Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The coaches who win are the ones who can motivate their players — Vince Lombardi

We may be a month away from NBA action but basketball fans are getting a bonus this year. Across the pond, the FIBA World Championships are underway in Turkey bringing together basketball talent from around the globe. While teams like USA have left some of their star power at home, most participating countries have come fully loaded.

The Canadian team with a fresh new sponsorship deal thanks to Bell Canada made their first appearance in 8 years under coach Leo Rautins. They played well leading up to the tournament and went in with hopes to at the least get through the preliminary round. Those hopes were squashed in a hurry as the team blew leads in the first 3 games and then completely deflated to end 0-5. They could have easily won the first 3, they should have. Instead, they are packing their bags and heading home.

What went wrong though? Who is to blame for this embarrassment?

The first mistake was when Basketball Canada severed ties with former coach Jay Triano and brought on ex-player Leo Rautins to try his hand at coaching. While Leo may have been a good player in his time, he has never coached at any level. There is more to coaching than knowing the game. A coach needs to be able to motivate his players, connect with them and have a plan. Rautins didn’t display any of these attributes in the 5 games I watched, and even though he was working with marginal talents, it seems they were playing on their own. The substitutions were horrible, play calling that resembled that of a high school team and no sign of coach in the final minutes of the game when the team really needed him the most.

Michael Grange of the National Post doesn’t think all the blame should go on the inexperienced coach (link). I agree with some of his arguments but the guys in red and while played their hearts out without having a real coach to steer them in a winning direction. Its a shame that while Leo was strutting the sidelines for Canada the best Canadian coach, Jay Triano, is calling plays for basketball superpower Team USA — blame it on the politics.

Coach Rautins began this coaching stint a couple of years back and very quickly lost one of Canada’s better players, Samuel Dalambert. The two butted heads which led to Dalambert leaving the National team with no intent to return if Leo was on the sidelines. Coach also tried to woo Steve Nash to play for the National team but his allegiance lies with Jay Triano and Nash was not too happy when Basketball Canada made the coaching change. Before the tournament, Matt Bonner had applied for expedited Canadian status but was rejected. All that left Leo with Joel Anthony as his best NBA player along with his son Andy who got injured and was unable to contribute.

All is not lost though, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel — call it, THE FUTURE. With names like Myck Kabongo, Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson coming up, there is hope again that the next crop will take Canada Basketball to the next level… hopefully under a new coach!

Paired with Sonny Weems, the Raptors had a full highwire act going with DeRozan. DeRozan looked like he was primed for a signicant jump in productivity this season, especially with Chris Bosh you-know-where. He has such great length and his explosion was in the elite class. Averaging 21 points and 4.5 rebounds during Summer League, he and Weems had a plethora of highlight reels and looked like possibly the most impressive sophomore of the bunch. — Matt Moore (CBS)

There was a lot expected of DeMar last summer as he was drafted 9th overall by the Raptors and he had a fairly solid showing. This summer was different as he looked to be a man amongst boys. Right away you could see a change in his body — bulked up his upper half. His focus was there out the gates and it wasn’t long before he had heads turning. His mid-range game seems to have become more consistent, he was more committed to getting to the basket and the rebounding numbers were more in line with what the team needs after losing Bosh this summer. It is no secret that he is more of a quiet guy on the floor and that is something he needs to work on. With CB4 gone, there is a need for guys to step up and even though it may be a lot to ask from a young guy he will be better for it in the long run. Right now he has a comfort zone with Weems, Johnson and Jack but he has a chance to grow into a leader on this team.

Davis turned out to be one of the biggest surprises for me at summer league. Not just from the Raptors but almost all the guys I watched over the span of 5 days. Considering that he had not played organized basketball since about February, he was able to make his presence felt on both ends of the floor. He definitely is raw offensively but he already has a couple of go to moves and seems to be a great position player. His basketball IQ is there which helps him be johnny on the spot grabbing boards and swatting the ball into the stands. I didn’t know what to expect going in to watch him play but he really got me excited for the upcoming season. He comes from a good program and its evident that he has focused on the fundamentals. He also has a good frame that will fill out with access to a training staff. His lower body is bigger than the departed star which will help him in the block holding his ground. Again, he doesn’t have that alpha personality but if the other Young Gunz take him in there is a great opportunity for the team to have some serious chemistry that can will a few wins through the course of the season.

Weems surprised Raptor fans over the past season and took his act to summer league. Everyone I talked to wanted to talk about him and how he has found a perfect situation for himself. The jumper was there last season and it complements his high flying act. He had some of the best dunks seen in Vegas but still committed himself to defense. Two things stood out to me — Firstly, DeMar looks bigger than Sonny now and Secondly, he really needs to pass the ball a little more. Maybe it was summer league and he was having fun with it but it sure seemed like he jacked up a lot of shots. I imagine this was his final trip to Vegas in the summer (along with DeMar) and seeing what he brings to the table I see him as a core component to the Toronto Raptors in the future.

One word — RAW. Alabi is a project, straight and simple. He didn’t start playing organized basketball until a later age compared to most and has a lot to learn on a more basic level. I expect to see him in the D League or street clothes but if he focuses, he can learn a lot from observing the other players at his position. He has the length to be a premier shot blocker and rebounder but right now he needs to figure out how to play positionally. He has a butter fingers effect going for him right now which doesn’t allow finishing at the hoop with confidence. His face up game is more developed than the other aspects of his game. Right now the best thing for him is to watch, learn and practice hard. He has a bunch of guys ahead of him at the position so he will not have any pressure, rather just have a chance to develop at a steady pace with good coaching and some cooperation on his end.

Dwight-lite as @stackmack puts it. This guy is massive. Built like a tank with the cantaloupe shoulders, the only thing he lacks is height. With a non-guaranteed contract, Dorsey had to try and impress the Raptors coaching staff. He can rebound with the best of them but it stops there. Coaches were constantly harping at him for not running plays they called or when he was in a position to score he just couldn’t finish. I think if a team is committed to try and develop him as a Ben Wallace type it may work for him. I can’t see him cracking the Raptors roster when the team is already deep at his position making it hard to find minutes for him to develop. There is only room for 1 project at a time and the team has already handed Alabi that pass.

Bryan Colangelo’s first order of business was to lock up Amir Johnson long term. The last player ever to be drafted out of high school has found a home in Toronto and his brand of basketball has meshed well with DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems. The three formed a fun, athletic unit and allow the team to play a much more uptempo game. Just two games into summer league it is evident that Sonny and DeMar have worked on their games and are tearing it up here.

