Would You Rather Be Here?

Yes it is true the Raptors have lost 2 games in a row. Time to panic and freak out for a lot of Raptor fans. Maybe it is having a long memory or having put up with so many bad seasons but I look at things with a little bit of perspective. I am just as unhappy as anyone about the team's recent performance. But I remember the Mike James, Chris Jefferies, Hoffa and many other Raptors that were part of dark seasons in Raptor history. Chris Bosh does too I would imagine. He remembers the first few years of his career where the playoffs were a far off land that he could just experience as a reporter for NBA TV. But these days the playoffs are an expected thing for the Raptor Star and his team. Bryan Colangelo has come to Toronto and totally changed the attitude and culture of the Toronto Raptors. That may be why Raptor fans are so disappointed and concerned. They forget the bad times and are living in the moment. There is of course the people that hopped back on the bandwagon and you know who you are. I mean I watched seasons with 16 wins back in the day. Unless you weren't born and you didn't than you are not a diehard. But that is cool the fact the ACC is full each and every night is a great thing. MLSE is more than happy to take your money to make up for the lost playoff revenue for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are going to be golfing for the Playoffs in the NHL for a 3rd straight year. Raptors are not going golfing in April or whatever Basketball players do in the off season. I have seen evidence in the Charity Golf Tourneys that it isn't golf. Maybe golf on the Playstation 3. 

Tonight is a game that will likely shape the playoff future of the Raptors in some way or at least could. I would venture to say that NO ONE thinks they have a chance to win tonight in Orlando. I can't say I blame people. A NBA Record of shame getting outscored 32-0 in second chance points does not exactly inspire confidence. But I will give some of you true optimistic people some hope. Throughout Raptor History when you think they have no chance is when they will pop up and shock you. The real shame in all of this is the fact that most likely Bosh will not play. He and Dwight Howard have a great battle going. This is one of the better match-ups you can watch in an NBA Season. Hint to the folks at TNT put the Raps and Magic on Thursday night next year you won't be sorry. The thought that no Bosh will mean Dwight Howard will run wild is a fair one. But if the Raptors have on of those unexpected wins in them than Rasho Nesterovic will be a key reason to why it happened. He has shown that he can guard guys like Howard and have some success. Rasho is rarely given much love by Rap Fans and I understand that. But he is a value to the Raptors maybe not matching his high contract number but still a value. It is likely if the Raps make a major move in the off-season  or next season Rasho will be part of it based on his contract more than his play. I will miss Rasho if that happens. Rap fans will too when he is gone. So give Rasho some love while you have a chance.

Sam Mitchell will need to get his team back on track. Not because fans suggest his Job is on the line. Mike Woodson in Atlanta has his Job on the line not Sam. But he does have to get tough with his team and demand a better effort from them on the defensive end. One is an accident and twice is a trend and the longer it lasts the worse it will get to fix it. Bosh to must get in the ear of his team. If he doesn't than he should have just stayed back in Toronto cause as I suggested a few days ago that he can have an impact by leading his team off the floor even though he can't be on it. Bosh has grown into the role of leader and has shown in the past the ability to be vocal if he chooses to do so. Sometimes a coach can say something till he is blue in the face but when the most popular kid in the school yard says it than people listen. Bosh is that kid. 

In the most shocking of moves the Boston Celtics signed Sam Cassell. I think we have been told this was happening like a month ago or more. There is the Issue that he smashed his now team mate Rajon Rondo. But Rondo is willing to let history stay in the past. No doubt Celtics needed a back-up for Rondo. But I don't think Cassell would be my choice but than again I guess they ran out of options. But I think I'd have pushed to get Mighty Mouse over Cassell. The obvious reason is that Kevin Garnett wanted Cassell and when you bring a franchise back from the dead I guess you pull some weight with management. But be careful Boston. Remember what happened in Toronto back in the V.C days. The Raptors caved to Vince and over paid for Alvin Williams, JYD and Antonio Davis and got Hakeem. It did get Vince to re-sign and it also killed the franchise going forward. Than when Vince wanted a G.M in Julius Erving and Raps said no and that was enough for Vince to say trade me. All I am saying is do not let players run the team that is a mistake. No signing Cassell doesn't matter. But it is starting down a path that may not have a happy ending.

So gameday means Raptor Rewind later. Regardless of if a Raptor Miracle happens or not still there is a Recap here at DINO NATION. Mike James believes he can fly and that the name on the back of his jersey is what counts. I still believe in the Raptors and the name on the front. Although I will be happy to see that B O S H on the back of a jersey sooner rather than later.