Raptors Turn To Land of Rising Sun. I saw this guy play for the Suns during their pre-season games lat summer and also a couple of games of the regular season. Of course, he's not a legit PG, but he's definitely a pass-first player and has great court vision (at least, I'd like to think so). He's a really small PG, but it's what makes him really tough to guard...that and he's Asian - HE'S FAAAAAAAAAAAST! This dude made some really awesome passes too under pressure, but that was during the pre-season games I saw him in. During the regular season matches, he was very shaky and committed a few turnovers...then Captain Canada played like 48.9 minutes per game, hehe...and most of the 30 seconds were for that Barbosa guy who massages Nash during time-outs. I think this Tabuse guy definitely should be given a chance and I like him much more than Omar Cook or Milt Palacio. Imagine how many Japanese fans would come to the ACC.
Yer i'm really looking forward to seeing him play and hopefully he gets a good amount of minutes. It's always good to see more asians in the nba, theres not that many around and yao is the only big named asian. I think theres also wang zhi zhi in miami, that korean in portland. Add that with yao and yuta and thats all the asians the nba has to my knowledge.
not a bad move if he does make the team...it's good for media coverage (on an international flavor) and he would be good for fan base as there are more oriental culture here in Toronto then in Phoenix... also he's not a bad backup pg...he's got good speed and he's pass first shoot second player...
I think it was a good decision to invite him for training camp. He probably would be a solid enough 3 tier pg.
I see this move as a Mengke Bateer strategy part 2, which is to get an asian player to boost ratings and get our massive asian community excited about the Raptors. Omar Cook already proved himself to be reliable (for a 3rd string pg at least) so unless he took strides in the opposite direction during summer league, there should be no reason why he wouldn't get an invite to training camp. Maybe there's something about Tabuse that I'm missing out on, but it seems like the only reason he got the nod over Cook is b/c he's asian. Oh well, there's no point discussing this really..... it's only for a spot as a 3rd string pg. And if we get Jay Williams, then we probably won't see either of the next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunksworth:</div><div class="quote_post">I see this move as a Mengke Bateer strategy part 2, which is to get an asian player to boost ratings and get our massive asian community excited about the Raptors. Omar Cook already proved himself to be reliable (for a 3rd string pg at least) so unless he took strides in the opposite direction during summer league, there should be no reason why he wouldn't get an invite to training camp. Maybe there's something about Tabuse that I'm missing out on, but it seems like the only reason he got the nod over Cook is b/c he's asian. Oh well, there's no point discussing this really..... it's only for a spot as a 3rd string pg. And if we get Jay Williams, then we probably won't see either of the next season.</div> First off, Tabuse is much more reliant than Bateer. You would be surprised how many awesome players they have all over the world, but since it's an American sport, they of course don't want too many international players taking the spots of future stars from NCAA. My point is, it's not only because he's Asian, but because he made it to the NBA. He's probably like a Ginobili in Japan. I didn't like Omar that much to start with and Jay Williams can be injured in a snap. I think Tabuse is the best way to go and the Raps should give him a chance.
Are you kidding?? Omar Cook is DEFINITLY better than Tabuse at every part of the game. I know the fact that's Japanese and kind of unique is attractive, but he's a defensive liability and a below average backup.
Bateer actually looked good during his first season with Denver. It's just that after that he never found minutes anywhere. Tabuse is 5-9. I don't know how anyone will think that helps, but everyone will just shoot over him, and he will find it harder to get shots off. As fast as he may be, there are only so many Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins types. Tabuse didn't impress last season in one of the offenses more suited to his style and strengths, so I don't know how he'd do any better in Toronto. We should have kept Cook. Although he didn't shoot too well last season, he did a good job passing the ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Average home attendance has dropped in each of the past four seasons and it will be difficult for the organization to reverse that trend with the 2005-06 Raptors regular season set to begin on Nov. 2.</div> http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/T...216484-sun.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"We're looking for the right situation where a team can be patient," Billy Duffy said in a telephone interview yesterday. "I think he's probably 80 per cent there. We think he'll be all the way back by Christmas, maybe the all-star break." Williams, 24, was injured in a motorcycle accident in June 2003 and hasn't played since. Raptor general manager Rob Babcock has been watching his rehabilitation for the last 18 months, Duffy said, and saw the 6-foot-2, 188-pound guard work out last week.</div> http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...93064&t=TS_Home <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">major cities such as Toronto also have large Japanese Canadian populations</div> http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Japanese-Canadian could this all add up to the fact that tabuse has a very good chance to end up a raptor over jay williams?
I'd rather have Jay Williams or Cook over Tabuse, i havent seen enough tabuse to judge him but he didnt really impress when he was in the NBA. Cook showed a good sense of passing ability and he played well in the short time he played for us. But Jay is or should be the frontrunner.
I'd rather have Jay Williams over Tabuse and Tabuse over Cook. I really felt that having Cook on the offensive end was like a disadvantage. His man would wander off him as though he had no offensive ability. Cook couldn't hit mid-range jumpers and didn't seem quick enough for a guy his size. I'm hoping Tabuse can be something more consistent that Cook, hopefully quicker too.
I don't know if Tabuse really is going to sell that many tickets. I think tallent really comes into play as well. When ever the Kings come to town Serbians come out in mass to the ACC to watch Peja play.. same with chinese and yao. I'd say it's not just because they are from the same country as these people, it's also because they have amazing tallent. The combination of the two draws interest. At this point i don't think tabuse can get to the point where he sells tickets because of the above, even on a way smaller scale.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MAKEOUTCITY:</div><div class="quote_post">First off, Tabuse is much more reliant than Bateer. You would be surprised how many awesome players they have all over the world, but since it's an American sport, they of course don't want too many international players taking the spots of future stars from NCAA. My point is, it's not only because he's Asian, but because he made it to the NBA. He's probably like a Ginobili in Japan. I didn't like Omar that much to start with and Jay Williams can be injured in a snap. I think Tabuse is the best way to go and the Raps should give him a chance. </div> Face it, the only reason Babcock chose Tabuse over Cook is b/c he is asian, and a fairly marketable one since he has that rock-star, Ichiro look to him. Babcock already screwed the business aspect of game by stating that winning games isn't a priority this season, so in order to make up for this lost revenue, he comes up with the idea to bring in a marketable asian player to boost ticket sales and ratings. So it's not a coincidence that he would decide to invite Tabuse to training camp immediately after stating, basically, that the season isn't worth watching (unless you're really interested in the development of our young guys). Trust me, being asian myself, there's nothing more I'd want to see than an asian guy succeeding in the nba, but let's be real here..... bringing in a guy like Tabuse to replace someone who already showed signs of being a solid player would be nothing more than a marketing move. And unless there's something special about Tabuse that's being kept a secret, then I don't see this as being anything more than just that. But that's not to say that I'm against Babcock for doing such a thing b/c after all, the nba is mainly a business and money-making is it's number one priority.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunksworth:</div><div class="quote_post">Face it, the only reason Babcock chose Tabuse over Cook is b/c he is asian, and a fairly marketable one since he has that rock-star, Ichiro look to him.</div> here is a picture of the rock star himself kind of looks like the asian rod stewart http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/i...?storyid=203070 who knows he just might sell a few more tickets!