This years draft also saw Colangelo picking up two young, athletic big men. Ed Davis and Solomon Alabi are very raw on the offensive end but have the makeup to run the floor and get easy buckets while paying focus more on the defensive end. Davis known for his shot blocking abilities may see time at the 4 and 5 spot depending on how much C Bargnani has to play during the season. Alabi may spend the season in street clothes but has the potential to grow into a solid Center.

There is a good balance of youth and veterans on this team now and with the departure of much maligned Hedo Turkoglu, the team seems to have good chemistry going forward.

I will be at the next 3 summer league games so make sure you follow me on Twitter – @Nat77 and check back here as I will post a daily recap of Raptor games as well as some early looks at other rookies in the league

There are enough amazing columns about the whole ordeal from the leadup to the letdown (see below for a few selections). Everyone has an opinion and on this night in particular — they had jokes. One of the things that grabbed my attention was seeing how other athletes reacted to the news. I selected a few and formed a timeline as the events unfolded. Here goes…

THE HYPE…

Anthony Morrow – If LeBron leaves Cleveland they may as well go back to wearing those black unis wit the orange rim on them like back when bob sura played LOL

Sean May – Just got finished hoopn headed home to see what LBJ gone say! I say cleavland! Lol! This is kind of wild how everyone is waiting to see what 1 person does

Chris Bosh – Finally done with my physicals! I have to hurry so I can get in front of the TV and watch “The Decision”

Aaron Brooks – Lebron will start his own team in the state of Akron. Obama and Stern have approved the expansion of NBA and USA. Akron Kings

Larry Fitzgerald – Maybe Lebron should do like his commercial from last year & just announce that he’s gonna play WR for the Browns this season lol

Jordan Crawford – This is not about where bron gonna go… This is just a step for him to see if he can take over the world smh.. First step COMPLETE

Nate Robinson – Where is this dude LeBron going? He needs to hurry up B

Chris Bosh – I’m suited up and ready! Bout to watch ESPN. This is sports history we’re watching tonight!

TJ Ford – Who watch’n the decision.. Didn’t think I would be tune but I am.. This season will be off tha chain.

Anthony Morrow – “The Decision” LOLOLOL this sh*t is ridiculous!!!

Jordan Crawford – Bra it’s 9:03 we need the answer… What’s good

James Harden – HURRY UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jalen Rose – I’m glad Darko didn’t make us wait this long to get drafted or to sign this summer…HA!

DeJuan Blair – Lebron James is going to Chicago and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are coming out of retirement. Steve Kerr will be coach!!!

Charlie Bell – The world is at a stand still. Lol

JaVale McGee – R we seriously waiting for Lebron to say 4 words… I’m going to Miami/Chicago/New York/Cleveland

DeMar DeRozan – I wonder what’s the ratings on this? Lol

Jonny Flynn – Every follower I have is talking about LeBron. The world is In a stand still! Lol

DeJuan Blair – I’m nervous like I’m makin the decision lol!!!!! Well everybody I’m goin 2 da spurs thanks everybody 4 watching lol!!! Hahahahhaha!!

Andy Roddick – lebron is working an awesome abe lincoln beard in this interview!!! tight!!!

DRUMROLL….

Jason Thompson – WOW

DeMar DeRozan – Knew it….

JaVale McGee – R u still a nail biter…r u serious?…and Miami wow

Sean May – Wow!!! Didn’t think he’d pull the trigger

DeJuan Blair – WOWWWwwwwwwwwww!!!!!! No REsPECT!!! SMGDH!!!!

Marcus Williams – Sucker move.

DeMar DeRozan – What’s next Melo and Dwight to the Lakers?

Andy Roddick – cue will smith “welcome to miami”

Jared Dudley – WOW Miami! I can’t believe it!! Who would of thought D-Wade Lebron and Bosh on the same time..I really believed it was goin to be the knicks

Chris Bosh – Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jared Dudley – Lebron at the end of the day makes his own decisions.. He could of had a change of heart.. I feel bad for Cleveland and the Knicks

Chad Ochocinco – I just purchased courtside tickets for the #HEAT games once football season ends, my judgement was wrong, but this finna be #awesome

Sean May – I don’t know how they goin do next year! But I know they goin be nice on NBA 2k11 ! Lol

Jalen Rose – I don’t want to see fans of the Knicks/Bulls/Nets/Cavs/Clips/Heat(esp celebs) RUNNING to the camera on the Heat bandwagon.

Kyle Lowry – Dont everybody jump on!!

Reggie Bush – I know one thing, Miami gonna be crazy now!!!! Lol!!!

Sean Singletary – He said Miami n every girl n south beach jus got thirsty…

Chris Douglas Roberts – Ok….so it’s obvious that the Bucks will win the Central Division. What else do you guys see going on in the East?

Kyle Lowry – The heat will have 82 national tv games!!!

Jalen Rose – Pat Riley is the GODFATHER of the league.. All he needs now is talk w/a cottonball in his mouth.

Terrence Williams – Kobe would have never done nothing like that, an he’s the best, now if they don’t get a ring how sick would they B. I def will be playing with the heat on 2k11 tho

TJ Ford – That’s crazy.. Shouldn’t burn his jersey but that’s why we luv our family & talk about our familys so much” ain’t no luv in tha city ” jay z

Dwight Howard – Cmon cavs fans don’t do that. That man went hard for y’all for 7 yrs. He doin what’s best for him burning his jersey is messed up. That’s bs. Burning his jersey. That man tried. Wow

Matt Barnes – They bought there self a DREAM TEAM over in MIA. This will be interesting!!

Kevin Durant – …bron dwade n bosh are gonna b tuff…we gon see them on campus at Thunder U. this season…shuld be a fun game!!! #thunderup

Chris Paul – Glad bron finally got that off his chest…NO ONE can possibly imagine how tough that decision was for him…wish him all the best!!!

DeSean Jackson – This shit crazy Lebron signed wit miami with d wade and c bosh.. They tryn do somethangs huh?? Tryn buy a championship.. LAKERS.. Kobe24

Donte Stallworth – The focus should be on how SELFLESS these 3 guys are in taking LESS $ to try to win a championship… The media is funny!

Dwyane Wade – MIAMI. Welcome my brothers @KingJames and @chrisbosh to YOUR city.

Martellus Bennett – I know who I’m picking on NBA 2K11 lol. Heaaaattttt.

Jonny Flynn – Does ppl really think he wanted to disappoint CLE? He made HIS decision. What made HIM happy. Ppl have to respect it

Nick Collison – DECISION 11′ has officially begun!!! 365 days until Nick Collison announces his free agent decision in a one hour special live on PBS!!!

JR Smith – And the games begin!! Don’t get me wrong they are going to be a good team but I think we going to be ready! #trust

Jalen Rose – LBJ might as well put his house in Ohio on the market…it will be the biggest celeb mansion on the market since 50 Cent in CT.

