Raptors players and coaching staff growing and improving

As many Raptors' fans can see, the Raptors' renewed focus on defense has been a main reason for their recent success. They need to follow the model of the Boston Celtics who are known for their team defense. Even before the addition of Rasheed, they were one of the top defensive teams. If you break down their team, you have Ray Allen, Paul Pierce who are not really known for their individual defense. Then you have Rondo and Perkins who play a bit better individual defense. They only guy in their line up known as a solid defender is KG. However, they play a system where all 5 guys communicate and there is a commitment by everyone to help and get the stop. That's what the Raptors need to do. Continue to focus on defense and the wins will continue to come.

I think we have to give some credit to the Raptors' coaching staff who have made some nice adjustments as we proceed through the season. After a rough start to the season, the last few games have been noticeably better and the team is on the verge of getting back to 500.

Next up is the Charlotte Bobcats. This is a team that beat up on the Raptors last time they met. Pay back is due this time around!!

Triano needs to step up - now!!

Okay, okay so it's been more than 2 weeks since the last entry. Wow the Raptors are really faltering here with a 7-12 record. What seems to be the problem? It's quite evident the troubles begin with the Raptors' lack of defense. I heard on a local talk show last night after their embarrassing home lost to the Washington Wizards, a caller was comparing the Raptors to a girls basketball team. I thought to myself "Don't be silly. Have you even watched a girls basketball game? These girls actually play defense. You shouldn't go around insulting girls basketball like that!"

So that's how bad things have gotten for the Raptors. After a respectable start to the season the team appears to hitting hard times right now. On the last entry, I said we should give Triano and his coaching staff some time to work with this team. Well, they've had enough time. They better start turning things around now. I think Triano is a great people person and likely gets along well with the media, his bosses and his players but at some point if he wants to be a winning NBA coach he has to kick some butt like Sam Mitchell use to do.

It is said that the team takes on the character of it's coach. So it's time Triano shows this team a tougher, meaner, win- at-all cost side of himself before this season is written off along with another franchise player.

It's a New Season!

Most Raptors fans would probably take a 3 and 3 record to start the season given that their Team had to face the likes of Cleveland, Detroit, Dallas, New Orleans and Orlando. So far in this early season, the Raps have shown that offensively they can hold their own. With Bosh, Bargnani and Turkoglu, this team is capable of putting up a lot of points.…… However, this leads to the old saying: Offense sells tickets but its defense that wins Championships. It’s the pursuit of the latter that will keep Chris Bosh in town. With that in mind, the Raps certainly need to do more on the defensive end of the floor. It also goes without saying that the Raptors have got to be more than just a 500 team…..And definitely they can’t be losing games to the likes of Memphis………….. By season’s end, some fans are expecting 50 plus wins and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. I think that is probably the minimum requirement to keep Bosh in town. It’s doable. The talent is there on this team……….. At this point, it’s still early in the season, so let’s just cut Jay Triano and his coaching staff some slack – The Raptors still deserves a little more time to gel. Let’s check in two weeks from now to re-evaluate.

Lebron, Shaq and Chris Bosh

Shaquille O’neal and Chris Bosh have an unexpected phone conversation courtesy of Lebron James…….This dialogue between the three parties is totally made up in an effort to generate a cheap laugh and also to mend the relationship between Bosh and Shaq.


Shaq: Yo Lebron, how’s it going?
LBJ: Shaq what up?
Shaq: So how did you let that kid dunk on you?
LBJ: I have no idea what you’re talking about…………..Hey heard about your new reality TV show how’s that coming along?
Shaq: Great!............ Gonna be playing tennis against Serena in a couple weeks?
LBJ: That hardly seems fair?
Shaq: Oh no, she’s going to have to play on one foot, blind-folded, with a badminton raquet and give me a 5-0 lead in each set.
LBJ: Ha ha, then maybe you might just have a chance!
Shaq: You know me, I play to win!.........Get this I also have a challenge against Micheal Phelps coming up as well!
LBJ: Yea, isn’t he the dude that won 8 Golds at the recent Olympics?
Shaq: Yea
LBJ: How are you suppose to compete against that?
Shaq: Easy……………… Phelps is going to have a 10 pound achor tied to both the left and right foot……………And each arm as well……….And to make it just a bit difficult on him, we’re going to put a few different species of non poisonous snakes over on his side of the pool
LBJ: Whoa, that sounds dangerous!
Shaq: Not to worry, I’m gonna be alright…… I will be racing from the shallow 3 feet training pool……..You think I should ask to have a head start?
LBJ: Ya, why not?
Shaq: That’s not the best part if I beat him, I win one of his Olympic medals off him!
LBJ: Sounds like this should be on Pay Per View…….Oh hold on, incoming call…….
Bosh: Yo Lebron, I forgot to ask you……
Shaq: Well, well, if it isn’t the RuPaul of NBA Big Men!!
LBJ: Oh Sh%t, I hit conference by accident.
Bosh: ah eh…….eh……..ha……ha. How’s it going Shaq?
Shaq: Good buddy!……Hey hope you’re not still mad about that comment. You know I was just messing right?
Bosh: Yea man that’s water under the bridge……..So you’re moving from Phoenix to Cleveland………
Shaq: Yea dude, once Lebron talks to the GM about getting me a 2 year extension, me and Lebron are going to win multiple championships over there in Cleveland
Bosh: Ah………right.
Shaq: What’s that suppose to mean?
LBJ: So Chris, what did you forget to ask?
Shaq: Nah nah nah, I want to know what he meant by that?
Bosh: Nothing man, you’re reading way too much into nothing.
Shaq: I got Kobe a bunch of rings and got Wade one………………....Now it’s time to get Lebron a few!
Bosh: Alright man good luck.
Shaq: Man, I wasn’t born yesterday, I hear the sarcasism in your voice!.................You think I’m old and washed up don’t you?
Bosh: Well…….
Shaq: Last year, I dropped 45 points on your team…….This year, I’m gonna try to hit 50!
Bosh: You’re days of scoring 50 are long gone Shaq!
Shaq: Oh look at RuPaul talking smack!!
Bosh: I told you man that’s not funny!
LBJ: Guys, guys, just chill……………It’s the offseason, just relax a bit…………Why don’t we discuss a topic where we won’t be fighting against each other?
Shaq: Alright, alright……………Bosh Truce?
Bosh: Yea man truce.
Shaq: So……………… You guys wanna talk sh%t about Kobe?
LBJ: Ha ha. Yea Sure!! Now you’re talking Shaq!!



Okay okay, so that's a poor attempt at some humour.............. Upcoming Blogs are going to include some insightful articles on why the Toronto Raptors should trade Bosh. Check back frequently.