For as long as the franchise existed, optimism has been in the air that Raptors fans have lived on. From the promise of Damon Stoudamire, then Vince Carter and T-Mac and the on-the-cusp-ness (that’s a word, right?) that the team experienced in the early parts of this decade, optimism was the feeling du jour in Toronto. Even through VC’s self-induced demise, Raps fans had the promise of Chris Bosh to keep them thinking about tomorrow. The feeling skyrocketed with the arrival of Bryan Colangelo and the 47-win breakthrough campaign the team had two years ago and was there at the start of last season.
Then, something changed.
In his most recent video check-in for FanHouse, “Redeem Teamer” Chris Bosh sends over not one, but two videos from the Olympic vaults.
Now with the shake-up of the roster it is blatantly obvious to me what needs to be done with Jason Kapono. He has to start. Hell to me it’s a no brainer.
Just a while back we did an interview with Matt Devlin and much of my conversation with him surrounded the acquisition of JO and the potential benefit. Much of the chatter was on the issues opposing defenses will have with two All-Star big men on the floor. Coaches will be left having to decide who, and when to double and even more importantly who to leave open. Not to dumb things down too much but won’t it be exponentially harder for teams to double CB4 and JO with Kapono on the floor as opposed to Moon? One of the biggest benefits of having this two headed monster in the paint is to make things easier on your shooters, and Kapono is the best shooter this team has. From a percentage standpoint it will almost be unfair to opposing defenses. Bosh shoots around .500 from the floor while O’Neal shoots around 47%. Kapono as detailed above shoots a similarly high percentage. Combined they will be a nightmare for opposing teams and the team should do a much better job getting out to a fast start, something that plagued them for much of last year.
I’m just waiting for this season to start, i miss the “squeak, squeak, swish” or “clang” as the case may be. I know it’s too much to ask to have basketball all year round but i can’t help it. I can live with the gap between the NBA playoffs and the draft, but this post summer league waiting is for the birds… err… dinos.
With what appears on paper to be an exciting team this year, the Raptors should impress and no one is more ready to be impressed than yours truly.
Jermaine O’neal may be the best addition to the Raptors lineup in years and i know, i know, everything is dependant on his health, but who can pair up two big men like O’neal and Bosh in the eastern conference?
Jermaine O’Neal Helps to Host Charity Poker Tourney
The tournament took place at the Hard Rock hotel in Las Vegas. The Old School vs. New School poker event included celebrities and NBA players, poker pros, and fans. It benefited the American Cancer Society and Operation Smile.
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I wonder if JO offers Bargnani a rolex for his number…?
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I think the Italian should hand over the number and try another jersey.
Six weeks before the start of the season and probably very little will change between now and then.
“Jermaine O’Neal Helps to Host Charity Poker Tourney”
What worries me about JO and Barg for now is not the number on the jersey (for God’s sake !?) but these glorified summer training camps in Vegas. (Las Vegas baby!) I learned so far more about JO having fun in the bars and all kind of jet-set events then his training and Bargnani being there for week or two. What can you learn for a week?
Steve
Jermaine has been there for a while, but you are right Steve…he has been in the social pages on Vegas websites a few times every week. Not sure physical conditioning being offset by shots of tequila will make his rise from the ashes all that much better.
Bargs is a lost cause. No need to worry about him.
Scott: Grr.. I hate that Colangelo.. he capped us out and drafted that stiff #7 Andrea Bargnani. Our team sucks.
Brian: Oh, didn’t you hear? Bargnani is #77 now, he sold his jersey number to O’Neal for some 1337 skillz of rebounding and accurate shooting.
Spudz: Yes! And a Rolex!
John: Whoa, a Rolex? Forget the mad skillz, it’s all about that Rolex.
Scott: Hmm.. I’m skeptical about the Rolex. Are you sure it’s real?
Steve: Who cares if it’s real, he’s got 1337 skills now!
Brian: No, it’s with a Z.
Spudz: Rolez?
huh?
So was it a real Rolex or what?
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