Charlie Villanueva – Miami just more brought more attention and hyped entertainment to the @NBA league. I think it doesn’t hurt the game, it helps majorly.

Manu Ginobli – Rumor: @LScola4 to Miami? They say they need at least one explosive athlete in the team…

Rod Benson – CODDAMN DAN GILBERT. Man that’s true anger right there. Today has been absolutely nuts.

Kyle Lowry – Cavs owner snap!!! That’s crazy how you see people real side when things dnt go their way!!!! Wow!!!!!!

Chris Bosh – It’s madness out here! I’m on cloud 9 right now! This is like a dream come true to play with @dwadeofficial and @kingjames!

CJ Watson – Dan Gilbert went in on bron bron lol he’s hot

Mario Chalmers – All I can say is this is gonna b a fun and exciting year. Can’t wait till oct 1st. Somebody tell Lebron to hills at me bout #6 lol

Jared Dudley – Wow!! U see what the owner of the Cavs said about Lebron.. Crazy!! I know he’s from there but DAMN!!! I never heard a owner talk like that

BEGIN: Mo Williams Meldown

- Well fuck, I gotta be honest. I’m sick ass a dog. I feel like my heart has been pulled out. But I’m happy for my friend. Shittttttttt
- I can’t believe this is really real. This is surreal. So many emotions on one man decision. I wonder what is our next move.
- The only thing, and I mean the only thing I disagree with is…. If he knew somewhere else was the destination. He should have spared cle on National TV
- But this was history so we might not understand the magnitude today. But when we look back on this, we might not see this again.
- I still can’t believe he gone y’all. 4real no bs. I think we all took it for granted and thought it was a no brainer and he was resigning
- The person that I feel most sorry for is mike brown. He is a really good coach.

END: Meltdown – The King has spoken… SIGH

LeBron James – What’s up yall. Just landed in my new home. Thanks to all the fans and Miami organization who greeted me. The Road to History starts now!

Other must read articles on Lebronapalooza

Henry Abbot @TrueHoop (ESPN): Name the crimes of LeBron James
Bruce Arthur @bruce_arthur (The National Post): James makes ruthless play for Miami
John Krolik @johnkrolik (Cavs: The Blog): We Are All Witnesses
Will Leitch @williamfleitch (NY Magazine): LeBron React: Never Has Being A Sports Fan Felt So Stupid
Joe Posnanski (Curiously Long Posts): The LeBron Decision

Fans in Toronto can be angry about how he handled free agency but there are two parties involved here. Colangelo an Raptors management as a whole tried to play hardball and that may eventually cost them. From the looks of it, Bosh has decided to take less money to play where he wants. If that’s the case — good on him. He has stressed for a long time that he wants to win (3 playoff games won in 7 years is hardly a resume to boast about) and going to Miami where Pat Riley has shown he knows how to put together a winning team confirms that. The fact that Miami has just 4 players under contract is a whole nother story and should be interesting to see the pieces placed around the two stars.

Along with the winning, Bosh had said in the past that he wants to be the man somewhere. I guess no one told him that Miami is Wade County. Nonetheless, he has a better chance of being in the spotlight with Wade than with King James. Bosh never got the National exposure playing north of the border, but the losing didn’t help his case. Maybe if they won a series or two things would have been different. That’s as much on the Raptors organization as on him, the captain of the Toronto Raptors.

Right now that is my concern — The Raptors organization. They had plenty of chances to surround Bosh with good players but always picked the wrong guy. Colangelo tried to bring in friends of Bosh (see: TJ Ford and J Jack) to keep him happy but he would have been better off getting real talent around the 5 time all-star. Bosh walking and leaving the $30million is a big time blow to the Raptors. Bosh can make up some of that lost money on piggy back endorsements with Wade maybe and the face that Florida has no state taxes. The Raptors meanwhile can be blamed for Miami having the room to sign him in the first place. Colangelo did the Marion trade which allowed for Miami to clear space with the expiring Jermaine O’neal contract. Major OUCH.

There is still time for the Raptors to work something out and for the teams sake I hope they do. As stated many times on this blog — I am a season seat holder and my dedication is to this team (not an individual player) but when things like this happen I feel like I am being robbed in plain daylight. I have no ill feelings towards Bosh. Rather, a lot of great memories in 7 years with the Toronto Raptors. I will be one of the fans rooting for him as he continues his NBA journey and apologize in advance for all the fans at the ACC who will boo him.

Picture Above is via @sportscenter

HoH: It’s well documented that Davis is raw offensively. From your time following him as a college pro, what has he shown in terms of Basketball IQ and willingness to learn?

AEM: Having had a dad, Terry Davis, that played the game for a decade will help teach anyone about the game, add to that having a Hall of Fame head coach like Roy Williams, and I would say that as far as basketball IQ, Ed Davis has plenty of it. I am also of the opinion that the sophomore out of Richmond, VA. has all the willingness in the world to learn, since the National Basketball Association is where he was meant to be and now he is going to do anything and everything in order to stay in it. Having said all of that the 6’9″ power forward might be facing a battle he can never win: replacing someone like Chris Bosh.

The pressure of being the one coming in for an exiting All-Star is not going to be easy. The fan base needs to realize that Ed Davis is not Chris Bosh and is not going to be anywhere close to it. I see Davis as a good role-player for a team that has a true leader/star, which might be something that Toronto is lacking right now.

HoH: Its always easier to find about a player on the court but how was his reputation and demeanor off it?

AEM: In his second year some rumors came up about the young man not being a perfect team mate. Mostly circling around him always talking about his father playing in the NBA and how he was going to go there when the season was done. I talked to a couple of people close to the program and all agreed that this would not have been the big deal it was if not for the fact that the Tar Heels had a below average season.

In his first year, the one where North Carolina won it all, nothing like this came out. I have to assume a lot of this is a mixture of a young man choosing to stay an extra year and then seeing that if he had left a year earlier it would have been best. I am not defending this in any way, I am just thinking that if the Heels had the year they should of had this would be a non-issue.

Having watched the whole season I can say that the first couple of games after Ed broke his wrist the forward was not standing up when team mates were coming on/off the bench, he was slow to get up when the team huddled in time outs, everytime a camera was on him he definitely didn’t look like he was into the situation. That changed after a few games, and the reason for this could be one of two: either he got over the fact he was hurt and began to live past it and get back into the team mode or he was told to get with the program. Once again I do give him the benefit of the doubt having saw how he handled himself during the NIT run, looking like a true team mate with the rest of the guys.

HoH: Which NBA player do you think his game is most comparable to?

