<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Raptors, meanwhile, were very good the season before last, winning the Atlantic Division, and just plain good this past year. By acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from the Pacers for extraneous playmaker T.J. Ford, conceptually, no opponent from either conference should be able to sweat them. Never hesitant to take a risk, team president Bryan Colangelo is gambling his limit this time by taking on a contract ($44M for two years) owned by a chronically injured player. Count me in for a piece of that action. Should O'Neal return to All-Star form the Raptors' upside is equally boundless. I'm told he's in excellent shape while joining a title contender is certain to boost his dwindling spirit. Pretend you care and ask the fans howling at the Jamario Moon who they would rather have, the frontline of Bosh-O'Neal-Andrea Bargnani . . . Bogut-Jefferson-Villanueva . . . or Eddy Curry-Zach Randolph-Gallinari?</div> http://www.nypost.com/seven/06272008/sport...7420.htm?page=2
Bosh - O'Neal - Bargnani..FTW! I like that starting front court. You put Bargnani in a position he is comfortable with and there is way less pressure for him to go inside. We have 2 all-stars with Bosh and O'Neal who both play very similar to each other and who some people have said they wanted Bosh to be like when he was drafted. I love this move and if we can get lets say a guy like Marion, we're set.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (thedude9990 @ Jun 27 2008, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Is everyone forgetting that other than Billups, Jose is the best pg in the east?</div> Who's forgetting that? We all know that he's a top 3 PG in the East.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (speeds @ Jun 27 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hopefully Smitch knows how to work with what we have.</div> That's all I'm worried about. We have some great options for our halfcourt offense, but now we have to depend on him to make it all work together (and I have absolutely no faith in his ability to do so). For the third consecutive season, I'm hoping Smitch proves me wrong.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 27 2008, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (speeds @ Jun 27 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hopefully Smitch knows how to work with what we have.</div> That's all I'm worried about. We have some great options for our halfcourt offense, but now we have to depend on him to make it all work together (and I have absolutely no faith in his ability to do so). For the third consecutive season, I'm hoping Smitch proves me wrong. </div> I think if Mitchell can't make it work, he'll be let go. He needs to learn to utilize the halfcourt offense well because it's the only way to help us reach the next level. We have the pieces, we just need SMitch to use them and use them well. I'm tired of seeing us turn the ball over and run out the shot clock because we had no idea what to do in the halfcourt. We force shots and we panic, this season needs to be different.
I don't really see all the hype about this trade. Jermaine seems pretty much done to me. I don't think he has a chance of making it back to his allstar form, and even if he does, he's probably just going to get injured again. This guy hasn't been healthy for two seasons. Last season, he said he was in the best shape of his life, and in one of the very few games he was able to play in, he was pretty much a non-factor. I wish the best for Jermaine, hopefully he can stay healthy and help you guys up front, but I just don't see it happening. I've been wrong many times before (like urging Mitch to trade both Odom and Bynum for JO last offseason), so we'll see what happens.
ahh, i was hating on the C's last year when they got Allen, saying the same shit that being said about JO.
Vescey said it?!?! isn't that like the kiss of death?? yikes. Healthy O'Neal = 2nd round of playoffs. Injured O'Neal = 1st round on the road vs Celtics, Cavs, Magic or Pistons
Lol, Vecsey needs to lay off the crack pipe. Jermaine's career is on it's down slope. I'd like to see him stay healthy before the Raptors even think about the 2nd round of the playoffs.
so im now hearing rumors that rasho could get waived and come back here just rumors, on an un-named site
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jun 27 2008, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>so im now hearing rumors that rasho could get waived and come back here just rumors, on an un-named site</div> There is a set period of time in which players can't do that, I think something like two months, but if true that would be f'ing fantastic. Rasho is a great back-up big and a good locker room influence.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (speeds @ Jun 27 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jun 27 2008, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>so im now hearing rumors that rasho could get waived and come back here just rumors, on an un-named site</div> There is a set period of time in which players can't do that, I think something like two months, but if true that would be f'ing fantastic. Rasho is a great back-up big and a good locker room influence. </div> werd and he'd help us alot
it's also addition by subtraction though. we can't really gauge the impact of more clearly defined roles and no PG "controversy".
It might be too early to say this, but I'm going to say that you'll be in the Eastern Conference semifinal, unless you meet Boston or Detroit in the 1st round. (which probably won't)
Jermaine O'Neal is already 30 years old and has been injury prone for a few years now. The Raptors have a long way to go until they reach title contention. I'm guessing Jermaine is at center, while Bosh is moved to PF, and Bargnani SF.
I'm not feeling it yet. Have to see the team in action. The two bigs are going to make the Raps a much tougher team on defense. They'll probably even match up well against Boston, though I think Boston has one more major star and the rest of the Raptors, man-for-man, are not quite as good as their Celtics' counterparts.
