For years many have wanted Jamal Maglorie to be a Raptor. That however stopped being a good idea at least 5 years ago perhaps even longer. When the Hornets left the Eastern Conference was the peak of Maglorie's NBA Career. I have always had a strong desire to have a Canadian be part of the Raptors roster. However this is not what I had in mind. The fact Maglorie, time and time again has taken a pass on playing for Team Canada has made him fall in my eyes. I think it is really a shame that someone like this will be in the history books as the first Canadian to throw on a Raptor jersey. He fit right in with that group in Miami as far as I was concerned. Not that he played much. Sure it is a one year deal and will not impact on the bottom line at all. It just upsets me based on the history this signing will represent. Something this guy never has done for his country. I would sooner have Justin Bieber on the Raptors than him.
This news broke late last night it followed a press conference that was truly depressing. It wasn't meant to be and it does have some excited about the future of the Raptors. But that would be starting next season and not this season. If I was a casual basketball fan and watched that it gave me no reason on earth to watch the Raptors this year. While the honesty of it all should be admired and it is better than setting up unrealistic expectations like has been done in the past. It still was a bitter pill to swallow knowing that this team has little to no desire to improve in the short term beyond internal improvement. A signing of a guy like Maglorie only drives home that point more.
There has never been a Raptor season I have looked forward to less that I can recall. If I as someone that has supported this franchise from it's birth feel that way I can only imagine how a casual fan feels about it. Expect attendance for the Raptors to take a nose dive this season. There lack of focus on this season combined with an NBA Lockout that promised competitive balance and only served to line Owners pockets while still giving players the freedom to force their way out of markets. If this plan doesn't work as the Raptors envision the countdown to Demar DeRozan leaving is on. If DeRozan becomes a star and then follows the same path as all the rest it will be a serious blow to this franchise. There will be no turning him into a villain and making him the bad guy. Something they were able to do with Chris Bosh and were given indirectly more than enough to help from Bosh's own actions.
This season has been made pretty irrelevant before it ever started. While next season might be the most important in the history of this franchise. It will be one of those fork in the road moments. If things don't go well it could be a serious blow to this franchise and it's long term outlook.
I feel for Dwane Casey who is in a tough situation with this schedule and a very short training camp. It is going to be tough to implement his system and keep this team rolling through a challenging to say the least schedule. But this is not that Adam Sandler movie where you can press the fast forward button. You can call it re-buliding, building or changing cultures. Raptor fans have heard it all before and newsflash some of them are pretty much fed up with it. The Raptors have set the bar as low as possible for this season and perhaps as high as possible for next season. So see you at the NBA lottery where we can talk about how you can rig a ping pong ball. That is always fun every year.
12/7/11
DNB Top 10- Not in the Top 20 Locks
They (Raptors or NBA TV) apparently have put together a list of the top 20 Raptors of all time. Instead of doing that today on the top 10 we will do the top 10 people that will NOT be in the Raptors Top 20 players of all time. This has more fun potential to it does it not?
10. Jimmy King- He was a member of the Fab 5 in Michigan and he was the first ever second round pick of the Toronto Raptors. He started the great tradition of failed second round picks in Toronto. I would mention some but they might end up on this list.
9. B.J Armstrong- Technically he was the first Raptor ever not that he ever played for the Raptors the former NBA Champion thanks to some guy named Jordan would be traded long before the Raptors first game vs the Nets at Skydome.
8. Gary Trent- will not be making the list either. Some how Trent managed to play for four different NBA Franchises. Starting in Portland than off to Toronto and would move along to Dallas and Minny before fading into the abyss after the 2003-04 season
7. Keon Clark- It is pretty scary to hear the stories after the fact about Clark. He played apparently high or drunk for most of his time in Toronto. The fact he would end up in jail on drug related charges is not surprising given that info.
6. Alexsandar Radojevic- Was 7 foot 3. He was drafted by the Raptors. He was a complete failure and than ended up in Utah...This story sounds familiar but will get to that later. Here is proof that size does in fact not matter. The thing that is more puzzling is why 4 years later Utah would think he had gotten any better?
5. Mamadou N'diaye- Got to hang around with the Raptors for almost 3 seasons it took Dallas only half a season to pass on him. He will never go down as the 2nd greatest player to come out of Auburn since Charles Barkley. He likely in not even the best NBA Player from Sengal. But the name was cool he had that.
4 Hakeem Olajuwan- He was a two time NBA Champion in Houston. A real stand up guy that did a great deal in the community. An NBA legend and would find his place on many lists of the best centres to play the game. But the only dream shaking we saw in Toronto was the one that earned him a pay check for doing next to nothing. He was no dream for us.
3. Micheal Bradley- Was a Nova Wildcat and was at the time thought to be a steal for the Raptors in the draft. But the only stealing that was done was him earning a paycheck from the Raptors. He bounced around to 4 other teams but spent the majority of his 173 game NBA Career with the Raptors.
2. Micheal "Yogi" Stewart- If there was a man with less basketball talent that got paid more money I would like to know who it was? Adam Morrison? Maybe but still Yogi Stewart was more team mascot than he was player. The former Cal Bear spent 4 years of fun here in Toronto. If he didn't have fun he sure had the money to have fun.
Do we all know who # 1 is? You know you do so get ready to yell it out at the top of your lungs....
1. Rafael "Hoffa" Araujo- He became the poster boy of Rob Babcock's failure. He had 2 years of just pathetic performance before he was in perhaps the greatest trade of the Colangelo era sent to Utah for some bad ass and a guy that would go on to marry some girl named Kim. He also was a power forward in the NBA. Kris Humphries became famous and Arajuo is infamous with all Raptor fans. He is in a class of his own as perhaps the WORST RAPTOR OF ALL TIME. But that debate could be a long one. A lot longer than talking about who has actually been good here in the last 16 years or so.
10. Jimmy King- He was a member of the Fab 5 in Michigan and he was the first ever second round pick of the Toronto Raptors. He started the great tradition of failed second round picks in Toronto. I would mention some but they might end up on this list.