AEM: If I had to make the comparison right now, based on how good Davis can be, I would see him as an Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks). Cutting to the chase of it, I would not be one bit stunned if Davis was to be a double double player for the Raptors in his second or third year in the league. What will get him playing time in the mean time is the fact that he can play some good defense having good fundamentals on that side of the ball and being able to shot block as good as anyone in this class.

HoH: Now that you broke down who he compares to most in the NBA, what do you think his potential is?
AEM: A great role player. Someone that you might not see as the player that will change your franchise but will give you a double double each night while giving SportsCenter high light reel material thanks to his blocks. Under a good head coach Ed Davis can only improve, as I have said many times over in my posts the fan base at UNC never got to see the best of this young man. I am not sure if this makes sense but what I see in Ed Davis is someone that can be able to help the Raptors as long as not too much is put on his shoulders.

HoH: There have been rumblings that he is soft at times. What do you think he needs to work on the most?

AEM: More than soft, which he can sometimes be, I think that Ed Davis needs to still discover what he can truly do on the offensive side of the ball. Davis needs to develop some good moves around the post, but in order to do that his footwork and post moves have to improve. Even worst the defenders know that outside of the paint the young man has nearly no game. His mid-range game is almost nonexistent, his jump shot is a long way away from being NBA ready, and all of this makes it harder for him to be as good as he could be in the low post.

HoH: Lastly, what is your favorite memory of him during his time at UNC?

AEM: Of course him in the title game in his freshman year comes to mind. Watching him get six blocks against Duke (in a game where he didn’t play the whole game as he broke his wrist in it) was also a great memory, but if I have to say it would have to be the 2009 ACC Tourney, where he played well (averaging over 21 minutes per game), having his first double figure scoring game since the pre-ACC part of the schedule and did great on the boards, including seven offensives ones (in 2 games).

Again, I want to thank AEM from The5thcorner for agreeing to give us a little insight on the newest addition to the Toronto Raptors. Make sure you check out his site and you can also follow him on twitter @A_E_M .

INKED

Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks*
6 years @ $119 Million (not fully confirmed)
One of the marquee free agents of the summer, the Hawks wasted no time handing out a max contract to a payer who hugely underperformed during this years playoffs. Johnson has helped the team become relevant but after two years of disappointing endings, it’s come as a bit of a surprise that the Hawks didn’t think twice about the massive contract. There is a moratorium period to go through but all signs point to Joe returning as a Hawk — this time under a new coach.

Rudy Gay – Memphis Grizzlies
5 years @ $81.6 Million
That’s a lot of cash for a guy who has yet to live up to the billing. A restricted free agent, Rudy Gay was scheduled to meet with other teams but the Grizzlies didn’t want to wait and see how things played out. On day 1 of free agency they jumped the gun and offered him a max deal and that grin on his face got just a little bigger. Every year we see teams overpaying to keep their own guys but its strange the Grizz didn’t wait to let the market determine his worth.

Drew Gooden – Milwauke Bucks
5 years @ $32 Million
This is the longest contract of his career — I kid you not! Gooden has been a journeyman but never really played like one. He seems to fit with whichever team he is playing for but they never seem to want him back when they get the chance. This will be his 8th team and he should be able to provide some scoring for the Bucks on the front line who were extremely light at that spot beyond Bogut who should be healed after a horrible injury.

John Salmons – Miwaukee Bucks
5 years @ $39 Million
Salmons opted out of the final year of his contract only to ink a longer one with the same team. Brought over in a trade late in the season, he produced for the Bucks offensively and provided a veteran presence for the young team during the playoffs. The Bucks have been feeling generous over the last month by adding Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas Roberts to the mix. It is yet to be seen if there is enough ball to go around.

Amir Johnson – Toronto Raptors
5 years @ $34 Million
A member of the youth movement — dubbed the Young Guns, Amir flourished in Toronto last season. He is getting paid starter money but its going to be a challenge to get him to stay on the floor for starter minutes. The foul prone forward showed a lot of promise and will have some big shoes to fill with the eminent departure of Chris Bosh. He played well with Jose Calderon at point and fits well with what the team is trying to do. (More in a separate post)

Channing Frye – Phoenix Suns
5 years @ $30 Million
He scoffed at the original 5 yrs, $25 million contract offered by the Suns but it didn’t take them long to up the ante and get him locked up long term. Frye fit well in the Suns uptempo, drive and kick system. He became one of the more efficient 3 point shooters in the league playing beside one of the best to dish it. His role will expand with the departure of Amare but this is a good signing for a young guy who has room to grow.

Hakim Warrick – Phoenix Suns
4 years @ $18 Million
Damn those Suns are quicker off the court than they are on. Just hours after talks broke down with Amare Stodemire, the Suns reached out to forward Hakim Warrick and inked him to a 4 year deal. This essentially confirms the end of the Amare era in Phoenix and a fresh start with some younger faces. Warrick, a winner at the college level, has yet to find the right team to build his game with but if history is any indicator — Nash can make anyone look great.

Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
4 years @ $61Million
Richard Jefferson opted out of the final year of his contract — kinda crazy. Paul Pierce not so much. Pierce was due to earn $21million in the final year of his contract and this new deal allows the team to take a lesser hit next year. His loyalty to the Celtics was evident when he signed his previous deal. He has won the coveted ring and went to the finals again this year. The window is slowly closing on the aging Celtics but their Captain looks to want to finish his career here.

Darko Milicic – Minnesota Timberwolves
4 years @ $20 Million
One word — KAHHHHN. Seriously how is this man still earning an NBA paycheck. One of the biggest busts was just given some job security by one of the most bizzare GM’s in the biz (advised by none other than Rob Babcock). This signing further implies that the Wolves are looking to move Al Jefferson who has dealt with some injuries. Darko has yet to do anything in his NBA career and I would advise against holding your breath for such occurrence to take place.

Nikola Pekovic- Minnesota Timbewolves
3 years @ $13 Million
Nikola was the first player to be signed as free agency opened and another bizzare move by Davd Kahn. The Wolves signed the 6`11 center, who was the teams’ second round pick in 2008 to a 3 year, $13 million contract. Projected to go higher in 2008, his value dropped due to contract issues. Issues no more though as he was given the most lucrative deal ever signed by a 2nd round pick. Again — KAHHHHN!!

MOVED

Corey Maggette to Milwaukee <-> Charlie Bell & Dan Gadzuric to Golden State

Chris Douglas Roberts to Mulwaukee <-> 2012, 2nd round pick to New Jersey

Yi Jianlian to Washington <-> Quentin Ross to New Jersey

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Hardware on the shelf
No need for lefty free throws
Two years, new outcome
Prediction: Cavaliers in 6

Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
Howard well rested
Raining three’s at block party
War won in the paint.
Prediction: Magic in 5

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz
A coaching duel
Mamba. Underbite. Focused.
Who needs ligaments?
Prediction: Lakers in 6

Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs
There is no love lost
Drinking from fountain of youth
Suns get their revenge
Prediction: Suns in 7

Notes from the Floor

Jarrett Jack grabs two basketballs and decides to roll one at a kid, maybe 7 or 8 years old, sitting a few seats down from me.

