Raptors Basketball Is An Experience In De Ja Vu

I have been a Raptor fan since the very start. I left my Charlotte Hornets(Now New Orleans) to support the home team. That was way back in 1995 and some things just never seem to change in that time. Some themes have always been a part of Raptors Basketball. The most positive of those is the Raptor himself. I like the Raptor Mascot he is fun and good at his job. I would have him visit for an interview but I have never heard him say anything since 1995. A quick story from back in my college days. I worked on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey broadcasts for Radio. But I also once in awhile did T.V work that was done with the students taking Television Broadcasting at Mohawk College. They thought it would be funny if I did an interview with “Bruiser” the mascot for the Bulldogs. It was amusing I guess but it didn’t not make any of my demo tapes I will say that.

The point is Mascots may not talk but they do a great job in making kids smile and providing entertainment to us all. The Raptor is one of the best mascots in pro sports and I guess I am a big kid cause I have always enjoyed his work. But there are a lot of other things that always seem to stay the same no matter who makes up this Raptors team. Here are a few of the ones I came up with.

Slow Starts- The Raptors have always seemed to have issues with getting off to slow starts in games. I have been frustrated many times since 1995 and it continues right into this pre-season. In basketball some say that it always comes down to the last two minute regardless of what happens in the first 46 minutes. That is a simple way to look at the game and it is usually said by people in a negative context. But the truth is a lot of what goes on in that first 46 minutes is part of the story that leads to that last 2 minutes.

The Raptors many times get off to slow starts and fall behind and have to fight back and rally and sometimes they are successful and it works out. But ask any basketball coach how hard it is for a team to climb back from a double digit deficit. It makes a team have to work a lot harder and they sometimes are left with nothing in the tank for that important last 2 minutes.

Far to many times the Raptors through every era have been that team that falls behind and is forced to climb that mountain to get back into games and it has been a theme that has lasted from year to year. If the Raptors are going to be the contender in the east that everyone wants them to be this must change. Raptors need to learn how to play as a front runner. That has been something they have struggled with as well on some nights when they do get off to a fast start they have had some terrible collapses allowing teams to get back into games.

The 3 Ball- Chuck Swirsky made references to the streak on consecutive games in which the Raptors had made a three point shot. I offer some advice to Matt Devlin on this one, I do not care about this streak and please only mention when it ends or it reaches round numbers like every 100 games or so. Derrick Martin’s claim to fame in his Raptor Career will be making a truly meaningless three point shot at the end of a game versus the Mavericks as I recall. The real story about all of this is the Raptors over there history have been a team that has lived and died at the 3 point line.

Many Raptors have had a love affair with the 3 point shot and that affair left them passing up on chances to drive to the basket. Vince Carter was so deeply in love with his jumper that he said the famous quote of ” I think dunking is overrated “. I would like to point out Vince has never one the 3 point shoot-out and he has won a dunk contest. So it would seem he has more skill at the thing he claimed was overrated. Vince would later claim that he was trying to be funny.  But what is not funny is the fact that he has not been alone in this love affair with the 3-ball.

Jamario Moon is the latest that has been taken in by this vixen that is the 3-ball. Moon is not going to be asked to enter the 3 point contest to go against Jason Kapono this season or any season in the future. He is a guy that is known and made it into this league in part based on his tremendous leaping ability. So he needs to play to that strength and drive to the basket and add to his dunking hightlight reel. Leave the 3 point shooting to his more skilled team members like Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker, Andrea Bargnani and even Jose Calderon. They all are the ones that shooting the majority of the 3 point shots the Raptors take.

It has always been a big part of Raptors basketball. The Raptors are truly a team that has lived and died by the 3 point shoot through out it’s history. That is likely not to change this season. The Raptors will look to use it’s new found dynamic duo to create open looks from long range when they can not find the other one of the duo or do it themseleves. There may be no more ring it up from downtown Hamilton for the Dino Blogger. But the 3-point shot is going to be an important for the Raptors and it is for many NBA teams for years to come.

You The Raptor Fans- I love Raptor Fans in general. I don’t think you could be doing what I am doing without that. I suppose you can but for me I make it part of my job to know this fan base and try to understand it. Some of the things this fan base has always been debating have not changed over the years. The first on this list is that position of point guard.

Yes from when most of you booed Damon Stoudamire until you picked sides in the Ford and Calderon debate. The point guard of your Toronto Raptors has always been a focus of the fans. Even this year with Jose as the clear #1 point guard Raptor fans still need something about this position to debate about. I am not saying that Ukic vs Solomon will turn into as heated and divided a debate but people are having it.

From Mike James and his motor mouth only matched by his number of shooting attempts. To Chris Childs and him not knowing the score versus the Pistons in the playoffs. We have had Rafer Alston say he was going to quit the game altogether.  Raptor fan favourite Alvin “Boogie” Williams. There have been many colourful and memorable players at the point guard for the Toronto Raptors. Piston star before he was a star at all Chancey Billiups was even in Toronto for a short time.

It will always be at the front of any Raptor debate. If Jose Calderon does not have a great start or has the numbers dip that Paul Jones and I have also said could happen, Raptor fans will no doubt react to it. I would venture to say short of being the franchise player being the point guard in Toronto is the second hardest job to have. But the same can be said in many NBA cities.

The Post Oakley Era- Where have you gone Charles Oakley? Oh wait I know the answer to this he was on Pros vs Joes. So Oakley is taking on Joe “Six Pack” and Joe “The Plumber” and all the other average Joe’s out there. But Raptor fans still worship the golden age of Oakley in Toronto. The Atlanta Hawks would not be pushing around the Raptors if we had Charles Oakley.

I have been one who has missed that Oakley old school tough attitude. I even suggested the Raptors should just sign him and have him in a suit(Which Would Be Styling) on the end of the bench.  If trouble happens Oakley could take off his jacket and through some blows.

The Raptors team toughness has always been an issue since the trade of Oakley to Chicago. Some say that J.O will be the answer to this question once and for all. I am hopeful of that. I recently claimed that the Raptors traded away the new Oakley in Roy Hibbert. It was in part a joke based on his early exit from his first ever NBA contest. But there was some truth in it too.  It was one of the reasons I was pushing for the Raptors to draft Hibbert. They would draft Nathan Jawai who does have the size to be that type of a player but the question on eveyones mind is Nathan’s heart at this point. Not the heart he will have as a player but the one that pumps the blood in your body. If things work out for Nathan he can add to that toughness as well.

But the whole “soft” label has been one that has dogged the Raptors for a longtime. They will look to put this one in the rear view mirror this year.