9. B.J Armstrong- Technically he was the first Raptor ever not that he ever played for the Raptors the former NBA Champion thanks to some guy named Jordan would be traded long before the Raptors first game vs the Nets at Skydome.
8. Gary Trent- will not be making the list either. Some how Trent managed to play for four different NBA Franchises. Starting in Portland than off to Toronto and would move along to Dallas and Minny before fading into the abyss after the 2003-04 season
7. Keon Clark- It is pretty scary to hear the stories after the fact about Clark. He played apparently high or drunk for most of his time in Toronto. The fact he would end up in jail on drug related charges is not surprising given that info.
6. Alexsandar Radojevic- Was 7 foot 3. He was drafted by the Raptors. He was a complete failure and than ended up in Utah...This story sounds familiar but will get to that later. Here is proof that size does in fact not matter. The thing that is more puzzling is why 4 years later Utah would think he had gotten any better?
5. Mamadou N'diaye- Got to hang around with the Raptors for almost 3 seasons it took Dallas only half a season to pass on him. He will never go down as the 2nd greatest player to come out of Auburn since Charles Barkley. He likely in not even the best NBA Player from Sengal. But the name was cool he had that.
4 Hakeem Olajuwan- He was a two time NBA Champion in Houston. A real stand up guy that did a great deal in the community. An NBA legend and would find his place on many lists of the best centres to play the game. But the only dream shaking we saw in Toronto was the one that earned him a pay check for doing next to nothing. He was no dream for us.
3. Micheal Bradley- Was a Nova Wildcat and was at the time thought to be a steal for the Raptors in the draft. But the only stealing that was done was him earning a paycheck from the Raptors. He bounced around to 4 other teams but spent the majority of his 173 game NBA Career with the Raptors.
2. Micheal "Yogi" Stewart- If there was a man with less basketball talent that got paid more money I would like to know who it was? Adam Morrison? Maybe but still Yogi Stewart was more team mascot than he was player. The former Cal Bear spent 4 years of fun here in Toronto. If he didn't have fun he sure had the money to have fun.
Do we all know who # 1 is? You know you do so get ready to yell it out at the top of your lungs....
1. Rafael "Hoffa" Araujo- He became the poster boy of Rob Babcock's failure. He had 2 years of just pathetic performance before he was in perhaps the greatest trade of the Colangelo era sent to Utah for some bad ass and a guy that would go on to marry some girl named Kim. He also was a power forward in the NBA. Kris Humphries became famous and Arajuo is infamous with all Raptor fans. He is in a class of his own as perhaps the WORST RAPTOR OF ALL TIME. But that debate could be a long one. A lot longer than talking about who has actually been good here in the last 16 years or so.
12/6/11
Sked Does The Raptors No Favours.
The NBA Schedule is out and Raptors will open it up against Canadian Tristan Thompson. Chris Bosh makes his lone appearance with his Heat Buddies in Toronto on March 30th. Raptors new home opener is now against the Pacers on the 28th of December. Raptor face 17 of their first 26 games on the road and will have little time off while doing it. This does not bode well for a team trying to learn a new system with a new coach in charge. If the Raptors have any hope at the playoffs things are a little brighter in February with a 7 game homestand. Here the link to the schedule on NBA.Com. Also here is the official press release from the Raptors on the announcement of the schedule.
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday a revised 2011-12 regular season schedule featuring 66 games from December 26 to April 26. The club will tip-off its 17 season in the National Basketball Association at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Monday, December 26. The team’s home debut at Air Canada Centre will be Wednesday, December 28 at 6 p.m. versus the Indiana Pacers. Raptors season seats are available by calling (416) 366-DUNK (3865), while single-game ticket information will be released at a later date. The Raptors will launch a special "72 Hour" Tip-Off Pack with sales starting Wednesday at noon. Fans can call (416) 366-DUNK (3865) or visit www.raptors.com for more information. The Raptors will face 17 of their first 26 games on the road (December 26 – February 6). After that stretch, Toronto will play 12 of 15 games on its home floor (February 8 – March 7) with only a two-game set at Houston and New Orleans and a single game at Detroit being played away from Air Canada Centre. The schedule features 19 games in 31 days in January, with the 19 contests being an all-time franchise high for a month. Twelve of the 19 January outings will be on the road, including a stretch of eight of nine games from January 14-29. January also consists of the team’s lone back-to-back-to-back set with games January 9 versus Minnesota, January 10 at Washington and January 11 versus Sacramento. The Raptors will play five games in six days, January 9-14. The longest road swing is five games which occurs twice: January 22-29 and March 13-20. The longest home stand of the season is seven games February 8-22, which equals the club record set from November 30 – December 14 in the 1999-2000 campaign. Noteworthy games on the 2011-12 schedule include the lone home matinee contest of the season when the Los Angeles Lakers make their only visit to Toronto on Sunday, February 12. The Raptors will play host to the defending Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat only once at Air Canada Centre on Friday, March 30. The Raptors will face the New York Knicks on February 14 and March 23 and the Boston Celtics on February 10 and April 13. Toronto will play its eighth season in the Atlantic Division, joining Boston, New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia. The Raptors were a member of the Central Division from 1995-2004. The schedule features 48 games within the conference: four games (two home, two away), against six teams (Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, New Jersey, New York, Washington); three games (two home, one away) against four teams (Charlotte, Indiana, Milwaukee, Orlando); and three games (one home, two away) against four teams (Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia).Non-conference games include: two games (one home, one away) against three teams (Denver, Houston, Memphis); one home game against six teams (Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio); and one road game against six teams (Dallas, L.A. Clippers, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Utah). The busiest day for the Raptors this season will be Wednesday with 17 games on the schedule. Friday tops the home schedule with 11 games at Air Canada Centre, while Sunday and Wednesday feature a high of seven road contests. The majority of the team’s home games will fall on Wednesday (10) and Friday (11), with the combined 21 games accounting for more than half of the 33 home dates. The Raptors’ busiest month is January with 19 games followed by March with 17 contests. The busiest home month is March with 10 games, while the busiest road month is January with 12 games away from Toronto. The Raptors will have 20 back-to-back outings in 66 games, which is up two from last season’s total spread over 82 games. A high of eight contests will be a road game followed by a road game. The Raptors’ 2011-12 television schedule will be released at a later date. For the sixth consecutive season, all Raptors games will be aired nationally in Canada.