“Now give me that back.” Jack tells the kid playfully.

The kid wearing a Raptors jersey rolls the ball back and as he does so, Jack rolls the second ball at him.

“Hey, kid! We need that ball! Come on!” Jack continues.

The game continued on and on with Jack rolling the second ball back at the kid the second he released his ball. The kid got Jack by punting the ball into the Raptor bench on the other end of the court. Jack was even forced to send the Raptor over to keep a close eye on this young fan.

When you sit courtside at a Raptors game, you start to learn a lot more about every player. You can hear them interacting with each other, see them run through their pre-game routine and observe their level of intensity. Jose Calderon was constantly talking and encouraging his teammates and running the warm-ups while I don’t think it is humanly possible for someone to be more disinterested than Patrick O’Bryant. O’Bryant was constantly trying to show off his three point shooting ability…or lack thereof.

I knew I was in the right seats when I arrived at my seats about half an hour before tip-off and Mike D’Antoni and Bryan Colangelo are laughing it up twenty feet away from me.

Some other interesting stories from the game:

• At halftime Jose Calderon and David Lee were engaged in a long conversation. I can only imagine Calderon asking Lee if he’d be interested in coming here next year.
• Another David Lee story— a fan came up to Lee as he was warming up for the second half and asked Lee if he has considered playing in Toronto next year. Lee replied that he hasn’t thought about it yet. And to be honest, I hope he never does…the Knicks interior defense makes Andrea Bargnani look like Bill Russell.
• Sonny Weems and Jarrett Jack were practicing shots sitting down about three seats down from me in the corner during warm ups. Weems and Jack both hit front iron once each. Weems gave the ball to a fan and asked him to try and that guy barely hit the restriction zone…standing up. He tossed the ball right behind me to another fan who after spilling his popcorn asked Sonny how much he was going to give him if he made the shot. Sonny told him to “shoot the damn ball”. But the fan insisted on having something on the line. Sonny replied…”FIVE STACKS! NOW SHOOT THE DAMN BALL!” He missed and Sonny asked for his money, settling for a high five.
• At one point in this game, with the Raptors scoring over 70 points in the first half, I began to wonder if the Raptors could score 200 points today…and then I started to wonder if we would get two slices of pizza for that…
• Danilo Gallinari took a three in front of me and I really thought he was going to fall backwards into me.
• Former Kansas State guard and Celtic, Bill Walker was shooting the lights out (and when you’re running plays for Earl Barron, you better be shooting the lights out) at one point and was going at DeMar DeRozan in one set. Walker was sizing him up and decided to pull up for three. He shot the ball and then looked towards official Eli Roe asking for a call gesturing that he thought DeRozan grabbed his arm. Roe made no call, the ball fell short of the rim and fell out of bounds. Roe then made a call: foul on DeRozan. Not only was there no foul by DeRozan, it was clearly influenced by the air ball and Walker’s complaining. If NBA officials want players to stop bickering about every call, they should stop rewarding this complaining. It is no wonder why writer Bill Simmons talks about player’s ability to “work” officials as a positive aspect of their game.
• A couple of times over the course of the game, you could hear the refs say “get out, get out” to offensive players camping out in the key. I always thought this is was a technique for referees to use at younger ages to teach younger basketball players how three-in-the-key works. One of the officials even reminded Amir Johnson after a play, “Amir, Amir, you gotta get a foot out”. I can understand why the NBA trains their officials to do this as they do not want the game to be slowed down…I just never thought it happened in the NBA until I heard it myself
• I know Hedo Turkoglu said in his exit conference that, “I know I disappointed a lot of people, especially the fans after they watched me many years coming over here and they expect a lot of things from me and I couldn’t do that. I know I upset a lot of people but it wasn’t really on purpose.” But watching him on Wednesday night, he looked really disinterested…not as much as Patrick O’Bryant though…
• I cannot stress how disinterested and complacent O’Bryant was. Joey Dorsey joined the team last week and was more excited than him.
• Before the game someone who worked in the building came to visit the people sitting next to me (I assume he gave them the tickets…) and was just talking about basketball, playoffs etc. He mentioned how Michael Jordan apparently gave the Bobcats a talk before their game about the importance to play hard for the integrity of the league…guess it didn’t work…
• Late in the game with the Raps up big, Toney Douglas inbounded the ball a couple feet down the sideline from me and was guarded casually by Sonny Weems. Weems saw the same kid Jack was joking around with before the game and gave him a look of complete, dead seriousness. Douglas inbounded the ball and as Weems backed off the sideline to guard him and gave the kid a smile…Weems was very friendly and seemed like a likable character

While the fans didn’t get the Bulls loss they were hoping for, they got an entertaining, offense dominated game which was thoroughly entertaining. The Raptors face a lot of questions going into this off-season but my only hope is that I can have another opportunity to see them that close again.

Thank you to Heels on the Hardwood and Gatorade for this unreal opportunity…it was really something special. Now let’s all hope for a successful off-season…

Photos from the Floor

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls
Get the rods ready
Over before it begins
The King busts a move
Prediction: Cavaliers in 4

Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Bobcats
GOAT on the sideline
But Superman on the court
Stan don’t need a suit
Prediction: Magic in 5

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Squad 6 can’t save them
Fear the Deer but not the team
Joe, Josh, Jamal. Dagger
Prediction: Hawks in 5

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
Fine wine they are not
Depth not required, youth wins
Old folks home awaits
Prediction: Heat in 7

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oaklahoma City
A team ruled by Zen
Present vs The Future
It’s showtime once more
Prediction: Lakers in 5

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Pop may pop a vein
There will be no straws needed
Dirkus Circus time (©TBJ)
Prediction: Mavericks in 6

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trailblazers
Suns will use their pace
The stretcher is on standby
Nash, he still got IT.
Prediction: Suns in 6

Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets
Denver Ink at work
Melo makes it look easy
Jazz with no answer
Prediction: Nuggets in 7

Photo Credit: Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images

When they say a picture is worth a thousand words, they were referring to one like the above.

You know what though, I’m going to give you the thousand words anyways. I won’t waste time with the final score and breakdowns by quarter, there are about 200 other articles on the net doing so. Instead, this is more of a reflection of how I felt for the duration of the game and the hours that followed.

