The Sixers have been the sexy choice for a lot of folks in the media the pre-season. Elton Brand despite playing less than 10 games last year is not thought to be as big a risk as Jermaine O’Neal. I think Sixer fans should be just and concerned if not more so than Raptor fans. After all they signed Brand to a long term deal while the Raptors are on the hook for just two years. The reality is the risk over the long term is greater for the Sixers and they are banking on Brand being healthy. The Raptors meanwhile are positioned to be a player in the 2010 free agent market which is the most anticipated that anyone can recall. Lebron Jame, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash and a number of other big names could be on the market.
The Two Year War On The Floor?
But in the next two years the Sixers and Raptors can expect to be rivals until that time. Both face the challenge of trying to be the team that will challenge not only each other but the Celtics for the Atlantic Division title. Both Sam Mitchell and Mo Cheeks have been survivors and manged to keep their jobs despite going through some tough times. Sam Mitchell was able to see Vince Carter era end in Toronto but not his own. While Cheeks was able to Watch Allen Iverson make his way to Denver but not see his own job come to an end in Philadelphia.
Sam vs Leo
Sam Dalembert had all of his summer drama with a war of words with Raptor broadcaster Leo Rautins over his other job as head coach of team Canada. Rautins recruited Dalembert into the program and helped Dalembert become a Canadian Citizen so he could play for Canada Basketball. The two would end up at odds this summer in Greece as Canada was trying to qualify for the Olympic in Beijing. Rautins questioned the dedication of Dalembert and suggested he was not a “team” player. Dalembert says the Rautins was totally off base and he did all that he was suppose to and Rautins was wrong. I have talked about this over the summer and I actually mentioned that I met Sam here in Hamilton prior to a team Canada exhibition game. He seemed happy and content and was excited to be part of the program. Only about 2 weeks after that meeting we had in Hamilton this whole thing was blowing up in Greece. How does this impact on the Raptors? Well it sure will make Dalembert wake up and take notice when Raptors are on the schedule. But it is a sub-plot of what could be a great rivalry over the next few years.
Not Today
But despite all this talk of being rivals do not expect any of that kind of excitement today. October 29th is far to close to expect to see anything that will look much like it will on that night today. I would not expect ether team to show much of anything. A lot of time for both team’s bench players to show what they can do today. So it still should be fun to watch in that sense. But if you are expecting a lot of fancy well designed plays this will not be the game for you.
So Who Is Better?
I think both these teams are extremely close in many ways. But what breaks the tie for me is the Raptors ability to make three point shots. The Sixers to this point do not have the proven shooting that the Raptors do. The Sixers dealt away Kyle Korver who was the one proven shooter they did have. That trade was last season with the Jazz and did not work out for the Sixers. When all is said and done the Sixers have a lot of talent but none of it is proven and most are banking on this being the year that it will. That is why many are picking the Sixers to be ahead of the Raptors in the standings. I agree the Sixers will be better but not as much as people are thinking. They are still the 3rd best team in the Atlantic Division. But the fight to prove me wrong starts on opening night.
Busy Day For Dino Nation Blog
So we have this pre-game blog. A Raptor Rewind after it is all over and than our first Fantasy Draft. That is a busy day indeed. So I just want to wish you all luck in our Yahoo draft and if you missed out on this one you have a few more options that you can give a shot just check our fantasy sports page. See some of you at the draft tonight. But for everyone I will be back with Raptor Rewind after the game this afternoon. Tip time is 1pm. As for our draft that gets started at 7pm. I look forward to both.
Coverage Of Game
Radio: Fan 590
T.V: Raps TV
Game Time is 1pm
Tags: Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Leo Rautins, Raptors, Sam Dalembert, Sixers
October 12, 2008 at 11:47 am |
Concerning the rivalry, don’t forget how the Raptors snubbed Igoudala in the draft and how he haunts us every time we face the Sixers
October 12, 2008 at 12:37 pm |
Your point was made in a previous blog on this same topic. Perhaps you had not found the Dino Nation Blog by that point or just missed reading that one. But yes thanks to Rob Babcock Andre will never forget or forgive the Raptors.