<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Boston sits on top of the offseason mountain, king of the hype machine. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen haven't joined third amigo Paul Pierce in the same uniform since the trade with Minnesota was announced, and yet there are many downright expecting them to represent the Eastern Conference next June. Think of it as the ultimate summer facelift. You go in a Golden Girl and come out a Girl Next Door. New Jersey's Jason Kidd isn't ready to hand them anything yet, not a beauty pageant, and definitely not the division. He's got a nice team assembled around him, and as a matter of fact, prefers the short-term memory approach. "Toronto is the favorite," Kidd said of last season's Atlantic winner. "Everybody forgets about them. If they can stay healthy, they'll be right there." I must confess, I've forgotten about the Raptors once already. Annoyed T.O. fans angrily wrote in to point out that during an Eastern Conference finals column writing off the Pistons, I'd omitted their 47-win team as one of the squads on the rise. My apologies, Canada. You're absolutely right about being slighted, picked on and cast aside. In this case, the chip on your shoulder is merited. In fact, those who choose to feed the inferiority complex fix might opt to believe the savvy Kidd was just giving Toronto its just due simply to avoid fanning the likely rivalry with the Celtics. Whatever the reason for his answer, expect it to be among the minority. The Raptors are still the youngest team among the Eastern Conference's true contenders, taking that baton from the not-so-baby Bulls. Franchise player Chris Bosh is only 23 years-old, point guards T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon are still learning the intricacies of running a team at this level, and veteran leader Morris Peterson landed in New Orleans in the offseason, ending the association with the only franchise he had ever known. While the Raptors look for where their leadership is going to come from, the Nets know they will be getting theirs from Kidd and Boston has no shortage of veterans to steer the ship. Then again, every team dynamic is different, so that shouldn't be a reason to write off the Raptors. </div> <div align="center">Source: CBS Sportsline.com</div> Well written article. It's cool that Kidd still recognizes us as the favourites. He makes a good point about the fact that, despite our improvements, we've still been relegated to an underdog role. I personally like it better that way.
Its funny how he refers to the raptors as a team with a chip on its shoulder....it should read "CHIPS" because it seems we always get slighted....over and over. Last year we were picked to be among if not the leagues worst team....
Yea we got a lot of them T.O./Canada fans and some of them just piss me off straight up with the homeboy ****.
I love bring underdogs. I mean, we are lost in all this Garnett - Allen - Pierce hype, so teams and media over look us. I can live with that, because it means we can win games, that we shouldn't even win, and teams, media nd fans will know how good the Raptors really are.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I actually liked the raps before they became good.</div></p> There where a hard team not to like B.C., nothing they did seemed to work.</p> But then the greatest one with mighty high collars came to town and summed the phoenix from the ashes.</p> </p>
i like that jason has shown respect and recognition to last year's division winners--and i agree with him.
Jason Kidd is a respectable player, he knows who is good and who is bad. With the Raptors increasing inside game and great outside shooing, along with the best PG duo in the league, you can expect a team like Toronto to make a run for the Division title again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'>Jason Kidd is a respectable player, he knows who is good and who is bad. With the Raptors increasing inside game and great outside shooing, along with the best PG duo in the league, you can expect a team like Toronto to make a run for the Division title again.</div> </p> that reminds me, just how good is baston? is he a shooter, inside player? i don't know too much about him
Personally, I think the Raptors will have the division lead through the all-star break while the Celtics try to mesh. Once that team starts coming together and playing their basketball, I think they'll pull ahead of Toronto towards the end of the season. Although the Raptors are very talented, we're talking about a team with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. That team can beat anybody on any given night, their bench may be lacking but honestly Posey, Pruitt, Davis, House, and Pollard should be enough to support a trio that will probably play 40 MPG each. Toronto will definitely give Boston a run for their money but I can't see them being a better team than the Celtics.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I actually liked the raps before they became good.</div></p> I've loved the Raptors, when they were good, and when they were bad.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'>Jason Kidd is a respectable player, he knows who is good and who is bad. With the Raptors increasing inside game and great outside shooing, along with the best PG duo in the league, you can expect a team like Toronto to make a run for the Division title again.</div> </p>that reminds me, just how good is Baston? is he a shooter, inside player? i don't know too much about him</div> </p> Baston is a guy who can come in and bring energy. He is like Kris Humphries with less skill. He can block shots score around the basket, but not well. He doesn't have an arsenal of moves, and he won't wow you, but in the time he will be given he can bea solid bench player. It shows how much more depth the Raptors have, then oh, a team like Boston. We have enough depth that we can play a guy, who on another team could play 10-15 minutes a game, only 5-10 at most.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrpy)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I actually liked the raps before they became good.</div></p> I've loved the Raptors, when they were good, and when they were bad.</p> </p> </p> </div> I mean I use dto like them, now I don't . </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'>Jason Kidd is a respectable player, he knows who is good and who is bad. With the Raptors increasing inside game and great outside shooing, along with the best PG duo in the league, you can expect a team like Toronto to make a run for the Division title again.</div> </p>that reminds me, just how good is Baston? is he a shooter, inside player? i don't know too much about him</div> </p> Baston is a guy who can come in and bring energy. He is like Kris Humphries with less skill. He can block shots score around the basket, but not well. He doesn't have an arsenal of moves, and he won't wow you, but in the time he will be given he can be a solid bench player. It shows how much more depth the Raptors have, then oh, a team like Boston. We have enough depth that we can play a guy, who on another team could play 10-15 minutes a game, only 5-10 at most.</p></div> </p> hm. so he's an athletic big man..? does he have good basketball smarts and is a smart defender, or is he just a really smart/good shotblocker and a good, ahtletic dunker? or a combination?
Oh and just for the record, just because we merged sites doesn't mean our Raptors-Magic bet is off. We're still going to destroy you guys this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Swish)</div><div class='quotemain'>Oh and just for the record, just because we merged sites doesn't mean our Raptors-Magic bet is off. We're still going to destroy you guys this year. </div> Yea, I know. I have a bet going with The One and Only. Oh BTW, you guys won't win...Bosh>>>>>Howard</p>