You could feel the energy in the building before the National Anthems were sung. An arena full of playoff starved fans and almost every one of them knew what was at stake. A season that had begun with so much promise came down to a game against the Chicago Bulls. Too bad no one informed the Toronto Raptors about the importance of the game — or so it seemed. It started the way it ended with a sprinkle of good in between. But alas, the team just didn’t have enough, or want it enough to get the job done.

Was there ever even a game plan? Jay Triano has seemed to be in over his head pretty much all season and it culminated today. I have said it all season long, it’s a whole different ball game when trying to motivate guys who get paid millions compared to guys playing for their country. X’s and O’s are important and coach has that down but he never found a way to get the guys to buy into his plan. Some say, “Triano can only do so much”, but its inevitable that the team takes on the personality of their coach. When you are getting jobbed by the refs, if the players don’t see you fighting for them, they in turn will stop fighting too. I looked over at the bench in the 3rd quarter and Jay Triano just looked on. I longed for the days of Sam Mitchell. I didn’t even have to watch the post game to know that Jay said he liked the effort he got from him guys. This isn’t the first time he has given his team a pass after a complete dud of a game. Tonight the Toronto Raptors didn’t play well, tonight they were embarrassed in front of the home crowd and coach Jay Triano continues to insult a fanbase that is longing for someone to show some fight.

19 Rebounds from Hedo Turkoglu? Thanks for coming out but that was just like pouring salt on the wounds for Raptor fans. The man got paid for the season but only showed up for a few games. He received the loudest individual boo’s on the one night he didn’t deserve it. I refuse to partake in that stuff but I understand where the fans were coming from. He may be the Michael Jordan of Turkey, but the non-existant leadership skills and professionalism he has showed,makes him unworthy of carrying that title. You play 82 games for a reason, maybe if he had played like he did tonight, the Toronto Raptors wouldn’t be clawing for that final playoff spot.

The thought of Andrea Bargnani and his now you see me now you don’t act leading this team next season made me feel ill. I don’t doubt he is a good shooter, I agree that he has improved, but bottom line — he is no where near ready to carry a team. People questioned Bosh’s ability to handle that role and he was thrown into the fire at a much earlier age. This past week was an audition for Andrea and sadly he failed miserably. When he plays besides Bosh, it is a lot easier to justify his rebounding numbers but his display over the last few games is completely unacceptable. The language barrier has always seemed an issue with talking on the court but as of late he has been a complete mute. He could get away with it if he showed offensive consistency but that too may be asking for too much. So much for the mind blowing Caliper test results eh?

Before I go on to a few positives I have to point out the regression of Jose Calderon. I’ll be the first to admit that I am a fan of Jose – see him for what he is… or was. A sound point guard who brings stability to the team, has a good connection with the star player and can nail the jumper when needed. I let the defensive deficiency slide because the other stuff made up for it. He has had the luxury of holding the golden ticket, or rather a free pass in this city. The starting job was his to lose and he did. He got it back but I am not sure he ever deserved it. On this night, he was outplayed by Jarrett Jack and should have come off the bench in the 2nd half. Even if Jay Triano may have thought to make the change, I doubt he had the gumption to go through with it. Instead, he went to the disastrous 2 PG lineup earlier than usual which essentially spelled the end of the game. Jose is one of those “nice guys” who keeps a teams spirits up, but over the course of the season its been evident that he has not been happy. Unfortunately, tonight it showed in all aspects of his game.

But wait, it was not all bad. There are a few guys who left it all out there. Jarrett Jack, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson — My heart goes out to you. Antoine Wright hobbled and helpless, probably destroyed the locker while the team was throwing away the season. Chris Bosh, who has carried the weight of this franchise for 7 years watched from home as he nursed a broken face. These are guys I can get behind. They have the mentality you need to succeed and I hope the fans take a moment to appreciate them. This franchise will probably go through another makeover and sadly it will be some of the good guys who will be lost.

The thoughts around these parts are that a playoff appearance will go a long way toward keeping Chris Bosh in Toronto. Two more games to go. Two more nights of scoreboard watching as the fate of this team now lays not only in their hands but that of the Chicago Bulls. So, while this loss was a tough pill to swallow… it ain’t over yet.

Prize: 1 pair of courtside tickets to see the Toronto Raptors v/s New York Knicks at the Air Canada Center on April 14th, 2010.

The tickets are for the final home game of the season — otherwise known as “Fanapalooza”.

All you have to do to win is, join the Gatorade Canada Facebook page (link) and leave a comment on here telling me your favorite memory of the 2009-2010 Toronto Raptors season.

Contest Details:

• You must become a fan of the Gatorade Canada Facebook page. (Note: This is where you can win more tickets in the future for great sporting experiences)
• In the comments, let me know your favorite moment of the 09-10 Raptors season

Contest Rules:

• You must provide a valid email and name when entering through the comments.
• You must be able to pick up the tickets at WILL CALL at the ACC with ID.
• You may be asked to share about your experience on the blog after the game.

Contest Deadline: 1 PM (EST), Monday April 12th 2010. Winner will be contacted later that day.

Visions of a emotional Chris Bosh down on the ground after a missed shot fresh in my head, I stared at my TV in disbelief. Just 2 minutes into the daunting task of trying to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chris Bosh had once again crumbled onto the court. This time though, it was a physical pain that had him writhing on the floor as blood gushed from his nose.

It all happened so quickly. An errant elbow from Antwan Jamison left the Raptors franchise player with a maxilla and nasal fracture to the right side of his face. Translation — ouch!

The rest of the game was a blur as the team hung in tough but an entire fanbase held their collective breaths. My twitter feed was blowing up with each person describing how they felt. The tears that I held back when Bosh missed the shot v/s Golden State welled up in my eyes at the thought that this may have been the last time Chris donned a Raptor jersey.

This is not how it is supposed to end. After 7 years of blood, sweat and tears poured into this team, I want to believe he needs to finish it on his terms.

A playoff push and an uncertain future become secondary at times like this. Afterall, that is just a game while this is about a young mans health. So get well soon Chris and the game will be there for you when you are ready.

This year I am heading to Los Angeles to take in a game at Staples and then off to San Francisco for a game at Oracle. What’s even better is I have my friend Holly MacKenzie coming along. Make sure you follow both of us on Twitter to get updates from the games — @Nat77 and @stackmack. I may post some game recaps with pictures and such and will be back here next Monday with a breakdown of the Raptors 4 game west coast swing.

After a rough road trip the Raptors look to bounce back at the ACC. As of right now, Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu are a game time decision — safe to say this team needs to get back to 100% for the final push. The Raptors have lost 4 in a row but can make up some of the ground over the next two games. Fans got a glimpse of what life would be without CB4 and it wasn’t pretty. The offense seemed forced and the defense backtracked to November ’09.

