In what would have to be considered a surprise the Toronto Raptors have announced that Jay Triano is out as head coach of the Raptors. Bryan Colangelo who recently was brought back as President/G.M seemed like he was pretty committed to keeping his head coach in place. However now just over a month later this announcement comes with option on his contract needing to be decided on by June 15th. Triano will remain with the organization as a special assistant to Colangelo. This is unexpected and shocking news to me. But what a number of Raptor fans have wanted has in fact happened as Triano is out. I have always felt this was the direction the organization should go but am still stunned they actually have. Here is quotes from both Colangelo and the now former Raptor Head Coach Jay Triano.
Bryan Colangelo on the Triano Firing:
“I have great respect for Jay Triano both as a person and as a basketball mind,” said Colangelo. Jay deserves tremendous credit for developing our young players this past season and our most recent win-loss record does not appropriately reflect his many positive contributions to this organization.This was a difficult decision to make, but after almost three full seasons of observation and evaluation I believe that bringing in a new voice as head coach will accelerate the progress we are looking to make in the coming years. I am very pleased that Jay has agreed to stay on and help see through the plan that we have designed and initiated together.”
Triano on his dismissal:
“I am grateful to the organization for the opportunity to be a head coach in the NBA," said Triano. “I am proud of the work that I and the coaching staff have done with our young players and feel confident we have laid the foundation for a team that will continue to improve. I look forward in assisting Bryan to deliver a championship team to Toronto.”
Triano was 87 -142 as head coach of the Toronto Raptors and Bryan Colangelo is expected to address the media(Via Conference Call) at 6:15pm Toronto Time.
All quiet on the Raptors front as we await the NBA Finals to begin. Jay Triano has yet to get his official stamp of approval but the Raptors have until June 15th to decide on his option. Andrea Bargnani has shut up for now and is still a Raptor the last we checked. While the Raptors still hold the 5th pick in the draft and no one seems to have a consensus on what they will do at the 5th spot if they in fact stay there. But the focus of the NBA is on the NBA Finals starting tonight.
The Miami Heat are in fact what we thought they were at the end of the day. Almost everyone picked them to be in the spot they are now in the NBA Finals. On the other hand beyond Mark Cuban and Mavs fans I am not sure how many people thought the Mavericks would be here in the NBA Finals. They face the same franchise that they blew a 2-0 lead to in the 2006 Final. Aside from D-Wade and Dirk almost everything has changed for these franchises. Dallas is a much better defensive team than they were back in 2006. Pat Riley is no longer on the bench for the Heat.
It may not be popular to say it but Miami is likely going to win this series. Dallas does not really have a scoring threat in the middle and that is something you need to attack a weak point of the Heat. Dirk has been fantastic in these playoffs but he is just one guy he will need help if Dallas is going to pull off the upset. Dallas does have a chance at winning if they can get looks from three point range and stick them. Miami has improved on defence a lot over this year. How they rotate and cover the three point line will be vital in this series.
All the talk in this series will be about Dirk and Lebron both seeking their first title but Jason Kidd has had several chances to win a title and come up short as well. If he can turn back the clock and have a great series he could be an X-Factor for the Mavericks.
But realistically I can't imagine the Heat losing this series. But I did not imagine the Mavericks sweeping the Lakers for what it is worth.
Heat in 6 is my pick.
Also speaking of the Lakers, I am stunned and confused at how the Lakers could hire Mike Brown to replace Phil Jackson. This is actually happening? The guy Cleveland fired because Lebron James wanted no part of him? Kobe Bryant seems as stunned as all of us. I sense this being a huge mistake for the L.A Lakers and this is not going to be a long or happy marriage between Brown and Bryant.
In other coaching news Kevin Mchale is expected to be the new coach in Houston. When you look at some of the hirings this off-season it makes me wonder despite my objections to it that if the Raptors choosing to stick with Jay Triano was unfortunately their best option. I would not hire Mike Brown or Mchale to coach the Raptors. No chance in hell. It would appear that Jeff Van Gundy is happy to stay in broadcasting for now. I would consider him the top candidate without a job right now in the NBA. When the dust clears I am not convinced Triano will last any longer than the option on his contract. But it would appear this off-season was slim pickings and that might have to do with the impending lockout as well.
