Toronto Suns Coming in 2011/12?

No the Raptors are not being named after the Toronto newspaper. But ever since Bryan Colangelo came to Toronto there have always been comparisons and rumours tied to his time in Phoenix. Add this to the latest rumours as it seems B.C will be back according to a story by Mitch Lawrence from the New York Daily News. That is not big news as it has been widely thought he would be. What is news is his former coach is in trouble in New York. The story suggests that if D'Antoni is let go he will not have to look hard for a job. He would come to Toronto and Jay Triano would be out.

While Jay Triano should be out, the reasons he should be are not because this team lacks offence. This team can't defend and it is not like Mike D'Antoni is going to bring a system that will change that. Steve Nash is not walking through the door. Well at least we don't think so. But even at it's peak of excellence, the Suns Colangelo ran were not a team that could win a championship. In the playoffs you need to be able to play defence at some point.

This is all speculation at this point. D'Antoni is still the coach of the Knicks and has not been fired yet. If Colangelo is going to rebuild this team in the pattern of his old Suns teams that will make them entertaining to watch. Especially if you plug say Kemba Walker into that system. But people want a team that will defend. They want a team that can you know actually stop someone from scoring. Not to mention if D'Antoni comes here he will put Pizza Pizza out of business. Seriously all that free pizza is going to ruin them. 100 points for a free slice...better make that 120 points.

This also would suggest that Andrea Bargnani will be part of the mix. Why would I say that. Simple, D'Antoni played ball and coached ball in Italy and you would think can relate to Andrea Bargnani on a much different level in comparison to Sam Mitchell or Jay Triano. He also is not likely to be concerned if he plays plays defence.

While I have always felt there should be a change of the coach for the Raptors this is not what I had in mind. D'Antoni had his best success with the Suns. In fact maybe his only success. People forget that D'Antoni had a short run with the Nuggets going 14-36 in 1998-99. His record in New York has been 97-141. In 4 full season starting in 04-05 with the Suns and Colangelo (For most of it) and Nash he averaged 58 wins.

Also if you are going into full Suns mode who exactly is going to make all these 3 point shots in the system? Well Colangelo does have money to spend under a new CBA and if D'Antoni was brought in you would think the roster will be fine tuned to his style of play. If this all comes to pass the Raptors will be trying to use slight of hand to avoid their real problem. That they can't defend. First step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one. The Raptors if they did go in this direction would not be doing that.

Also can this system even work in the Eastern Conference? That remains to be seen. While the natural instinct is to say it can. After all the Western Conference is the better conference. Look at the playoff race in the East if you care to argue. But when you look at the teams at the top of this conference they are teams that can defend. Boston and Chicago are teams that both have a defence first approach.

For those who dream of a Jeff Van Gundy or someone like him coming to save the Raptors. It would appear he is not walking through that door. Even the Suns in the post Colangelo and D'Antoni era came to realize that you have to at least play some defence to win. There has never been a team that has been able to outscore a team to death in this league to ultimate success. Raptors Assistant Alex English was a part of a Denver Nuggets team that tried to do that. From 79-80 to 89-90 the Nuggets were in the playoffs more than they were not. They won a lot of basketball games and scored a ton of points. But only one time did they make the Conference Finals in 84-85 losing to the Lakers. In a sense the Nuggets were the Suns before the Suns were the Suns.

This team may improve and may become very entertaining if they go this route. They could grow into a consistent playoff team. But if you crave more than that this might not be the direction to go. History tells us that teams like the Nuggets and Suns can win in regular season and can even have some success in the post season. But to win a Championship is not in the cards. Defence wins Championships, not flashy offence and entertaining basketball. If you get that as well it is a bonus. But there is no way to win without being able to defend. Eventually it catches up with you no matter how many points you put on the scoreboard.