Given the schedule and the roster the Raptors would be hard pressed to match the 22 wins of last season in this shorter 66 game schedule. It looks like the schedule maker did the Raptors no favours. But the Raptors youth should serve them well. It will have to if they are to have any hope of surviving this NBA Schedule.
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday a revised 2011-12 regular season schedule featuring 66 games from December 26 to April 26. The club will tip-off its 17 season in the National Basketball Association at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Monday, December 26. The team’s home debut at Air Canada Centre will be Wednesday, December 28 at 6 p.m. versus the Indiana Pacers. Raptors season seats are available by calling (416) 366-DUNK (3865), while single-game ticket information will be released at a later date. The Raptors will launch a special "72 Hour" Tip-Off Pack with sales starting Wednesday at noon. Fans can call (416) 366-DUNK (3865) or visit www.raptors.com for more information. The Raptors will face 17 of their first 26 games on the road (December 26 – February 6). After that stretch, Toronto will play 12 of 15 games on its home floor (February 8 – March 7) with only a two-game set at Houston and New Orleans and a single game at Detroit being played away from Air Canada Centre. The schedule features 19 games in 31 days in January, with the 19 contests being an all-time franchise high for a month. Twelve of the 19 January outings will be on the road, including a stretch of eight of nine games from January 14-29. January also consists of the team’s lone back-to-back-to-back set with games January 9 versus Minnesota, January 10 at Washington and January 11 versus Sacramento. The Raptors will play five games in six days, January 9-14. The longest road swing is five games which occurs twice: January 22-29 and March 13-20. The longest home stand of the season is seven games February 8-22, which equals the club record set from November 30 – December 14 in the 1999-2000 campaign. Noteworthy games on the 2011-12 schedule include the lone home matinee contest of the season when the Los Angeles Lakers make their only visit to Toronto on Sunday, February 12. The Raptors will play host to the defending Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat only once at Air Canada Centre on Friday, March 30. The Raptors will face the New York Knicks on February 14 and March 23 and the Boston Celtics on February 10 and April 13. Toronto will play its eighth season in the Atlantic Division, joining Boston, New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia. The Raptors were a member of the Central Division from 1995-2004. The schedule features 48 games within the conference: four games (two home, two away), against six teams (Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, New Jersey, New York, Washington); three games (two home, one away) against four teams (Charlotte, Indiana, Milwaukee, Orlando); and three games (one home, two away) against four teams (Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia).Non-conference games include: two games (one home, one away) against three teams (Denver, Houston, Memphis); one home game against six teams (Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio); and one road game against six teams (Dallas, L.A. Clippers, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Utah). The busiest day for the Raptors this season will be Wednesday with 17 games on the schedule. Friday tops the home schedule with 11 games at Air Canada Centre, while Sunday and Wednesday feature a high of seven road contests. The majority of the team’s home games will fall on Wednesday (10) and Friday (11), with the combined 21 games accounting for more than half of the 33 home dates. The Raptors’ busiest month is January with 19 games followed by March with 17 contests. The busiest home month is March with 10 games, while the busiest road month is January with 12 games away from Toronto. The Raptors will have 20 back-to-back outings in 66 games, which is up two from last season’s total spread over 82 games. A high of eight contests will be a road game followed by a road game. The Raptors’ 2011-12 television schedule will be released at a later date. For the sixth consecutive season, all Raptors games will be aired nationally in Canada.
Given the schedule and the roster the Raptors would be hard pressed to match the 22 wins of last season in this shorter 66 game schedule. It looks like the schedule maker did the Raptors no favours. But the Raptors youth should serve them well. It will have to if they are to have any hope of surviving this NBA Schedule.
12/5/11
Raptors Fantasy Advice Part 1
If there is one thing I have learned in playing fantasy sports for far to many years it is your favourite team is a trap. Your expectations for the team you root for can be unrealistic and cause you to draft players far to soon to get true value for them. In terms of the Raptors there is no one on this team that should be selected in the first few rounds of your fantasy draft. The other thing I have learned is the difference between fantasy and reality. Some players can be great assets for your fantasy team and yet you would never want that player in reality. Fantasy is all about the raw numbers it does not take into account when those numbers are produced. So if Andrea Bargnani comes out and scores 20 points in the first half and lays an egg in the second half and only gets 4 points you still get 24 points of production. But in reality you would rather his performance was more balanced.
So with those words of general wisdom let's look at the individual Raptors and where they might fit on your fantasy draft board.
Andrea Bargnani: The great thing from a fantasy prospective is at his position he can make you a lot of three pointers. The bad thing is for his position he is a terrible rebounder. He also does not provide a lot of defensive production in terms of blocks and steals. If you plan on drafting Bargnani you better have some solid rebounding at other positions. In your typical 12 team draft you probably are not even going to consider him until the 4th round. The exception to that would be if there becomes a run on the Center position in your draft but even then it would still be risky going any higher on Bargnani. He would be a steal anytime after the 6th round. If you can draft him along with another center depending on your leagues roster set up that would be ideal.
Some Things To Consider: Raptors are going to have a new emphasis on playing defence. If Andrea Bargnani continues to be a liability that could impact on his minutes. Also you have Amir Johnson and Ed Davis looking for minutes. What the Raptors do in terms of filling out their roster could also have an impact. If they find a defensive minded center that could both help or hurt Bargnani. The help is he could see more time at the 4. The hurt is if the Raptors are looking for defence at times it could find Bargnani on the bench.