Speaking of which we are rapidly approaching that lockout becoming reality. In just over a month this will be reality. The last image we may have of basketball is Miami Heat celebrating an NBA Championship that is something that will only add to the pain of a lockout for most.
It has been awhile since we have been able to catch up with Paul Jones the radio voice of the Toronto Raptors. We talk with Jonesy about a number of topics including the whole Bargnani saga. Is Demar ready to lead this team? How would a lockout impact on Ed Davis? Along with the fact Bryan Colangelo is back and very likely Jay Triano is as well. In addition we talk about the Raptors draft and what they might do? Could they look to bring Tristan Thompson home and challenges that would be involved in doing that. Also we briefly touch on the creation of a Canadian Basketball league. In addition lots of this sprinkled in about what is likely to be a lockout situation for the NBA. Along with some thoughts at the end on the NBA Finals with Miami and Dallas. It is always a great conversation when we have the chance to sit down and chat with Paul. He has always been someone who has not just been a great guest for us here in the Dino Nation Blog but someone who has always shown me support and encouragement and I am grateful for it.
Paul is off to Miami to take in the NBA Finals and see his brother Mark who does fine work with ESPN covering the NBA and various other things as part of ESPN. The odds that two brothers end up working covering the NBA has to be pretty long. I remember Mark from all the way back to when he worked for TSN. Two harder working people you would be hard pressed to find. It is always great to have Paul stop by and be a guest with us. One of the many great people that I can say has helped me along the way. I appreciate it greatly.
It seems pretty clear now that Andrea Bargnani is well on his way out of Toronto. If he isn't the chances of him restoring himself with this fanbase pretty much is done. Another guy making comments overseas and in this modern world they quickly come back to bite him in the butt in North America. You only need to look at last summer when Hedo Turkoglu did a similar thing and he ended up traded to Suns and gone. Bargnani in an interview in Italy expressed that he was not exactly happy with the comments his G.M Bryan Colangelo made about him in his post season press conference. He said that he was fine with being traded and would welcome a trade to a warmer NBA destination where he could play his natural position.
The Raptors/Bargnani went in damage control mode and released a statement yesterday addressing these comments from Bargnani from Andrea himself.
Andrea Bargnani Statement:
"I wish to personally clarify and correct an inaccurate portrayal of my words that recently appeared in the media. Much of what I said was taken out of context with respect to an entire conversation. I want to make clear my love for Toronto and I consider the city my second home. I never said that I wanted to leave Toronto and I am sorry if fans interpreted the inaccuracy in that way. I am proud to represent Toronto and the Raptors Organization. I appreciate what Bryan Colangelo and the organization has done for me during the past 5 years of my career. I always work to improve myself as a player to reward the organization and our fans with the best team possible. "
First off, has anyone every heard Andrea Bargnani talk like this? This has PR written all over it and quite honestly it stinks about as bad as his defence and rebounding. Unlike when Chris Bosh left last summer I am pretty confident in suggesting most Raptors fans would welcome the idea of Bargnani no longer being a Raptor.
This debate on playing his natural position has been on that has remained from the very start of his career. No matter what anyone says it seems pretty clear that Bargnani mentally feels he is playing out of position and it has an impact on him. This is a failure on his part to adapt and a failure on the organization to get him to fully buy into his role on this team.
The time has come for he and the Raptors to part ways and move on. I have been convinced of this for a long time. Bargnani with the tag of being the team's first overall pick will never live up to that. If you look back on the Raptors history I think many would be hard pressed to put him in the top 5 players all time. He has not lived up to the billing that comes with being the first overall pick and has been a failure overall in his time with the Raptors. His strengths as a scorer are far out weighed by his overall lack of effort and lack of defensive ability and ability to rebound.
The problem for the Raptors becomes once again they are going to be dealing a player from a position of weakness and not strength. Bryan Colangelo's job of moving him has become harder based on this latest episode. But as he proved with Hedo Turkoglu that is not going to stop him from moving him.
