well depends on if the draft picks pan out, if we choose good players, then we can b a 2nd place team in the east
Assuming Babcock will be the GM for the next 3 years, I doubt we'll be a good team. He screwed up in last year's draft, so what do you expect. Even if Bosh offically becomes our franchise player within the next 3 years, he's not going to carry the Raptors like Vince did.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">Assuming Babcock will be the GM for the next 3 years, I doubt we'll be a good team. He screwed up in last year's draft, so what do you expect. Even if Bosh offically becomes our franchise player within the next 3 years, he's not going to carry the Raptors like Vince did.</div> patience has it's rewards...i too want to see results now but sometimes you need to subtract in order to add, and losing VC (mind you, he wanted to go) is needed in order to rebuild... people need to give bosh time...and it will not take three more years, but bosh was in VC's shadow and to be honest VC never wanted to be a mentor for bosh...now he is the heir to the throne and wants to assume that responsiblity, he just needs to fine tune his game and gain confidence and.........we'll see as for babcock picking arujo, that is still up for debate, i think he may have something big here, he definitly has a blue collar player who is willing to work on his game... i'm not in total defence of babcock, but he is thinking of the future of this team and i'm sure he has a master plan of what moves he wants to make next...give it time, we have a fresh start in '05 and a nice home schedule coming up, this could be the turning point to the season...as for the future, having draft picks gives us trade potential as well as having potential of drafting the next superstar in the making...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">Assuming Babcock will be the GM for the next 3 years, I doubt we'll be a good team. He screwed up in last year's draft, so what do you expect. Even if Bosh offically becomes our franchise player within the next 3 years, he's not going to carry the Raptors like Vince did.</div> how are you so sure? the last few games, he got pt, hes been doing well, so be patient and dont judge hoffa yet
People seem to forget that Chris Bosh is still only 20 years old, with only a hundred games under his belt as of now. Give him time first - and accept that VC's departure was much-needed. I loved Vince Carter's play - he was the best player we ever saw in Toronto, and made many people Raptor fans. Don't ever say otherwise, you know it's true. Assuming the draft picks we have available are used rather wisely - and even if they aren't - a Raptors team that has a good frontcourt and steady players in the backcourt - I'm thinking of Alston/Palacio at point guard and a reliable shooting guard - then the Raptors will be able to perform, especially if they take time to realize who will be leading the team (Bosh, and if Rose and Marshall are traded, Alston) and if Bonner and Araujo can play steadily, I believe in the future.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BoShSaNiTy:</div><div class="quote_post">yeah and people also forget that bonner was in the 2nd round and playing like a top 5 pick.</div> Bonner playing like a top 5 pick???? So he is playing on the same level as the likes of Okafor, Howard, Gordon, Deng? No way, I agree that Bonner is playing well for a second round pick, but to say that he is playing on the level as a top 5 pick is crazy, mid to late first round is what I consider his playing at. Maybe you don't realize, but Bonner is playing against second units, not first units as most of the other top rookies this year are playing against. Put Bonner in Okafor shoes, have him trying to be the heart, soul, defense, and offense of the team, while trying to defend players like Duncan and Garnett for the entire game. I don't think Bonner would be shooting the great % he is, and I don't think there would be point made like you just did. I agree Bonner is playing well for us, but he is a 6-7th man at best, maybe the Red Rocket hype has gotten to some of your heads? I like the guy, but he isn't that good, he is a spark off the bench and that's it.
Streetball layed it down, Bonner is playing like a mid-first round pick, about a #20 pick, but nothing more, he can shoot, but he's not a defender, and a pretty weak rebounder. Easy with the guy, he's not All-Star, just a role player, but yes he's been a surprise for us.
