The 2008 Toronto Raptors:

So, here we are ¼ of the way into the season and I think its safe to say that I speak for everyone in Raptors Nation from the suits at MLSE to the bloggers at Raptors Republic- that the season to date has been a HUGE disappointment. At while Id like to be optimistic, at this point the facts suggest that as this team stands now, at the quarter mark of the season, this team is headed for a lot more losses than victories AND not only is my prediction of a 50 win season in serious jeopardy (it would require the Raptors to 42 and 21 from this point until the end of the season and win at a clip of .750) but the Raptors making the playoffs this season is NOW in serious jeopardy. Continue Reading

Rather than spend my weekly column discussing how the Raps looked impressive in wins against Charlotte and Atlanta (and not too bad for 3 quarters against the 14-1 league best Lakers without JO), or how Sam Mitchell not only reads my column but also does in fact own and use a clipboard (he pulled it out at every time out on Friday), or how Joey Graham and Andrea Bargnani together are looking like the answer to Raps problems on the wings, or how really, as I mentioned last week in my column there is no reason to panic (again, what matters more is whether or not this team is .500 come January)… Continue Reading

The last 7 days for the Raptors have been difficult to say the least. Physically and mentally they have been taken to both extremes. In a week where they played both of the top 2 teams in the league, the Raptors were looking to find out if they were ready to acquit themselves at the highest level of play in the league. Here is how I saw those games. Continue Reading

So, for this weeks Rap Up, Id like to begin by simply stating:

- Put the rope down, its not that bad.

Now, I know that it looks awful right now, after all, in the last seven days the Raptors have lost 3 games, twice getting beaten badly and once getting shamed by an old lover- and even the one game they one was really all about luck since they blew almost a 20 point lead in the dying moments. And yes, they are letting opponents shoot over 50% from the field and from behind the arc at a scary rate. And JO appears to have injured his knee. And Calderon appears to not have fully healed from his injury (since he looked like a pylon against both Harris and Rondo). And Bosh looks sad and defeated. And no one appears to listen to Sam Mitchell. And Sam Mitchell doesn’t even own a clipboard. And Jason Kapono only shoots 2 shots some nights. And in retrospect it appears that we traded the wrong point guard. And Kris Humphries is sometimes the only guy in a uniform with any energy. And they are 2-4 at HOME this season. And somehow we now miss Carlos Delfino and think he is what this team needs. And Andrea Bargnani’s potential is now somehow the glowing beacon of hope in this season. And the season appears lost. And the coach must be fired. And the the GM who is a 2 time executive of the year suddenly looks clueless. Continue Reading

Each and every Monday we check in on the past weeks games and look forward to the next 7 days in Raptors land.

Ironically, even though the Raps went 1-2 in the last week, lost Jose Calderon to injury, and media buzz already started speculating on how long before Sam Mitchell gets fired,  it was a good week for the Raps. Continue Reading

Each and every Monday we check in on the past weeks games and look forward to the next 7 days in Raptors land.

Seven days ago, the Raptors were 3-0 after impressive road wins against Philadelphia and Milwaukee and a gritty OT win against Golden State.  Feeling the love of the new season, The Dr. boldly predicted that Toronto would end its atrocious display of poor basketball against the motorcity boys, followed by rolling over the wannabe’s from Atlanta before crushing Charlotte on the road.  Then, within 24 hours of my post, Detroit trading Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to Denver for Allen Iverson who would not be in uniform in time for the game at Toronto.- a 3-0 record, 3 days off, at home, against a Pistons team missing 2 STARTERS!!! my prediction of a 6-0 Raptors team heading into Boston tonight seemed not only possible but REALLY possible… and then it happened… Continue Reading

Raps This Week

Steve Gennaro aka phdsteve

Every Monday we take a look at the last 7 days in Raptorsland action and look ahead at the upcoming schedule to forecast what to expect.

First off, lets give credit where credit is due…the Raps are 3-0! Now, there has already been a lot of talk around the internet about how these are games that they are supposed to win- or how they were ugly wins- or how they were lucky- or how JO has not performed up to par…etc. etc. etc. Continue Reading

Raps This Week

Steve Gennaro aka phdsteve

Every Monday we take a look at the last 7 days in Raptorsland action and look ahead at the upcoming schedule to forecast what to expect.

In this week’s edition of Raps This Week we start at the end of the 2007-2008 season and then take into consideration the offseason and preseason to forecast what Raptors fans can expect from their home team in 2008-2009. Continue Reading