Coaches Please Apply- This one is not unique at all but the coach of the day is also always a key talking point. Sam Mitchell despite all the stuff you may read is the longest serving coach in Raptor history. Considering all that has gone on since he came to Toronto it is pretty amazing. But all the Raptor coaches with the possible exception of Brendan Malone have all felt the heat.  Malone would have his problem with his boss and not as much the fans. This season will be no different and in fact should be the climax of the Sam Mitchell debate once and for all. Sam if he is successful is going to take away the wind in the sails of the many folks that have been his detractors over his time here. However if he fails and this team is not successful he will be hard pressed to remain as the coach of the Raptors. Sam has been a person that has been here for some of the worst and best of the Toronto Raptors and he will get a big chapter when you tell the story of this franchise at some point in the future. The ultimate end of that chapter is still being written.

I forget who said this but it has been said the more we change the more we stay the same. I think that is true about the Toronto Raptors. What will happen in the future is anybody’s guess but I bet some of the things in this blog will be part of those conversations. Raptors in LA LA Land and taking on the Clippers and TBA that is Team To BE Announced. That TBA should end up being Barcelona. No T.V that I am aware of for this. So you may need to head to free radio feeds from NBA.Com for these ones. Raptors game versus Nuggets in Edmonton that will on Raptors TV. Tip off for the season is just 11 days away. It is coming fast.

Keeping that in mind I have a Poll Question for you.  What are you most looking forward to this season?

Raptors vs Clippers 7:30 EDT

Listen To Game on Net @ NBA.Com

Raptors Pre-Season Marchs On

Well the Pre-Season continues on. There was suppose to be another interview for you today. But I have yet to confirm if it is going to happen. So just in case I am going to write a short blog on how things are going so far in the Pre-Season. So if the Interview happens I will get it up as well but I won’t leave you folks waiting for something that may not happen and need to get re-scheduled. So away we go….

Nathan Jawai and His Status.

No one in the media seems to have an idea of what exactly is up with Nathan Jawai. What we do know is that Nathan saw a Cardiac Specialist last friday. We know that tests were done and it was thought that the results of those test would be known on Thursday. So, if that is the case Nathan and the Raptors should know what is up with him. But that is not known as we can not be sure if the results were on time and they may or could require more tests. That is as close to playing a doctor on the internet as I am willing to go. The bottom line is that as far as media and fans are concerned we do not know at this point.

We wish for the best outcome for Nate who through all of this has said he remains to feel fine. That is not to say he may not have issues but at least on surface everything is good for him. So as soon as we find out something I will share it with you folks. If you find out before me let everyone know.

Other Raptors On The Mend

Joey Graham- Day to Day with a hamstring

Hassan Adams- Right Leg  (Minor)

Jamal Samson- Left Wrist

Roko Ukic- Ribs

With a short roster that is a lot of people with bumps and bruises. It is always going to be the great concern for the Raptors for this season. Health and Depth will always be front burner issues for the Toronto Raptors. But the Raptors knew this when they made the trade for Jermaine O’Neal. His large contract was going to make them have to go with a short roster and do one of two things. Hope for the best in terms of health or decide to take their cap number beyond tax threshold. The Raptors and MLSE would like to avoid the second option at all cost. Because the price tag is pretty large.

Down Goes V.C Down Goes V.C

I know you are all truly SHOCKED at the news that Vince Carter was injured in the Nets pre-season. Why wait for the season to go down in a heap. V.C is suffering from some hamstring issues and is I am guessing day to day for the Nets. But as we all know day to day for Vince is more like week to week. Net fans are about to experience the down side of vinsanity and it his a rough and bumpy ride. But I am betting if it ends in a trade they will get more than Rob Babcock did. V.C is not a leader in what I have seen in his career. He much perfers to follow and with no more Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson everyone looked to Vince to lead this team. What were they thinking?

Roy Hibbert is A Bad MAN!!!

I knew Roy Hibbert was what the Raptors needed. I know it didn’t work out and he ended up with the Pacers. However I saw him as a tough guy who would not get pushed around. A flagrant elbow in his frist game and ejection was not exactly what I was thinking but I like it. Roy is going be a BAD BAD Man for the Pacers. I miss those kind of tough guys in the league. The NEW Charles Oakley could be Roy Hibbert. Go Roy Go.

Fantasy Sleepers

A little Fantasy Draft Advice- Rodney Stucky is a steal for any fantasy team in the late rounds. Feel like taking a really big risk? Try D.J Augstine with the Bobcats. Raymond Felton better watch his back as I think Augstine is going to be good. Not suprising that I am big on a guy who’s mentor has been T.J Ford. But Augstine has also gotten advice from Steve Nash. The fly in the Fantasy Ointment is Larry Brown the new Bobcat coach. He has never been a fan of rookies and at the point guard I am thinking even less likely to be.

Up Next For The Raptors

This is going to be a game where both teams will likely go out of their way to show the other NOTHING. The Sixers roll into the ACC and with the two teams just a few weeks away from their opening night match-up in Philadelphia. So expect to see a lot of simple offensive sets and little in the way of creative play from both coaches. But it will be interesting to see the team that some are saying is better than the Raptors. Will we get to see much of Elton Brand . I am hopeful but I am doubtful that we do.

So that is it for today unless my interview gets done. Will see if it does. I am not going to say who it was with just because I don’t want anyone to think bad of them. People have busy schedules and a lot of work you never see goes into the interviews I do. We are extremely grateful and thankful for all the great people we get to talk to here at the Dino Nation Blog.

Multimedia Jack Armstrong In Dino Nation Blog

I am very excited to start a new feature for our interviews here at Dino Nation Blog. It had been asked if there was a way the you the readers of the Dino Nation could hear the interviews I do. It was not possible from a technical stand point for me to do until now. So who better to kick of this new era than the Dino Blogger’s Favourite Guest Jack Armstrong.

So how this is going to work is that when I am able to do interviews via the phone they will start with what I am calling The Starting 5. If you have watched the show Pardon The Interruption they do the segment 5 good minutes with _________. Well for here at the Dino Nation Blog we are going add audio of the first 5 minutes of my interviews we do. It may go a little longer than 5 minutes as it did in this case. But the goal is to ask the 3 most interesting (Hopefully) questions and have the answers in form of an MP3 that you can listen too on the link to the blog’s podcast site. It will be followed by the rest of the interview in written word. Hopefully it is the best of both worlds for you the reader.

So in this first edition we have Jack talking about something he said on his radio show the Game Plan on Fan 590. If healthy Raptors could be good enough to get to Eastern Conference Final. Why does he think that? He will tell you. Also Andrea Bargnani at the 3 is it realistic for the Raptors and help them have success? Lastly it seems Jamario Moon is not in Sam Mitchell’s dog house and in fact he likely is the guy who has the 3 spot to loss. Doesn’t it make sense to have both Parker and Kapono on the floor together instead of both playing at the two spot? Jack breaks it down for us.

Dino Blogger Starting 5 with Jack Armstrong (Audio Link)

But five minutes of Jack Armstrong is not enough so we continued to chat and that will make up the rest of the blog. We started the rest of our conversation with the topic of Jermaine O’Neal. Yesterday I went into detail how I had over the summer went from unsure about Jermaine to the point where I feel now that I am a supporter of him. I shared these thoughts with Jack. I also expressed how he(Jack) once made the claim that Bosh had become better than O’Neal and how I was a supporter of that when he said it. But now J.O is here with Chris so what was his thought on what we have seen and heard from J.O thus far?