Raptors fans for the most part would say the sooner the better. But in this current climate with a lockout looming that might be easier said than done.
If you haven't heard by now, Andrea Bargnani recently made comments suggesting that if he were no longer playing for the Raptors he would like to play in a warmer city and in a role that best defines his talents. You can read about it here. So if he were to get his wish of a warmer climate what will the Raptors be able to get in return?
#10:A Milli Vanilli CD: while Bargnani is off enjoying his warmer climate and we're here enduring the spring rains, why not listen to some Blame It On the Rain
#9:A copy of NBA Elite 11: The game that was never released because it just wasn't that good, kinda like Bargnani, he just isn't that great a player unless he can put some effort on rebounding and defense.
#8: Eddy Curry: Not sure I'll even go through with this trade.
#7: Nate Robinson: We're gonna need some comic relief sometimes and I've heard he's a great cheerleader on the bench
#6: A brand new Spalding from Wal-Mart: you can never go wrong with a brand new Spalding.
#5: Dwight Howard: Yea we all know this ain't gonna happen
#4: Kevin Durant's backpack: It's just a cool backpack
#3: Carlos Boozer's gym bag: This bag took Boozer out and had him sidelined for month's and the Raptors could use some of that grit in the post.
#2: Lebron's headband: That headband is really going places as it keeps progress up Lebron's hairline each game.
#1: A lifetime supply of Primo pasta and sauce: If Bargnani leaves, Primo will lose their sponsor and all that pasta could go to waste.
In all seriousness though, I doubt he was publicly suggesting he want's to be traded though it really does seem like he is, plus with the media these days things do tend to get blown out of proportion. If he is traded though I believe the Raptors can at least get a decent player of two and hopefully can get a starter quality C in free agency. Anyways tune in next week for another installment of the DNB's Top 10.
I have to be honest since hearing the news on Friday that one of my childhood heroes passed away in a car crash in Florida, basketball has not been on my brain much at all. Randy "Macho Man" Savage was my hero as a kid. He was cool. He had a unique charisma that was something like I had never seen. While many will think of Bruins or Celtics games when they think of the old Boston Garden. I will remember it as the place that Randy Savage beat Tito Santana to win the Intercontinental Championship. He cheated to do it by popping him in the face with a piece of steel he had hidden in his trunks. That was only the beginning of one of the greatest wrestling careers in history.
Many people look at wrestling and wrestlers as some lesser form of athletes. But Savage prior to setting foot in a wrestling ring was a baseball player of some note. He played in the minors for the Cardinals, Reds and a couple other organizations. He was a high flyer and did moves in the ring that back in the 80's no one else did. He was as amazing as many of the best dunkers you would see in the NBA. Randy was truly a world class athlete. While many wrestlers as they age become shadows of what they once were. Savage was a guy that still did all the moves that made him famous. He also unlike many wrestlers backed away from the business when he got older.
You may say if you are still even reading this...why the hell are we talking about a wrestler in a basketball blog? It is a fair point. But I guess the reason why is Savage has had a big influence on me. You may have even seen me bust out my Randy Savage impression when we were trying to put together an event with St Louis Wings that we had titled RaptorMania. But Basketball and wrestling have had there moments of coming together. Dennis Rodman going in the hall of fame this year once fought Savage. Randy took the former basketball star and stuck him in a porta potty and dumped it over with Rodman in it. Randy admits in an interview that was not in "the script". Rodman fought many times in the ring including in a match facing Karl Malone in which Malone was teamed with Diamond Dallas Page and Rodman with his buddy Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Rodman has been on many reality shows and actually was on one in which celebrities trained to be wrestlers run by the Hulkster and he won the show. Beating the likes of Screech from Saved by the Bell and other B list celebrities. None of this likely will be mentioned in Rodman's Hall of Fame Speech. Nor will the fact that during the NBA Playoffs while Rodman was with the Bulls on an off-day in a series, I am sure Phil Jackson was thrilled to learn Rodman was on Monday Nitro with Hogan. Ron Artest is easy to deal with in comparison to Rodman.
