Well another dissapointing loss to the Celtics lastnight. I think we should
have won it easily but its only pre-season so im not to upset. Jose Calderon
had 6 assists in 14 mins played with 0 turnovers. The star of the game for
the Raptors was Mike James, He went 8-13 for 20 points adding 4 assists and
2 steals with 1 turnover. Villanueva looked solid again getting 17 pts and 6
reb, Hopefully that rebound number can get closer to 10. Tierre Brown
continues to impress me even though he didnt repeat his 24 point performance
from last game.

If you look at the Raptors team salary it makes complete sense to move Rafer
Alston, That is aside from the problems we have had on the court with him.
The cap this year is set at $49.5 million and the Raptors have a total cap
of $63.3 after trading Rafer for James. We are still paying Lamond Murray
$5.2 million and Alonzo Mourning $4.2 million for a total of $9.4 million
wasted this season. Next year we loose the Murray contract but still pay
Mourning another 4 million. If Mike James and Alvin Williams take there
option for next year and we do not re-sign Aaron Williams, are salary will
be at $53,466,104 next year. We have really no money to spend for 2 years
when Jalen Rose becomes a free agent.

Trading Rafer and his long contract makes room in 2 years to sign Bosh when
he is do for a raise. That same year Bosh is do for his raise we have only
$16.5 million in cap taken, That will go up with 2 years worth of draft
picks and hopefully a couple free agents before 07. This team is clearly
being set up for Bosh, Villanueva, Graham and hopefully Araujo to lead into
the future. Keeping all this young talent is easier said then done, Babcock
seems to be setting himself up for 2007 to have his team in here. I think
his job depends on wheather or not Rose, Peterson, James and Bosh can give
these young guys some time to grow.

If Villanueva and graham can become quality starters throughout the season
then i will be more then happy, I think expecting these guys to step right
in is a little much. I certainly would like to see what i saw in Bosh in his
first year, Quality numbers from those guys this year is a real key to are
success. If Araujo can become the type of guy like Reggie Evans in Seattle
who comes in and just fights for rebounds, Im good with that for this year.
Calderon looks like he will fit into are PG rotation very nicely, We might
actually be deep at the PG position if Alvin can return.

I can understand how people can get on Babcock so easily, He has made some
questionable moves for sure. This team was not exactly the perfect situation
for anybody to step into. Right away the star of your team wants out because
you were hired, That has to be the worst thing that could happen to a GM.
Then hiring Sam Mitchell a rookie coach got everyone talking, Sam was obe of
the most sought after coaches that off-season and even took a job with the
Bobcats which he was being groomed to take over from Bickerstaff. And then
when you trade Vince Carter it was a lose lose situation, We could have
never got what he was worth in immediate talent and we loose the guy that
packed the a.c.c for 5 years. And then add all the troubles that followed
with Rafer, Woods and Rose during the season.

I think Babcock could be considered a genius in 2007, I predict that is when
the Raptors will really be able to contend deep in the playoffs. Im not
saying i do not have hopes for this season because i really think anything
is possible if Rose can score 15-18, Peterson 15-18, James 10-15, Bosh 18-15
and get everyone else chipping in. This team could be deadly if Aaron
Williams, Araujo or Woods find a way to play some solid defense down low.
Aaron Williams is my pick to get more minutes this year, He is making the
money and now knows the system. This team is not like the Hornets or Hawks
we have skill and youth, Not just youth. anything is possible


For all the die hard Raptor fans who dont mind looking a few years forward,
This team has the potential to be really great. In 2007 Villanueva, Graham
and Araujo will only cost 7.2 millon combined, If they can all improve over
the next 2 years which is highly likely we would be cheap and talented. If
Babcock looses his job this year or next, He could be laughing in 07 when
all are youth is starting to shine.