Well, first of all the most important thing is he is saying all the right things which is great. But as we well know saying and doing are two different things. For Raptor fans there is expectation, and with expectation people want results. So, Jermaine O’Neal is saying all the right things now and if he backs it up with the results that is when people get excited. If he says all the right things and doesn’t back it up with productivity and health, than the frustration sets in. I think the biggest thing is keep your fingers crossed and if he is healthy, I think he will back it up with productivity. I think he makes this team better. He is proven to be that type of player in the past. I definitely think J.O is an intriguing player to keep an eye on.

It has been said by Sam Mitchell that he is going to be counting on Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal and Jose Calderon to lead this team. Does this help out Chris Bosh and take some of the pressure off of him? Here is Jack’s take on that idea:

When push comes to shove and the chips are down Bosh is going to be the guy no matter what you do. It is nice having some other people to kind of take a little bit of the pressure off of you. Chris is still the guy and I just think when you have a guy of that level and your able to surround him with better people, it makes them better and the team better. So, I think it is an intriguing situation for Chris Bosh. I think he has really matured and grown up dramatically as player and he has always been a heady and responsible person. It is a situation that allows you to get the best out of him.

I said to Jack that I see a change in Chris Bosh since he won his gold medal with Team U.S.A. That it seemed to me that the Gold Medal was almost a validation to Bosh of the fact that he is one of the best players in the NBA. Jack shares his thought on my view on this topic:

You make a good point. I think you see it with veteran players and coaches there is that security from a money stand point and a contract stand point. You have spent time with those peers that are some of best in the game. Great coaches and great management people and it all rubs off on you in a very positive sense. You learn things by listening, talking and just by osmosis just being around it and observing. I think all that stuff rubs off on Chris. He is a bright, responsible and mature young man. I was reading the Buffalo News and they were talking about the success of the Bills so far in the NFL. Marv Levy is the G.M that selected all these guys including Bills QB Trent Edwards. Marv has some great quotes that I have used. He says “Ability with out character always loses”, but he has another great quote ” smart guys get better ” .  Chris Bosh is a smart guy. If you have met him, If you have spoken to him, if you just have heard him speak about himself, about the team , and the sport, he is a smart young man. Smart young people who are highly motivated, driven and hungry to win get better. To his credit there is a big reason behind that, he is a hungry guy that wants to be a great player. You tell him what he has to do to get better he is smart enough to understand it and he is smart enough not to take it personal, and smart enough to figure out what it takes to get better.

The conversation about Chris Bosh continued. I mentioned about how as a fan I think Bosh gets it as far as reaching out to the fan base. Through his videos on You Tube to his Fantasy Football League for Raptor Fans. It was more a comment about Jack saying how smart a guy he was. The fact that Chris was a smart guy and embraced the fan base in a unique way. However Jack had some reaction to my comments.

It is interesting, I think it is year six for Chris Bosh with the Raptors. Here is the difference, the last superstar that you had in Toronto was Vince Carter and we saw a deterioration of work ethic, attitude and passion and desire to improve and to win. Chris Bosh to his credit over the years and a lot of it was losing, put up the good fight and grinded it out and kept after it. Now a guy like him is getting the fruits of his labour. There is something to be said for that. When the Raptors made the decision that they were going to give this guy a long term deal and he is our franchise player. They made the choice few years before that they were going to trade Vince Carter, now the trade was a disaster, they knew that this young man (Bosh) had the chance to be really good. I think they were right.

The conversation continued as I shared with Jack that when I was doing radio I actually interviewed V.C. I shared my opinion in which there was a feeling that you got that he was Vince Carter. In other words he was this big thing. I have never interviewed Chris Bosh but I said I just don’t get that sense. Jack had some more thought on V.C and C.B.4:

I think Vince Carter was a lot like Chris is now in his first few years in the NBA. What happens is the money the fame and all the exposure, how do you handle it?  10% is what happens to you and 90% is how do you handle it. Chris Bosh is a very mature and grounded individual. A lot of credit should go to his family and more importantly to him for how he carries himself. I’ll never forget the first game he played as a Raptor. Paul Hewitt the head coach of Georgia Tech is a friend of mine. He and his staff came to see Chris in his first game as a Raptor. He said to me, Jack you are going to love this kid, He is a hard working, coachable and hungry young player who is going to get better and better. You are going to love him and Toronto is going to love him. He was right.

It is interesting to look back on Chris Bosh as we look forward to this season. I often look back on his career and think how far he has come on and off the floor. The stuff about Vince Carter and Bosh being compared was interesting as well. Bosh when you put aside all the hate for Vince Carter is rapidly making the case to be considered the best Raptor of all-time. It was not something I planned on talking to Jack about but his comments were interesting and it was something that I feel will interest you.

I have enjoyed my conversations with Jack and having him come to visit the Dino Nation Blog as often as he does. He is someone who’s opinion I truly value not just about basketball but about what I am doing here.  He has been very kind to take an interest in what I am doing here and that is a great thing for me. I long have admired his work and the fact that I now talk with him on a fairly regular basis is a great honour for me. I hope by adding the audio element to some of the interviews I will be doing will allow you to share in that experience.  At the end of the audio interview I said that I love Jack and it is the truth I really do. I am lucky to have the support of fine people like him and I am always grateful for it.  I am always looking forward to the next time we get to say HELLLLOOOO. But for this time around it is good bye for this latest visit from Jack.

Dino Nation Blog has A new Home So Please Come Visit Us there.

www.dinonationblog.com

Ex-Raptor Fantasy Outlook

We all have those Ex-Raptors we love and those that we hate. Emotion is the enemy of any good fantasy player. You must leave your feelings at the door be they good or bad. You may in fact think “V.C Sucks” but if he is the best player on your draft board you need to pick him regardless. You may have been on the Jose side of Calderon vs Ford debate. But if T.J is on the board and you need a point guard you may need to take him. Same goes in reverse. Most Raptor Fans love Morris Peterson but you can not turn that love into a selection of him to early in the draft. These are just a few examples of choices you may face in your fantasy draft. So let’s break it down and give you some logic to use instead of that nasty emotion.

Vince Carter: Carter is a very interesting fantasy choice. On the one hand Vince Carter is the lone remaining member of the Nets “Big 3″. From a fantasy perspective you would think this should be a good thing. However as Raptor Fan you do know how Vince has dealt with being the man. Vince will have the chance to increase his numbers but will he take advantage of it? Oh and let’s not forget the fact the Nets are a team that is rebuilding. Anyone that knows Vince’s history has to be very careful if you are going to risk a high pick on him. It comes down to the question of do you believe that Vince Carter has changed and matured from his time in Toronto. If you do he might be worth the pick. If you don’t it is buyer beware. One last thing is the fact Phil Jackson threw Vince under the bus. This may provide motivation for Carter to show Jackson was wrong. But even though all signs may lead you to think Carter could have a big year it is taken away by the track record of the player that tells a much different story.

