would be a top four team in the Eastern Conference when they landed Jermaine O'Neal creating a twin tower effect with Chris Bosh but that didnt happen at all as O'Neal is now on the Miami Heat. The Raptors went down the drain quicker than most during the year and now they are trying rebulid with this Turkolgu deal. My personal opinion it will not help much.
I think that Turkolgu is a good player but he isnt going to be a difference maker that immediately bolts them up to the top three in the East. One big reason is I think Bosh hasnt found out how to really dominate inside and that continues to be a problem. This happens alot with young inside guys but usually they have something they are great at right away such as Dwight Howard's defense/rebounding same with Patrick Ewing. Bosh hasnt found that yet and no signing will help that out. Toronto should make the playoffs next year but then again who knows they were supposed to last year. They need improvements in Bosh, Andrea Barginini, and Jose Calderon who are all young plus the addition of DeMar DeRozen should help out off the bench.
Also why go after a small forward when you could resign Shawn Marion? There are rumors that they are still trying to which would make no sense because I think he could still start for most teams and I am guessing the Raptors would want him as a sixth man. I think Turkolgu is an upgrade but like I said before he is not a player who will be a complete difference maker.
-Charlie
It was a very interesting move by Turkolgu because he spurned an up-coming team who made the playoffs last year for a team who underachieved to the highest degree. Everyone believed that they would be a top four team in the Eastern Conference when they landed Jermaine O'Neal creating a twin tower effect with Chris Bosh but that didnt happen at all as O'Neal is now on the Miami Heat. The Raptors went down the drain quicker than most during the year and now they are trying rebulid with this Turkolgu deal. My personal opinion it will not help much.
I think that Turkolgu is a good player but he isnt going to be a difference maker that immediately bolts them up to the top three in the East. One big reason is I think Bosh hasnt found out how to really dominate inside and that continues to be a problem. This happens alot with young inside guys but usually they have something they are great at right away such as Dwight Howard's defense/rebounding same with Patrick Ewing. Bosh hasnt found that yet and no signing will help that out. Toronto should make the playoffs next year but then again who knows they were supposed to last year. They need improvements in Bosh, Andrea Barginini, and Jose Calderon who are all young plus the addition of DeMar DeRozen should help out off the bench.
Also why go after a small forward when you could resign Shawn Marion? There are rumors that they are still trying to which would make no sense because I think he could still start for most teams and I am guessing the Raptors would want him as a sixth man. I think Turkolgu is an upgrade but like I said before he is not a player who will be a complete difference maker.
-Charlie
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sam Mitchell Gets Dimissed
The Raptors, a team full with hype at the beginning of the season ousted their head coach, Sam Mitchell after getting their asses kicked in Denver and posting an 8-9 record.
First off I dont like how the NBA is becoming like the NHL as they fire coaches at random throughout the season. Mitchell firing makes sense somewhat but here's the deal, you have a team who has big talent, Chris Bosh, Jermaine O'Neal, and Jose Calderon. Plus the emergence of the #1 pick of three years ago, Andrea Bargnani so its a team that should be around the fourth-sixth seed in the playoffs without question.
I havent watch a single Raptor game all year but from the looks of it, they havent strung together several defeats in a row nor have they several wins. So they are playing like their .500 record shows, whats wrong with that in the beginning of the season? I mean you usually get in the playoffs with a record like that in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Who knows maybe its something a la Ned Yost where the players were not responding to Sam Mitchell therefore a change needed to be made before the season headed down the tubes. In my opinion, that is the most likely scenario and I wouldnt be surprised to see the Raptors in the playoffs come April.
-Charlie.
First off I dont like how the NBA is becoming like the NHL as they fire coaches at random throughout the season. Mitchell firing makes sense somewhat but here's the deal, you have a team who has big talent, Chris Bosh, Jermaine O'Neal, and Jose Calderon. Plus the emergence of the #1 pick of three years ago, Andrea Bargnani so its a team that should be around the fourth-sixth seed in the playoffs without question.
I havent watch a single Raptor game all year but from the looks of it, they havent strung together several defeats in a row nor have they several wins. So they are playing like their .500 record shows, whats wrong with that in the beginning of the season? I mean you usually get in the playoffs with a record like that in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Who knows maybe its something a la Ned Yost where the players were not responding to Sam Mitchell therefore a change needed to be made before the season headed down the tubes. In my opinion, that is the most likely scenario and I wouldnt be surprised to see the Raptors in the playoffs come April.
-Charlie.
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