>From: "kirk dickson" <Kirk_J_Dickson@...>
>Reply-To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
>To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [Rap Pak] Re: Rafer out....Mike James in...stats
>Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 08:19:44 -0400
>
>I love it when fans who do not have an understanding of the business of
>sports speak out. This trade is more then just talent for talent, Read some
>reports and then come talk to us please.
>
>
> >From: "green_barbarian" <linkinpark_1030@...>
> >Reply-To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> >To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [Rap Pak] Re: Rafer out....Mike James in...stats
> >Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 07:47:09 -0000
> >
> >is there anyone dumber than rob babcock? look at how he's wrecking
> >this team. i wouldn't even trust him as a baby sitter.
> >
> >
> >--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, freewheel_99 <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > The money is huge for sure, but I truly hope James plays
> >effectively.
> > > Not only because the Raps need more than one player to fill all
> >those
> > > PG minutes, but in a perfect world James could be a nice backup PG
> > > down the road.
> > >
> > > It wont make or break the trade, but I'm hoping James is more than
> > > just a salary dump. I want good players on my team to watch!!! ;)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "kirk dickson"
> ><Kirk_J_Dickson@h...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I really think comparing any stats from this trade is a waste of
> > > time. This
> > > > deal was not based on talent for talent by either team, The
> >Rockets
> > > needed
> > > > another PG because Bob Sura might never play again and the
> >Raptors
> > > wanted
> > > > cap room for the future and Alston was not really a good fit
> >here.
> > > James
> > > > will never have the potential to have 10 assists a game like
> >Alston
> > > did and
> > > > he may never score the 15-20 PTS Alston was more then capable of.
> > > James is a
> > > > good scorer who plays both ends of the court equally well, The
> > > Babcock and
> > > > Mitchell model player.
> > > >
> > > > The only stats that matter to me are these:
> > > >
> > > > Rafer Alston------2005-06-----$3,850,000 Mike
> > > > James------2005-06-----$3,410,000
> > > > 2006-07-----
> >$4,200,000
> > >
> > > > 2006-07-----$3,720,000
> > > > 2007-08-----
> >$4,550,000
> > >
> > > > $0
> > > > 2008-09-----
> >$4,900,000
> > >
> > > > $0
> > > > 2009-10-----
> >$5,250,000
> > >
> > > > $0
> > > >
> > > > TOTAL----- $22,750,000
> > > > TOTAL--------$7,130,000
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We only save $920,000 over the next two seasons but the 3 seasons
> > > after that
> > > > we save $14,700,000 all together. The year we have a qualifying
> >on
> > > offer on
> > > > Chris Bosh is the same year Mike James contract ends.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: freewheel_99 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
> > > > >Reply-To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >Subject: [Rap Pak] Re: Rafer out....Mike James in...stats
> > > > >Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 02:15:00 -0000
> > > > >
> > > > >Here's a better stat comparison.
> > > > >
> > > > >Two seasons ago (2003-04) Rafer played 82 games for the Heat at
> >31.5
> > > > >minutes per game. That same season James played 55 games for the
> > > > >Celtics at 30.5 minutes and 25 games for the Pistons at 20
> >minutes.
> > > > >Lets say James averaged 27.5 minutes for the season. Thats
> >pretty
> > > > >close. With that in mind check out the link below. Its a
> >comparison of
> > > > >the two players for that season and shows how nearly identical
> >they
> > > > >were. I'm not going to put down James offensive skills quite
> >yet,
> > > > >particularily his shooting ability.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fantasy/nba/boston-
> >celtics/players/mike-james/comparison/04/2/22/197/
> > > > >
> > > > >By the way Hoopsstats is a really cool stats site. Better than
> >82games
> > > > >IMO.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "kirk dickson"
> ><Kirk_J_Dickson@h...>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The stats comparing Alston and James really do not say
> >anything
> > > > >towards how
> > > > > > this deal should be compared. Rafer Alston is a better
> >talent then
> > > > >James,
> > > > > > But James might be a better fit for are team.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >From: freewheel_99 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > >Reply-To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > > >To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > > >Subject: [Rap Pak] Re: Rafer out....Mike James in
> > > > > > >Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 04:22:52 -0000
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Here's some stats I dug up on both Alston and James from
> >last
> > > season.
> > > > > > >I'm not a big fan of stats telling the whole story, but it
> > > appears the
> > > > > > >two players are quite similar in talent.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Mike James 2004-05
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >- Has scored 20+ points in 11 games
> > > > > > >- Has started 5 games
> > > > > > >- Has won 20 matchups against PGs (minumum 25 minutes to
> >qualify)
> > > > > > >- Has lost 18 matchups against PGs
> > > > > > >- Has won 6 matchups against top 10 Point-Guards
> > > > > > >- Has lost 8 matchup against top 10 Point-Guards
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Rafer Alston 2004-05
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >- Has scored 20+ points in 13 games
> > > > > > >- Has started 78 games
> > > > > > >- Has won 33 matchups against PGs (minumum 25 minutes to
> >qualify)
> > > > > > >- Has lost 36 matchups against PGs
> > > > > > >- Has won 4 matchups against top 10 Point-Guards
> > > > > > >- Has lost 19 matchups against top 10 Point-Guards
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Mike James team has beaten Rafer Alstons team the last 8
> >times
> > > the two
> > > > > > >players have faced each other. This covers James time with
> >the
> > > Bucks,
> > > > > > >Pistons, Celtics, and Heat and covers Alstons time with the
> > > Raptors,
> > > > > > >Heat, and Raptors again.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
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