T.J Ford: I am still a fan of T.J Ford. But the fact I see him having a bounce back year this season is not as much about being a fan as coming to grips with the fact T.J had the worst season of his NBA Career in a lot of ways. So you can expect a better year from T.J Ford. Despite all the injury concerns that come with Ford the truth is the risk of taking Ford remains the same. Medically his condition is the same as it has been. But if T.J can remain safe and avoid hard hits he should be fine and have a very productive season. High assist totals and a improved number of points for Ford should be a lock.

Tracy McGrady: McGrady is highly talented but is always an injury concern. His back may never be good enough to have any confidence in him playing through an entire season. He may also need to play peace maker between Yao Ming and Ron Artest. The good news for T-Mac with Artest coming to Houston will mean a easier defensive assignment on most nights. It could mean a little less wear and tear and more chance to do his thing on offense. But a bad back is always a worry. This is why personally I am not someone who wants to take Tracy in my first round. If you do it is a gamble but one that could pay off. But it also could blow-up in your face.

Marcus Camby:A whole new team for Marcus. He was not exactly thrilled about it. But Camby and what he does and who he is from a fantasy perspective remains the same. If healthy he is one of the best fantasy players in the league. He fills a stat sheet like few players in the game. He has been injured plaqued through his entire career. But last season was one of the better ones for Camby from an injury prospective. The older you get the healthier you are? That goes against logic. This is why I always take a pass on Camby. But if you want to go against the logic and take him it is not a bad move. Even with slight injury concerns throughout the year when he is in your line-up you get a lot of blocks points rebounds steals the whole fantasy package.

Morris Peterson: In his second year with the Hornets Morris Peterson should be a bit better. He had a very slow start last year. But this season he should be feeling more at home as a Hornet. The key is how much of a factor can he be on a New Orleans team with a lot of weapons. Morris Peterson should give you a guy that can shot a decent number of 3’s for a good percentage. But there are a lot of those guys in the NBA these days. A late round guy in any case and someone that may even make his way to wavier wire. Moe can be a guy that gets on streaks and picking him up when he is hot can help you get a few wins along the way in head to head leagues.

Mike James:A one year fantasy stud. With the Raptors and that was about all. The same reasons the Raptors didn’t resign him have proven to be true. Mike James has never produced the numbers he did as a Raptor and I don’t think that changes any time soon. If this was an American Idol draft he is a first round pick. We all remember him rocking the Raptor exit interviews with R Kelly tune ” I believe I Can Fly”.

Rafer Alston: The problem child former street ball star. He has had his issues with the Law and is to unpredictable both on and off the floor to expect much of anything from him. Who knows what will happen with Rafer he once announced in Toronto he was giving up the game altoghter and he is a wildcard not worth the risk.

Rasho Nesterovic: How bout some love for Rasho. He is a excellent pick in the late rounds as a big. He should do very well with the Pacers and have the chance to likely start. But everyone sleeps on Rasho. So unless Tim Ducan (Cause he think’s Rasho is Awesome) is in your draft you can expect Rasho to be around late and make a nice pick up for you. We saw first hand what Rasho can do with the Raptors when he got chance to play and I think for the Pacers he will play a lot as Roy Hibbert learns the ropes of the NBA.

Hoffa… um… Actually I read in a blog he may not even be in the Russian League he played in last year. I wonder if anyone ever drafted Hoffa in a fantasy league ever? If you did NEVER ADMIIT THAT. In fact take up a new hobby. That would go for anyone that drafted Yogi Stewart, Michael Bradley, Chris Jefferies and the list goes on. But as Raptor fans these names seem to live on longer than guys that were average players on the Raptors squad.

So hope the last two days have given you some things to think about going into your fantasy drafts. I will be providing the info for our leagues as soon as the leagues start to open up. Also Tomorrow I will be interviewing Matt Devlin so the blog may not be up till late. Hopefully there will be time to get Matt’s interview up. If not it will be Friday and I will have another topic for tomorrow. I look forward to talking with Matt for a second time. He has been very willing to talk with me and reach out to you the readers of Dino Nation Blog and that is something I respect.

That is all for me. See you Tomorrow a little later than usual.

Sixers And Raptors Rivalry Reborn

In the history of the Toronto Raptors their have been few rivals for them over the years. The first was likely with the Vancouver Grizzlies for who was best in Canada. Despite the Raptors having far more success they would always seem to have the odd slip up at the hands of Vancouver. The other rival the Raptors started to develop was the New York Knicks. The teams had made several trades with each other over the years. The also had met in back to back playoffs with the Knicks winning in a sweep only to see the Raptors return the next year and knock them off. The New Jersey Nets based on the Vince Carter trade have become the biggest rival of the Raptors. A playoff series a couple years ago would build on that rivalry in which the Nets won in 6 games.

But perhaps the best rivalry for the Raptors was the short lived one they had with the Philadelphia 76ers. They both did battle in one of the best 7 game series in the NBA in recent memory. Allen Iverson and Vince Carter had a personal war on the floor. Both scoring in the 50’s at various points in the series. You had the entire back story that some fans knew in that the year Iverson was drafted number 1 that pick should have been the Raptors. But due to the expansion agreement the Raptors signed they would pick #2 and take Marcus Camby. It seemed that Iverson would always be at his very best vs. the Raptors and it only seemed to rub salt in the fact he could have been a Raptor if not for that agreement. Isiah Thomas the Raptors G.M at the time claims he would have selected Camby with #1 pick regardless but we will never know. But it was just another little sub plot of a great short rivalry.

Well the time for the rivalry and it’s re-birth may be here. The core of this rivalry for the modern version goes back to the Rob Babcock Era. Andre Iguodala he would be stunned to be passed on by the Raptors for Hoffa. It was truly one of the worst choices Babcock made. Iguodala has always took it personal and always is fired up for the Raptors based on the snub. So for him the Raptors have always been someone he circles on the calender.

But now as this season approaches a lot of talk around the league about the Sixers who manged to steal away Elton Brand from the Clippers. The Sixers were perhaps one of the best stories of last season. They looked like the same old to begin the year. Raptors had no trouble in knocking off the Sixers 3 times in the early season schedule. In fact the Sixers lack of success would lead to the firing of G.M Billy King. His replacement would be Ed Stefanski who would leave Nets to take the job with the Sixers. After King went out the door the Sixers would start to rebound and meet and exceed the expectations that people had for the team entering the season. It would go so well that the Sixers would make the Playoffs and even shock the Pistons and take the opening game of their playoff series. So this off-season Stefanski was looking to build off that success and he manged to sign Elton Brand.

