Expectation Overload In Raptorland

 

Colangelo Isn’t Going ALL IN

I have made reference to this topic as we have started into this off season. It is an endless and in some cases mindless amount of speculation that is going on. I take it very serious that I have built a respectable audience for what I write each day. I am not going to abuse that trust of people by creating trade rumours and getting into this game. I will sometimes mention things I see in my travels for one reason or another. It is important to me to make it clear what is fact and what is not. In the stuff I write I try to make the difference clear. We live in a brave new world where all kinds of information can flow with amazing speed. That information can come from anywhere and everywhere. I try to bring in people to provide information that is helpful for you to have a better insight into a given topic or subject. I have made the statement before I am not an expert. This is not to say I do not have some basketball knowledge and a media understanding of what I read in main stream media. I do my best to share that knowledge with you all. Hopefully I am doing a good job at it.

The problem that all of this mis-information creates is a general expectation of big and grand things. The Toronto Raptor under the watchful management of Bryan Colangelo will do what is best for the future of this basketball team. That may mean a major portion of it’s fan base will not end up being happy based on the unrealistic expectations. Colangelo is not a fool and he will take some risks but that doesn’t mean he is going to risk what he already has started to build. If the Raptors can improve and real chances to make this team exist Bryan Colangelo will look at them. The end game of what Bryan has created was set up for next off season not this one. So any moves he makes will be taking a bit of a morgage out on that flexibility he has created for himself. The most exciting point of this upcoming Raptor season will not be prior to it. The trade deadline could and likely will be the moment of truth for this basketball team. This off season is important and will set-up the Raptors to have some options when they reach the trade deadline.

Colangelo understands that at the deadline teams will be in a more desperate state of mind. That large contract of Rasho Nesterovic will look very appealing to someone who may not be in the playoff mix but have a quality player they are looking to move. Kenny Rogers in the song the Gambler say the line ” You got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em and no when to walk away”. This is all in reference to poker but it nicely reflects what being a G.M of a sports franchise is. Colangelo skill as poker player I am not aware of, his performance as a G.M is aware to all based on his record through his career. The general feeling of that is he is very skilled and talented at his job. I have played a little poker in my time. The thing you will here about playing poker from pros is that you need to adjust and change styles. So sometimes when everyone expects you do one thing you go a different way. In the end of the day the ultimate win comes with an NBA Championship. But if you move all your chips into the game to soon you can see that championship be taken away in an instant in poker. In basketball it can set a franchise back many years and could ultimately cost a G.M his job. Bryan Colangelo knows how to avoid these pit falls.

I am not saying not to enjoy the talk and rumours. Just keep in mind in the back of your head that most of it is not going to happen. Expectations can be a powerful thing. Realistic ones are not always as exciting as the pie in the sky ones. Realistic ones lead to that pie in the sky eventual if done correctly. It is like the guy who gets a win fall of money. The temptation is to go out and blow the cash and in the short term have a blast and a lot of fun. The more smart approach is to invest the money and try to make more of it. No it is that exciting but down the line it can earn you bigger fun and larger items. A reward for patience in a sense. Colangelo has shown some of that in not rushing out and firing Sam Mitchell which was a move that many expected and would not have caused of huge out cry of lack of support. Colangelo did what he felt was best and stuck with Mitchell many do not like it but in the end Colangelo did what he felt was best. The mere appearance that his job was in doubt, should serve Mitchell as motivation to come back next season and work even harder.

Colangelo also is not as fast to throw away his point guard duo of Jose and T.J. The longer he holds on to both the less people will think he is going to make a move. It also make the people in the Calderon and Ford markets for their basketball teams have to give the best offer they have, not the one they think they can get away with. Managing values of players is a risky business and being able to get the most value for a player is knowing when to sell that player at his best possible value. Despite what Raptor fans want to happen, Calderon is the one at the peak of his value. Colangelo sees Jose has having more room for growth in value and that is why he will keep him. Ford is coming off a season of questions and personal frustration. His value is at a low point and now is not the time to be in the Ford selling business. Colangelo knows that too. He will not make a mistake on what he does with this situation he realizes it is a major part to what the future of this team will be no matter what he does about it. If you have faith and trust in Colangelo just know that when all is said and done he will do the best thing for the Toronto Raptors. Even if that doesn’t make people happy in the short term.

So remember that you have been warned. If you get your expectations too high and feel disappointed in what the Raptors have done or not done. Remember your friend the Dino Nation Blogger told you not to let yourself get carried away. I am doing what I can to keep some perspective about everything. The smartest man is the one that can keep his head when all around him have lost their heads. That man is Bryan Colangelo…did you think I was going to say me? No way I am just a guy sitting watching all the madness.

Tags: Ford, Calderon, Bryan Colangelo, Sam Mitchell, Raptors Offseason