I have mentioned this one before as well. Jerome William AKA JYD (Of the NBA) once refereed a match in Toronto at a local house show. He was one of many on those Raptors teams back then that was a wrestling junkie. Vince Carter while being a Raptor was know to be in attendance when WWE hit town in Toronto as well. He was once pointed out by the WWE when he was in attendance at a taping on Monday Night Raw.
Even the Miami Heat were dubbed early on the MWO and were featured in this hit video on You Tube.
Lebron and D-Wade were recently two of the many celebrities that wished The Rock Happy Birthday on a recent episode of Raw. Oh and no Chris Bosh was not. Guess The Rock doesn't give a damn about Chris Bosh's Roody Poo Candy Ass. But the Heat are getting a great performance from Bosh in the conference finals vs the Bulls. Bosh has been a huge part of why Miami has a 2-1 series lead. It seems hard to believe that the Bulls can win 3 out of 4 games vs the Heat. After all the hype and B.S it appears the Heat will be exactly where they were expected to be. In the NBA's Version of a World Title Match better know as the NBA Finals.
As unlikely as it is for the Bulls to win 3 out 4 vs Miami. It seems even more unlikely that the Thunder can win 3 straight vs the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder blew a lead late in Game 4 and were almost home and cooled out tying the series back up at 2. But then that evil German Guy Baron Von Dirk decided to go nuts and the Thunder were in trouble. Maybe if they had Kendrick Perkins hit Dirk with a steel chair that might help their chances.
But if the Thunder or Bulls want some inspiration they can watch Randy Savage in Wrestlemania 4 as he had to win 4 matches to become the World Champion for the first time. It would take a scripted out come for the Thunder or Bulls to come back at this point. I can't imagine the Heat choking and it is becoming more and more clear the Mavs days of choking might be behind them.
As entertaining as the NBA Playoffs have been and likely will be, it is not nearly as entertaining as the Macho Man Randy Savage. Be it wrestling in a ring or talking on a microphone. Randy Savage was the best at both. In basketball we always tend to look for next this guy or that guy. Who is the next Jordan? The next Shaq? There will never be a next Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Here is one of my favorite Savage interviews of all time. It was on the Arsenio Hall. For those not old enough to remember that show, it was once the hottest late night show on T.V for a brief time in the late 80's and early 90's. Savage was about to defend his title vs Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 5. The Mega Powers explode is how it was billed. The tag team that was Hogan and Savage. This was classic Randy Savage at his very best.
I will miss Randy Savage he was a huge part of my childhood. I have laughed and had my eyes fill with tears all weekend long watching memories of the Macho Man. He was a one of a kind original and had an impact that extended far outside of professional wrestling. It has been a very sad weekend for me. Charles Barkley said that athletes should not be role models. I guess that would mean wrestlers who are tremendous athletes should not be as well. However here is the thing we don't just choose who are role models are as kids. They just are who they are. For me that was a guy who was not exactly a role model in his behaviour. Savage be it as a bad guy or good guy would always bend or break the rules. But there was something cool about Randy Savage and he was bigger than life in a lot of ways. From his flashy robes to his over the top personality. Shaq might be the closet thing we have in basketball to this type of personality. He is also a huge wrestling junkie as well. Ali the famous boxing champion said that a lot of his smack talk was based on his love of wrestling.
Some of you may hate that I use wrestling lines in this blog probably far to often for most people's liking. It was Randy Savage that made me into a wrestling fan. He was the reason that I got drawn into it back in the mid 80's along with many in my generation. But in the NBA there have become good guys and bad guys and a lot of shades of grey. You may all hate the Miami Heat but part of what has made this season one of the more compelling in many years has been because you hate them. In wrestling they call that ironically "getting heat" and in Miami they have had more then their fair share. But unlike in wrestling the good guy doesn't always win the big one. Sometimes in real life the bad guys win.
The Macho Man along with Oh Yeah!!! Would also say from time to time. "It is what it is" and the Miami Heat are what they are. Macho Madness will live on forever and if the Heat can do what they set out to do they may live on forever as well. Sometimes cheering for the "Bad Guys" can be fun. Randy Savage taught me that many many years ago. But the difference is that while Savage could be vicious in the ring and break ever rule in the book. There was a humour to him and a likeability to him as well. I am not sure if you can say the same for Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But whatever happens let it happen. The time is now...Oh Yeah Dig It!!!
