Will the Raptors hit the jackpot?

Its mid March and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Raptors will not make the playoffs this season. Bold statement I know. (eyes rolling)
With the Madness in full swing its got me wondering.
The Raps will be a lottery team this season. I wonder how good of a pick they can get?
A look at the NBA bottom feeders and the Raps sit tied with Golden State with the seventh worst record in the league.

Lets for chance say they pick as low as fifth or as high as eighth. NBA mock drafts all over the web have different opinions on who will go where. Besides Blake Griffin being the consensus number one in pretty much every mock draft, the rest of the field is tough to call.

One mock draft has U Conn's 7'3 block machine Hasheem Thabeet going as low as second and another as high as fifth. This guy will be a legit center in the NBA. A rarity in the L now a days. To think a can't miss like Thabeet could slip to fifth means a few things.
This is going to be a stacked draft. Or these people don't have a clue what they're talking about.
I'm gonna say its a bit of both.

The 2009 NBA draft class is quite a unique group. One of the main reasons. Its not 100% who exactly is going to declare. Two guys who some feel could change the outlook of the draft are both playing pro internationally
Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio has apparently declared according to "sources close to him". This kid is being coined as the second coming of "Pistol" Pete Maravich who some believe could be the real number one pick in the draft. I'm not sure about the Maravich comparisons. I think its more because he looks like the Pistol. He is however a real deal point guard who should be may very good in the L. He was fantastic in the Beijing Olympics as Jose Calderon's back up. He's also only 19 and is already in his fourth season as a pro in Europe. This kid is a can't miss prospect who if declares, will go in the top five.

The other key factor in this seasons draft is Brandon Jennings. The Oak Hill High School phenom choose not to go to Arizona, but instead went to Italy to play pro in the Italian League. This kid has tons of potential, and could be the next Allen Iverson or the next Sebastian Telfair. His game needs work, especially on the defensive end. His offense has apparently taken a back seat in Italy and word is he's been working hard on his D all season. Many NBA scouts will say he's just too skilled to pass up. So was Telfair. Would be very interesting to see if Jennings' stays in Europe to work on his game, or if he'll chase the money to come to the NBA.

Their are a handful of freshmen that may or may not declare. The likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Willie Warren, Jeff Teague, Greg Monroe, Demar Derozan, Tyreke Evans & Jrue Holiday are potential lottery picks. Its a wonder whether these kids are ready for the show or could benefit from a few more years in college. Thats the gamble of coming out too early.

So much is uncertain in regards to whom the Raptors could get or what they will do with the pick. A look at what they need is a better way to approach it.

The five, four, three and one positions on the Raps are solid but not concrete. Thats Bargnani, Bosh, Marion and Calderon.
Outside of Bargnani, the rest are expendable. Even Bosh. I know many will disagree with me on Bargnani. When you got a seven footer that shoots threes and drives like a guard, you just don't get rid of them. He's been taking awhile, but this year has proved that Bargs is going to be a really good player, maybe even an all star one day. He may never be the MVP like Dirk Nowitzki who he's consistently been compared too, but his skill set and size are just too rare to throw away.
Marion is at the end of his contract and may or may not resign in T.O.
Since their days in Phoenix, The Matrix and GM Bryan Colangelo are still very close. I think Marion could do well staying with the club. As long as he doesn't break the bank, he's worth it. I like the up tempo energy Marion thrives on, and think the Raps could benefit from playing that style. Plus he can rebound and plays D. Something the Raptors know very little about.

Bosh and Calderon are the pieces that need to be decided upon. Bosh has one year left on his contract and will draw a huge line up of teams wanting his services when he becomes free agent. With the way Bosh has played this season, is it fair to say the Raps should look at dealing CB4?
He is the best player on the team that is apparent. Is he the guy to carry the team and get them back to playoffs? Tough to say.
The real question. Does he still want to be in Toronto?