Bryan Colangelo had already rebuilt the Raptors back to a playoff team. But a second straight playoff exit would prompt Colangelo to take action as well. He would end the debate about his team’s point guard situation. He would trade Ford as part of package to bring Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto. He hopes that O’Neal will be healthy and ready to get back to the All Star level player he has been in the past. The Sixers are hoping that Brand can get back to the M.V.P type season he had prior to his injury that took him out for almost all of last season.

The Sixers and Raptors are both looking to take that next step to contender in the Eastern Conference. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that would give Sixers or the Raptors to win the Atlantic Division over the Boston Celtics. So the best possible outcome for both the Raptors and Sixers would be a 3rd or 4th place finish in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But just like the NBA ad campaign from the playoffs last season there can only be one.

The NBA schedule maker is helping restore the rivalry as the Raptors will open their season matched up against the Sixers as they did last season. This time it will be in Philadelphia and the stakes for a season opener are usually not that great. But when you consider that the season series between these two teams could go along way in the determination of which of these teams could finish second in th division and have a shot at home court advantage. Vince Carter and Allen Iverson are long gone from both franchises but the rivalry that they started lives on and will be reborn this year. Just one of the reasons for fans of both squads to be excited for the season to come.

Season Series: Raptors vs Sixers

Oct. 29th @ Sixers ( Season Opener )

Nov. 12th vs Sixers

Mar 11th @ Sixers

Apr 12th vs Sixers ( Last Home Game of Season )

Those are the dates to keep in mind. This series of 4 games could mean a lot if both teams live up to the expectations of what people are saying about them. Share what you think about it in the comments. Do you think the Sixers are now the main rival for the Raptors? What are you thoughts on the Sixers? Who do you consider the Raptors main rival?  Just some ideas for comments. But you are welcome to share your thoughts on anything and everything you like. I’ll be talking with Matt Devlin later in the week maybe you have a question for him? If it is a good one I will ask it.

For anyone that has Tom Brady on your fantasy football team. I feel your pain. Injuries can kill a fantasy team just like a real team. Brady was my QB last year and was a big help for my team. A lot of the questions for Raptors and Sixers will be about health and those questions are hard to answer. By the way just a funny thing from the weekend. The back-up QB for Penn State is named Matt Devlin. I have no idea if he is related but I just heard that and got a chuckle.

GPS On LBJ….Found…. Toronto,Ontario Canada

King Can Now Be Spelled H-O-R-S-E

Some interesting stuff about Lebron James. I heard an interesting debate about James on the radio awhile back. The debate was on a sports talk radio station. The topic was raised that when Michael Jordan played in the NBA there was no debate on who was the best player in the NBA was. Lebron James no doubt wants and thinks he is the best. But many will debate the point. This latest promotional event James was a part of saw the NBA star lose a game of horse to a no-name.

That man is David Kalb(Pictured Above) he was a high school basketball stand-out. Lebron James was a high school mega star with his games shown on ESPN. So how on earth can this guy beat Lebron James? Can you ever imagine M.J losing to anyone off the street. Sure everyone wanted to “BE LIKE MIKE” but beat mike? Lebron James did a nike ad that stated you don’t want to be me…You want to be better than me. Well guess this guy was watching that ad. If you want the details of Lebron losing his crown here is the article below:

James Loses on the Beach To Unknown

But the King is not hiding in shame in his palace. When you want to be a sports billioniare you can’t do that. Lebron is actually heading to Toronto. No Raptors Fans not to join the Raptors. But who knows if you see Lebron James be nice to him. He will be here in Toronto for the film festival. James is here to watch the debut of his documentary movie titled “More Than A Game”. This is no Space Jam I am thinking. It seems that James is very serious about his goal to be a billioniare. Just wondering if he is more serious about that than being an NBA Champion. He does have a Gold Medal I mean that is something. Does he really care about getting a ring too?  Would he trade that Billion he wants for that ring? I am thinking no chance in hell. Lebron James based on all the hype that comes with him will always hear the questions from people even though he is an amazing talent. But when you are that good you get compared to the very best ever. For details on Lebron and his coming to Toronto click below:

 Lebron James Coming To Toronto For His Movie Debut?

Cheech and Chong Of NBA

Raptor fans all remember this guy right? For you youngsters yes that is Ex-Raptor Charles Oakley. Most recently famous for being on the popular Spike TV show ” Pros vs Joes”. He also once said that 75% of NBA Players were smoking weed. So how hard do you think he was laughing when two rookies got busted for weed at the NBA Rookie Transition Program which is required to be attended by all NBA Rookie players. The program is designed to teach young players how to deal with the pressure that comes along with being an NBA player. Two former Kansas Jayhawks answer to that is to lite up a joint and party with some ladies. Not exactly the advice that the program is teaching the players. The program is to help players make the adjustment to NBA life that if you asked Oakley would have involved sparking up a joint ever now and than for most in NBA. In the role of “Cheech” Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat. While playing “Chong” is Darrell Arthur of the Memphis Grizzlies. This two up in smoke rejects will be getting fined and could face suspension for their transgression. But seriously how stupid do you have to be. This does not speak well to the education they both got at Kansas. About the only thing more stupid you could do is go up to David Stern and tap him on the shoulder and ask him for a lite to spark up your joint. If you would like to read more on the Cheech and Chong of the Y2K you can in an artcile from ESPN.

Thunder Rolls???

I guess this is what you get when you don’t have a lot of time to plan ahead. Oklahoma City Thunder is not exactly the most exciting name they could have come up with. The logo is equal in it’s dull and boring nature. What will not be boring for the people of Oklahoma City will be Kevin Durant. He is going to be an amazing talent to watch grow in year number two of his NBA career. The Thunder will not be making much noise in a tough Western Conference but they will have time to grow. The fact they are the first major sports franchise in Oklahoma City will allow them the chance to grow and get better without the huge pressure to win. The people are just happy to have a team that they can call their own. Oklahoma did a fantastic job when they were asked to in effect adopt the homeless Hornets. So even if you are mad about the team leaving Seattle feel happy for the people of Oklahoma City. They have earned the right to have a team and it is not their fault how they got a team. It would have been nice if they could have had a better nickname and logo but I have a feeling the folks in the O.C could careless.

Stay In School Kids…V.C Says So

Vince Carter is honestly not all bad. He is over in England telling kids that education is important. Carter will be part of the Euro Live Tour this season with the New Jersey Nets. Carter spoke to kids at an NBA event in England preaching the importance of education. I don’t think anyone can deny how much Vince cares about that. So much so that he bailed off to UNC prior to the most important game in Raptor History to this point.  Just one of the many reasons most folks in Toronto do not love V.C

Carter also talks about the recent win by team U.S.A. He says he is happy that his country and some of his NBA buddies brought home the Gold.  But what would a V.C story be without a little bit of controversy. He also takes aim at Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson. The NBA legendary coach was very critical of Vince and his play at the end of last season. Carter fires back at Jackson. Phil better look behind him from now on. I don’t know if the “Zen Master” could be any match for Michelle Carter. So be careful Phil. To read all of the stuff on V.C you can check out this article I found on Real G.M that is from the United Kingdom.