"Jiggly Bits"

So I picked up a pro basketball publication (one of many I read) and two pages in, I see a full page ad with Karl Malone, formerly with the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers in his NBA playing days. At a first quick glance, you see a head and shoulders shot of Malone, a rifle to the left and "I'm the NRA" in bold text. Now, if he was a current player in the NBA, you wouldn't see this kind of advertisement and you shouldn't. So clearly, Lindy Sports Pro Basketball 2010 and the National Rifle Association of America are pimping out the image and legacy of Karl Malone to promote the NRA. I know, I know. Karl Malone signed a contract and got some serious cash to go along with it for appearing in an ad with a rifle next to his face. I can also appreciate his playing days are done and thus, the NBA cannot tell Karl Malone what to do anymore. I have an issue with hunting considered a sport just like basketball and with Malone's face attached to an ad like this, the magazine is endorsing this kind of classification. Shooting a basket and shooting a deer for fun are two different things and should not be considered in the same category. Further down in the ad, you see an older gentleman with a child looking over a rifle. I would much rather see Karl Malone promoting basketball to our young ones that putting a riffle in their hand. You know, I've heard some people say LeBron James tainted his legacy by how he moved to Miami. For me, Karl Malone just did it with this ad. Until someone convinces me otherwise, this is my stance. Ok, now with that out of the way, let's get down to NBA business.

NBA heeds possible terrorist attack warnings in Europe

So the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks are in Europe for some pre-season games against each other and against some European teams. According to Minnesota Head Coach Kurt Rambis, the players who go out sight-seeing or attend fan-meet-and-greets are being given extra security detail because of the travel alert issued by the US government urging Americans to be "vigilant in public places, tourist spots and transportation hubs". Some television news outlets are reporting this travel alert was issued based on some intelligence the US government has gathered and they felt this intelligence was serious enough to issue the travel alert. Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni is saying his players are just following procedure and not receiving any lists of 'do's and don'ts'. The travel alert doesn't seem to be affecting any of the players, either. Amare Stoudemire of the Knicks is vowing to enjoy Paris and have fun, while Pau Gasol says he has no plans to sit in a hotel room, saying "it would be a crime to stay at the hotel". I'm glad players have not been told to change their habits or sightseeing plans, but taking extra care never hurt anyone, travel alert or not. These are guys that are highly visible and in another country, so anything can happen. You can't live everyday in fear someone's out to get you - that's no way to live. Plus, whoever "they" are wins. Still, this is one distraction they don't need. Good thing it is only the pre-season.

Kobe Bryant is putting on a good show

Are the Los Angeles Lakers really falling apart at the seams? Well, let's look at the evidence. Head Coach Phil Jackson says this is his last year. Disappointing but not so bad and understandable. The Lakers are without back-up forward Luke Walton for a few games because of a pulled hamstring. But the real injury of choice seems to make some players 'weak in the knees' so-to-speak. Starting center Andrew Bynum had knee surgery this summer and will be evaluated daily but don't expect him back anytime soon. Now throw in Kobe Bryant and his right knee. Kobe Bryant is saying he wants to put on a good show and take care of his knee at the same time. Really? I know they are in Europe and the fans over there are flocking to Laker games, for the most part, to see Kobe play. But is it really worth risking injury in a pre-season game when you are the common thread which holds your team together? Tough call. Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson says he "thinks" Kobe will play and is still taking it game by game. He also is saying his regular starters will get about 8 minutes of playing time to start these pre-season games and then the second half depends on how the game goes. Fair. But they can't afford anymore injuries.

Yao Ming - the next Shaquille O'Neal? Yeah Right.

If you haven't seen this story already, you are seriously going to laugh. So a Chinese journalist has been heard saying (on and off the record) that most Chinese basketball fans have given up on Yao Ming being the next Shaq. But wait, it gets better. The Chinese media have an explanation to Yao Ming's inability to reach SHAQdom. They are apparently blaming the ..wait for it..NBA's schedule for Yao Ming's plethora of injuries and is pleading with the NBA to shorten it's schedule. Seriously? I'm sorry guys, but this is what you get when you put all your hopes, dreams and expectations into one player to carry the sport for an entire country. Some in the Chinese media even have the nerve to say the NBA game has worn pour Yao out and he's taken quite a beating due to the long season and high level of play. Really? So what is the NBA supposed to do? Lower their level of play so Yao Ming can keep up with the big boys? Puleeze. We all know Yao Ming trains with the Chinese national team in the off-season, so the real crux for the Chinese Media is this. Decide where you want him to be - is it representing China in the NBA or on the Chinese National Team? Then when you know what side of the fence you are sitting on, let the boy play basketball, get over it and move on.

Basketball Beyond the Floor

Remember to join me here on the DNB this Thursday for a 'youthful' "Basketball Beyond the Floor". We will be looking at two how-to basketball books for the young player: Basketball: Learn to be a star player and The Young Basketball Player: A Young Enthusiast's guide to Basketball. I'll even have some youthful opinions on these two books to see if they are on the money with their target audience. Until then, happy reading.