Colangelo the Chemist

[slowandeasy]

Geez wrong hole when you put it like that, these guys might as well commit hari kari on mass...

I agree with you that we are going to have some problems... they have given up a big part of the team and lots of points... but I believe that this is a much better team than last year's 27 - 55 (1-15 November)???

This year, they actually have a basketball team, not a mish mash of players. I think you are underestimating Nesterovic's presence in the middle. We might actually have a guy who will take pressure off Bosh on the offence. Nesterovic is not Ben Wallace on defence but he has to be better than some of the guys that played the position last year.

We will have a point guard that can't shoot again this year, but I am pretty sure that this one will be able to penetrate and breakdown defences. Leading to open shots for our guys.

We will have a SG that will be able to defend someone....

We will have a SF that will offer some quality minutes and tough defence for us... and there will be alot of spare parts...

Are we going to have the greatest turnaround in NBA history? NO... but will be get to 500... probably...

Earlier, someone mentioned 47 wins... it's not out of the realms of possibility..
but I would not bet money on it......

I would be happy if they hovered at the 500 level for the season, showed that they can play good team defence, and Barganini/Ford round out their games...

 

[Choron]

How in the world can you even think that we would get 47 wins?

I'd be suprise if we win as much as last year. Who is going to score besides Bosh...we lost mike james 20pts per game and CV's 16 pts (avg when he started games)...and all we got back was TJ and his 41% shooting average (12pts).

All the other new guys are basically scrubs...seabass avg 7 pts for philly...Parker and Garbage might not even be able to play in the NBA...they are two unknowns - I mean if those guys could play...you got to wonder why no team has picked up Parker before (he's 31)...same with Garbage.

So our starting line up would be

Bosh - he's a star stats-wise but he has never shown any ability to carry the team to victory

Mo-Pete had his best yr last year...will he have another

TJ - bad shooter, can't defend and average 1.4 more assist then mike james...but doesn't hog the ball

Rasho - the marshmellow man...softest centre in the NBA..he's a scrub

Parker...unknow gut who avg 15 pts in the Israel team...whoa that is our saviour

bench

Seabass - 7pts per game and 2 assist...

Bargs - avging 13pts, 2rebounds, 5 turnovers and 8 fouls per game and in summer league...he's got a long ways to go

Joey Graham - useless tit...nuff said

Calderon can't shoot for shit

Garbage and Tucker...these are the Domni's of Basketball

This is a 47 win team????

Last year Philly had Iverson, Iggy and Webber and they couldn't get 40 wins

On some points, I would agree but for the most part you are way too harsh on the team...Salmons is a lot better than you give him credit for (consider that he was a backup last season)...Also you don't seem to take any defense into consideration in your statements...

Also BC wouldn't get guys if he didn't think they were the right way to go...

 

[Big Michael]

How in the world can you even think that we would get 47 wins?

I'd be suprise if we win as much as last year. Who is going to score besides Bosh...we lost mike james 20pts per game and CV's 16 pts (avg when he started games)...and all we got back was TJ and his 41% shooting average (12pts).

All the other new guys are basically scrubs...seabass avg 7 pts for philly...Parker and Garbage might not even be able to play in the NBA...they are two unknowns - I mean if those guys could play...you got to wonder why no team has picked up Parker before (he's 31)...same with Garbage.

So our starting line up would be

Bosh - he's a star stats-wise but he has never shown any ability to carry the team to victory

Mo-Pete had his best yr last year...will he have another

TJ - bad shooter, can't defend and average 1.4 more assist then mike james...but doesn't hog the ball

Rasho - the marshmellow man...softest centre in the NBA..he's a scrub

Parker...unknow gut who avg 15 pts in the Israel team...whoa that is our saviour

bench

Seabass - 7pts per game and 2 assist...

Bargs - avging 13pts, 2rebounds, 5 turnovers and 8 fouls per game and in summer league...he's got a long ways to go

Joey Graham - useless tit...nuff said

Calderon can't shoot for shit

Garbage and Tucker...these are the Domni's of Basketball

This is a 47 win team????

Last year Philly had Iverson, Iggy and Webber and they couldn't get 40 wins

Dude, don't worry about the points. Toronto was 4th overall in points scored in the NBA last year with James taking a boatload of shots. Toronto was also second last in points allowed and 5 worst winning percentage, no one should be untouchable with stats like that. It would appear that BC wants the points spread out more..ala the Suns. This requires a true point guard that gets everyone involved. You will see a more balanced offence with everyone involved and not standing around watching James chuck them up. There will also be more competition at each position, therefore if someone doesn't bring their A-game, they will sit. Mitchell proved he will sit anyone, see Carter and Rose last year. BC knows that he does not have a championship or maybe even a playoff caliber team yet, that will take another year or two at least. But, he has to sign players and max out under the cap before Bosh's extension or he loses that space. The trick, which I think he has accomplished, is to obtain decent players that have moveable contracts. Therefore he will have contracts to trade. We are not going to know if this team is better than last year's until maybe December, but we have more competion at each spot and hopefully players will give more, I think this will improve the culture around the team and provides a good starting point.

