Not new news, but something about our player. Maceo Baston Interview: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Maceo Baston, who on July 24 was officially signed by the Toronto Raptors, has a wealth of great overseas experience. He made a big name for himself in Israel, playing on a Maccabi Tel Aviv team that won championships both in their own country as well as the Euroleague. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner was with Baston early in the 2006 season for an exclusive interview. Again, although this interview is being posted in August of 2007, note that the actual conversation took place on November 4, 2006. It's about past stuff in his career and still worth reading, so we're posting it. InsideHoops.com: Talk about your time on Maccabi Tel Aviv, and all the success. Maceo Baston: It was great. Coming from minor leagues here, trying to get to the NBA, having stints in and out with Toronto, Milwaukee... they put together a great group of guys. We had an opportunity to win two championships -- should have been a third one, but that's a long story -- but to get to the Finals three years in a row definitely helped my basketball experience, growth and enjoyment. InsideHoops.com: How was life in Israel? Maceo Baston: It's definitely a hot spot in the world but we were safe, and we didn't have any threatening situations. It was really laid back where I was. </div> Read More: InsideHoops
Being Israeli, it's nice to hear about how it's not as bad as people think. It is safe in most parts, and is a nice place to visit. I haven't been there since I was 6, but I know people who go all the time. I hope Maceo Baston can play a good role off the bench, with the limited minutes he'll get. I see a 4PPG, 5RPG, .9BPG kind of thing going for him. Not bad numbers for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Being Israeli, it's nice to hear about how it's not as bad as people think. It is safe in most parts, and is a nice place to visit. I haven't been there since I was 6, but I know people who go all the time. I hope Maceo Baston can play a good role off the bench, with the limited minutes he'll get. I see a 4PPG, 5RPG, .9BPG kind of thing going for him. Not bad numbers for him.</div> Were you born there? Just curious. I know a few people who visited there and generally they say the big cities go on as if nothing's really happening.
Life goes on. There's nothing the people can really do about the terrorist attacks other than keep doing what they usually do. Israel really is a beautiful place and a great place to live in. Most parts of the country are safe, and some people need to start realizing that and forget the stereotypes. Anyway, 5 rebounds a game is a major strech for Baston, that's the amount of rebounds per game he averaged for Maccabi in much more the 10 minutes per game he'll get in Toronto. I think more realistic stats are 2.5 points, 2 rebounds and .67 blocks per game.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Were you born there? Just curious. I know a few people who visited there and generally they say the big cities go on as if nothing's really happening.</div> Yea, I mean, I'm not full Israeli, because I wasn't born there, but on my passport it says I am. I'm a Canadian-Jew, but I keep strong ties to Israeli because my moms family is there. Yea, nothing really changes. You just have to live life. Like in the USA, people still take planes because you have to get around. I'm going back next year to see some family. It should be nice.
I loved Maceo Baston when he played for Maccabi, I watched their games every time I had the chance. So I'm glad that he is reunited with Anthony Parker in Toronto, and perhaps if they get Sarunas I can see a championship in the near future
