As many experts predicted, the Raptors were eliminated in the 2008 NBA Playoffs in a 5 game series against the Superman-led Orlando Magic.

It shames me to say, this is the outcome I had predicted.

If you watched any Raptors games near the end of the season, believe me you would have predicted the same thing. Our team was a disaster.

There is no excuse we can use. Chris Bosh was healthy, TJ and Jose were healthy, and all of our starters were healthy. So why were we not able to get it done in the last few games AND in the playoffs?

I blame it on a couple of things.

First of all, our coaching. I like our assistance coaches, but I hate Sam Mitchell. I hated him ever since he was hired to be a coach. Let’s face it, last year’s award he won was only given to him because of the fantastic job Colangelo had done after he came over. No matter what B.C. did, it still didn’t change the fact that Sam Mitchell can’t coach for shit. He just doesn’t know basketball like people claim he does. Unlike other former players that have become coaches who are usually guards that were smart players, Sam Mitchell was a tough and aggressive small forward, though he probably would have played power forward if he had more height.

He was a hustle player. You can’t take a hustle player and make him design plays for our team.

Mitchell is known by Raptors fans as the head coach who doesn’t know any X’s and O’s to save his life. Honestly, I think he would have better luck as a motivator than a coach, and that’s my honest opinion.

Now that we have covered dear old Sam, let’s talk about the players.

This season I have been shocked by the amount of comments our players make. With all the complaining and negativity I couldn’t believe this was a professional NBA basketball squad. Our players kept bitching and bitching about one another, though there were no direct shots, it was obvious the comments were unnecessary excuses for their poor play.

Especially Bosh, who is supposed to be the leader of this team. I understand the need to voice the concern as a team leader once or twice, but he kept going to the media like he was frequently getting picked on by bullies. Instead of complaining, why couldn’t he just keep it to himself and play better? I’m not saying he played bad but if he has so much time to pick out the whole team’s mistakes I think he being the leader of this team should pick out some of his own flaws, and improve on them so we don’t lose.

That was quite a rant. Although that still doesn’t cover everything, I’m gonna leave it like that for now, and hope you have enjoyed this update from the Raptors City Blog, blog for the Toronto Raptors.

Come back next time for our special Draft edition

Raptors Forward Jorge Garbajosa apparently has healed from his injury, athough he has still not been played by the raptors organization to play for Spain in the FIBA Championships. One has to wonder what is going through the mind of Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo right now. Spain wants Jorge to represent them in the FIBA tournament although BC has other plans that are for the better of the Raptors.

Not to mention we can only wonder what Garbajosa wants. Surely he wants to wear his team colours in the FIBA tournament, but there is some unknown agreement between euros and the NBA about injured players playing for their home country. If the Raptors medical staff decide that Garbajosa is not ready for action, then i don’t think he can play.

We will find out more on this int he upcomming weeks, while the FIBA tournament has already started.

Let me start things off by saying sorry I have not been blogging much lately. I assure you, that I will do it a lot more frequently…

 Anyways, Jamario Moon, who is listed as 6 ‘8″ received a partially guaranteed two year contract. He is twenty-eight years old, and I believe this will be his first NBA experience (if he plays) this is essentially an invite to training camp, and if he impresses there, like he did for the Raptors on June 22-24, he should be on the 15 man roster.

If your wondering what exactly Moon is known for, it is almost identical to what I have expressed in previous blogs. A tough, rebounding, and defensive small forward. Now, I doubt he will average 30 minutes a game and 15 PPG. But, its a lot better to have someone contribute to the team needs, even if its on a small scale, then if we had a player like Kapono who is a shooter. Hopefully, if he makes the team, can give some well needed balance.

I don’t expect much out of this move, and I think the odds are about 40/60 hes on the team opening day, but you never know what Bryan Colangelo is going to do next, and usually its great.

Well, if John Salmons has taught me anything, it is that a deal is not always done until it is signed. But, it looks as if the newest member to the Raptors roster will be three point specialist Jason Kapono. The deal is expected to be four years long, and over 20 million. Jason Kapono played the last two seasons with Miami, and was on the championship team.

The signing, comes as a surprise to many, with rumors involving (mostly) small forwards such as Grant Hill and Josh Childress. It came as no shock that Toronto’s Mid Level Exception (which essentially is the money teams over the cap can spend on players) was used on a SF. It was just that Jason Kapono, in my opinion didn’t fit the team needs. But after I thought about it…

The deal may not be too bad at all. This will enable Anthony Parker play less of a three point game, and wander around more where he in my opinion can be potentially more effective. No teams will want to double Bosh, when he can just dish it out, Toronto (with their superb ball movement) swig it to Jason Kapono and then take the leagues highest percentage three point shot. And last but not least, this will put pressure on Andrea Bargnani to develop his post and rebounding game. Having him down low will help out Bosh on the boards and he will still be able to use his speed to take advantage over some NBA centres while still having the size of a center. Bargnani’s post game has lots of potential, and a few years down the road, will give him LOTS more versatility.

And as great as all that sounds, the problems remain, the rebounding and perimeter defense still need to improve. I think this will create a domino effect. Graham or Garbojosa (whoever Bryan Colangelo chooses)  and maybe Calderon will be moved for that Small Forward we need.