 

[SneakyLB]

ummm wasn't Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa unknowns as well? Hmm wonder what happened to them this year

 

[iluvquarks]

Dude, don't worry about the points. Toronto was 4th overall in points scored in the NBA last year with James taking a boatload of shots. Toronto was also second last in points allowed and 5 worst winning percentage, no one should be untouchable with stats like that. It would appear that BC wants the points spread out more..ala the Suns. This requires a true point guard that gets everyone involved. You will see a more balanced offence with everyone involved and not standing around watching James chuck them up. There will also be more competition at each position, therefore if someone doesn't bring their A-game, they will sit. Mitchell proved he will sit anyone, see Carter and Rose last year. BC knows that he does not have a championship or maybe even a playoff caliber team yet, that will take another year or two at least. But, he has to sign players and max out under the cap before Bosh's extension or he loses that space. The trick, which I think he has accomplished, is to obtain decent players that have moveable contracts. Therefore he will have contracts to trade. We are not going to know if this team is better than last year's until maybe December, but we have more competion at each spot and hopefully players will give more, I think this will improve the culture around the team and provides a good starting point.

Agreed. Though I do think T.O. will make the playoffs and believe that TJ will not only get a few more assists but run the offence quite well, penetrate, create mismatches, etc. and our attack will be more balanced.

 

[frankcastle]

Sounds to me like the Raps plan on trading one of the SFs......Mo Pete plays SG/SF so I have a feeling he'll be gone.

 

[Choron]

I don't think Mo pete will be traded as he is the best shooter left on the team...Correct me if I'm wrong please...

 

[hooktonsc]

Bargnagni comparison to other big men?

Have no idea about this guy, but it always takes big overseas guys time to adjust to the NBA. Anybody know what this guy plays like? Any comparison to, say, Yao Ming (who took at least 1/2 season to figure anything out), or is that being totally unrealistic?

 

[Choron]

Well the kid has a good work ethic(so he's very diligent)...He doesn't have the language barrier that most other foreign athletes have(he already speaks decent english but he still takes lessons to become more comfortable with the language)...He has been working out hard from what I understand to put on more muscle...His shot seems to be there so I could see him on the perimeter putting up 15 a game at least this year, but his rebounding, shot blocking and perimeter defense might take time to grow as athletes in the NBA are much better than those in Europe...

 

[basketcase]

One problem that Euro players have adjusting is getting used to playing offence in a north american system and getting used to players instincts. Having a lot of Euro players might make adjustment easier as they know what to expect from each other and can work together.

 

[wonkyknee]

just to play devi's advocate:

1. didn't the U.S come in 4th in the last World Championships?...so there must be a boatload of players in Europe etc that can compete.

2. Garbojosa(spelling??) is coming for his interior game, both boards and shooting touch are refined skills for him.

3. Tucker: see Garbojosa..except no experience

4. T.J. Ford is here for his outright speed. The kid is fast. Raps haven't had speed since Stoudamire(not counting Bogues). He is gonna have to find some kind of shot to perfect(anything... doesn't have to be 3points)...but even more, Raps haven't been able to defend against speedy guards.

5. Rasho is a solid all round forward/Center. He will surprise naysayers with boards/points and defense. He's got plenty of experience practicing with Garnett and Duncan. Again we've gotten killed by big men around the league.

6. Salmons: C'mon the kids got game

7. Parker: experienced 2nd point guard or off guard. Solid 2nd line player...maybe even contend for 1st string

8. Bargnani: 7'2" nuff said

9. Graham: great athlete...he needs to play a lot and get confident...he needs to get "nasty" actually. He has the God Given athletic gifts, he just needs to get some "attitude". If he plays some "crazy" defense and attack the boards, Mitchell will play him. Graham should watch Artest video all summer.

Bottom line the team is deep and should be able to defend better than last year, rebound better, and send out a stronger 2nd line all year long!!
Coach Mitchell has got a variety of weapons and should be able to match up with anyone in the East..or West for that matter....Injuries shouldn't have as much of an impact as they have in the last 3 years.

Coaching in 06/07 will be the key........and there are 3-4 dark horses that need to step up big to have a playoff contender and an Eastern conference contender.

I think we also got rid of any abrasive pesonalities. The problem-childeren are all gone(we hope). Team Chemistry can develop a lot more quickly in a positive enviroment.

 

[slowandeasy]

I think we also got rid of any abrasive pesonalities. The problem-childeren are all gone(we hope). Team Chemistry can develop a lot more quickly in a positive enviroment.

Great summary.... but you forgot just one thing.... CB4 needs to make this his team and step up as the vocal leader (he is already the leader by example). Mitchell seems to want to spread thing around alot.... no problems with that, but at the beginning I would like to seem them run the offence thru Bosh...

 

[wonkyknee]

Oh yeah...

Great summary.... but you forgot just one thing.... CB4 needs to make this his team and step up as the vocal leader (he is already the leader by example). Mitchell seems to want to spread thing around alot.... no problems with that, but at the beginning I would like to seem them run the offence thru Bosh...

of course..thanks.....don't want to take Bosh for granted, and leave him out of the "praise" lists...and yes go through him first, if he's got that 18 foot jump shot going, just keep going to him...he know to go to the basket too.


again the team is deep, if Mitchell can feel confident putting either line out there, he can demand that each and every one of them works their ass off, cause they will get a breather when the next line comes out.

done properly, i wouldn't compare this team to the Suns but maybe to a Jerry Sloan outfit.

 

[slowandeasy]

Sounds to me like the Raps plan on trading one of the SFs......Mo Pete plays SG/SF so I have a feeling he'll be gone.

I hope not... BC has stripped the team pretty thin... Mo Pete has had six long years with the Raps and he is a quality player and character. After that, Bosh has the longest term with the team. It's already a very young team. Why give up a guy that can help the newcomers get comfortable in the city.

 

[Choron]

I'd only consider moving Mo'Pete is there was a killer trade available...

 

[Choron]

i always like his name but he fall out sucks...HHHHHAAAAAAAFFFFFFFAAAAAAAEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (not sure why they always pronounced it with an H instead of the R for Raffael) lol