The Knicks have been playing like they have nothing to lose with new addition Tracy McGrady stepping in as a point forward. Guys are playing for contracts next season and Coach D’Antoni has released his bench. Players like Bill Walker are getting serious burn and most teams don’t even have a complete scouting report on the guy.

The key to tonights game is to erase the memory of the past 4 and go back to playing like this did for the 20 games before them. The point guards will have their hands full tonight and it is vital they manage the game without forcing things. If Bosh isn’t able to go they can use some of the energy from the home crowd to boost them. Either way, in my opinion this is a MUST win game. No excuses.

Photo Credit: Ron Turenne/ NBAE

Don’t they look dapper?

The Toronto Raptors held their annual Red Party event last night and I had the pleasure to attend thanks to @fortressman. This has been the flagship event for the Raptors Foundation (now called Team Up Foundation) over the last 15 years and while I have attended in the past, last night was by far the best. The team has always been at the top of the list when it comes to giving back and this party does that while giving love to the fans who support them.

The event held at Muzik Nightclub, was sold-out to the tune of 800 guests who got a chance to mingle with the players and team personnel. The silent auction had something for everyone, including the “infamous” blue linen blazer worn by Reggie Evans while he was sidelined with an injury. To top it off, there was a surprise guest brought in for the event — none other than, Toronto’s very own “Drake”.

The tickets for the event are on the pricey side but with the proceeds going for charity there is always a nice tax write off involved. While most of the attendees were those who usually fill up the lower bowl at the ACC, it was nice to see some fans come out and support. The players were making the rounds and stopped to take pictures with anyone who asked. The club setting doesn’t lend to too many conversations but just getting a chance to share a few words with people involved with the team is always a great experience. By the time I got home I realized my throat was sore from trying to talk over the music all night.

The whole night is like eye candy for a Raptor fan. I got to chat at length with some of the radio and TV personalities and then moved on to cracking some jokes with Jarrett Jack. Never did make it around the whole place and totally missed Jose, Hedo and Rasho in the house. Oh and I missed out on the food too which was apparently to die for. But with me getting all dressed up, the last thing I was about to do was attempt eating kobe beef sliders while standing.

If I had to pick my favorite part of the night it would be the performance by Drake. As the rapper took the stage, everyone gathered around and even the players joined in as fans. I turned to see Reggie Evans mouthing the lyrics to the songs and DeMar DeRozan bobbing his head as he took it all in. While the suits may not have appreciated this as much, it was nice to see the players just let loose for one night.

My two gripes about the event were minor ones. Firstly, the silent auction was set up in a way it was almost impossible to see what you were bidding on. I got a Jamario Moon playoff worn autographed jersey a few years back and was looking forward to nabbing something but the display turned me off. Secondly, the gift bag had Olive Oil (!), a bag of chips and a coupon for a 12 pack of coke. Seriously? I got a pair of glasses last time with the Raptors logo etched on it. This time the best part of the gift was the bag it came in.

Overall, its definitely an experience I think any fan would love. If you can save up for a good cause and try to make it out next year it will give you a lifetime of memories you won’t soon forget.

• Read the Raptors.com recap of the event w/ photos (link)
• Read another recap from @Mrballer who attended as a guest (link)

After holding a successful contest last month (pair of tickets), I decided to continue with the giving. This time, up for grabs is a “Digital Photo Frame” that was given to me as a gift for being a Raptors season ticket holder. The frame has the Raptors logo printed on the bottom right and comes in a box commemorating the 15 year anniversary of the franchise. These frames were not available to buy so you would have a rare item in your collection.

- Make a collage showing your memories as a Raptor fan.

Contest Details:

• You can be creative using favorite quotes, screen captures, images but try to avoid using copyright material
• You can create the image in paint/photoshop or even in word. Creativity is KEY
• The final image must be no smaller than 400×600 pixels and no larger than 1600×1600 pixels
• You must upload your image to a site and provide the link to view in the comments section.

Contest Rules:

• You must live in North America to enter this contest (due to shipping)
• Any inappropriate images will be removed at my discretion.
• You must provide your e-mail when submitting your entry (fill it in comment section)

Contest Deadline: 6 PM (EST), Sunday March 7th 2010

Before looking at the end of the game though it is important to see how the team got there in the first place. The Raptors had a week off between games and they came out playing like they were still on vacation. The Grizzlies having played the night before got in late but that did not stop them from exploding out of the gates. A 12-0 run to open the game prompted a time out called by the Raptors but it didn’t help much. The momentum started to shift when Coach Triano made some substitutions late in the 1st and having Calderon and Weems come in to replace Jack and Turkoglu. The ball started moving and Jose was finding guys for easy scores. Weems being more athletic was able to stay with some of the younger guys on the Grizz. By halftime the Raptors had clawed back to cut what was once a 16 point deficit down to 2.

With the Grizzlies having played the night before, there were thoughts that they would be sluggish in the 2nd half with fatigue catching up. That wasn’t the case as they kept the 2 point lead going into the final frame. The Raptors brought out their “closer” Antoine Wright for the 4th quarter and things started clicking. Bosh scored 10 straight points and the team seemed to be ready to close things out. An inadvertent elbow from Rudy Gay sent Wright to the lockerroom to get stitches and while unfortunate, marked the turning point in the game. Coach brought in a struggling Hedo and left him in by subbing out Weems for the final minutes. Hedo was going through the motions all night with nothing going his way and instead of being a help on the floor he became a hindrance. The ball stopped moving when it got to him and on the other end he was a half second slow on all his rotations. The Grizzlies managed to score 5 points in the last 35 seconds to send it to overtime. The Raptors couldn’t recover from that and overtime was a whole lot of switching gone wrong.

The Raptors had control of this one and questionable coaching decisions may have cost them. It was Triano who decided to mess with what was working. Sure you don’t want your 53 million dollar man warming the bench but Sonny Weems was getting the job done. Hedo admitted to not having his head in the game (dealing with personal issues in Turkey) but it is the coach’s responsibility to recognize that. Triano has been good with making adjustments and as of late was getting a lot of praise regarding the job he has done. This night sent him back a bit. Sitting Jarrett Jack was the right decision but he should have done the same with Hedo. If it ain’t broke… don’t try to fix it!

Injury Update: Chris Bosh injured his ankle late in the game yesterday. It happened when he came down after a monster block and from my vantage point it looks like he may have rolled it slightly by landing on Bargnani’s foot. Reports are that it is a mild sprain and he did not travel with the team to New Jersey. Bosh has played in every game this season and this team can hardly afford to have him sidelined for a long period of time. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.

