ballocks

to date this offseason, i've heard far too much talk about the future of the raptors, the pot of gold down the road, planting seeds now for fruits to come off the tree later, etc. i think there's an unhealthy amount of patience around the team these days, in the same way that i thought there was an unhealthy amount of patience (read: complacency) around our team in the playoffs this year.

imo, i often see that as a sign of insecurity, even weakness. we're not quite prepared to win, we're almost scared of it, to the point where we concede defeat before we even get started. or rather, we put it off for later. "we're building... we don't need to win now... let's just win later..."

i want to end the pursuit of these (much too) modest goals and instead aim for a higher standard. imo, that's probably the only way we'll ever get to that championship level. we have to aim for it now. anything short of a title should be seen as a disappointment. personally, i've rarely been as disappointed as i was during the new jersey series. i hate the "happy to be there" syndrome. champions, imo, do not suffer from that complex- we clearly did, so it begs the question today: are we championship-calibre? i guess the answer remains to be seen.

i mean, look around you. there are fans, mediatypes, players, coaches, execs who are already talking about 3 or 4 years down the road. i'm like, are you serious? their argument is here: chris is 23, tj's 24, bargnani's 22, calderon's 25, and they're just getting better. a basketball player's prime occurs around 27 yo, let's wait for it.

in other words, let's put it off for later. i'm not down with that.

for starters, chris bosh is, whether we choose to believe it or not, quite a veteran 23 yo- in mind, absolutely, but also in body. you look at this guy running the floor these days and you think, i seriously doubt he has 15 years left on those legs. 10 productive years? i seriously doubt that, too. i think his future is now- is he breaking down already? well, no, not exactly. but i've seen this player/body before. he ran like a gazelle when he first came to toronto and, to be honest, he runs like anything but a gazelle today. i don't want to get anyone paranoid here but i see it as a fundamental truth: his body, at best, is in its peak condition right now. not five years from now, not even two years from now; right now. to wait any longer for fruits to fall from the tree is a wasted opportunity- when it comes to chris bosh, i think the fruits are falling off as i type this, and we'd better grab the basket as soon as possible to go out to catch them.

andrea bargnani? i'm not really worried about him because i think he's as ready as i'd want him to be- i think he would agree with this assessment of the team. yes, he's 22. but he's been a professional for five years. the only thing left for him to learn is not his body, is not his mind, is not his skillset, but the league itself. that shouldn't take too long imo. he's ready to succeed right now.

tj ford? jose calderon? what exactly would these two be waiting for? they probably have a longer future ahead of them than chris, for instance, but that only speaks to their position on the floor. they are no longer- or should not be- waiting for anything. as floor generals, it is on them that i'd place the responsibility of getting the team's focus on the 'correct' goal.

anthony parker? that's right.

rasho nesterovic? exactly.

jason kapono? his contract (along with chris' and tj's) has already kicked in. he should presumably be ready to live up to his end of the bargain right now.

imo, there is no future. the only ones who would suggest that there is are probably of the weaker mind, seeking some way to justify further underachievement. this team, whether they want to believe it or not, is primed for the now. there is something to be said for experience from year to year, ok, but this is (contrary to popular belief) not a ladder- this is not to be conquered one rung at a time. you conquer the ladder right now; you appreciate how far you got after the fact. i've said it before but it bears repeating: complacency is a killer in pro sports today. i don't approve of the complacent seeds that were sown in may, and i don't ever want that tree to grow around here.

my goal for this team should be aligned with its goal (a very real goal) for itself: the nba title. that should be your goal, too. that should be sam's goal, that should be colangelo's goal, gherardini's goal, everyone's goal. NOW. there is no later, imo. if you're not ready to compete at the highest level today, please get out of the way.

the time for building is over. it's come time to take a shot.

peace

speedythief

Detroit is really the only team I fear in the East and after watching them meltdown in the ECF's, I don't think it is a stretch for our players to fight for a spot in the finals next season. We need our guys to stay healthy, as always, but we will compete against teams like Cleveland, Miami and Chicago.

Once our guys are in the big show anything can happen.

The "this time we'll make it to the second round" and "next time we'll make it to the third round" mentality has to go, I am in complete agreement with you on that.

Divine Spammer

This team can go far, I agree.
So much talent, such a good chemistry and a good mentality going around for quite some time.
I seriously believe this team can win the title in this decade.

And that will be so murphy because I'll barely have time to follow the team, not to mention watching games... Classic.

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ColinBeehler

No, I think this is all a little too much too soon. Let's be patient... Good things come to those who wait.

hehe

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seifer0406

It's discouraging to say this, but winning in the playoffs is more than just having talented players. As we've learned this year, playoff experience is extremely important especially playing against veteran teams. Only very few players can win in the playoffs right off the bat, most young teams take a few years to get it together. We most definitely have the pieces to win the East, but from an experience standpoint, we are still shaky in that regard.

shookem

I don't think many people really think this team is building for the future as much as they are building for now and the future, which is great.
You could bring in who ever you want but until Chris, TJ and Andrea really want to win it and are willing to do what it takes it won't happen anyways and that's why sometimes people mention the future when talking about the team.

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narrator

This team is built for now and the future. The East is wide open. With a good run, the Raptors could conceivably go to the finals.

I like the direction of the team for the last year.

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arhie

Don't overrate the Raptors right now. Mo Pete is gone, Anthony Parker is a year older, and the rest of the east has improved. At best raptors have the same record as last year.

speedythief

Parker is a year older, but Bosh, Ford, Bargnani, and Calderon will all be a year better, and Kapono is an upgrade over what Peterson gave us last season.

cram

I love ballocks' optimism, but i don't think we're going to be good enough to win it all this year (or even compete for that). I'd certainly like us to be, but lets face it....
- we took a LOT of teams by surprise last year. That isn't happening this year
- we're likely a weaker rebounding team than last year
- likely weaker on defense (assuming bargs is taking time from Rasho)
- contrary to the above post, i don't believe Kapono will bring more htan Mo Pete did (in the playoffs). We REALLY undervalue Mo Pete these days. Unfortunate.
- teams around us have gotten better.

seifer0406

I don't see how you came to that conclusion. Do you expect the Raptors to start the year 2-9 again? 47 wins in the East is pretty much a possibility for every eastern conference team this year.