V.C’s Got Stuff To Say In England

Knicks Looking To Unload Extra Pounds

Remember all the B.S last summer that the Knicks were going to be better. They had made the big move to get Zach Randolph and he and Curry were going to dominate the paint for the Knicks. Year later Isiah Thomas is long gone and the Knicks are looking to do the same with Randolph. Well at least they seem to have the option of doing so. The Memphis Grizzlies are said to have made an offer that would send Marko Jaric. The story is from a Memphis Newspaper reporting that the deal is on table if Knicks want it.Randolph still has 3 years remaining on his contract that total 47.9 million over the next 3 seasons. Many have said the Knicks are in full cap cut mode for 2010 to attract a King. That guy we talked about in the first item of the day. Lebron James of course. So we started with King James and we end with him. Raptors will also start the pre-season against King James as well. Just so we have at least on Raptor reference today.

So never let it be said the Dino Nation Blog is not DOWN WITH THE KING.

Raptor Bits and Bites.

Flying solo today. I learned last night that you can’t go home again. The NEW 90210 was AWFUL. We are talking Raptor 16 win season awful. Now that I have that off my chest we can talk about a number of minor Raptor things tied to Pre-Season. So let’s get started.

Pre-Season

The Raptors last year were off to Europe for the pre-season. It was great for the global marketing of the Raptor brand but for the team I am not sure it was all that great. The NBA will point to last year’s Champions the Boston Celtics as proof of the bonding experience sending teams to Europe can be. I think Garnett, Allen an Pierce would have bonded just as easy be it in Boston, Beijing or anywhere they happened to be. I don’t buy into the NBA saying this helps team’s bond it helps the NBA sell product plain and simple.

This pre-season the Raptors have an odd schedule that will see them travel around North America. A training camp in Ottawa, back home to Toronto, A trip out to L.A for a mini-tournament and wrapping up in Edmonton. That is a lot of travel miles under their belts. They will also continue the tradition of playing some Euro-League opposition as well. I like the idea of that. You will have a team that is motivated to win when you play against a Euro team. It will challenge the Raptors to play up a level from the regular exhibition game or it should. Raptors have had some not so great moments vs non-NBA opposition. They dropped a game in last year’s Euro Live tour. Anthony Parker killed them prior to becoming a Raptor a few years back. It is just not a good thing despite the improvement of European club teams.

So the new crew of Raptors will get to know each other traveling around this preseason. If you buy into the NBA and the whole travel bonding theory that will be good for the Raptors. I honestly think it is over blown and overrated. Maybe I am wrong but I just don’t think a road trip for a pro sports team is the same as loading up the local kid’s basketball or hockey team and heading off to a tournament.

Here is my Raptor Check List of Things I am looking for in Pre-Season:

1. How well does Jose Calderon perform after a not so hot Olympics and an injury. All eyes will be focused on Jose this season. That begins right from the start.
2. J.O claims he is a man on two legs again. Well I am not sure how much in pre-season we will get to find out about that. But I will be watching and hoping to see a healthy and refreshed Jermaine O’Neal
3. The post Gold Bosh Era will begin. Do we see that same defensive effort from him? We will get a small clue in the pre-season.
4. Roko is no longer on You Tube highlights or playing in Europe. This is the NBA and we will see if Roko has the game to handle that. He has dreamed about it for years but the dream is going to become a reality. Finally we will see what Roko can truly do, or at least start to have a better idea.
5. Andrea Bargnani, can he break on through to the other side? Will we see the improvement the Raptors have been hoping for? He is likely going to get a lot of time to show off what he has done in off-season be it good or bad.
6. No more Bad Joey? Can Graham take his above average summer league and turn it into something? I am a doubter but the chance to prove me wrong is there for Joey Graham to take it.
7. Jamario Moon wowed me in pre-season last year. Did same with Sam Mitchell and from their he would go from off the radar to the starting line-up. So what can he do now? Word has it he has been in the gym pumping iron. This will hopefully lead to rocking iron with more dunks and drives. 
8. D-Fence…Let’s see it.
9. Post season Kapono or regular season Jason. Which guy do we see?
10. Thunder from down under. Nathan Jawai is going to be this year’s Jamario Moon. I feel it in my gut. The experts I have talked with are not as willing to jump on board with me. But I just think Nathan Jawai is the big body Sam Mitchell has wanted in Toronto for a long time.

NBA Things on My Mind

I am concerned for Patrick Ewing Jr. based on his moving to the Knicks. When your dad is a legend with the franchise and you come to play there that can’t be easy. But he did same thing in college playing at Georgetown so at least he has experience at it. Not like the Knicks gave up much. But Spike Lee and New York Fans will expect a lot from that Ewing name on a Knick jersey.

S.O.S NOLA?

How will the Hornets be able to make it in New Orleans? The team should be very good but can they honestly last in a city that is struggling to just survive. I have mentioned it before in the blog, I was a Hornet fan before there were Raptors. I think a lot of folks this year will have the Hornets as their second favourite team. But despite all that good will can it be enough to keep this team alive in New Orleans? Sadly I think the answer is no. I hope that I am wrong on this one.

The Balance of Power Continues To Shift

The Eastern Conference is slowly starting to catch up to the West. Will this season be the year that it will actually take a winning record to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Will the West start to take a slide backwards? Not likely when you consider how good the team in Portland might be now. That is just another team in a large mix of talent in the Wild Wild West. But slowly the East is closing the gap.

Buy and Sell

This will be a little feature I will do once in awhile. It is like my NBA Stock Market Report. A team, coach or player that I see taking a step up or down in the NBA.

Buys:

T.J Ford…. Yes I know you are all shocked. But seriously as long as he stays healthy there is no reason to think T.J will not have a great bounce back season after a forgetable one here in Toronto last year.

Portland Trailblazers…. This is a long term investment that you can retire on. The Trailblazers should start to be contenders for years to come in the Western Conference.

Mo Williams… I am not his biggest fan by any stretch but playing with Lebron James should help him improve his numbers.

Sam Dalembert… Elton Brand should help Sam just like O’Neal will help Bosh. Sam also wants to prove that the things said about his bad Team Canada experience are 100% False.

Rodney Stucky… He is part of the young Pistons and you can expect him to play a big role and with Billiups and others rumoured to be on the move it only stands to reason if that happens it is good news for Stucky.

Sell

Dallas Mavericks- Unimpressed with both Dirk and J-Kidd in the Olympics and I think the Dallas Mavericks are in a free fall after making a silly trade for Kidd that was thinking way to short term. Mark Cuban in business is a smart guy with his basketball team he made a bad deal. If he pushed to get Kidd it was the wrong move and the effects start this year.