Outlook: Bargnani should be the same in terms of points and three pointers. Could see a slight increase in rebounds and blocks. He should still be the Raptors biggest threat to put points on the board.
Jose Calderon: There is no question in terms of Fantasy that Calderon can be a key contributor. He can have a high free throw % can make some threes on occasion and is a high assist to turnover ratio player. The problems are can he actually keep his starting role and the minutes that go along with that? Also he is not exactly durable and can leave you high and dry. There is no way you should have Calderon as your main point guard in fantasy. There are far to many players at his position that are a better value. Calderon is a guy that you can likely find still sitting on the board late in the draft and makes a quality guy to have on your fantasy bench. It all depends on how things go for Calderon in reality. If Jerryd Bayless wins the starting job than Calderon is likely not worth drafting at all. But if he hangs on to his starting role he is worth having. Calderon does give you a lot of different things in terms of fantasy. He is a safe player in a lot of ways that shoots generally a high percentage. His assists coming off a fantasy bench could be welcomed.
Things To Consider: Just like Bargnani in terms of playing time you have some worries. Even more of them with Calderon. He is not a lock to keep his starting role. He is often injured and his lack of defence could find him is Casey's doghouse. Calderon might be worth a flyer late but he has no business being drafted as anyone's main point guard in fantasy basketball.
Outlook: Less minutes but perhaps some improved production. Less time on the floor could mean a better Calderon in terms of percentages. Although if he starts to press looking for more minutes you may be in trouble. But I would expect his 3 point and free throw % to go back to more levels we are use to after a down season in both last year. Maybe an extra steal here and there with the new focus on defence. Ultimately a guy that won't hurt your team in terms of % stats and could actually help prop up some lousy free throw shooters on your roster. Not that Calderon gets to the line a ton but when he does he usually makes them.
Demar DeRozan: The best way to put it in terms of fantasy is not ready for prime time just yet. It will be another year of improvement. But there is still some holes in his game fantasy wise. The biggest one is a lack of a three point shot. In both fantasy and reality it would be nice to see DeRozan develop a long range game. But even if he does he is never going to be a gunner. The idea is prove you can make the shot and that will set up chances to drive to the basket. That is one of his strengths. If he continues to build on his free throw % that will be key as he will get to the line a lot and make up a higher percentage of your rosters free throws. Could also see the some improvement in steals and maybe even rebounds. Everything is trending in the right direction but DeRozan is still not an elite player in terms of reality or fantasy. There are no points for style in fantasy if that was case DeRozan would score well on many of his dunks.
Things to Consider: You will be hoping to see his steal numbers rise with the Raptors never defensive system. Steals can lead to transition chances and give DeRozan some more chances at some easy points. You will be tempted to take DeRozan earlier than you should. He is a great value in the mid rounds and is a foolish mistake if drafted in the first 3 rounds. Look at it this way would you consider DeRozan a top 100 player? How about at his position is he even in the top 10? I would have to say no on both and that to me translates to a player you can't even think about until the 5th round at the earliest.
Outlook: Continued improvement across the board the key stats to look at will be steals and three point percentage. Improved steals can be a big help for any fantasy team. While you hope for little in terms of three pointers and that he will just not hurt you team overall in terms of three pointers. You will need to find some people that make threes to place around him if you plan on using him as a regular in your line up.
Ed Davis: Upside lives in Ed. He is a viable option for your fantasy team as a guy that can come off you bench and get you some boards and blocks. Davis at this point in fantasy terms I would consider a specialist. You are taking him just for those stats. His points and everything else you should not be concerned with. But what he does on the glass and in terms of swats could be key. It seems like Reggie Evans may be out the door and that will leave a lot of rebounds on the table and expect a bigger and badder Ed Davis to get his share. A guy that can be a sleeper in a draft that is not filled with fellow Raptors fans. Wait it out and go for Davis in the late rounds and get some serious bang for your buck.
Things to Consider: What the Raptors do in terms of depth at the big positions. Ed Davis will still get his minutes but the more bigs the Raptors have the less time for Davis or Amir Johnson. Especially if the Raptors land a center that shifts Bargnani over to the 4 at times. A bigger Davis could find his way on the floor at the 5 spot as well. In the new scheme of a lot of zone looks this could help Ed Davis build on his block numbers as a help defender in the zone looks.
Outlook: Nothing but sunshine for Ed Davis. I would expect improvement across the board and a player that will can some attention and be higher up the fantasy food chain next season. Ed Davis has still yet to have a normal training camp in his NBA career but it will not slow him down in terms of his development.
Will do some more of these tomorrow. Dino Nation Blog will be having a fantasy league or two as we have had every year so look for that info coming soon.
So with those words of general wisdom let's look at the individual Raptors and where they might fit on your fantasy draft board.
Andrea Bargnani: The great thing from a fantasy prospective is at his position he can make you a lot of three pointers. The bad thing is for his position he is a terrible rebounder. He also does not provide a lot of defensive production in terms of blocks and steals. If you plan on drafting Bargnani you better have some solid rebounding at other positions. In your typical 12 team draft you probably are not even going to consider him until the 4th round. The exception to that would be if there becomes a run on the Center position in your draft but even then it would still be risky going any higher on Bargnani. He would be a steal anytime after the 6th round. If you can draft him along with another center depending on your leagues roster set up that would be ideal.
Some Things To Consider: Raptors are going to have a new emphasis on playing defence. If Andrea Bargnani continues to be a liability that could impact on his minutes. Also you have Amir Johnson and Ed Davis looking for minutes. What the Raptors do in terms of filling out their roster could also have an impact. If they find a defensive minded center that could both help or hurt Bargnani. The help is he could see more time at the 4. The hurt is if the Raptors are looking for defence at times it could find Bargnani on the bench.
Outlook: Bargnani should be the same in terms of points and three pointers. Could see a slight increase in rebounds and blocks. He should still be the Raptors biggest threat to put points on the board.