Calderon is another tough call. He is not 100% this year and its showing. Some nights it feels as though he's too concerned with his assist to turnover ratio, and that he just refuses to make that tough pass in transition. Thats where having Marion is kind of pointless. He thrives in the open floor. If you can't push the ball in the open court the team misses out on easy baskets.
I think Calderon is safe. The point guard position in Toronto has zero depth. Unless a deal comes round with a solid PG in the mix, he stays. Draft day deal for Rubio perhaps? I don't think so.

The glaring hole for the Raps comes at the two guard. Anthony Parker is at best a role player in the NBA. Not a starter.

He would be great coming off the bench. I like his game, but he's way too inconsistent. In the NBA the two guard position has some of the deadliest players. Kobe. D Wade. Vince Carter to name a few. All have their way with Parker.
There are a few really good two guards in this years draft. One that comes to mind is James Harden in Arizona State. A bit undersized at a generous 6'5, but at a solid 220 pounds he can be a handful for some guards. Many compare him to a thicker Manu Ginobili. Would be very tough to get him later then the fifth pick unfortunately.

My gut tells me that Colangelo will wait to see how high of a pick the Raps get before he makes a decision on what to do with the future make up of the club. In essence this season could be a blessing in disguise. The start of this season the Raps looked like they should be a playoff team. The reality is this. The true colors of the Raps were shown this year. They don't have the depth or a strong enough starting five to win in the L.

Getting a top ten lottery may just be the essential piece BC needs to get this team back to where they belong. That pick packaged with Bosh could be very enticing for many GMs around the league. Moving Bosh could be the best thing Colangelo can do for this team. It could also be a huge gamble that could hurt the future of the NBA in Toronto and in Canada.

Paris and the Madness are about to go down!

Tomorrow morning at exactly 9:20am (pacific) the madness begins.
This evening at exactly 4:55pm hoop heads around the North America come down with the flu. A flu that can't get these brave warriors back into their offices for at least a week. Or at least till the Elite 8. Funny how that seems to happen year in and year out.

March Madness kicks off tomorrow and I've yet to do bracket. On paper it looks simple. Louisville, UNC, Pitt & UConn, all number ones. All worthy to win it all. All worthy to go down as quick as Paris Hilton at a Hollywood party.
This year is like every year for this tournament. Any team, any game. Thats why its the madness.
Lets begin.

Midwest:
Louisville is a beast. Earl Clark is one of my favorite players in the NCAA. They've lost to some weak teams this season, but have been on a tear to close out. I'm taking Louisville here. Look out for a gem of a game between Louisville and Ohio State in the second round. Won't be an upset, but Ohio State will give them a run. Im a big BJ Mullins fan. Watch out for him next year.

West:
Again with the number one seed here. U Conn is just too much for anyone in this bracket. Thabeet, Price, Dyson, Adrien. So many weapons. Memphis is a good team, but not great. I see them only getting as far as the sweet 16.
Purdue is my upset team if there is one in this bracket. Its U Conn's to lose.

East:
Hate to sound like a broken record, but the number one seed with prevail. Duke just hasn't convinced me all season long. Villanova & UCLA will have a great match up in the round of 32. I like Nova getting to the Elite 8, but Pitt will be too much.
Sleeper team. Florida State.

South:
Everyone has North Carolina as a lock to win the South. I however disagree. I watched UNC more then any team this season. I just don't think they can do it. Ty Lawson needs to be 100% for them to win. I got it down to two teams. Oklahoma or Syracuse.
Nobodies picked the Sooners with many people writing them off. I'm a Blake Griffin man, and think it will come down to the miracle Orangeman and Griffin's Sooners in an epic sweet 16 match up. I'll take Griffin and the Sooners here. Call this one more of a hunch. Its like I said though. Any team. Any game.
Oh and before I wrap up the South. My team the Michigan Wolverines whom I embraced in the Fab Five era, finally are back in the tourney. I got them to take Clemson in the first round. No chance against Oklahoma in the next round though.

Right so that makes my final four.....