Vince Carter- Vince on a rebuilding mode team. Raptor fans have seen how this works right? So do not expect to much Vinsanity this year.

Richard Jefferson- Yeah I guess I am bashing the Nets. But does anyone think Jefferson is happy to be a Buck? He also doesn’t have a good point guard to set him up. Sorry Bucks but you blew it again.

Mike D’Antoni- Steve Nash made the Mike D’Antoni system work. Chris Duhon is in no way Steve Nash. The Knicks are not the Suns and the system will fail.

Yao Ming-Unhappy with Ron Artest and he looked like he was playing in pain for Olympics in China. Those do not seem like good signs for the Rockets.

Share your Buy and Sells for the NBA in the comments if you like. You can also share thoughts on these ones if you like.

So that is all for today folks. Count down to camp continues and stick with the Dino Nation Blog to get you ready. Thanks for Reading!!!

V.C Gold vs CB4 Gold

After all was said and done and Chris Bosh had his Gold Medal it got me thinking. When Vince Carter won his gold medal he would take that accomplishment and turn it into the most successful season in Raptor History. The post Olympic Carter lead Raptors to win 47 games and the only series win in franchise history. They would of course lose to the Phildelphia 76ers in a classic 7 game series that was one of the best in recent memory. That season would also see the addition of two of my personal favourites Morris Peterson who was drafted coming of a national title for Michigan State. Also Jerome Williams would drive through a snow storm upon hearing the news he had been traded from Detroit to Toronto. Thus the legend of JYD was born in Toronto. The Raptors were a team on the rise and starting to get attention in the United States. Carter had of course shocked the world by jumping over a tall french man in a single bound. It was for some the greatest in game slam dunk the world had ever seen.

Raptor Stats From 2000-2001 Season

 

When you hit the fast forward button to today Chris Bosh has now earned his own gold medal. His team of Raptors is thought to be on the rise as well. He didn’t jump over and any french guys as France was not even in the tournament. But he did earn a lot of respect and media attention for his hard work and hard play. A little bit different way of getting attention than Vince. Both in their own way had grown their reputation in the U.S media as a result. Carter already had established a pretty solid one with his Slam Dunk Title earlier in the year. But this was more about what he could do as the star of his team. He would have healthy and productive NBA season and an even better playoffs. It truly was the peak of the Vinsanity Era of Raptor Basketball.

Can Bosh make this season the best of the CB4 Generation of Raptor basketball. Bosh unlike Carter embraces the fan base and there is no doubt has an impact. Carter heard it for himself with a full ACC chanting M V P for Bosh. Carter never got that kind of love deserved or not. This really all leads to a bigger question. If Bosh can take his Gold Medal and turn it into a season that is of a simlar nature to that team of 2000-2001 which to many was the best in franchise history. If he does that does this now mean Bosh is the GREATEST RAPTOR EVER? Maybe some people think he is already but a season like the one Vince Carter produced coming off his gold medal would go a long way in helping Bosh make that claim.

I don’t think anyone could have thought that Chris Bosh on the day Vince Carter was traded to New Jersey would be able to not only replace him but better him as the Raptors Franchise Player. They do both have gold medals now but Bosh has a banner hanging in the ACC. Vince Carter who as many will recall still proclaimed the ACC his house when he would return. Well the house has got a makeover and it has that banner as a note of that. Vince Carter’s home has turned into as Chuck Swirsky use to call it “The Bosh Pit” and it is a fun place to be.

Bosh has taken the slow and steady road to stardom. Vince Carter was an instant star based on the way he plays the game. The man who once joked that dunking is overrated has made an entire career out of it. The truth is Vince Carter’s Slam Dunk Trophy to him means as much as an NBA Title. He values All-Star Games on par with playoff appearances. Chris Bosh is not about any of that. He is about one word “WIN” , doesn’t matter how just win. That is the biggest difference between Bosh and Carter. Vince Carter did not feel the pain in a loss, it was just another game and there were 81 others just like it. Bosh takes every loss personally. He wants to win and he wants his team to win. He showed those values as part of team USA. He shows them with the Raptors as well.

I really am not one of those Vince Carter haters. I like Vince and think he is an amazing talent when he wants to be. I just have never liked the fact that I don’t see a desire in him to win. I feel much safer as a fan knowing that as mad and as pissed off as I may be with a Raptor loss, I know Chris Bosh is just as upset and likely even more than me. I never felt that way with Vince, when that buzzer sounded and he finished is media scrum he was off the clock. I think for those that truly care about the team you are never off the clock. I think those who care deeply carry a bit of whatever is going on with the Raptors with them all the time. Vince Carter does not live, breath and think basketball 24/7. He just enjoys what the sport has been able to provide him and at the end of the day sees basketball as a means to an end. That end being having a rich and successful life. I don’t hate V.C for that some people just are not as passionate as others. Bosh I am sure wants that rich successfully life too. But he also wants success on the floor just as much.

Fans have embraced Bosh and hated Carter and that will likely go on forever. Vince Carter if you take away all the personal issues and fan disapproval should be the first ever Raptor to see his number go to the rafters to be up with that Atlantic Division Title that he did not win. But instead it will be a 4 and not a 15 that does and that is just how far Chris Bosh has come. I think we all expected Bosh to be good but this good? I will be honest when he first came here I never could have imagined a day that I would say Chris Bosh would be the Greatest Raptor EVER. But that day is fast approaching and for some it has already come.

When all is said and done Chris Bosh Gets it. V.C not so much.

Chris Bosh Ready To Go From Star To Mega Star?

I feel like I have watched Chris Bosh grow up before my eyes. I still can remember when the Raptors drafted him out of Georgia Tech like it was Yesterday. Glen Grunwald the Raptor G.M passed on Dwyane Wade to select Chris. Despite the talent of Wade, I can not fault the choice of Chris Bosh at all. He has become the 3rd man to wear the label of Face of the Franchise. Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter did not handle the job as well as Chris Bosh has. It was not that way at the start. But Bosh has grown into the role of Franchise Player and in the past few years embraced it and thrived in it. Both Stoudamire and Carter had ugly ends to their time as the Raptors top dog. Chris Bosh has not in fact he is so comforterable in the role he tells fans what to do. He at the end of last season wanted more from the crowds at the ACC and he went out and asked for it. Toronto is a long way from Dallas, Texas but it has become a second home for the Raptors star. Some have suggested that Bosh will be on the move in 2010 and I am here to say I don’t buy it. Bosh seems happy to have his own team, city and country to support him. That is not to say all the recent attention for him back home in the United States is not something he enjoys and deserves. From his gigs on NBA TV,  his growing number of Videos on YouTube to a Job on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Yeah that whole playing for a Canadian Team is really hurting his career in U.S isn’t it?