Jose Calderon: There is no question in terms of Fantasy that Calderon can be a key contributor. He can have a high free throw % can make some threes on occasion and is a high assist to turnover ratio player. The problems are can he actually keep his starting role and the minutes that go along with that? Also he is not exactly durable and can leave you high and dry. There is no way you should have Calderon as your main point guard in fantasy. There are far to many players at his position that are a better value. Calderon is a guy that you can likely find still sitting on the board late in the draft and makes a quality guy to have on your fantasy bench. It all depends on how things go for Calderon in reality. If Jerryd Bayless wins the starting job than Calderon is likely not worth drafting at all. But if he hangs on to his starting role he is worth having. Calderon does give you a lot of different things in terms of fantasy. He is a safe player in a lot of ways that shoots generally a high percentage. His assists coming off a fantasy bench could be welcomed.
Things To Consider: Just like Bargnani in terms of playing time you have some worries. Even more of them with Calderon. He is not a lock to keep his starting role. He is often injured and his lack of defence could find him is Casey's doghouse. Calderon might be worth a flyer late but he has no business being drafted as anyone's main point guard in fantasy basketball.
Outlook: Less minutes but perhaps some improved production. Less time on the floor could mean a better Calderon in terms of percentages. Although if he starts to press looking for more minutes you may be in trouble. But I would expect his 3 point and free throw % to go back to more levels we are use to after a down season in both last year. Maybe an extra steal here and there with the new focus on defence. Ultimately a guy that won't hurt your team in terms of % stats and could actually help prop up some lousy free throw shooters on your roster. Not that Calderon gets to the line a ton but when he does he usually makes them.
Demar DeRozan: The best way to put it in terms of fantasy is not ready for prime time just yet. It will be another year of improvement. But there is still some holes in his game fantasy wise. The biggest one is a lack of a three point shot. In both fantasy and reality it would be nice to see DeRozan develop a long range game. But even if he does he is never going to be a gunner. The idea is prove you can make the shot and that will set up chances to drive to the basket. That is one of his strengths. If he continues to build on his free throw % that will be key as he will get to the line a lot and make up a higher percentage of your rosters free throws. Could also see the some improvement in steals and maybe even rebounds. Everything is trending in the right direction but DeRozan is still not an elite player in terms of reality or fantasy. There are no points for style in fantasy if that was case DeRozan would score well on many of his dunks.
Things to Consider: You will be hoping to see his steal numbers rise with the Raptors never defensive system. Steals can lead to transition chances and give DeRozan some more chances at some easy points. You will be tempted to take DeRozan earlier than you should. He is a great value in the mid rounds and is a foolish mistake if drafted in the first 3 rounds. Look at it this way would you consider DeRozan a top 100 player? How about at his position is he even in the top 10? I would have to say no on both and that to me translates to a player you can't even think about until the 5th round at the earliest.
Outlook: Continued improvement across the board the key stats to look at will be steals and three point percentage. Improved steals can be a big help for any fantasy team. While you hope for little in terms of three pointers and that he will just not hurt you team overall in terms of three pointers. You will need to find some people that make threes to place around him if you plan on using him as a regular in your line up.
Ed Davis: Upside lives in Ed. He is a viable option for your fantasy team as a guy that can come off you bench and get you some boards and blocks. Davis at this point in fantasy terms I would consider a specialist. You are taking him just for those stats. His points and everything else you should not be concerned with. But what he does on the glass and in terms of swats could be key. It seems like Reggie Evans may be out the door and that will leave a lot of rebounds on the table and expect a bigger and badder Ed Davis to get his share. A guy that can be a sleeper in a draft that is not filled with fellow Raptors fans. Wait it out and go for Davis in the late rounds and get some serious bang for your buck.
Things to Consider: What the Raptors do in terms of depth at the big positions. Ed Davis will still get his minutes but the more bigs the Raptors have the less time for Davis or Amir Johnson. Especially if the Raptors land a center that shifts Bargnani over to the 4 at times. A bigger Davis could find his way on the floor at the 5 spot as well. In the new scheme of a lot of zone looks this could help Ed Davis build on his block numbers as a help defender in the zone looks.
Outlook: Nothing but sunshine for Ed Davis. I would expect improvement across the board and a player that will can some attention and be higher up the fantasy food chain next season. Ed Davis has still yet to have a normal training camp in his NBA career but it will not slow him down in terms of his development.
Will do some more of these tomorrow. Dino Nation Blog will be having a fantasy league or two as we have had every year so look for that info coming soon.
12/2/11
Locked Out For Nothing But Money
Yes Virgina there will be a NBA season starting on Christmas Day. But in the end this lockout served no purpose other than to line owners pockets and did nothing to impact the real change that fans should have wanted for the NBA. At least fans that do not live in the big markets of the NBA. Ultimately nothing much has changed from when this all got started. Chris Paul is still going to force is way out of New Orleans. Dwight Howard is going to follow the example of Shaq and get out of Orlando and leave it a mess. The whole idea that this deal does anything in terms of competitive balance for this league is a complete joke. Nothing has changed other than the teams with money will have to spend slightly more of it. But that will not stop them from doing it.
This has been a complete failure on the part of owners for the collective fans of all NBA Teams. Some franchises are now doomed to be nothing more than glorified developmental teams for the NBA. Why on earth should people in small markets waste their money on that? If not they will lose their team? Big deal if that team was actually capable of winning. But under this system it would take a minor miracle for that to be the case. It also gives them little assurance, that any player that is least bit talented, is in any way part of their community other than for a few years. Why would anyone buy into these guys and buy merchandise or tickets for a guy that basically will be gone inside of five years.
In terms of the Raptors if they have any hope of changing their terrible history there is nothing offered in this CBA to help them out. If they are to be successful it will take them stopping pretending to be a small market team when they clearly are not. Ultimately the Raptors will need to spend money to compete with the large markets of the NBA. It becomes even more vital when you consider the division they are part of. Boston on tradition alone will always be one of those big market clubs that can attract free agents. New Jersey now powered by a Russian Billionaire, that sure has heck is not going to be intimidated by any increased luxury tax from stopping him from spending. The Knicks who are the classic example of a larger market franchise in New York. Along with Philadelphia that is a huge sports town that does not take to losing all that well.