Macho Madness will live in my heart forever it is as much a part of me as my love of basketball. While some may cry foul for Reggie Miller not being in the basketball hall of fame. It is a bigger crime that Randy Savage was not in WWE Hall of Fame while he was alive. Randy Savage was a legend in his sport and champion. Reggie Miller was a guy that made a lot of 3's and torched the Knicks. He also is one of the worst announcers in the history of basketball. Savage was a better announcer in his sport too. But it in Macho Man terms... Reggie Miller is a grain of sand in the Sahara Desert and Macho Man is the whole desert.
I have lost many people in my life it is part of the deal with getting older. It is part of the harsh reality of life. In sports all of the guys that I followed in basketball have long since retired. Dr.J, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and many many others. Hopefully the folks running this league and the players come to realize that life is short. We can not afford to miss a season of basketball. We all only have so many in our lifetimes. Lockouts and money don't mean a heck of a lot in comparison to life itself.
Life is fragile and tomorrow is never guaranteed for anyone. Randy Savage left a mark on the world that is far larger than anyone could possibly imagine. But we all leave our mark on this world and make sure it is a good one because you never know when your time is up...for today mine is...God willing will talk with you all tomorrow and for many years to come.
Here are just some random thoughts from me on a Friday. Ready? Let's Go:
1. Thunder Up and feeling the Heat as I am just 6 games away from nailing the NBA Finals again in October. I picked the L.A vs Orlando final a few years back not I am on the verge of picking another final. Could you have to more opposite teams in terms of rooting for? I love the Thunder and the fact they are proving people wrong. Miami on the other hand is kind of like selling your soul to the devil if you root for them. They are just not likeable and so many people would love to see them fail. But I am in on both and think it would give you a classic good vs evil final.
2. NBA Combine: I love basketball honestly I do. But the NBA Combine on T.V is nothing but a bunch of "experts" trying to validate themselves while we watch players do basketball drills it is far from exciting and really doesn't tell you much. Individual workouts with teams are a bit different from that. But if I hear anymore about Jimmer I will scream. Here it is for you all....Jimmer is a bust in the NBA. That is all. As for Raptors no Kemba Walker working out or Brandon Knight. Some may say that is bad. I say that is good. The less teams see of them the better. If the Raptors stay at 5 my gut says Kemba Walker is the pick. Demar DeRozan would like that a lot. During NCAA Tournament DeRozan mentioned to me how he and Ed Davis both know him pretty well.
3. Weather is terrible. I mean I am not one of these people that complains about the weather a lot but seriously when Sun was out yesterday I was like what the hell is that? This has been a terrible spring for weather. Just awful.
4. Lockout will have a very negative effect on this draft. Vegas Summer League has already been cancelled. If you have been following the NFL Lockout you are well aware of the fact players have no contact with teams during a lockout and that is going to be huge for these kids coming out in the draft. They will be starting with a disadvantage not that different from the one Ed Davis faced with his injury this year.
5. Tristan Thompson being in this draft makes sense to me. Cory Joseph does not. I hope the best for both of them but Cory Joesph has a lot of convincing to do if we expect to see him on an NBA Roster when thay start playing basketball again. For those that think I am a total homer in wanting Thompson on the Raptors here is something to counter that. I would not pick Cory Joesph at all. While Thompson offers some things the Raptors don't have, Joseph is not an answer to replace Calderon and I would take Bayless over him without much thought. Myck Kabongo is the guy the Raptors should do anything possible to draft. But that is next year. While I hope the best for Cory, I don't think it makes a lot of sense for him to be in the draft.
That is all that is on my mind at the moment that I can think of. See you folks on Monday.
If you ever have a question or concern or request. You can always contact the Dino Nation Blog @t Dinoblogger@gmail.com
I am always willing to talk with folks for interviews etc. I currently am doing 2 regular radio appearances weekly. But I am always willing to do more stuff large or small. Whatever it is you would like to discuss I will be happy to reply.
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