What's Wrong With The Raptors?: When's Reggie Evans Getting Back?
11/10/2009
Good day! My name is David Bain. I am a taxi and wheelchair van dispatcher in York Region north of Toronto.
I also have a philosophy, psychology, politics, religion, and more...network of some 50 blog sites called: Hegel's Hotel: DGB Philosophy. You can google either of those names and should be able to find my network of blog sites. I probably have about 500 essays on line now under different subject categories and under 'Most Recent Papers'...
I have a classy girlfriend, Sharida, of ten years and two children from a previous relationship: Michael, my son, who is 24 and living in Newmarket independently of me, developing a career as an arborist; and Jennifer, my daughter, who is 19 and living in Nova Scotia, close to her mother, and going to college to be a social worker next year.
I just recently started my own Raptors blog site within my Hegel's Hotel network but look forward to the opportunity of expanding my Raptors writing here in a larger writing and reading forum. I have been a Raptors fan for a good 10 years or so now (since their inception) and have seen the good, the bad, the great and the ugly with the Raptors. I did well in two CBS NBA fantasy pools I was in a couple of years ago.
The Raptors soap opera continues...with me still following their up and down evolution including their various progressions and regressions...Hopefully, the Raptors are starting a new progression stage....with the signing of Turkoglu -- assuming BC can find a bench to support the starting five. That could be a challenge with the NBA rules being the way they are brushing away the rest of our free agents after we sign one from another team (even though our own free agent -- Marion -- resisted re-signing with us at a market value he will be lucky to get elsewhere.)
Anyways, the name of the game...as in all of life...not just basketball... is adjustment and compensation...and hopefully that is what the Raptors will successfully do... We will see what the rest of the summer brings us... Hopefully a surprise or two at a bargain basement price!
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Tonight: October 6th, 2009, London, Ontario, 7:30pm, Raptors TV.
Comments
I would like to see a starting lineup tonight of Evans, Bargnani, DeRozan, Jack, and Calderon.
Second unit: Johnson, Rasho, Weems, Belinelli, and Douby.
Extras: Banks and O'Bryant.
Much of the attack is going to have to come from the guards tonight with the absence of the Big Two (Bosh and Turkoglu).
I look forward to the opportunity of seeing Calderon and Jack playing together, a combination that could be out there in crunch time in most games. The advantage is speed and double penetration power -- breaking down the defense from either side.
To be sure, Jack will also get some minutes running the point but I also look forward to seeing how Douby and Belinelli might work together in a secondary backcourt. Other possibilities: Calderon and Belinelli, Jack and Belinelli.
Upfront, Bargnani and DeRozan may have to carry most of the weight tonight, Bargnani hopefully showing further development in his toughness and inside game as well as his patented outside shot, and DeRozan -- as well as Weems -- both attacking the rim from the small forward position.
I wish that Amir Johnson was about 20 lbs. heavier to be able to guard some of the heavier power forwards but his slighter build provides an advantage of speed and energy. I will miss Pops this year, so hopefully, Amir can help me forget about Pops' absence.
I may travel to London to watch the game tonight. Or settle in to watch it on Raptors TV.
51 days ago
The excitement is starting to build...The new NBA season is almost on us...The players are starting to come back together...
Life is good!
68 days ago
Hey David
Just read your BB back to me on your board! Anyhow i would have much rather to have POPS than Douby, O'braynt, or even Weems..we already know about my personal preference for Jodie Meeks in that trade LOL. Yes i notice that creativity is apparent in some of the articles that i have been seeing in our Raptor sections. I liked the trade for Carroll BUT then really to get rid of Banks to accept another year of someone else's contract doesnt make that much sense to me...on second thought..Yes the depth is good however this cannot be proven until the season starts and the first wave (if any) of injuries come along. I would really like to see DeRozan show something in training camp this year.. while i dont think he is a ROY...i think that his growth will indicate a positive direction with his selection.
-Mike
69 days ago
Hello Mr. Bain
Here is my latest, the REAL story on Gilbert Arenas along with some breaking news that you may not be aware of!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256325-atlantic-division-showdown-raptors-versus-76ers
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256410-here-is-what-really-happened-to-gilbert-arenas
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256423-breaking-news-kings-to-sign-mason
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256429-breaking-news-blazers-sign-howard-to-a-one-year-contract
-Mike
69 days ago
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the comments.
Yeah, my only real disappointment is that they didn't find a way to keep Pops.
O'Bryant lacks the physicality to be a decent center and he didn't really dominate in the summer league at all. Pops would have.
I guess the trade off is Amir Johnson for Graham or maybe Wright for Graham. I want to see Sonny Weems. He had a good summer from what I remember.
The Banks for Carroll trade would have been nice but I guess Dallas probably had second thoughts on that one.
Rasho brings some solidarity back to the backup center position.
Evans takes the place of both Humphries and Pops. Or Amir replaces Pops but with about 30 less pounds of beef on him. That's a lot less weight and muscle.
