Raptors Dance Pak's Candice In DNB's Starting 5

In the past the Dino Nation Blog has done features on the Raptors Dance Pak. They have been some of the most popular features we have done in the Dino Nation Blog. The answer as to why is far from rocket science. Obviously, the young ladies that make up the Dance Pak are attractive young women. But also hopefully, in these features you have got to know that these ladies have a passion for what they do just like the players that make up the Raptors roster. Candice is in her 3rd year as a member of the Raptors Dance Pak. She is the Co-Captain of 2010-11 Raptors Dance Pak. She already had a brief appearance in the Dino Nation Blog as part of our stuff from this season's Fan Jam. But this is a longer visit as we talk about how Candice became a part of the Dance Pak. We talk about all the travelling she has done this year, with stops in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax. We also talk about the Raptors Dance Pak Blog on Raptors.com. There are videos on there from the trips the ladies made with Kat and some of the other ladies from the Dance Pak. Candice also made her debut on Twitter as have a number of other ladies on the Dance Pak joining Kat who started up on Twitter last season. @CptCandice documented her experience getting on to Twitter in the Dance Pak Blog. We have a great conversation and have a lot of fun. In fact this is the most fun I have had doing an interview for the DNB. Candice was great to talk with and think you will enjoy hearing from her.

So as mentioned at the end of the interview, we are going to try and get one of these done a month at least. I said in a tweet recently, that I have grown to have a lot of respect for what these ladies do and the credit for that goes to Kat. To be honest most times when I am watching sports I am always locked in on the game itself. But in meeting Kat, and now Candice, I have started to learn how hard these ladies work and contribute to the overall experience at Raptors game. Not to mention all the other things they do in the promotion of the Raptors. I know you are thinking as a guy you didn't notice the Dance Pak? I might have noticed but never paid close attention. So in doing these the goal is to try and get across just how hard these ladies work and let you get to know them better in a fun and relaxed way. Candice has been so nice in helping me pull this thing off. These ladies have busy schedules and so do I, so the hardest part sometimes is just finding the time to make it happen. I hope these help you get to know these great young women, that have a passion for dancing, and for the Raptors and basketball. So thanks to Candice for taking time to help me do that for all of you. Seeing as we both had a good time, be fun to do again sometime during the season.

Dino Blogger's Sunday Thoughts

It is rare the Raptors do not play on Sunday so with that rare chance thought I would give some thoughts on The Raptors, who knows maybe even life itself. Before a day of football I sit with just my thoughts and a keyboard. So let's think deep thoughts. Or at least some quality thoughts.

Thought 1- This is not a new one. I have had this one since Summer League. Demar DeRozan and Sonny Weems need to be on the floor together. Even if Sonny doesn't agree with me. Klezia just doesn't do it for me like he does for others. If the Raptors are playing for the future that means Weems makes more sense. Despite the fact he is in a contract year. If you can get both Demar and Sonny out on the break...LOOK OUT BELOW!!! These two on the floor with each other will challenge each other, the same way they do when they go against each other in practice. Each will make the other better. Sonny can be the Robin to Demar's Batman and there will be no issue with it. Injuries have forced Jay Triano to go with this line-up and in my opinion it should remain. Do I expect it will happen? Nope. I also think it is only a matter of time before Amir steps in as the starting 4 on this team. I bet that happens before Sonny gets his shot. But ultimately all 3 former Young Gunz now Young Onez belong on the floor together. You market them together so play them together. It makes sense both basketball and marketing wise.

Thought 2- I see a future where Bargnani is passed by DeRozan and he is the best player on this roster. Bargnani is what he is and his upside is not as high as it is for Demar. Bargnani is just a frustrating player that lacks consistency within a game. If you can have a night like in Orlando, where Bargnani sets the the table and Demar starts to develop into a closer it could be a happy marriage of talent. But Bargnani is not, nor ever will be the guy. Demar has a chance to be a dynamic star in this league and by the end of this season that could be crystal clear. It really needs to be if the Raptors are going to be heading in the right direction. Bargnani is a scorer and will never be much more than that. A weak defender and not ever going to be a consistent rebounder. Demar has a chance to be a complete player. His defence has a long way to go as well. But I feel more confident based on his age and attitude he can improve on that. Bargnani is a lost cause he is what he is at this point. The first step in ending your frustration with Andrea is accepting that fact. He is never going to average a double double and at best he might not be a liability on defence.

Thought 3- Julian Wright it was said came into camp at less then ideal shape. Whatever it was this guy has been decent in every time we have seen him on the floor. He seems to be a good dude in the locker room as well. We have never heard him complain at all and he has waited for his chance and made the best of it. At first glance with Belinelli starting and playing well in New Orleans it looked like the Hornets won that trade hands down. They still may have won the trade but Marco was not working out here and Wright is at least starting to show some signs of doing that. So good for him. Also he changed his Twitter handle from DinoWright14. There is only room for on Dino in the Raptor Twitterverse and that is Dino Nation Blog. If people think that was serious give your head a shake.

BREAK- Time for DNB TRIVIA Question # 4:

3 Major events happen/have happened in November for the Dino Nation Blog in the month of November? What are they? Name 2 of the 3.

If you get all 3 will consider that a bonus and you get a lifeline if you get an answer wrong. Meaning if you get all 3 right and have answered another question wrong will give you credit for a right answer.

Thought 4- Can the Raptors keep this attitude going the whole season long as the loss total increases. The effort has been there with few exceptions and even with the recent adversity of injuries it has remained. It is very hard to keep playing that same way when the reality hits that you are not a playoff team. For the development of this team it is vital they continue to play hard for all 82 games. If that effort goes south it will be interesting to see what that means for Jay Triano. Keeping that effort and developing players are the keys to Triano's future. It appears that wins and losses don't matter in terms of Triano. As much as that pains me given this is his 3rd season with the head coaching job.

Thought 5- This is kind of an I told you so. Doug Smith broke a story that Alabi will be heading to the Erie BayHawks who are the Raptors D-League affiliate. Also it is likely the Ed Davis will spend some time there with him. Who said this to you going to happen back in the pre-season? That was me. So forgive me for giving myself a pat on the back. But do not let it confuse you. Sending both to the D-League is not only the right thing to do, it is going to help these guys in the long run. Alabi and Davis need to develop confidence and have playing time. Getting that on the Raptors at this time is likely not going to happen for Ed or Solomon. The D-League can be your friend if you use it correctly. The Raptors should eventually consider running their own D-League team just like they do on the Hockey side with the Marlies and Leafs. Hamilton or Buffalo would be good homes for such a franchise. They are close enough to be a car ride away and allow the Raptors to have total control and awareness of what is going on down there.

Ok I am tired from thinking so much. Not really. A reminder tomorrow we go 1 on 1 with Candice from your Raptors Dance Pak. Do not know your Dance Pak by name? Shame on you. This is Candice and she is here tomorrow: