DNB Top 10- Guest Host Dino Blogger

Hello all it is yours truly filling in doing the DNB Top 10. I had not planned on filling in but called into action. So I thought why not make it about me. So here we go.

Top 10 Things Dino Blogger Can Do During NBA Lockout

• #10- Focus on bringing home a few fantasy baseball titles.
• #9- Watch more of the NFL Network covering a different Lockout
• #8- Like Andrea Bargnani work on improving his video game skills
• #7- Find new and exciting ways to ignore Hockey.
• #6- Find a wife, get married, have a child all before lockout is over.
• #5- Go on hunger strike until there is basketball
• #4- If number 5 is successful lose about 20 or 30 pounds.
• #3- Focus on my dope Rap Career and go on tour.
• #2- Lingerie Football League!!!
• #1- Pray for sanity and not having to do these other 9 things.

I think we all will need one of these lists sadly. So what plans to you have to fill the void of no basketball in your life. Funny or serious feel free to leave them in the comments or in DNB Chat or send them to me via Twitter.

Before the gloom and doom of the NBA Lockout we do have one last bash to promote under the old CBA. I will be hosting a draft party at St Louis Wings two weeks from tomorrow so come out and have fun and see what Raptors will do in the NBA Draft. June 23rd probably about 7pm still firming up the details. I won't be working like the last one so I promise to be a better host.

Draft Workouts Begin In Raptorland

Nothing like starting off Day 1 of Raptor draft workouts with a bang. Both Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker will be here. Not at the same workout though. Agents would never let that happen. But if the Raptors decide to go point guard it is a safe bet it will be Knight or Walker that they select. It is a lock that one of them at least should be there at number 5. When you consider Cleveland has 2 of the first four picks and Minnesota will not be taking a point guard for sure. Well it is Minnesota so anything is possible but seriously no chance they will. Cleveland will not draft two point guards either so that means at least one of Walker or Knight will be there. If it is both the Raptors will have a choice to make.

This is all assuming the Raptors stay at number five. The idea of trading back could be an appealing one for that Raptors assuming they are not that in love with either point guard. But if the Raptors stay at number five I said even back before we knew where they would pick that if Raptors were not in the top three and kept that pick they would select Kemba Walker. A lot gets made of these workouts, but to me they are really just the final stage to confirming that you are comfortable with taking a player. Workouts as we have seen in the NFL can be misleading.

Even going back to around the time of the NCAA Tournament I had a feeling Walker would be high on the Raptors list. Demar DeRozan seems a fan of him and he mentioned that both he and Ed Davis no Kemba pretty well as they came out in the same H.S Class together going to all the various All-Star Games and getting to know each other. That can't be erased like an NCAA Football championship from DeRozan's former school USC. Kemba Walker and his NCAA title are in the books and on the record.

Walker not only lead UConn on a run in the NCAA Tournament to win the title, he took them on a 6 game run to win the Big East title as well. He won the award as the top point guard in all of college basketball. Irving likely would have won the award but an injury sidelined him most of the year. Walker like DeRozan came on late in the year and has been on the steady climb up mock draft boards. If we are talking in February 2011 there is no way Walker is being picked this high. But combine his play with the draft class shrinking due to the lockout looming and he is in the mix to be a top 5 pick.

Size and the fact he is a shoot first ask questions later point guard are the main knocks against him. Some make the comparison to Allen Iverson but not nearly as talented or as good a shooter. That all being said there is something to be said for a guy that wins games that matter in the toughest conference tournament and then the NCAA Tournament. I see him a lot like a guy like T.J Ford coming out of Texas. Smaller but a fast guy that can get in the paint and can at times be a good shooter but lacks consistency.

Brandon Knight has the fact that he plays for a coach that just happened to coach the reigning MVP of the NBA at the point guard position. That was back at Memphis but now John Calipari has taken his show to Kentucky and there he had another star in John Wall. Knight is no where near Wall or Rose. But he has worked under the same coach in the same system. While people may question his tactics in terms of recruiting and if it is on the level. No on can deny that Calipari has had a ton of success getting players into the next level and having them succeed for the teams that draft them.

If it comes down to one or the other. It seems that if you want the safe pick you take Knight. If you want to take a risk and get the player with the higher upside than you take Walker. Regardless of who the Raptors take unless Bryan Colangelo can work a miracle and trade Jose Calderon it would appear that Walker or Knight will have to share time with him. Calderon for as much as he gets hammered for his defence is still a very talented and experienced guy on the other end of the floor. He will be able to help Walker or Knight tremendously and make their learning curve for the NBA a lot easier. Just don't ask him about how to defend the position. But for a guy like Walker that has a knock of being a shoot first guy having a guy like Calderon that is his opposite should be helpful.

If the Raptors stay at the number five spot I find it hard to imagine they will not select one of these two guys. Bryan Colangelo had stated the Raptors have their draft list down to 8 guys that they are focused in on at the 5th pick. It is a no brainer that Knight and Walker are at the top of that list of 8. Today the Raptors will get to see both one in the morning and one in the afternoon. So to evaluate them in the same day should make it crystal clear for the Raptors on who they like better. But if one or the other is selected before the 5th pick we may never know who that guy was.

Colangelo also made mention of wanting to try to find a 2nd pick in the top 10. This opens up the door to the idea of the Raptors making a play for Tristan Thompson. If it is not for that purpose may God have mercy on the soul of the kid they do select and Colangelo if in fact Thompson ends up the better player. Everyone to a man seems to think that Tristan Thompson if the draft order does not change will be going to the Bucks at #11.

To find out where all these guys go, I am pleased to announce that the DNB will be teaming up with our friends at St. Louis Wings to have a draft party. The draft takes place on June 23rd which is a Thursday. So clear your calender and make plans to join us. I hope to have all the details worked out by this Thursday. If you came to our Unwelcome Back Bosh party you know what a fun atmosphere it is at St Louis Wings and hopefully you will want to come out again. If you missed our Bosh Party well this is your chance to come out and have some fun with us again. Stay tuned to the blog and on Twitter @Dinonationblog and @StLouisWings for details on the event.

The Most Successful Ex Raptor Will Be Chris Bosh

I have to admit I find it strange watching Chris Bosh be on the verge of winning an NBA Title. It is in some ways his ultimate validation for doing what he did. If everyone was truly honest his choice to leave the Raptors was the right one. Part of me will be happy for Chris Bosh if he in fact wins an NBA title. I would not say the same for guys like Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. The reason why is simple really. I think in the seven years that Bosh was a Raptor he gave all that he had to try to win in Toronto. At the end of the day this organization did not put enough talent around him to win here.

It just seems like Bosh has changed in some ways though. This was a guy that once claimed he wanted to be part of the solution in Toronto. That he wanted to be the man and win a title as that man. Bosh hit a clutch shot in last nights win for Miami. Dallas was far to worried about James and Wade and it left Bosh with a wide open jumper thanks to a pick set by Haslem. Earlier in that game Chris Bosh was down in a heap looking like Vince Carter down on the ground looking like he had been shot. But in the end this major injury that left his team playing 5 on 4 at the other end of the floor was an apparent poke in the eye. I mean honestly it is the NBA Finals get your butt up and go play defence.

Bosh has just become a figure of contradiction to me. This once quiet kid that came here from Georgia Tech now seems to crave spotlight and attention as much as he does a championship ring. He takes a lot of the Heat in terms of Miami's failures while not getting much in terms of praise. He is the clear third in this trio. In fact some have down graded him right out of the mix and leave him out of conversation with Wade and James. There is no question they are on a different level from Bosh. I just am not sure what I make of it all.

I just feel that Chris Bosh somewhere along the line has changed. Based on that change my feelings about him have as well. I still will never hate the guy. But at the same time he makes it awful difficult to root for him and support him. I never have hated Vince Carter either. Vince is more a case to me of utter disappointment. A guy that should be in conversations with Kobe and Lebron is not based on the simple fact that he just gets by on his amazing talent. Unlike Bosh who I feel has had to work hard to get everything that he has. Chris Bosh after his rookie year was not a lock to be an All Star someday. I think we all expected him to be good. But did we really expect him to be that good? Not like his super friends in Miami from his draft class who everyone expected greatness from almost right away. Wade was selected behind Bosh but quickly surpassed him. Bosh in that great draft class was still able to prove worthy of being selected in that top 5. It might be the greatest draft class in most of our lifetimes.

The fact that three of the top five in that draft class all are on the same team is mind boggling. It makes it easy to see why people hate them. After all this is a roster that some kid makes on his Playstation or X-Box. Yet this is happening in real life in the NBA. When all is said and done the Miami Heat may go down as one of the most hated teams in the history of sports. They have a swagger to them that people find annoying. It is like they have spit in the face of tradition and unwritten rules all to get personal glory.

One thing that was always said when Chris Bosh was a Raptor was that he wanted to win. He wanted to win so bad that he perhaps sold his soul to do it. Maybe Chris Bosh is still the same guy he always was. Maybe we never really got to know the actual guy in his time in Toronto. I really am not sure what the answer is. He has put himself in the best position to win though no one can deny that.

Assuming the likely happens and Miami Heat win two more games and win an NBA Title I am not sure how I feel. Part of me wants to feel happy for Chris. But it just has a real sick taste to it. The Miami Heat make themselves hard to love, admire or appreciate. Still you can not deny the talent of Chris Bosh or this team. Bosh is still a great player and of the three guys has likely given up the most to get this chance at being a champion. Wade will always be the hero for bringing these two to Miami. He is the guy that stayed with his team. Lebron will always be love him, or hate him, one of the best to play the game. Maybe not in the class of a Micheal Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell but he should be some day. While Bosh is the guy that had his role dramatically reduced. He is not longer the star player that can avoid a lot of criticism about his game. He has taken a lot of shots not just from people in Toronto but from the media in general.

All that being said he asked for all of it both the good and the bad by agreeing to leave and be part of this trio. At the end of the day for Chris Bosh I hope it will all be worth it for him. I really liked the Chris Bosh that was in Toronto for seven years. I hope for that guy he is happy and can win. But I am not sure I can be happy with him. But I will at least not be rooting against him.

One thing is true that Chris Bosh has been the most successful in terms of winning in his post Raptors career than any of the others before him. Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady never came close to an NBA Title let along the NBA finals. But they never had two all-stars better than them to carry the load. No matter if you are rooting against him or not. The fact is you are watching him and the Heat and that makes it good for business if you are the NBA.

Bosh by winning a title will have a ring that is the ultimate validation to him he made the right choice and to everyone else he has the ultimate in your face.

DNB's- 3 up and 3 Down

It has busy day in the game of life. So I only have time to play a little 3 up and 3 down with you all today. In fact I am thinking of just making it a regular Friday Feature. I don't want to work hard on a Friday in the off-season and let's face it you likely don't have a lot of time to read with the weekend ahead. So let's do this.

3 Up

Shaq- The big fella has called it a career. He was entertaining and for the majority of his NBA Career one of the most dominant big men in the game. He called Chris Bosh the Ru-Paul of big men as well. He loves Toronto and is just one of the greatest personalities in the NBA. For these and about 1,000 more reasons (Shaq-Fu not being one of them) it makes sense to wish him well. It also makes sense to pray he ends up on T.V when we are playing basketball again.

Bryan Colangelo- He did it. He really did it. I never thought he would but he did the right thing and made a change by giving Jay Triano his walking papers as head coach. Next mission after he finds a replacement and drafts someone is to get rid or Bargnani. But for now I will take what I can get and be thankful Jay Triano is done. The worst defence in the league two years running is more than enough to make this move in my view. Here is hoping Bryan Colangelo has a few more rabbits in his hat this off-season.

The Mavs- I still don't think they have a snowballs chance in Miami of winning the NBA Finals. But the comeback they pulled off last night regardless of if the Heat helped out with it (Which they did) was still amazing. Dirk has taken his game to a new level in these playoffs and win or loser the label of being chokers is gone for the Dallas Mavericks with me.

3 Down

Miami Heat Fans- I mean seriously these are the worst fans in the NBA. They all wear white like it is some cult or something. I could use other examples that would get me in trouble but will stick with that. These bunch of bandwagon jumper front runners do not deserve a team as good as the Heat. They really don't. I am not one to hate on the Big 3 as I am over it. But hating on Miami fans is not something that I will stop. They are a bunch of pathetic bandwagon jumpers for the most part. If they were there the season Wade was hurt for most of it and the Heat were pathetic then I have respect for those few thousand folks. But for the 10,000 plus bandwagon jumpers they are pathetic and deserve nothing.

Strikes and Lockouts- It is bad enough that the NBA and NFL are in lockout mode. But now even the mail is on strike here in Canada. I had to waste like 4 hours of my day so people can get a dollar more in pay? Really I paid more for parking where I had to go as a result. I am so sick of hearing about labour issues you have no idea. Unions were formed to keep workers safe and save them from unsafe working conditions. Not so my postman could get a dollar more an hour, for NFL Players to have more millions and not have to play 2 extra games and not for NBA Players to earn more millions while some franchises sit on verge of collapse. It was not so 3 guys could use the system and get a title in Miami either. I doubt any of those people are going lend me a dime when I have no team or league to cover when Lockout takes hold of the NBA.

The 2-3-2 Format- The NBA is the only league that I can think of that changes the rules for the Final of it's sport. If the 2-3-2 format is so great use it the whole playoffs or not at all. But the reality is that it is not great and makes series very disjointed. It puts far to much pressure on the home team to hold serve in the first 2 games and if they do makes the task for the underdog next to impossible. Give me 2-2-1-1-1 that is fine with me. So it makes life difficult for the media. Is it anymore difficult than 3 games in 4 days as part of road trips in the regular season? I don't think so. But this is done for all the extra media that don't cover this league on a regular basis. Screw that and just play the games already. If you are determined to use this format can we at least get a back to back when we are in the same city? Bottom line is no other league does this not even the nutty NHL so why must the NBA do this? How about fixing that in the NEW CBA while your at it.

I always invite you to play along with your own 3 up and 3 down or feel free to comment on mine. Happy Weekend folks and enjoy some decent weather for once.

Top 10: Shaq Career Options in Retirement

There was quite a bit of NBA news yesterday with Ricky Rubio finally agreeing to come play for the Timberwolves, Jay Triano getting relieved of his head coaching duties and Shaq announcing his retirement.

After 19 years in the league, the Big Aristotle or the Big Cactus or the Big Shaqtus or anyone of the hundred nicknames he has is calling it quits. As on of the greatest centers to play the game, he heads into retirement having won 4 rings, 3 Finals MVP trophys, a 15 time All-Star, and graced us all with his personality both on and off the court. Now that he is retired though there are quite a bit of things he can do, so here are the Top 10 things Shaq can do in his retirement days.

#10: Go crowd diving. This says it all.

#9: Become a pro-wrestler...well maybe not.

#8: Go on a stand-up comedy tour. Charlie Sheen better watch out.

#7: Release another rap album.

#6: Coach the Raptors. The spot is now vacant as we all know.

#5: Star in the new Superman movie, after-all he was the original superman.

#4: Host a dance show, called "So You Think You Can Shaq?"

#3: Finally take Kenny Smith's spot on the TNT panel. He has been after it for quite some time.

#2: Take up golf. He can't be worst than Barkley right.

#1: Teach free throw shooting.

The big guy's presence will certainly be missed next season, but we shall always remember the freat moments he provided on and off the court, but we haven't seen the last of him just yet. So I leave you with some more of the Diesel's greatest moments. Enjoy.

CAN YOU DIG IT!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zXjuebDXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abNlNtkX-L0&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9LmHXXWiJs&feature=related

Colangelo Does A 180 On Triano To Fans Delight

The fact that Jay Triano is out as Raptors Head Coach is welcome news to many fans. It should not be surprising news either except for the fact it sure seemed like he had the support of G.M Bryan Colangelo. Prior to Colangelo being brought back as G.M he even went as far as to say if he did not return as G.M he would endorse Triano to return as Head Coach to a new G.M. Well that new G.M was in fact him and we do not see Jay Triano as head coach. It is a bit of a head scratching moment. What exactly changed in that month or so? Jay Triano never won or lost a game in that time. Colangelo in a telephone conference with the media last night talked about Triano not reaching standards that were set. These performance standards were not based on wins and loses although Colangelo would not get into specifics of what these standards were. Here is what he said specifically on the subject.

Bryan Colangelo:

" Some of those performances standards were certain things that we put in place to measure our progress as a team and an organization. Again not necessarily being measured by wins and losses. That was something that we both acknowledged was not going to be an easy task last year. But it was more about environment and direction. As I said at the time (His End Of Season Press Conference) Jay fared well in a lot of areas. But at the end of the day in terms of a gut feeling about where this needs to go and how we need to get there and how quickly we want to get there. "

Colangelo went on to talk about his conversation with Jay and the conclusion of that conversation being the feeling that there was need for a new voice and a new leader to take this team to the next level. Colangelo went on to praise Triano and speak of his basketball knowledge and how he looks forward to working with him in his new role as his special assistant. What exactly that role could be is up for debate. According to Colangelo you might even see Jay back in his old job as an assistant coach if the man he hires would want Triano.

But reading between the lines of what Bryan Colangelo had to say it would appear that Triano's lack of ability to get his team to play defence ranks high in the reasons why he is no longer the head coach of the Raptors. That also may speak as to why P.J Carlesimo will not be considered for the job.

Bryan Colangelo

" I was not hiring P.J to be Jay's ultimate replacement. That was not the case. What we were looking to do was to amp up Jay's staff, amp up defensive focus and effort. That was the sole purpose of bringing in P.J last year."

Which clearly didn't happen. While P.J is still under contract it would be a surprise if he remained given that he is not even being considered for the head coaching position. In terms of the rest of the assistants they all are not under contract and would likely have to be selected by the new head coach to remain. Who that will be is up for debate. Bryan Colangelo made it clear he wants someone with experience and pedigree and a better defensive mindset combined with a free flowing offence. Ideally more balance in a approach leaning to defence. Here is how Colangelo defined it.

Bryan Colangelo

" Candidates that have a great deal of experience. I think that is something that is important in this regard, I think this young team that was obviously developing well under Jay need to see some that has a pedigree or resume that would indicate that this is some that has achieved success. Clearly someone that has somewhat of a defensive minded prospective. Someone that has had success putting solid defensive units out there. That have had success limiting points while still having some flow to the offence. Finding a perfect blend in someone that does have a good feel of the offensive side of the ball. But at the same time can really drill down on the defensive side of the ball which is something that we need to dramatically improve on. "

So it would seem that the lack of defence is ultimately what cost Jay his job. Some would point to the fact with Bargnani and Calderon as starters that might not have been possible for Jay to do. If both remain under this new coach we will find out. Given what Colangelo desires to have it makes for a very short list you would figure. Raptor fans have long mentioned the name of Jeff Van Gundy as a potential coach for the Toronto Raptors. Colangelo's description sure sounds like him. However it would appear he seems very content in his current role with ESPN as commentator. Other names that have been put out there include Rick Aldeman who also would fit the description Colangelo laid out. Lawrence Frank the former Nets coach now an assistant with the Celtics could also be considered. If you want a long shot how about Jerry Sloan who was the longest serving coach in NBA History until last season when he left the Jazz. But there is no indication that Sloan has any desire to get back into coaching.

This is going to be a huge move in terms of Colangelo's long term future and one he will not take lightly. After all Bryan only was given a short extension himself and really can not afford to get this wrong. You also wonder if the fact Colangelo was not able to make this move sooner has cost him a candidate he desired? Kevin McHale was just hired by the Rockets and Mike Brown surprisingly ended up with the Lakers job. Colangelo is under the gun time wise in terms of finding a coach prior to the draft. Something he says in a perfect world he would like to do. But with the draft fast approaching on June 23rd that seems unlikely. There also is that whole lockout thing coming too. I am not clear on how that would impact on things. If you go by the NFL example it would suggest that Colangelo would need to hire a coach prior to the lockout taking place. He was asked about this but declined to comment based on the NBA rules about talking about the "L" word and the fact he would likely be fined.

But make no mistake about the search for the next Raptors head coach has begun and it will be a huge step for this franchise one way or the other. Triano for my money was never going to be the guy to lead this team all the way to the end of the road in being a contender. So the fact the Raptors have cut bait with him makes total sense to me. It also is clear at least for me that this team never was buying into what he was selling on the defensive end of the floor. While everyone to a man likes Jay Triano he was not the guy to get the job done in the long term to me. He never seems to lose a job anyway so it is hard to feel to sorry for him. Just as he survived several coaching changes as an assistant. He has survived his own demise with this new job as some sort of assistant to Colangelo. Does this mean he will be getting Colangelo coffee? Likely not but it does keep him still a part of the organization which is much more than many coaches get on being fired. Colangelo himself thinks Jay was given more than a fair shake and I agree with him. Here is what Colangelo had to say on it.

Bryan Colangelo

" There are certain things that I felt we needed to address from a different point of view, with respect to a fair chance I think that by virtue of a couple things. Jay was here for a full 2 and 2/3rds seasons. There was a team that arguably had a lot more talent and a team that had arguably a lot less talent. Again not being measure by wins and losses being measured by overall performance. There was many things that go into that performance beyond wins and losses. It was determined that it was the right time to make a move. I would say by virtue of Jay having an oppurtunity to remain with the organization to continue to be part of this rebuilding plan and still have input into the on going process. I think Jay not only got a fair shake but he has an ongoing fair opportunity to be part of this."

I would agree with that one hundred percent. But it all seems very odd to me that Colangelo even though he gives no indication of it seems to have done a 180 degree turn on Triano. Anyone that walked away from his end of the season press conference that did not feel Jay Triano would be back if Bryan was didn't see same press conference I did. Yet that is not the case. It makes you wonder what exactly happened. I can only come up with two explanations. When Colangelo was brought back there was an understanding between himself and MLSE that he would make a move at the coaching position or he would not be back. Now who was the one pushing for that is unclear. If it was Colangelo it would seem odd that he would keep Jay Triano on as his assistant. If it was the MLSE Board that wanted Jay out that would seem odd as well given they have kept him around for so long in the organization. The only other thing that makes any sense is the meeting that Colangelo had with Triano changed his thinking on Triano's ability to coach this team going forward.

Still I am not going to complain as to why this has happened or how. I am just glad it did. I have expressed it many times how I feel in terms of Jay Triano and his future as coach of this team. I feel this was a positive step in the right direction. I am also encouraged by the type of coach Colangelo wants to bring in to replace him. Ultimately regardless of what you think of Jay Triano you have to respect him for all that he as done as man for Canadians in terms of coaching at the NBA level. He has and will remain a historic figure for others to follow. Give him credit for all that he has been able to accomplish. However that is not enough in my view to keep him on board coaching without having really proven anything to justify it. It will be very interesting to see who in fact Colangelo can land to replace him. When the Lakers are only getting Mike Brown to replace a coaching icon in Phil Jackson you have every right to be a little worried. But Bryan Colangelo has to get this right not only for the franchises future but his own.

Triano is Toast

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.