In a sense the Raptors have become a lot like the Blue Jays, in terms of being in a division with some of the big spenders of the league and having to find a way around that. While it is not like baseball, in terms of the Raptors could finish third in the division and still make the playoffs, it still will be tough having to play these teams more than anyone else in the conference, outside of the division. While things for a team like Miami are vastly easier. If the Raptors got to play the Magic, Bobcats and Wizards more than any other teams that would be great. But they are stuck in the Atlantic facing teams that clearly will be willing to spend and have the ability to attract top talent to their franchises.
It is far from an optimistic outlook. It also makes the hopes of keeping talent seem bleak as well. Demar DeRozan heading back to the west coast at the first logically opportunity seems likely if not for certain. The Raptors at the end of this lockout still stare at the same problems and challenges they faced heading into it. MLSE has toyed with saying they are willing to be a tax team in the past but never actually going there. If they are to keep DeRozan or any other talented player that comes along they will not just have to talk about doing it they will have to do it. The only way to be a consistent winner in the NBA is now clearly to become one of the few willing to spend money. It has become a game of survival of the richest. There is the odd exception to that rule but not many teams have guys like Kevin Durant that are willing to make a small market home. Even OKC is eventually going to face this issue of having to be a tax team eventually. MLSE is not without means and if they choose not use them it will be there fault that the attendance for the Raptors continues a downward spiral. You can have who ever you like running this franchise unless they have the ability to spend money and build a winner they are doomed to at best be a fringe playoff team.
So while most rejoice in the fact there will be a basketball season this year, you may be missing the bigger picture. That bigger picture is that at the end of the day a lockout that promised a lot of hope for the Raptors future has delivered none. The same issues they had going in they have coming out of it. The ball is in MLSE's hands to decide if they are truly interested in winning in the NBA or not. If you flipped the systems of the NHL and NBA is there any doubt they would go to any limit in terms of spending to make the Leafs a winner? The question will become if they ever are willing to spend that same money on the basketball side to become that winner. In real terms with players on the roster. You can build a new practice court, hire more suits but at the end of the day you need to bpt your money on the guys on the floor.
So it is put up or shut up time for MLSE. But given the direction the club is heading that may wait for another year. But at some point the excuses end and it comes down to are you willing to spend money or not. The sad thing for fans in other "actual" small markets they do not have the option. But the Raptors clearly do and up to this point have failed to deliver on it to the full extent they can.
I have to say at the end of the day the lockout was a complete shame and did nothing for the NBA other than give them more money. But if no one spends the money it is just about the bottom line of some owner that is already rich, is ultimately what this was all about. In the end the NBA has failed to deliver what they promised. The NBA Cares about one thing and that is making money. They are no Santa Claus for giving you back the season. More like Scrooge who is just concerned with their own business. Well to paraphrase Jacob Marley the fans are your business NBA. It is a shame you really don't see that.
This has been a complete failure on the part of owners for the collective fans of all NBA Teams. Some franchises are now doomed to be nothing more than glorified developmental teams for the NBA. Why on earth should people in small markets waste their money on that? If not they will lose their team? Big deal if that team was actually capable of winning. But under this system it would take a minor miracle for that to be the case. It also gives them little assurance, that any player that is least bit talented, is in any way part of their community other than for a few years. Why would anyone buy into these guys and buy merchandise or tickets for a guy that basically will be gone inside of five years.
In terms of the Raptors if they have any hope of changing their terrible history there is nothing offered in this CBA to help them out. If they are to be successful it will take them stopping pretending to be a small market team when they clearly are not. Ultimately the Raptors will need to spend money to compete with the large markets of the NBA. It becomes even more vital when you consider the division they are part of. Boston on tradition alone will always be one of those big market clubs that can attract free agents. New Jersey now powered by a Russian Billionaire, that sure has heck is not going to be intimidated by any increased luxury tax from stopping him from spending. The Knicks who are the classic example of a larger market franchise in New York. Along with Philadelphia that is a huge sports town that does not take to losing all that well.
In a sense the Raptors have become a lot like the Blue Jays, in terms of being in a division with some of the big spenders of the league and having to find a way around that. While it is not like baseball, in terms of the Raptors could finish third in the division and still make the playoffs, it still will be tough having to play these teams more than anyone else in the conference, outside of the division. While things for a team like Miami are vastly easier. If the Raptors got to play the Magic, Bobcats and Wizards more than any other teams that would be great. But they are stuck in the Atlantic facing teams that clearly will be willing to spend and have the ability to attract top talent to their franchises.
It is far from an optimistic outlook. It also makes the hopes of keeping talent seem bleak as well. Demar DeRozan heading back to the west coast at the first logically opportunity seems likely if not for certain. The Raptors at the end of this lockout still stare at the same problems and challenges they faced heading into it. MLSE has toyed with saying they are willing to be a tax team in the past but never actually going there. If they are to keep DeRozan or any other talented player that comes along they will not just have to talk about doing it they will have to do it. The only way to be a consistent winner in the NBA is now clearly to become one of the few willing to spend money. It has become a game of survival of the richest. There is the odd exception to that rule but not many teams have guys like Kevin Durant that are willing to make a small market home. Even OKC is eventually going to face this issue of having to be a tax team eventually. MLSE is not without means and if they choose not use them it will be there fault that the attendance for the Raptors continues a downward spiral. You can have who ever you like running this franchise unless they have the ability to spend money and build a winner they are doomed to at best be a fringe playoff team.
