iamhomin

Well, Peja for sure hates 100% hates it there now. I smell, trade-actions! Send Peja to the knicks!!

SacQuacker

Would you settle for Webber?

dom

Novemeber is the raps toughest month of their year. With something like 12 road games. If they can be at 500 in December they'll make the playoffs.

I think alot of you are forgetting who's on this team.

Vince Carter - who CAN be a great player.
Jalen Rose - See Vince Carter
Rafer Alston - who came into his own last season in Miami and is now a legitimate NBA point guard.
Chris Bosh - 4th overall pick last year who is ready to breakout big time in his sophmore season (Team leading scorer so far)
Donyell Marshall - Now coming off the bench which I think suits him perfectly. He could be a 6th man of the year candidate.

The defending champ Pistoms were no match for this Raps lineup.

DEI99662

Vince Carter - but wont be a great player. He is too selfish and will probably be gone by All-Star break. He is overrated.

Jalen Rose - I think out of the two, he can be good. He was happy and his attitude was awesome when he went to Toronto.

fdl

loren woods is looking pretty decent too.

I've been impressed by the raps so far. They have shown great work ethic and intensity, including vince, and they aren't always settling for outside jumpshots like the last couple of years (althought they still do it to a certain degree). And Bosh is really impressing me.

The only question is can they keep it up?

dom

They can very easily be 3-6 after this 6 game road trip and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that was the case. But, something about this new coach Sam Mitchell that makes me believe it won't happen. He's a guy who demands hard work alot like last years coach Kevin O'Neil. But the big difference is, Mitchell has the players respect because he's been there, he's gone to war in the NBA and knows what it takes. O'Neil hasn't and didn't.

chinoz

If anything Carter is too unselfish, he's a franchise player and should be demanding the ball more than he does. Too often last year he was deferring to other players not carrying the team.

Yesterday's game winning 3 was an example of how he should be playing. Very clutch!

DEI99662

He is overrated. He is not as good as everybody thinks he is. He got all that hype when all he did was win the slam dunk contest.

dom

He is either way too unselfish or just plain scared of taking responsibility.

DEI, your wrong about Vince. True the Slam Dunk contest gave him a great deal of popularity but Vince was averaging 23-24 PPG in his first two years and hit a ton of game winning baskets. He was a completely different player those first few years always a threat to drop 50. Then he began hearing about how good he was and how he was the next MJ and it somehow all went to hell for him. Plus all the injuries didn't help.

iamhomin

People say Vince is overrated because he's more known by his acrobatic moves, but he's actually the player people rate him as.

He's extremely talented and he can further his potential, but his mindset during the off season was quite embarassing. Hopefully things will get better, but Raptors have a very little chance passing the first round in the playoffs.

fdl

Carter can be as good as he wants to be. Talent wise, he's all there. He can dunk, shoot the midrange jumper, hit 3 pointers, carry and dribble the ball, make great passes. He's even shown improvement on defence.

The problem has been his work ethic, his health, and sometimes his decisions making (at times I feel he takes harder shots than he has too, or shoots when he should be driving to the basket. Of course when they go in its not a problem )

Carter was ranked 41st best player in the NBA by sporting news. At that number he is certainly not overrated.

iamhomin

I guess I should give them credit since it's deserved. They played great, all three times at Toronto, but Toronto, like the Knicks are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league.

DEI99662

I think thats part of the cause of VC's downfall. Hopefully he can overcome that and many more obstacles.

No the injuries have not helped his cause. IMO his is attitude about his team, wanting out of Toronto(not that it is uncommon for someone to want out, his respect for the game and the history just sucks.

DEI99662

I dont doubt that he has the potential, but his attitude needs to improve.

DEI99662

His offensive talent is there, but his defense has not improved at all, IMO. He went to UNC and I am surprised he never took pride in his defense.

[quote-fdl]The problem has been his work ethic, his health, and sometimes his decisions making (at times I feel he takes harder shots than he has too, or shoots when he should be driving to the basket.[/QUOTE]



And his attitude needs improvement.

dom

I'm not even sure where he stands on wanting out of Toronto? I havn't heard anything about it in the media so I'm assuming he still wants out Bu this beef was with having new coaches every year and a new GM. If he likes Mitchell and the new GM Babcock then will he change his mind?

