Its media driven. Toronto has lousy basketball writers. Few have any
real insight into anything other than what just happened moments ago,
so they take the easy way out. You never have to explain negativity
when a team is losing, its all there in front of you. Writing good
things when a team is losing is hard work. It takes research and
interviews and examination of methods. Who wants to do that when you
can blow out a column that says MITCHELL BLASTS TEAM!!! in 30 minutes?

As a real fan you just have to keep a low profile and realize that
things are always shades of grey. The Raps aren't untalented, but they
are weak in mind and body. There just seems to be a mental block, like
when big brother keeps beating little brother long after they both
grew up. Even saying that there's still a good chance that this team
can win 30+ games. All it would take is some rebounding.

It seems pretty clear to me what to do and I expect Babcock knows it
too. He just won't make quick half assed moves to solve the problem
right now. Personally I think he's moving too slow on the toughness
issue, but I expect he will get around to it eventually. Maybe trade
deadline or next summer.





--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "kirk dickson" <Kirk_J_Dickson@h...> wrote:
>
> I dont understand why there are so many Raptor haters, I like are
team much
> better then a few NBA teams. The Knicks are a complete disgrace, The
> warriors have traded away so much talent it makes Babcock look like
a god.
> The Hawks might have finally got enough young talent to make a push
in the
> future, That's if they keep all the talent. The Raptors have gone
threw hell
> in the last year, We had to take a new approach.
>
>
> >From: "green_barbarian" <linkinpark_1030@h...>
> >Reply-To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> >To: rappak@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [Rap Pak] Re: Rafer out....Mike James in...stats
> >Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 05:09:19 -0000
> >
> >am i mistaken or was it babcock who gave alston that ridiculous
> >contract in the first place? no matter what babcock is an idiot and
> >this organization is just seen as a laughing stock and farm team for
> >other clubs (ie: the vince carter for manure trade).
> >
> >
> >--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "kirk dickson" <Kirk_J_Dickson@h...>
> >wrote:
> > >
> > > 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@h...>
> > > >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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