 Only time will tell…

Yesterday, Toronto acquired Carlos Delfino from the Detroit Pistons for two second round picks in 2009 and 2011. The logic behind this deal on Detroit’s part was likely to clear up some cap room for Chauncey Billups to be resigned with the team. He only made a little more then 1,000,000 last year, but everything helps. And maybe  for them to go after someone else.

Delfino may; and probably was not in BC’s plans from day one or anything, but this gives him some more flexibility. He can now move Juan Dixon and/or Mo-Pete and still have a serviceable back-up.

Delfino is 24, 25 in August. He is a solid defender, a tough player who played in ALL 82 games for the Pistons last season (which seems to happen less and less) he can play one, two, or three. But would only be used diligently at the three. Three rebounds per game in sixteen minutes is pretty solid, and a spot Toronto had trouble in last year.

He will continue to bring a winning attitude and national experience that Bryan Colangelo seems to be striving for. He was very successful playing for Argentina’s national team. This addition can not hurt, really, and may end up being another one of BC’s successful steals.

This deal could be a lot in the future, as the little things make up the big things.

Drop some comments!!

Toronto’s new assistant coach has been ignored for the most part. With the Carlos Delfino trade and all, Mike Evans was officially named an assistant coach on June 14th.

 Alex English and Jay Triano will be returning from last years staff while Mike Evans will help out Mitchell and the rest of the staff for the first time. He is not new to the Raptors’ organization. He was a scout for three seasons prior to this.

 Evans has head coaching experience, more then Jim Todd. He head coached 56 games for Denver a few seasons back. I believe that he can bring some good knowledge and preparations to the Raptors’ staff. He is a very solid coach, and should be a great addition.

Sam Mitchell’s former assistant coach, Jim Todd, is of to Milwaukee. He got his first NBA job there, and now he will return under Larry Krystkowiak he has added two assistant coaches this off-season already; there is no limit on the number of assistant coaches.

It will suck to see Jim Todd go. I thought he was a great assistant coach. If you do not particularly follow the Raptors, he did half-time interviews every game for the Raptors. In my opinion, when he was asked what needs to be improved on for success, he was usually right on.

So a new assistant coach may be added, but until then its just Alex English and Jay Triano (former coach of Team Canada). I really do hope Jim Todd can help the Bucks bounce back from their injury plagued season.

Alright, the draft is coming up. The Raptors have NO picks in this years draft. It is clear decisions have to be made with the franchise. So one of the biggest days on the NBA calendar. What does Toronto do?

Obtaining picks? Not for me, I mean really. What can be moved? Mo-Pete? He is a free agent maybe a sigh and trade? Jose Calderon could go coming off a career season. So lets say Toronto packages them together, I say that gets them a pick right outside the lottery about 15-20. And to me at least, that makes no sense, the player may develop to be better, but by doing that your losing two established players.

 Maybe a second rounder could be packed in somewhere but, nothing to go crazy about. It really stinks not to have a pick in such a good draft, but a trade may be made. Toronto needs a strong, athletic, rebounding, SF. Josh Childress could be a great fit and if Atlanta picks someone at that position he may be moved.

I don’t think Bryan Colangelo will sit and let a day like that pass, something will be done, I am just scrathcing the surface. 

At a press conference at 2PM today, coach of the year Sam Mitchell and Executive of the year, Bryan Colangelo have agreed on a new contract for the Smitch (Sam Mitchell). The deal was four years, but financial terms were not officially announced; although rumors say he will be in about the middle of NBA coaches salaries.

I think Sam did a great job, he brought players from different cultural backgrounds together (fitting that Canada is considered a cultural mosaic, eh?) Example: Bargnani – Italy, Garbajosa and Calderon – Spain, Uros Slokar and Rasho Nesterovic – Slovenia, Parker just played fro Maccabi Tel Avi for a few years. With language barriers to overcome, its hard to believe he tied a record for a franchise high in wins.

 Going into the year, I was skeptical of where he would be at the end of the year; and even if he was a good fit. The Smitch did a great job and more so then the past, am proud to be a Raptors fan.

 But In my opinion the question will be, can Mitchell develop his X’s and O’s? He just finished his third year coaching, I think that is what he has to work on. But I believe that he will improve that, too this off-season.

In other news the draft lottery is tonight, I hope Atlanta gets second pick, so a certain SF comes available.

Two years ago, with the 41st pick, Toronto drafted Roko Leni Ukic. Later that off-season Rob Babcock signed Jose Calderon. So by the looks of it Toronto would have three starting potential point guards. Jose Calderon, Rafer Alston (Although it seems like ages ago, he got traded on media day), and Roko Ukic. Although preliminary reports had Roko Ukic coming to Toronto to play for the Raptors.
But it he ended up signing, Winterthur FCB, the only way the Raptors could acquire him would be through a buy-out. But that may be plausible this year. With Jose Calderon likely to be moved because of his high value contract, and just had a great season. The Raptors’ priority should be signing an athletic, consistent, rebounding, defending Small Forward.

Roko Ukic could be brought in as a back-up point guard for either TJ Ford or Jose Calderon (more likely the second) he has great ball handling skills and would be a great overall back up point guard.

If he could be brought in that would make Bryan Colangelo’s life A LOT easier. So they wouldn’t need a player back; and could get more for less.