So while most rejoice in the fact there will be a basketball season this year, you may be missing the bigger picture. That bigger picture is that at the end of the day a lockout that promised a lot of hope for the Raptors future has delivered none. The same issues they had going in they have coming out of it. The ball is in MLSE's hands to decide if they are truly interested in winning in the NBA or not. If you flipped the systems of the NHL and NBA is there any doubt they would go to any limit in terms of spending to make the Leafs a winner? The question will become if they ever are willing to spend that same money on the basketball side to become that winner. In real terms with players on the roster. You can build a new practice court, hire more suits but at the end of the day you need to bpt your money on the guys on the floor.
So it is put up or shut up time for MLSE. But given the direction the club is heading that may wait for another year. But at some point the excuses end and it comes down to are you willing to spend money or not. The sad thing for fans in other "actual" small markets they do not have the option. But the Raptors clearly do and up to this point have failed to deliver on it to the full extent they can.
I have to say at the end of the day the lockout was a complete shame and did nothing for the NBA other than give them more money. But if no one spends the money it is just about the bottom line of some owner that is already rich, is ultimately what this was all about. In the end the NBA has failed to deliver what they promised. The NBA Cares about one thing and that is making money. They are no Santa Claus for giving you back the season. More like Scrooge who is just concerned with their own business. Well to paraphrase Jacob Marley the fans are your business NBA. It is a shame you really don't see that.
12/1/11
7 Days of NBAZ
It is time for our weekly look around the NBA that we like to call 7 Dayz of NBAZ. So, if you are ready let's hop aboard the train.
Chris Paul should never end up in New York if you think about it. Who owns the Hornets? That would be the NBA. They have preached that they are looking for a more balanced competitive league throughout this lockout. Creating another super team in New York is not what they meant.
Superman is set to fly away from the Magic Kingdom. In this new NBA of teams being pro-active and trading their stars before they have a chance to walk away D-12 is the latest to be in this position. Not sure where Dwight ends up but as a Magic fan you have to be worried that Otis Smith is the guy pulling the trigger don't you? The trades he made last year were just awful. This trade is perhaps the biggest in the history of the Magic franchise. But cheer up Magic Fans he can't possible do as bad as Rob Babcock did for the Raptors with Vince Carter? Or Can he?
Danny Angie is pouring cold water on Rajon Rondo trade rumours. The Celtics would be flat out insane to trade Rondo. Can he be a handful to deal with at times? Yes. But that is why you convinced Doc Rivers to comeback and paid him all that money. Many including myself think that Rondo is the most important player on this team. If you want to give a death sentence to the original big 3 then go trade Rondo.
It is almost a new season and Andrew Bynum might be on the block again. It is like signs there is an off-season begins with a good Bynum trade rumour. The Lakers have bigger fish to fry in terms of proving they can actually win without Phil Jackson with or without Bynum. The reason they can't move Bynum is they are with and without him quite a bit. He is more damaged goods than Kris Humphries after his marriage to that Kim girl. Hump is a free agent both on and off the floor by the way.
If there is a trade or free agent rumour that does not involved the soon to be Brooklyn Nets can you tell me what it is. Looks like the Nets missed the memo about how teams are going to now spend less and that the new super luxury tax was going to slow spending. Russian Billionaires laugh at such things. Vodka for everyone and pass the check book. The problem will be selling players on coming there. But now with move to Brooklyn not just a pipe dream but a soon reality that task might become easier. Regardless the Atlantic is starting to become no joke. The Nets would like to stop being one.
Want Marc Gasol? Forget about it. Grizzlies ownership says they will match any offers on the Free Agent. Still will someone try? You bet they will even if it is a division rival trying to drive up the price.
So that was a quick look around the league. Back to more Raptor related stuff before the weekend on Friday. Hope all is going well in your world out there.
Chris Paul should never end up in New York if you think about it. Who owns the Hornets? That would be the NBA. They have preached that they are looking for a more balanced competitive league throughout this lockout. Creating another super team in New York is not what they meant.
Superman is set to fly away from the Magic Kingdom. In this new NBA of teams being pro-active and trading their stars before they have a chance to walk away D-12 is the latest to be in this position. Not sure where Dwight ends up but as a Magic fan you have to be worried that Otis Smith is the guy pulling the trigger don't you? The trades he made last year were just awful. This trade is perhaps the biggest in the history of the Magic franchise. But cheer up Magic Fans he can't possible do as bad as Rob Babcock did for the Raptors with Vince Carter? Or Can he?
Danny Angie is pouring cold water on Rajon Rondo trade rumours. The Celtics would be flat out insane to trade Rondo. Can he be a handful to deal with at times? Yes. But that is why you convinced Doc Rivers to comeback and paid him all that money. Many including myself think that Rondo is the most important player on this team. If you want to give a death sentence to the original big 3 then go trade Rondo.
It is almost a new season and Andrew Bynum might be on the block again. It is like signs there is an off-season begins with a good Bynum trade rumour. The Lakers have bigger fish to fry in terms of proving they can actually win without Phil Jackson with or without Bynum. The reason they can't move Bynum is they are with and without him quite a bit. He is more damaged goods than Kris Humphries after his marriage to that Kim girl. Hump is a free agent both on and off the floor by the way.
If there is a trade or free agent rumour that does not involved the soon to be Brooklyn Nets can you tell me what it is. Looks like the Nets missed the memo about how teams are going to now spend less and that the new super luxury tax was going to slow spending. Russian Billionaires laugh at such things. Vodka for everyone and pass the check book. The problem will be selling players on coming there. But now with move to Brooklyn not just a pipe dream but a soon reality that task might become easier. Regardless the Atlantic is starting to become no joke. The Nets would like to stop being one.
Want Marc Gasol? Forget about it. Grizzlies ownership says they will match any offers on the Free Agent. Still will someone try? You bet they will even if it is a division rival trying to drive up the price.
So that was a quick look around the league. Back to more Raptor related stuff before the weekend on Friday. Hope all is going well in your world out there.
11/30/11
DNB Top 10- NBA Legends Edition
So we sit and wait for all the legal stuff to get done and training camps to open. So what to do for the DNB Top 10? Well we have seen a lot of old basketball games over the NBA Lockout so how about my all time favourite NBA Legends? Sure why not.
