Monday February 9 2009 – 12:25pm Eastern (Toronto)
Admittedly, it’s a bit of a slow ‘news’ day. Not only did the Raptors have an off-day yesterday, but they’re stuck in the midst of another nasty losing streak (6 games) and I think a lot of the ‘analysis’ of this team has simply been beaten to death. Whether it’s talent; whether it’s chemistry; whether it’s mental … the fact is … the team isn’t very good right now. But I still believe they could turn it on at any point, ’cause I’m dumbfounded as to why the team on paper is not the same team we see on the floor.
Anyway, aside from the 6-game losing streak, the biggest story over the past 7+ days was Stephen A. Smith and his comments regarding Chris Bosh’s future with the Toronto Raptors.
Well, as luck would have it, after Smith made those comments, Jonesy and I had a chance to chat with some folks that ties to either Toronto or to Bosh himself … and they all had some advice and/or insight for CB4.
In case you missed it, listen to these clips to hear what these gentlemen had to say about Bosh and the Raps …
DAMON STOUDAMIRE (Assistant Coach, Memphis Grizzlies)
- Jonesy talked to him in Memphis on Saturday night. Stoudamire admits that he mishandled his departure from Toronto and wishes he could do it all over again.
[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/damonstoudamire-es-20090209.mp3]
MORRIS PETERSON (Forward, New Orleans Hornets)
- I spoke with Mo on Friday night and he said he thinks the Stephen A. stuff is all rumor and innuendo. He says winning cures all for any player / free agent.
[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/morrispeterson-es-20090209.mp3]
MARC SPEARS (National NBA writer, Boston Globe (ESPN as well))
- Spears was in Toronto last week for the Raptors game against the LA Lakers. He draws comparisons to Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh, as well as the city of Denver and the city of Toronto.
[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/fan590/hotaudio/marcspears-es-20090209.mp3]
Compelling views from all three guys — especially Stoudamire and Spears.
I guess we’ll see how it all plays out over the next 16-17 months.
E. Smith
* I’ll be back tomorrow with another VLOG … and maybe a blog too.
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I actually think Marc Spears had the most compelling comments; bring in some top tier players around Chris Bosh (D Wade?) win a ton of games as the Celtics get OLDER and make this one of the top destination to play.
The city itself has more to offer than three quarters of the US NBA destinations. As he said, who really wants to play in Cleveland.
For that matter, NY is either the best or very worst place to play in the NBA, depending on your point of view.
If Bargnani is just a young 7 footer still growing into his body and gets coordinated in the offensive paint, there’s a good core here to build around.
But you only have 12-16 months to entirely change the (winning) attitude around here and inject the same optimism that surrounded Colangelo’s hiring.
I wish they’s go on a mini winning streak so we could stop discussing what Bosh is not going to do maybe, sometime, perhaps, someday in the future, I think….
- GaryJust heard Jack Armstrong talking about the Raps chances of making the playoffs….
To quote Jim Mora “PLAYOFFS!?!? Don’t talk about playoffs. Playoffs??? I just want to win another game.”
To all Raptor analysts: Please don’t talk about making the playoffs or saving the season. Doing so ruins your credibility.
- ALAbsoultely awesome stuff E. You and Jonesy have made some good “journalism” because you are getting opinions. By the sounds of it Damon regretted leaving, too bad cause he would have been awesome here, Mighty mouse,T-Mac,VC,MoPete, Camby????? Spears has hit the nail on the head, surrounding players are needed. Eric is still on Milwaukee “hating” LOL. Good stuff.
- Lanny from WhitbyI want to apologize for my unread dumbass incoherent sentence I put together, I meant to say “You and Jonesy have put together some excellent stuff. I’d like to go on the record and say “It’s Monday!!” Thank you, In an unrelated matter, Stephen A Smith is stating he is better than me!! LOL
- Lanny from WhitbyDwayne Wade is a much bigger star than Bosh, a Finals MVP…a proven commodity/champion in Miami who can carry a team and has already taken a team arguably as weak as Toronto this year to a healthy playoff spot.
- d57fanHe is not leaving Miami to come to Toronto and neither is any other super star…you DO realize the Max contract these players are looking at in 2010 is around 133 million, right??
Maybe when the people here get a clue the inevitable and the obvious wouldn’t be such a surprise and disappointment.
The Raptors at their BEST have never been better than mediocre…
The media in Toronto has no credibility and has sucked up to Colangelo for too long..the O’Neal trade was such an obvious disaster…..Bosh is not carrying this or any team past the first round…no team without an All-Star calibre wing/guard can compete.
The first thing Toronto fans need to do is stop listening to the moronic media in Toronto and start watching games with good teams and announcers who aren’t lame, incompetent shills for a change.
Building around Bosh would be a great idea if Toronto never drafted Andrea Bargnani. The idea that Toronto fans should feel gratefull and lucky to have a superstar like CB on the roster makes me want to vomit. If its not broken don’t fix it but in this case its broken and instead of slapping on the s— kickers and kicking s— the whole roster is standing in it. Someones going to get the boot but who’s it going to be know one knows but i hope they take the stench with them(hopefully to New Jersey).
- Rob from brantfordAdvice for Bosh: Stop taking all the jump shots away from guys like Bargnani, Kapono and Moon. There are enough jump shots to spread around.
- Joe N.Spears hit the target when he mentioned what Pierce would have done. But if not for Paul’s GM bringing in Garnett & Ray Allen, who knows what Boston might be right now. I think Bosh should talk to Colangelo and hope that Bryan actually has some smarts in him to listen to Bosh and bring in players that ain’t intending to mess him up like that Bargnani drafting stunt c/o Maurizio Gherardini. He should be fired and find a better assistant for Bryan. Bosh on the other hand should should just stay and see what happens. If no good results come then he could leave. But if Bryan can find someone to rebuild with Bosh and strengthen the bench then we could be in a good position. Just no more signing players from the euroleague. Otherwise we keep getting beat down all the time.
- Steven