| Is That The Sun Breaking Through? Authored by Peter DeWolf - October 21, 2005 - 11:11 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Final Thoughts On The 2008 NBA Draft This year's draft was decidedly more calm and casual than the Oden/Durant showdown, which made for a more candid and personal experience.
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But, let’s face it; the toughest thing to be right now is a Toronto Raptors’ fan. (You might say that being an Alaskan Crab Fisherman who loves the Raptors would be more difficult, but that would just be you being difficult. So stop it.)
The thing with the Raptors is that they just can’t catch a break. Even when things are going well – yes it CAN happen – everyone seems to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. The often ignorant U.S. media factors in, as does the inferiority complex sometimes displayed by Canadians.
Let’s get down to brass tacks – the Raps aren’t going to win the championship this year. We all know it. It’s baffling that Raptors’ GM Rob Babcock caught so much heat for essentially saying just that. But, such is life in Raptorland.
However, there are most definitely some positive things for fans to cling to. (See Bosh, Chris.) Chris Bosh is a potential all-star this year. Even American publications are picking up on this fact. He is hard-working, soft-spoken and getting better every day he steps on the court. Of course, you already know this. Here’s something you may not have realized yet…
Charlie Villanueva is for real. Yes, it’s only been three preseason games. Yes, his natural position is the same as that played by Bosh, Chris. I don’t care. This kid can play. And a rebuilding Raps team will give him ample time to prove it.
I was lucky enough to catch a number of his games while he was matriculating at UCONN. And the transition he made from lazy high school superstar, to sometimes dominating college player was a joy to behold. I can remember hoping that he’d stay in school another year. Funny how that works, eh?
If you’ve seen CV play, you know he can score. And score. And score. He can drop a three. He can – and will – dunk over you. And he has one of the prettiest little hook shots in the game.
Defensively he is going to make rookie mistakes. But it is way too early – and he is way too athletically gifted – to think that he can’t become a decent NBA defender.
It actually makes me wonder if when Charlie is in the running for Rookie of the Year honours, will Stephen A. Smith go on the air with a mea culpa. (Which, if I’m not mistaken, is Latin for “I can’t carry David Aldridge’s jock.”)
Even if the mouth of the south admits he was very, very wrong, it is entirely likely that even as you read this, our very own Dave Feschuk is trying to track down Charlie’s grandmother for a hard-hitting interview. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but suffice it to say that a 12 year old Charlie forgot to sign his Nana’s birthday card. This will blow the Toronto sports scene wide open!
And if that doesn’t do the trick, Marty “You keep lyin’ when you oughta be truthin’” York will publish a story about Charlie body slamming Chuck Swirsky on the scorer’s table. Speaking of, has anyone seen Marty recently?
Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva are a hell of a start for any front court. Throw in rookie point guard Jose Calderon – who is going to become the Raptors’ starter sooner rather than later. And don’t sleep on Joey Graham. He brings tenacious D and a lethal pull-up mid-range jumper. Those are two things that the Raptors, and the league as a whole, were sorely missing.
So, don’t believe the anti-hype. Things are beginning to look up in Raptorland. And while they will make mistakes, it will be fun watching them grow. Progress will be made. And then, maybe then, the franchise and the beleaguered Rob Babcock will get some love…
Nah.
Peter DeWolf
info@peterdewolf.com |