Trade Deadline Update: As expected, there was no movement from the Raptors as the trade deadline came and went. For Raptor fans they can breathe easy as the Bosh speculation goes away if only for a few days and then people can start talking about the summer. There were talks about a possible trade with the Lakers to bring Vujacic and Powell over to Toronto but thats all it was. Talk. The team that suited up last night will be the one the Raptors will have going forward and it is now up to them how far they want to go.

There were an overwhelming number of responses to the ticket contest, and most if not all the answers were well thought out. This just solidifies what we already know about the Raptors fanbase– Passionate!

I reached out to Raptor nation asking them to give their reasons why Bosh should stay in Toronto — a topic that I have written about in the past. I still believe he will remain a Raptor past this season with money being the motivating factor but won’t be surprised if he asks for a trade down the road. Like most fans, I am tired of all the speculation. The only people who know what is going to happen in the summer of ’10 are the guys themselves. For now, I look forward to enjoying what Bosh brings to the floor and appreciate him for the player he has become.

Winner – Ben
Why should Bosh stay? WHY? I have this pair of purple pajamas. Raptor pajamas. As time has gone by, as they were getting old and crinkly and ragged, I thought, “It’s time to let them go. It’s time to throw them away.” But dammit, they are SO comfortable. So soft (like the Raptors defense). I seemed to want to discard them as many times as I wanted to give up on the Raptors, after the heartbreaking game 7 loss to Philly (where I watched IN a hostile Philly bar), after we lost a young Tmac to Orlando, after Vince Carter turned off his heart and stole ours, after we drafted Araujo over Iguodala, after Paul Pierce dunked on Bosh earlier this season and stood above him — I’ve wanted to give up on these guys so many times, but I never had the heart to do it. Never had the heart to turn away from the NBA team that finally came to Canada after so many years of cheering for U.S. teams. And why dont I think Bosh will leave? Because he’s one of us. He’s humble. He works damn hard. He is friendly, a little geeky, a bit of an underdog, just like Toronto. I think he identifies with this city on a level he doesn’t fully understand. I think he belongs here.

GAME RECAP: Written by Ben
I attend a few games each year in hardcore section 318 – the old school Sprite Zone. Natasha’s tickets were a slight upgrade. In the platinum section. Two rows from the floor behind the net. When I got to my seat, three things stood out: (1) the number of security, media and Raptor personnel scurrying around, (2) how small the court looks up close; (3) how big the players really are. Bargnani may look lanky, but up close he’s actually a pretty huge dude.

Although I’ve been watching basketball my whole life, I actually felt disoriented for the first half, finding it hard to follow player movement and spacing, in part because when you’re behind the net your depth perception is off. From section 318, you get to see the bird’s eye view, and can almost anticipate plays and player movement. Up close and from under the net, your perspective is completely different. On the other hand, baseline blow-bys and alley-oops were a thing to behold, and thanks to Derozan and Amir there were a few to admire.

It was also fun walking in and out of the tunnels, which give you access to washrooms and concession stands. I also made sure to walk past when the Dance Pak started to linger. I ended up hanging out with a few of them in the tunnel opening and getting a few pictures. Really friendly girls, and I won’t lie, that experience alone was worth the trip!

The game itself is essentially a completely different experience from this angle; it is quicker, more rugged, and the amount of incidental contact that you notice is pretty amazing. A lot of people who don’t closely follow basketball often see the sport as finesse, but in truth it is a sport that beautifully balances physicality and finesse – speed and strength – and this experience has only cemented my feeling that basketball players are the best athletes in the world, playing what I think is the best sport in the world.

I selected some of my other favorite answers to share…

Brian Gerstein: The grass is not always greener, and since the Raptors have the ability to offer Chris the most green, that is taken out of the equation. Additionally, Chris has all of Canada behind him plus he has built a lot of equity in his branding as an original Raptor drafted out of College playing here all these years. Even his endorsement money will grow as Bosh is having a career year and will only get better as he enters his prime years. Finally, and most importantly, Bryan Colangelo has assembled the teamates with Chris that not only are locked up, but are more than capable of growing together with him for the next 5 years and competing for a championship, not just winning a round in the playoffs. Bryan himself will be with us for another year and a half plus should he resign Bosh, in all likelihood Bryan will sign another contract with the Raptors as he will also want to finish the job, meaning winning a Championship.

Jesse: Chris Bosh should stay in Toronto because he is the Toronto Raptors. He is the identity of this team and he is the reason we all stay glued to our tv’s every night. Not often do players get a chance to sculpt a franchise from the bottom up which is what Chris has been given the opportunity to do. To abandon his project before it is complete would be a disservice to the work that he has created and poured his blood, sweat and tears into. He knows it is not about him. He knows it is bigger than him, bigger than this city. It can be as big as he wants it to be, all he has to do is sign on the dotted line and we will continue to support him and this franchise no matter what.

Paul C: …because as he can see from Carter, Mcgrady, Antonio Davis, Mike James, et al the grass is not always greener on the other side. And instead of being someone’s Robin, he can run the Batcave with his improved supporting cast and have the satisfaction of building this contender from the ground up , which will make it sweeter……the extra 30 mil the Rapts can give wont hurt either…

Illest23: truly speaking, Chris Bosh IS the Toronto Raptors. I’m not gonna lie, I’m still sad over Carter leaving, because our future looked awful, if you can recall all those D-League call ups, signing ROD STRICKLAND (LOL). We’ve seen Bosh mature and elevate his play to NEAR-superstar level. He is simply dominating opposing big men now. Bosh knows Toronto loves him, and he obviously loves the city, or else he would have asked for a trade when we were struggling. He knows Colengelo is building the team around him, and if he were to leave, he’s looking for a championship, and if he can’t lead HIS team as the number one option deep in the playoffs, how would that help his ego if he’s going to a contender just to be the 2nd or 3rd option. Bosh is a smart man, and business ALWAYS comes first, solely for the fact that we can offer him the most money, he’d be a FOOL to walk away from what, almost 30 million? Bosh’s heart belongs to Toronto

Last year I went with a simple, why do you think you deserve the tickets question. While it got some original and funny responses, I want to change it up. The Raptors fanbase is one of the more passionate ones and seem to have an opinion on just about everything. Here is the deal…

Tell me why you think Chris Bosh should stay in Toronto and remain a Raptor
DETAILS:

• The Contest ends at 1PM on game day. Winner will be notified by 2 PM
• The Seats are in Section 114 – Row D (Rare chance to sit so close)
• Tickets are for the game on Wednesday, Feb 10th 2010 at 7:00PM.
• Winner will be contacted by e-mail. Tickets will be emailed and winner must have a printer to print them

RULES:

• You must leave your reply in the comments section
• You need to include your real e-mail on the comment so I can contact the winner.
• Do not enter if you can’t attend the game tomorrow.