Pitt vs Oklahoma
I like Oklahoma but I don't see them handling Pitt. Dejuan Blair and Sam Young are just too much for Griffin to handle. Pitt in a walk in this one.

Louisville vs U Conn
I think this will one hell of a match up. Louisville runs a lot of different guys, for short amounts of time. They got the depth in the energy department. Samuels, Clark & Williams will be big in the paint. Will they be enough to handle Thabeet. I think so. This one will go down to the wire, with Louisville taking it.

From 64 to 2. Pitt vs Louisville. Heres how I see it going down.

This will be physical and one of the best finals in recent memory. Blair & Clark will be leading their fronts. I like the strength of Pitt. It will be close, maybe even overtime.
Im saying Pitt wins it all.

Right so there we have it. You could really flip a coin for the majority of the games in this tourney. Thats the beauty of it. I will be shocked if one of the four teams I took to make the final four don't win it all. That being said. Put your money on UNC all you handicappers.

The kids are the real show!

"Its the most wonderful time of the year"

No its not Christmas, and no the NHL and NBA playoffs aren't for another month or so. March Madness begins this Thursdays, and I'm just a little excited. Its actually sickening how excited. Really the madness began over this past week, with all the conference tournament games in the morning and evening making me literally become one with my couch. Throw in the odd NBA game and I'm officially an all out geek when it comes to watching basketball.
Did I mention that the BC Boys AAA Provincial High School Basketball Championships were going down across the city at the Agrodome?
Ya I went. I know, I'm obsessed.
Got to witness my boys the Kitsilano Blue Demons win their only game of the tourney. Not a great show for the Demons, but beating the eventual champs at the Lower Mainland Tournament to qualify for the provincials was one of the best games I saw this season at any level. The Blue Demons will win the Lower Mainland next season, and will be one of the contenders to win the province. Trust me.
I wanted to see the Titans from South Kamloops more then any team in the tournament. One cause they were the top ranked team in the province all year, and two cause I heard they had a 6'10 kid named Kelly Olynyk who's headed next year to Gonzaga in the NCAA. Not sure what his actual numbers were this season, but I'm sure it was something round 30+ points/ game and like 10+ rebounds/ game. Something disgusting like that.
Anyways since he's so huge, I assumed he was a post player who just destroys under the basket. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The kid was the point guard with a ridiculus handle and a money jimmy. I skipped the semis against St Georges thinking Kelly and crew would roll over the Saints. I was wrong and pissed I didn't go. The game went to OT, with the Saints pulling out the upset lead by grade 11 star Emerson Murray's 26 points. Olynyk did his best, dropping 37 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists in the lose. Thats the best thing about High School and University ball. Nobody's safe. Any game is anyones to win, or lose.
Saturday evening was the finals between Lower Mainland champion the Vancouver College Fighting Irish and St G's. This is a huge city rivalry. I made sure to check out South Kamloops play for 3rd and 4th against White Rock Christian Academy. Wasn't even a game, with the Titans taking the Warriors 94-75. Olynyk scored 46 (!) to go along with 15 rebounds and 5 assists. The kid is without a doubt one of the best prep schoolers in Canada. I'm curious if he could play point in the NCAA. I'm thinking he'll be a wing down south. Regardless expect to see Kelly on the Canadian National team really soon.
The finals were all that everyone wanted (well maybe not VC fans). I was sitting in a group of ex- Saints, probably in their mid twenties. They were pumped for the game, and though I could care less who won, deep down I really don't like St Georges.
The game went back and forth, with both teams going on runs of offense, backed by some good defense. The stars of the respective teams Emerson Murray for the Saints and Thomas Scrub for the Irish were relatively quiet throughout the game. Thomas' little brother Philip was on fire for the Irish making tough shots all game leading his team with 27 points. Thomas did haul in 17 rebounds, but his shooting was off going 3-11 including 0-4 from three. Watch out for Philip Scrub next season. The kid is the real deal.
The player that kept the Saints in the game wasn't Murray or their great point guard Dillon Hamilton. The difference was their lanky post Joshua Robertson. The 6'8 forward had an incredible 21 rebounds to go along with 24 points. I've seen Robertson play a few times this year, and was always impressed with his hustle and play.
VC held a 6 point lead at the half, but St G's stayed in it right down to the wire, backed all the way by Robertson. Philip Scrub hit a huge shot to give the Irish a 1 point lead less then 20 seconds on the clock. Thats when the quiet killer Emerson Murray, who was clearly not 100% in this game, hit a baseline jumper with 2.6 seconds left to give the Saints another upset victory. Murray has one more year of High School ball left, and is a lock to go south to play Division 1 in the NCAA. The kid has the game to back up his swagger. Like I said, I'm a Saints hater, but you can't help but love Emerson's game. Respect!
The NBA is the show, but when it comes down to it the best basketball is played by the youth. You won't get better value for your buck. I live in a city with a great basketball community, that couldn't support an NBA franchise. Shame really, but thats big business. Unfortunately the Grizzlies needed the loot and weren't getting it in Lotus Land. Fortunately youth basketball is striving and the ball fans in Vancouver have a relative and economic alternative to the NBA. I actually think our Basketball BC under 17 team could have given the Abdur- Rahim lead Grizzlies of the past a real run. I'm sure Big Country Reeves couldn't have kept up.

