http://raptors.realgm.com/articles/23/2007...oments_of_2006/<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>10. Being on top of the Atlantic division (without Chris Bosh) The Raptors reached the top of the Atlantic Division for the first time since November 2003. Though the division is woeful at best, it is not a feat that the fans, the city, or the organization takes lightly. This feat speaks volumes as it forces the league and its ?experts? to take notice of a team with playoff aspirations. The funny thing is, they were doing it without their franchise player, Chris Bosh. The team actually has a winning record with him sidelined with a banged up knee. The 9 new players had a chance to gel, a chance to become more familiar with each other?s playing styles, and more importantly a chance to trust one another. The team has learned that it does not have to sit back and rely on Bosh to do all the work, that this is a well balanced team and anyone can be a contributing factor. 9. ?CARTER SUCKS!? The day was Friday, December 15, 2006. Vince Carter and his Nets were in the Air Canada Centre for the first time since last season?s controversial game that saw Morris Peterson ejected and Carter drain a last second three-pointer to win the game. Emotions always run high when the ex-Raptor is in town and this game was no different. The Raptors were trying to string together back-to-back wins without Bosh and the Nets were aiming at the division lead. As always, Carter was booed every time he touched the ball ? an act that he denies having any effect on him to this day. Being guarded tough by Anthony Parker, Carter never got going. He forced up bad shot after bad shot and the Raptors kept an uncomfortable lead pretty much all game. Carter went 4-for-17 from the field including 0-for-6 from downtown and missed three straight free throws in crunch time to seal the loss. It was during those free throws that the ACC erupted into a frenzy, screaming ?Carter Sucks!? as loud as they could ? a moment that sent shivers down every fan?s spine. It was electric. 8. Charlie V?s 48-point night General Manager Rob Babcock was the punch line of many jokes throughout the sports media during his brief stay with the Raptors. But if you could pick one night where he had the last laugh, it would be March 26, 2006 in Milwaukee. That was the night Chris Bosh went down with a season-ending injury and Charlie Villanueva proved himself to be one of the better young talents in the NBA. Charlie poured in 48 points, the most by a rookie since Iverson in ?97, on a sizzling 20-for-32 shooting spree against what would be his new team at the start of the 2006-2007 season. Unfortunately for Rob, he was no longer with the team to see it live. 7. T.J. Ford?s buzzer-beater vs. the Clippers On the road, where the Raptors had struggled mightily this season, T.J. Ford had his (at that point) biggest moment as a Raptor. After getting blown out the previous night in Phoenix, no one expected much out of the Bosh-less Raptors. After giving up a 4th quarter lead, Toronto managed to stay within striking distance. After some clutch free throws by Ford and a Cuttino Mobley airball, the Raptors had the ball in a tie game with around 15 seconds left. Ford dribbled out the clock and as Quinton Ross slipped, Ford threw up a jumper from the foul-line to win the game 98-96. The celebrations caught on video were just as exciting ? TV play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky jumping up and down shouting ?Raptors win!? right at T.J. and head coach Sam Mitchell jumping and spinning in circles by the Raptors bench as if his team won the Championship. 6. Andrea Bargnani?s coming out party On December 13th and 17th, the NBA was officially introduced to the 1st overall pick in the 2006 draft: Andrea Bargnani from Italy. On the 13th in Orlando, Bargnani hit five three?s, four of which were in the 2nd half and two in back-to-back possessions with another European lottery pick, Darko Milicic, guarding him. The Raptors won the game, sans Bosh, thanks in large part to Bargnani?s best game to date as a pro: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks. A few days later, Golden State was in Toronto and Bargnani showed that he is not a one-trick pony. Coming off the bench for 24 minutes he shot 6-for-10 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from downtown, for 18 points. But the impressive part was his 10 rebounds and 6, count ?em, 6 blocked shots. These two games let everyone know that this kid is for real.........................</div>That is absolutely right, signing Bryan Colangelo to be our GM could be one of the best things the Raptors have done in their ten year career. The VC sucks one was nice as well
Getting Colangelo was definitley #1, he brought excitment back to the Raptors like never before. Everyone in Toronto were jumpin on the Colangelo bandwagon even before the season started, he just looked the part. Every interview I have seen with Babcock he was wearing sweats and running shoes which just doesn't have that good of an image while Colangelo has this professional image....I dunno sounds kindof dumb.BTW CB4 whos that in your avatar throwing up the airball?
I think that Stephon Marbury. Ya Colangelo is a smart gm. Good thing we were able to get him when he was free at that time. And right after we got colagelo he goes to the lottery and we get the 1st pick is that luck or what? He likes to get players that don't care if they don't have playing time and would go public saying they want to be out. But then hopefully Bosh doesn't become that and I hope he won't. His FA signings were good keeping a close eye on parker and garbajosa and signing them to the team in need. Both of them has certainly helped us a lot this year. Hope to see more good things happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jan 8 2007, 02:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Getting Colangelo was definitley #1, he brought excitment back to the Raptors like never before. Everyone in Toronto were jumpin on the Colangelo bandwagon even before the season started, he just looked the part. Every interview I have seen with Babcock he was wearing sweats and running shoes which just doesn't have that good of an image while Colangelo has this professional image....I dunno sounds kindof dumb.BTW CB4 whos that in your avatar throwing up the airball?</div>Yeah, it's Marbury..