no og actully hes prolly one of the only guys on our team that play's physical and with intensity and actually fights for every ball when its in the air......i dont think anyone else on the team woulda got into a mini fight with garnett cept for araujo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BoShSaNiTy:</div><div class="quote_post">no og actully hes prolly one of the only guys on our team that play's physical and with intensity and actually fights for every ball when its in the air......i dont think anyone else on the team woulda got into a mini fight with garnett cept for araujo.</div> The Garnett issue wasn't really a fight, Bonner didn't have to take any punches, and he didn't throw any, it was just a heated situation that in my opinion got blown over, because it was the MVP. If Bonner plays with so much intensity and fights for all these loose balls like you say he does, then why doesn't he play good defense? Isn't it almost natural for players who play with intesity to play good defense? It seems to me like in most cases the two go hand in hand. Bonner may play with some intensity, but he doesn't use that to play defense, something his game lacks in.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Streetball2k5:</div><div class="quote_post">The Garnett issue wasn't really a fight, Bonner didn't have to take any punches, and he didn't throw any, it was just a heated situation that in my opinion got blown over, because it was the MVP. If Bonner plays with so much intensity and fights for all these loose balls like you say he does, then why doesn't he play good defense? Isn't it almost natural for players who play with intesity to play good defense? It seems to me like in most cases the two go hand in hand. Bonner may play with some intensity, but he doesn't use that to play defense, something his game lacks in.</div> no no no Bonner plays great defence, and no its not natural for players with intensity to play good D plus i dont see bonner makin 2 many mistakes on D besides get 3 fouls in the first 3 minutes.
Show me sometime where Bonner played good enough defense where people actually noticed? As for you disagreeing with my intensity=defense point, look at all the big time defensive stoppers in the league... Artest Bowen Wallace These guys all play with hard nose intensity, which makes their defensive presence much better, and effective. Every Raptor game I see, Bonner makes a couple good hustle plays to get put back baskets, etc, but on the defensive end, all I can see is Bonner play mediocre to poor on ball defense, and horrible off ball defense. Sometimes I think the guy can't even see the ball when his man doesn't have it, which is a no-no for all defenders, and spells easy attack the bucket baskets for the opponent. Maybe you don't see it, but the little things are what make a good defender, and well, I don't see Bonner doing any of those.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Streetball layed it down, Bonner is playing like a mid-first round pick, about a #20 pick, but nothing more, he can shoot, but he's not a defender, and a pretty weak rebounder. Easy with the guy, he's not All-Star, just a role player, but yes he's been a surprise for us.</div> That is true is basicallly a version 2.0 of mark madsen. He is our hustle guy on the team. thats why he has been doing so well. expect him to be on the all-rookie second team.!
I don't know about that all-rookie team could be a stretch for Bonner. Here is what I think the rookie teams will look like. Team 1 G- Iguodala G- Gordon F- Deng F- Howard C- Okafor Team 2 G- Smith G- Harris F- Childress F- Jefferson/Kristic/Bonner C- Harrison
Oh, I forgot about Jefferson and Kristic, I don't think Harrison will make it, his numbers woll drop by the end of the year because everyone will be back, and he's a weak rebounder anyways. Kristic/Bonner/Jefferson will be in at C/PF, and if Araujo keeps it up he could make it at center.
I have to agree that Bonner is a role player, and definitely not playing like a Top 5 pick - he's a role player, and if he can contribute as a 6th or 7th man, then that's a plus.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh, I forgot about Jefferson and Kristic, I don't think Harrison will make it, his numbers woll drop by the end of the year because everyone will be back, and he's a weak rebounder anyways. Kristic/Bonner/Jefferson will be in at C/PF, and if Araujo keeps it up he could make it at center.</div> Actually, if you look at it, Araujo could end up on the rookie team instead of Bonner. With this years rookie class being pretty stacked at the forward position, it seems like Bonner could get snubbed of a spot. Look at it this way, with Okafor, Howard, Kristic, Jefferson, Deng, Nocioni, Maybe Harrison put you gave a good point about him, the Foward spot could end up being filled, with Bonner not on the roster. Araujo on the other hand, has a pretty good chance of making it if the playing time he has being getting in the last few games continues to stay the same and possibly grow. He has being putting up pretty solid numbers as of late and I am confident he could sneak onto the team at C, due to the lack of players at that position. Even though I consider Bonner a better play than Araujo at the time, Hoffa could end up on the rookie team, but not Bonner.
i see them getting the first pick overall but riddled with misfortune the raps will be forced to give it up because of the lammond murray trade. babcock will resign, coach mitchell would have gone crazy, hoffa would be performing in the brazilian circus and vince carter would be the reigning MVP