Thursdays thoughts...

Its Thursday, the weekend is right around the corner. Sun is shining bright here in Vancouver, but I'm feeling sour.
Why?
Could have something to do with the fact that my teams won't be in the NBA or NHL playoffs this season.
I'm getting used to the Leafs barely showing up for most games, but the Raptors too! So much promise and hope going into the season for the Raps, went slightly, that is extremely downhill. Shaq calling out Chris Bosh as the Rupaul of big men in the NBA really isn't far off. I love me some CB4, but not the one that's been shying away from the contact on the Raps this season. Time to Buck up Bosh, or its time to move on.
What happened to all that MVP talk at the start of the season?

Will Vancouver ever start to believe in the Canucks?
The team goes on fire and wins 12 of 15. Then loses two in a row (on the road no less), against two very desperate clubs in the Kings and Ducks. Suddenly the sky is falling.
This team probably won't win the cup. This we know. The problem. Most Canucks fans are satisfied with just making the playoffs? Barring a complete collapse, the Nucks will get to the dance, and hence every Canuck fan can breath easy, cause to them just getting in the playoffs is a successful season.
Mr Gillis. For the love of god get this team to win a cup. Maybe then the lowered expectations from the fan base can end. Then Canuck fans can realize that though making the playoffs is a big achievement, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.


The NHL GM's have been in Florida all week, sitting pool side and even talking hockey. One major topic is the rule changes when it comes to scraps, fist a cuffs, brew hahas....you know fighting. The league is looking to impose a 10 min misconduct for instigators or to those that engage in "staged" fights. You know the ones that start right off the drop of the puck. The league is hoping that the 10 minute misconduct will deter those from instigating fights. Just another band aid solution for really something that should be pulled out of the game completely. The best hockey in the world gets played during the NHL playoffs, the olympics and the World Cup of hockey (or is that the Canada Cup), whatever they call it now a days. You don't see fights going down then, and the product of the play is of the highest quality.
I have always felt that fighting was part of the game, but I've changed my tune and think its time to straight up pull it out of the game. Is it going to take someone in the NHL dyeing before the league seriously does something. Blood will be on your hands Mr. Bettman. You know as good as anyone, that fighting sells hockey to the five people that watch hockey in the States. Can't lose that precious US market, right Gary? Get your head out of your wallet.

Speaking of that twerp Bettman. What the hell are you doing with NHL?
Teams in Nashville, Atlanta, Phoenix, Florida, Carolina, but no teams in Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, hell Saskatoon. Any of these city's could probably generate a larger fan base and revenue then all those american cities combined. Who really though hockey would be a good idea in Tennessee! Wait Gary did.
Funny how an American that knows nothing about hockey runs the most important hockey league in the world.