That has always been one of the arguements made that players can’t become stars in Canada. Well Vince Carter was a huge star and his Raptor Jersey never held him back. Chris Bosh is becoming a star as well in U.S and again the Raptor Jersey is not hurting him. Carter burst on to the scene like a rocketship and he fizzled almost as fast. Bosh has slowly earned his way to become a superstar in the NBA. He did it through hard work and not by making ESPN Sportscenter for Highlight Reel Dunks. He would miss out on his first shot at being an All-Star thanks in part to Jermaine O’Neal who he will now be paired with. But Bosh the next year would make it to his first All Star game the following year and has been every year since.

He was also selected to be a part of the United States Basketball Program. Vince Carter was also a member of team U.S.A in his days with Toronto. He was part of the last successful American entry at the Olympics in Sydney. Bosh wants to be like Vince in one sense and that is to have his own gold medal. After having to sit out last summer Chris Bosh has been making up for lost time this summer. The people of the United States are learning what Raptor fans already know. Chris Bosh is good. In fact good is a massive understatement. Bosh has been working on his game and most of that work has been on the defensive end of the floor. On a team of stars he is showing that he is willing to work hard and do what it takes.

The experience of working out with the best the NBA has to offer is something that can only challenge Bosh to take his game to a new level. I admit based on some injury concerns I was not exactly thrilled with the idea of Bosh playing this summer. But the risk may indeed be worth the reward in the end. In talking with Jack Armstrong recently he made me see that. Bosh is getting a chance to play against some strong competition each and everyday. The media is starting to notice that Chris Bosh is truly one of the best in the NBA. The people of the United States now know it was not some wacky video that made Chris Bosh an All-Star, it was hard work.

If he comes home with a gold medal or not Chris Bosh is going to be better from the experience. I was reading his blog from China yesterday and you can tell Chris is having an experience of a lifetime both on and off the basketball court. I added a link to that in yesterday’s blog yesterday afternoon if you haven’t read it. Chris Bosh has come a long way from the quiet skinny kid that showed up from Georgia Tech. He is now truly a man both on and off the floor.

This next season Bosh will have some major help in the paint. O’Neal will allow Bosh to see less double teams and that is bad news for teams facing the Raptors. If he and Jermaine can match the vision of Sam Mitchell of being a modern Ducan and Robinson combo it could lead to big things. Both will have to remain healthy for this to happen. The combo at 100% is truly going to be a force for the Raptors. O’Neal will also bring a grit and a toughness that will make people think twice if they are going to try to push Bosh and the Raptors around.

This could be the year that Chris Bosh could honestly be an M.V.P contender. Vince Carter can snicker all he likes but Bosh is coming closer to an M.V.P level than he ever did or will. We all remember that night at the ACC when Carter was stunned to hear the crowd chanting M.V.P for Bosh. Well if things go the right way this year for Bosh then Carter could be hearing that for years to come. I am not saying that Bosh will win the Award. But will he be able to make a strong case for himself? I think so if things go right for the Toronto Raptors. The idea of the star player on Canada’s NBA team winning the M.V.P may seem crazy but is it anymore crazy than a small white kid from B.C winning 2 of those awards. You may not believe me and that is o.k. In fact Bosh himself is probably just starting to believe he can himself. On his Tonight Show job he asked Kobe Bryant if he could have the M.V.P Trophy for a day. It was a comdey bit but it may not be a joke for much longer. Bosh may earn the right to see that award everyday and not pay Kobe a dime for the right too. Dwight Howard is thought as someone that may win that award so why not Bosh who has out performed him on the United States team this summer.

On the eve of playing his point guard Jose Calderon in the biggest game of the olympics so far, you can expect to see Bosh be a big factor win or lose. I wonder what that guy writing the Laker Blog is saying now? Chris Bosh is better than you thought? I won’t hold my breath waiting for his blog saying “I am sorry Chris Bosh”. Chris may not have a fan in him but all over America the CB4 fan club is growing. It is well deserved for Bosh. He works hard and he has fun while he is doing it. He is everything a team could ask for in a Franchise Player. Bryan Colangelo and Raptor Fans are lucky to have Chris Bosh. When 2010 comes Bryan Colangelo will make sure Chris knows that and re-signs him to remain in Toronto. Championships? M.V.P’s? they could all be in the future for Chris Bosh. He truly can be that good. If you doubt it just keep watching he will prove you wrong or bust his butt trying. The Jets of the NFL can have their new #4, I am happy with the one we have here in Toronto.

24 Things On Dino Blogger’s Mind

Today I don’t have a topic in mind. So I just thought I would fire out some questions and comments that have crossed my mind lately. Feel free to add some of you own or respond to the ones I have provided. So I got a 24 things on the shot clock before the buzzer sounds so let’s go:

1. In general is there any loyality left in the sports world be it fans, management or players? I want to think so but it gets harder everyday.

2. Can you be a fan and a journalist at the same time? I know I have heard from a lot of media folks that you can’t but I try. I love what I do but I don’t love it enough to stop being a fan as well

3. What is the Raptor Offense going to look like come next season?

4. Can Nathan Jawai be as good as I honestly think he can?

5. Why are we in such a rush to talk about guys leaving and contracts ending?

6. Why can’t Canada win a medal in the Olympics already? On a side note how is Leo Rautins still coach of Men’s Team?

7. Vince Carter is cool with rebuilding team in Jersey? How am I suppose to buy that?

8. What will be the end game of all this Europe vs NBA stuff. Will I need to start learning names of Euro League Teams?

9. Who will be the first ever Raptor to get his number Retired?

10. Could I hold my own in an interview with Sam Mitchell? No I don’t have one lined up but just wondering if I could?

11. Is the Eastern Conference finally good?

12. Where will I and this Blog be in 5 years?

13. Will my hometown of Hamilton some day have the Raptors D-League Franchise?

14. What would Mark Cuban do if he was NBA Commisioner?

15. How will T.J Ford do as a Pacer?

16. Is this Raptor Team a Legit Contender in the East?

17. How is it going to be that first game without Chuck Swirsky? I don’t think it will hit me till it happens.

18. Will the Raptors make a trade this season? For who?

19. Will a day come when bloggers like me are considered part of the real media? Is that day already here and I just don’t know it?

20. When will Toronto host an All-Star Weekend?

21. Who is going to be the Raptors Starting small forward? Moon? Kapono? NOT Joey Graham can that even be possible at this point?

22. Is Kris Humphries the odd man out based on all the Raptor player moves?

23. Will Steve Nash ever win an NBA title and is that going to happen with the Suns?

24. Could Dwight Howard end up being an M.V.P someday?

BUZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!! That is it now it is your turn if you want to add a comment or ask some questions of your own. Tomorrow we go back on the Olympic Trail as United States plays Greece as part of Day 3 of Men’s Basketball.

Overtime: 3 way Trade:

Cavs make a 3-way deal with Bucks and Oaklahoma City. Mo Williams is heading to Cleveland as the headline of this deal. For the rest of the info check out a link to the deal with all the details of this trade:

Cavs Trade For Point Guard