10. Walt Frazier- He was before my time as player. But I have seen some of the old footage and he was one of the guys from back in the day that I think could fit in today's NBA with his style on and off the floor.
9. Dominique Wilkins- The Human Highlight Reel and he was. The guy was just a fantastic dunker and was robbed of a Slam Dunk Championship twice. Once by Jordan and once by Spud Webb. Just an amazing talent that never really was able to see any true team success.
8. Jerry West- The Logo. He was one heck of a player and if not for a guy named Bill Russell would have many more rings as a player. He in modern times is one of the best NBA Executives of all time. He also is the logo of the entire league that is hard to top.
7. Kareem Abdul Jabbar- He was a long time force in the NBA and dominated in college. His record for all time scoring leader may never be touched. His Sky Hook was almost unstoppable. He sadly a lot of times comes off as bitter these days but in his day he was great.
6. Shaq- He is retired now so he can be on this list. The early days of Shaq in Orlando was something special. He was the dominating force that a Dwight Howard was years later. Through his entire career he always brought a dose of fun to the game.
5. Jordan- Sure he probably should be higher but for me I respect all that Jordan did but this is my list so he doesn't have to be #1. It is not like the guys ahead of him will suck. Maybe I am bitter that he screwed the Raptors in that trade. As a player everyone knows what he did. I enjoyed his journey to getting to winning Championships far more than once he started winning them.
4. Larry Bird- Guy was just amazing. He never looked like a guy that could beat you down in basketball but he was the most deadly and clutch shooter in the NBA for years. When you think of the Celtics for people of a certain age it is Larry Bird that you think of. The 80's were all about him and the next guy on this list.
3. Magic Johnson- Showtime was all about Magic Johnson. It was amazing to watch some of things he would do and he made it seem so routine. Even when he came back to the NBA after retiring after finding out he had the HIV virus he played in an All-Star Game and won the MVP and you never doubted he would for a second. People rave about the point guards of today but none of them could hold a candle to Magic.
2. Julius Erving- Dr. J was just amazing. I got the tail end of his career. His dunk in the NBA Finals vs the Lakers is truly the best move I have ever seen in basketball. It really was amazing. I was a Sixers fan when I first started watching basketball. In part because that was name of my team in house league but more about watch Dr.J do amazing things in the air.
1. Bill Russell- Many will say Jordan is the greatest of all time. I will say they are wrong and say it was this guy. What Bill Russell did was just insane. He was a player coach for one of his championships. No one will ever match what his Celtics did and for Lebron James of the world that think it is easy to win a championship it isn't but maybe Bill Russell would make you think it was. He to me is the greatest ambassador of the sport of basketball. The finals MVP trophy is named after this man and it is well deserved.
Everyone has there own list for this one. There is no right or wrong answers only great NBA Legends in every list. It makes you seem like an old guy when you say it but today's NBA is not what it use to be. It is still a great game but the players from back in the day were truly amazing and hard to beat. I will take the 10 on my list and it could crush any team you care to make from today's players.
10. Walt Frazier- He was before my time as player. But I have seen some of the old footage and he was one of the guys from back in the day that I think could fit in today's NBA with his style on and off the floor.
9. Dominique Wilkins- The Human Highlight Reel and he was. The guy was just a fantastic dunker and was robbed of a Slam Dunk Championship twice. Once by Jordan and once by Spud Webb. Just an amazing talent that never really was able to see any true team success.
8. Jerry West- The Logo. He was one heck of a player and if not for a guy named Bill Russell would have many more rings as a player. He in modern times is one of the best NBA Executives of all time. He also is the logo of the entire league that is hard to top.
7. Kareem Abdul Jabbar- He was a long time force in the NBA and dominated in college. His record for all time scoring leader may never be touched. His Sky Hook was almost unstoppable. He sadly a lot of times comes off as bitter these days but in his day he was great.
6. Shaq- He is retired now so he can be on this list. The early days of Shaq in Orlando was something special. He was the dominating force that a Dwight Howard was years later. Through his entire career he always brought a dose of fun to the game.
5. Jordan- Sure he probably should be higher but for me I respect all that Jordan did but this is my list so he doesn't have to be #1. It is not like the guys ahead of him will suck. Maybe I am bitter that he screwed the Raptors in that trade. As a player everyone knows what he did. I enjoyed his journey to getting to winning Championships far more than once he started winning them.
4. Larry Bird- Guy was just amazing. He never looked like a guy that could beat you down in basketball but he was the most deadly and clutch shooter in the NBA for years. When you think of the Celtics for people of a certain age it is Larry Bird that you think of. The 80's were all about him and the next guy on this list.
3. Magic Johnson- Showtime was all about Magic Johnson. It was amazing to watch some of things he would do and he made it seem so routine. Even when he came back to the NBA after retiring after finding out he had the HIV virus he played in an All-Star Game and won the MVP and you never doubted he would for a second. People rave about the point guards of today but none of them could hold a candle to Magic.
2. Julius Erving- Dr. J was just amazing. I got the tail end of his career. His dunk in the NBA Finals vs the Lakers is truly the best move I have ever seen in basketball. It really was amazing. I was a Sixers fan when I first started watching basketball. In part because that was name of my team in house league but more about watch Dr.J do amazing things in the air.
1. Bill Russell- Many will say Jordan is the greatest of all time. I will say they are wrong and say it was this guy. What Bill Russell did was just insane. He was a player coach for one of his championships. No one will ever match what his Celtics did and for Lebron James of the world that think it is easy to win a championship it isn't but maybe Bill Russell would make you think it was. He to me is the greatest ambassador of the sport of basketball. The finals MVP trophy is named after this man and it is well deserved.
Everyone has there own list for this one. There is no right or wrong answers only great NBA Legends in every list. It makes you seem like an old guy when you say it but today's NBA is not what it use to be. It is still a great game but the players from back in the day were truly amazing and hard to beat. I will take the 10 on my list and it could crush any team you care to make from today's players.
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