Thursday April 16 2009 - 2:18pm Eastern (Toronto, ON)
Wouldn’t ya know it … everything was working smooooth all day, and then just perform Jay Triano came to the podium, my computer crashed!
By the time it re-booted, I missed transcribing more than half of what Jay had to say. So check out Raptors.com later on for the FULL video of Triano’s comments - or listen to the FAN 590 for the quotes as well.
But for now, I do have some of what Triano talked about:
———-
RE: What the team needs going forward
“Toughness. And toughness isn’t necessarily 6 foot 8, 250 pounds. So whether it’s bringing in tougher players or teaching them to be tougher, we have to increase toughness.”
RE: Did the last month change how he views the team
“I don’t think anybody will rest - or be satisfied - with how we finished (9-3) over the last 12.”
RE: If he thinks he’ll be back as the Raptors head coach next year
“I honestly don’t know. That’s something Bryan and I have to talk about. I’m sure he has to talk to the board. There are a lot of steps.”
RE: How he earns his respect from his players …
“You can’t fool the players. They know when you’ve done your homework. You can’t fool people. If we make a mistake (as coaches) they pick up on stuff … ”
“You do your work and I think the players respect that.”
RE: How he is viewed by his players as a coach / a CANADIAN coach …
“Did I play in the NBA? No. Did I workout and get cut 3 times? Yes. But the game has grown globally. The international game is big and (the players) know it means something.”
RE: Shawn Marion
“Depending on the style that we want to play, he’s hugely important. He’s a 3. There’s no a lot of guys in the league that can guard the 3’s - and he can.”
“We need somebody that can break his man down. Jose needs a screen on most nights and Bosh has the first step by then can’t always get by. We need a wiry guy and Shawn brought that.”
E. Smith
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FYI folks … these are direct quotes. However, they’re not always “full” quotes. I can only type so fast! So don’t read into things too much if answers are short - or not as “in depth”. Chances are, the players said much more than what I’ve typed — I just couldn’t keep up. I’m not a court stenographer!
- E. SmithDon’t forget to check out “Hoops” tonight from 7-9pm
LIVE on Raptors TV and on Fan590.com
- E. SmithI’m missing the Raptors so much! hahaha.. After school, I always log on to RAPTORS>COM or your blog..huhu
THANKS ERIC!
- josephineI think Jay may have what it takes to be a successful NBA coach…but, Colangelo certainly threw the guy under the bus this season…just to save his own butt!!
Remember that BC is WORLD FAMOUS for firing his coaches…one after another…whenever anything goes wrong, the first thing he does is send the coach packing, to take the heat off of his terrible management performances.
Jay deserved an off season, summer camp, training camp and exhibition games before he should have been handed the coaching job.
Another typical Colangelo avoidant, cowardly move…as far as I’m concerned.
- brentoTriano and Colangelo did a far worse job than Sam Mitchell did .
- Chas CalzColangelo meets the media Monday, with his excuses and double-talk no doubt .
Why doesn’t he just admit he did a pathetic job this year ?
Firing Sam was a huge blunder , only topped by trading for O’Neal .
brento, is ANYTHING positive in your world???
Let’s look forward to an intersting off season with positive moves that will bring results next season.
- GaryWith Mitchell’s firing, Andrea has improved and we finally shipped J.O out…If we hadn’t fired Mitchell, the one that may have been traded would have been Andrea. THAT would have been a disaster..and losing this season doesn’t compare to losing the value that Andrea brings us.
- d.tI don’t see where it’s being negative to hold a GM accountable . He’s making $4 million a year to make good decisions .
To fire a respected coach who was 8-9 after making playoffs 2 straight yrs was a gamble that didn’t pay off .It turned out to be a huge blunder imo.
To say Bargnani’s improvement makes up for a 25-40 record and 13th spot seems a bit generous to Triano .The idea is so win games .
Just because a coach is a nice Canadian shouldn’t make him immune to criticism .
Triano may do a good job next year if Colangelo butts out of the coaching .
- Chas CalzWhy is Chas answering for Brento?
- TimColangelo and JP Richardi have alot in common
1. Both Italian
2. Both have worn out the injury excuse.
3. Both think Toronto fans know nothing about their sports.
4. Colangelo said this years raptors is the best group he has put together since being here. They ended up missing the playoffs by a long shot. Last year Richardi said that the 2008 version of the blue jays were the best team he’s put on the field since being here, they too were a long shot from the playoffss
6. Both have to much of an ego to say their teams just aren’t good enough.
We need more Gm’s like Gillick and Grunwald who actually kept their mouth shut and gave the coaches their time to shine, instead of always being in the camera’s view or often in the papers headlines.
- ThomasWhen Raps were 8-9 , the wrong guy got fired .
- Chas CalzWe should have kept Mitchell and fired Colangelo .
That’s obvious by the W-L record .
But I’m sure Bryan will own up to this at his Monday propaganda session with the media .
Tim I totally agree with Chas and Brento, too many fans and media for some reason, say silly things like BC has done a good Job, Homers keep referring BC’s days in phoenix. Remember folks Jerry Colangelo was the Boss in Phoenix, hence the reason Brian Kept his job so long and was never critised for firing 6 coaches in ten years and multiple first round exitd.
When Jerry Sold his stake in phoenix that is when Brian decided to get out, because he knew he would finally be accountable to someone other that his father, So in other words his days in Phoenix were numbered. If he was so spectacular Im sure phoeni would have done what they could to keep him.
On another note
- ThomasIm sick and tired of people referring to accountability as being negative, people need to recognize if this was a New York team or an LA team the fans would have the GM’s and the coaches head on a platter, Why is it considered negative when some fans want to hold the team and gm to a hig standard. Toronto is no longer an expansion team. Colangelo should no longer be getting a free pass when it comes to an evalution of the team and season, the free pass for a lousy team should have went out the door when he left phoenix.
Thank you, Thomas, for your support and insightful remarks.
There are two different types of professional sports franchises:
Those who are constantly accountable to their fans and corporate sponsors and those who try to hide, using smoke and mirrors to trick fans into believing the team is more successful than it actually is.
This franchise has been at for 15 years and has so little to show for it — one measly playoff series win!!
Any fan who doesn’t chastise team management/ownership likely has no idea what is involved in building a championship franchise.
And if you don’t — just find some online articles on the history behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Their story is of a determined, gradual improvement, that resulted in two world championships.
The Jays were not built overnight and reached their pinnacle through excellent management leadership, coaching and player performances.
This current Raptors management team is a joke. I don’t think anyone outside of Toronto could name more than two or three players on the entire roster.
- brentoSteve Simmons wrote today :
- Chas Calz“Colangelo has to save his team. Then his reputation ..neither will be easily accomplished .”
Maybe Simmons would be a good guest on HOOPS?
Hey Thomas. You are also forgetting another Italian. BC’s assistant Gherardini. As for Bryan, I would have dared him to do it to a guy like Phil Jackson!!
- BOJACKSteve Simmons also insisted (at the end of the 2007 season) that Mats Sundin’s NHL career was in jeopardy because of a hip injury which required surgery. The next season (Mat’s last as a leaf) he scored 78 points while playing 74 games. I wonder how many Raptor games he actually saw this year. I’d bet not many.
- TimDon’t forget, it took 9 years for the Blue Jays to go from contenders in 1983 to World Series Champions in 1992. In that time Gillick turned over the roster many times, and experienced disappointments and setbacks. He had time to make adjustments and fix mistakes.
- pj