Turkoglu, Jack, DeRozan, and Belinelli are all solid additions that should make us deeper and better.
Only a couple weeks to go til training camp...Withdrawal symptoms are high...but not much too longer to wait..
71 days ago
Hey David
Shame on me for not paying attention to my BB, and now apparently i've been not keeping up with things!
That aside i hope my post finds you and your loved ones well. Regarding your post
I have not heard, nor have i seen the reason why it did not work out but my personal theory would be that money, and the wantingness to give Sonny Weems a chance seem to be factors. That and Dallas really has no space at this point in time (they are currently looking at 2 for 1 deals to free up a roster spot)
I am somewhat pleased with the roster that has been constructed and i am still very surprised that Luther Head has not been picked up by anyone.
Joey i was never a huge fan of but last year he showed that he may just start to get the whole how to play in the NBA deal. As for Pops i too would prefer him to a Patrick OBryant, but sometimes there is reasonings that we are unaware of (there is a buyout for 800k for him so he's likely stuck here for the year undeservedly)
I do like Wright over Graham but that is based largely on Wright defensive prowress in college more than the compliments given to him by his former coach in DAL.
I like the depth that has been amassed as well, it's a very impressive job considering that it came out of nowhere. I believe the raptors should be able to play more team defense this year and may set a record for taken charges this year.
Amir Johnson was suppose to be a prolific rebounder and shot blocker that could run the floor ...think sean williams of the nets. However that potential has not been realized... so now he is here. Do i like him? Kind of but im not sold as he supposedly doesnt posess the type of work ethic that NBA players normally posess. On the other hand the teams he's played for Det, and MIL havent run offenses to his strengths AND remember Det was a veteran team with a solid rotation of players so there really wasnt that big of an opporuntity for him. I can't wait for the season either
-Mike
71 days ago
Hello David, here is the follow up article on George Martin. I would appreciate it if you would take a look at it and leave your support in the comment area. Feel free to pass it around. Thanks!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/244249-give-george-martin-a-key-to-nyc
88 days ago
Hey David
Hope everything has been okay with you, the Raptors have made another move however, I don’t agree with this one!
Here’s my take on the player they should have acquired Jodie Meeks.
Comments and critiques are always welcomed
-Mike
100 days ago
I'm finally a Featured Columnist now! Please check out my latest article, it's a little different because I did it blog style and another bonus article on fantasy football.
Please provide your excellent feedback!
ro
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/237277-blog-transcript-from-first-half-of-houston-cougars-scrimmage
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/237449-fantasy-football-to-retire-or-not
101 days ago
hey David
I’ve started a weekly segment looking at a review of what has happened in the NBA for the week. Your support and commentary would be greatly appreciated as I continue to hone my writing and analytical skills
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/236362-this-week-in-the-nba-5-things-i-think
Thanks in advance for the support!
102 days ago
Hey, my school has just started back so I hadn't found much time to write a new article in awhile. Well, here it is. This article is about Duke Basketball and their 2001 Championship run. Please check it out if you get time! Thanks!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/235869-looking-back-at-dukes-2001-national-championship-season?just_published=1
104 days ago
Hey David
The Toronto Raptors still have questions entering their training camp, here's my article looking at some of those questions. Comments are welcomed, opinions required!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/235041-raptors-training-camp-questions-and-perspectives
Thanks for the Support
Mike
105 days ago
Hey can you check out my latest article.
Everyone loves Mark Cuban, did you know that he was even a disco dance instructor in high school? Lol. He is featuered in this article.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/227930-the-curious-case-of-the-dallas-mavericks?just_published=1
118 days ago
Hey david
im sure you heard about the trade already, here's my take on it
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/227348-belinelli-for-george-what-does-it-really-mean
Comments are always welcomed
-Mike
118 days ago
david does not have any awards.
david is not a member of any communities.
You must register in order for that functionality to work!
i.e. San Francisco Giants, SEC Football, NFL, Golf
david bain said...
DeletePhiladelphia's Prognosis Tonight -- and for the Season:
Philadelphia's season this year will likely depend on two main factors: 1. a comeback year from the last year injured Elton Brand; and 2. perhaps even more so from their new starting point guard, Louis Williams, taking his game to a higher level or not.
Iguodala and Thad Young will need to provide scoring from the wings. Dalembert will need to be steady on the boards and on defense, and Jrue Holiday will have to show -- even at his young age -- that he is a capable back up point guard.
Tonight Philadelphia may get by on superior scoring power from the wings and power forward slot as well as a potentially tougher inside game.
However, overall, Philadelphia's success or failure this year will hinge on the success or failure of their two point guards, Williams and Holiday where there seems to be a lack of veteran savy, experience, and depth, and the successful or non-successful return of Elton Brand.
Prognosis Tonight: Philadelphia due to the absence of Bosh and Turkoglu, and Philadelphia's likely greater scoring power in the starting unit.
51 days ago