I have a freind who works at the ACC and she tells me that the Raptors are in far better hands under Babcock then they were under Grunwald. The entire organization has changed for the better and that Babcock and especially Mitchell is very well respected by everyone unlike the previous administration.

DEI99662

Last time I knew, he still wanted out of Toronto. He is only playing right now, just to play and keep his stock up. If the situation is better, why has he not went public and said that he wants to remain in Toronto?

fdl

I think its too early to tell if the situation is better. If things are better and the team is winning I wouldnt be surprised if he retracts his trade demand. But he'll probably want to wait untill he is sure, i'd mid season at least, before he starts flip flopping

DEI99662

He probably will at that time when the trade deadline looms closer.

teg_to_bike

Oh no... I thought I would never have to hear that phrase again after Nov. 2!!

chinoz

If the Raptors keep winning.. Carter will keep his mouth shut.

It's going to be extremely hard to trade him. If he plays well.. stock goes up.. Raps win... then there's no reason to trade him. If the Raps lose... then who want to trade for him?

goose25

One more hard foul is all it will take to put Air Canada on the injured list.

goose25

Another heart wrenching loss for the Nuggets last night. It looks as if the team believed some of the hype surrounding them during the preseason and decided not to play well this year. Ho Hum, if it keeps going this way, Bzedlik won't have to worry about getting a contract extension.

iamhomin

At least the Knicks won yesterday.

Junkster

ugh!!! My nuggets are gonna make me go nuts!!!

Where's is this team that was suppose to be all this energy and fastbreaks?! And all the players, including Boykins, look like they took a roofie before hitting the court...

I want heads rolling... and a shooting guard that can great offence in the half court.

DAMN IT!!!

Junkster, who had high expectations from the Nuggs this year

teg_to_bike

Welcome to my club... high expectations, little results.
The stupid Bulls were 'expected' to make the playoffs last year. I'll be happy if they can win 35 games this season.

It is nice to see 4 Bulls rookies in the NBA's top ten rookies list.

Junkster

Yea, but you guys have been 'rebuilding' for the last like five years...

Junkster, who wanted second round of playoffs

DEI99662

See you at the Draft Lottery.

dom

What seperates Micheal Jordan fron every other player in the NBA?

Simple, he hated losing. It seems far too many NBA's aren't bothered by losing these days. A loss seems to easily roll off their back.

I personally can't stand losing a game of pickup Hockey

dabuda

yeah, there seems to be no accountability these days. players are all about "show me money!" once they get their $$$$$ and their team still loses more games then they win they start blaming the coaches or supporting players. really sad...

DEI99662

Probably dont care because all they care about is getting paid. Whether it is their contract or endorsements.

goose25

The fat lady is warming up for Bzedlik and she'll be singing soon. Kiki doesn't want him as a coach anyway, so he's sure to be gone. Also, their $90 million power forward is not making much of a difference on the boards or in terms of intemidation. The long neglected shooting guard position is also a major cause for concern and has to be addressed sooner rather than later. They should trade Skita for Casey Jacobsen of the Phoenix Suns or get another shooting guard who can pop from the outside.

ks112

your nuggets have too many powerforwards and too many egos. Mello is in consistent and doesnt' knwo what to do when he's jumper is falling

iamhomin

People, relax.

The seasons just began!

DEI99662

Yes it has, but some of us might want to think about the Draft.

dom

Raps are 4 -1

DEI99662

As iamhomin said, "The seasons just began!"

dom

True, but a good start to the season is vital. I'm also pupmed because the Raps won game 2 of a back to back. I can count on 2 or 3 fingers the amount of times they've done that in the last 3 years.

goose25

Atlanta, LA Fakers and Clippers, Bobcats, and a few others.

goose25

There's talk that he will be coming off the bench for a few games, until he starts playing team ball and improves his shot selection. It's still very early in the season, but it looks as if the pressure is getting to him already. He needs to calm down and let the game come to him and not concentrate on doing so much while on the floor. At least he's willing to play, unlike nutty ass Ron Artest. Uh coach, i dont feel like playing cuz i have this rap album to promote.