According to a quote attributed to Bryan Colangelo yesterday …
This is ‘best’ Raptors team on paper, GM Colangelo says
Bryan Colangelo considered the question and considered the moment and considered the circumstances in which the query was posed. And then he offered a qualified answer about the talent level of this incarnation of the Toronto Raptor roster.
“On paper, in terms of just pure talent, I would say, yes, this is the best team we’ve had,” the Raptor president and general manager said Monday afternoon.
So off they go to training camp, a merry band of just 13 players but a group richer in individual talent than has been put together in Toronto in years. No games have been played, no practices have been held so every question about the season came with qualifications but the over-riding feeling out of the annual media day was of unbridled enthusiasm.
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Hmmmmm ….
Here’s the team’s current roster:
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’08-09 |
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STARTERS O’Neal-J Calderon-J |
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KEY BENCH SUBS Kapono-J |
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RESERVES |
and here’s a snapshot of the previous 9 teams [1999-2008] in Raptors’ history:
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Toronto Raptors’ Roster 1999-2008 |
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‘99-00 45-37 1st Rd – NYK Carter-B |
‘00-01 47-35 2nd Rd – PHI Wilkens-L |
’01-02 42-40 Wilkens-L |
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Davis-A Oakley-C Christie-D Carter-V McGrady-T |
Davis-A Oakley-C Peterson-M Carter-V Williams-A |
Olajuwon-H Davis-A Peterson-M Carter-V Williams-A |
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Bogues-M Brown-D Curry-D Thomas-J Willis-K |
Childs-C Curry-D Clark-K Williams-J Montross-E |
Childs-C Curry-D Murray-T Clark-K Williams-J |
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Williams-A Workman-H Marks-S Stewart-M Radojevic-A |
Murray-T N’diaye-M Stewart-M |
N’diaye-M Stewart-M Montross-E |
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’02-03 24-58 DNQ Wilkens-L |
’03-04 33-49 DNQ O’Neill-K |
’04-05 35-47 DNQ Mitchell-S |
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Davis-A Williams-J Carter-V Williams-A |
Bosh-C Marshall-D Rose-J Carter-V Williams-A |
Bosh-C Marshall-D Rose-J Carter-V Alston-R |
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Alston-R Lenard-V McCoy-J |
Palacio-M Peterson-M Curry-M Moiso-J Blount-C |
Palacio-M Peterson-M Murray-L Bonner-M |
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Hamilton-Z N’diaye-M Huffman-N Foster-G Long-A Baston-M Brown-D Hunter-L |
Strickland-R Glover-D Mason, Jr. Murray-L Archibald-R
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Cook-O Williams-E Moiso-J Williams-Aa Araujo-R Sow-P Woods-L |
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’05-06 27-55 DNQ Mitchell-S |
’06-07 47-35 1st Rd – NJN Mitchell-S |
’07-08 |
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Bosh-C Villanueva-C Rose-J Peterson-M James-M |
Bosh-C Garbajosa-J Peterson-M Parker-A Ford-TJ |
Bosh-C Moon-J Parker-A Ford-TJ |
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Calderon-J Graham-J Bonner-M |
Calderon-J Dixon-L Graham-J Nesterovic-R |
Calderon-J Delfino-C Kapono-J Bargnani-A |
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Barrett-A Martin-D Williams-E Williams-A Williams-Aa Sow-P Davis-A Woods-L |
Martin-D Jones-F Tucker-PJ Jackson-L Sow-P Bargnani-A Humphries-K Sow-P Slokar-U |
Martin-D Graham-J Johnson-L Humphries-K Baston-M Brezec-P |
Does it seem to you as though this might, in fact, be the one with the most ‘pure talent’ on it?
Or …
How about just in the last 3 years?
[since the start of Bryan Colangelo's tenure with the team]
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Cause unless these eyes have suddenly lost their ability to see with any degree of acuity … this statement is very, very far away from being accurate.
According to the judgment of this corner … there are, at least, 5 other teams on that list which, on paper, are superior to the current version of the Rapshow … i.e. ’99-00, ’00-01, ’01-02, ’06-07 and ’07-08.
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It is going to be a very interesting season in Raptorville. 
NOTE:
* Heart concerns sideline Raptors’ Jawai
* Spotlight squarely on Raptors’ Bargnani
* O’Neal ready to take his lumps
Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Hassan Adams, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Jermaine O'Neal, Joey Graham, Jose Calderon, Nathan Jawai, Roko Ukic, Sam Mitchell, Will Solomon
October 1, 2008 at 7:04 am |
[...] – Khandors Sports Blog [...]
October 1, 2008 at 10:39 am |
Listen to the quote from BC. it was the most talented “on paper” that BC has had in TO.
Mitchell has said they play on the floor, not on paper, unfortunately, so they have to prove it on the floor.
We as fans are going to have to wait and see. It is imposible for me, you or anyone to evaluate talent, as a GM. We can evaluate what we see in the team and individual performance only.
October 1, 2008 at 2:24 pm |
Johnn19,
First.
IMO … Bryan Colangelo’s assessment of the current Raptors’ team, as being the one with the most pure talent of the 3 squads he’s assembled, thus far, is incorrect.
Second.
re: It is impossible for me, you or anyone to evaluate talent, as a GM. We can evaluate what we see in the team and individual performance only.
Fact is … you are free to speak to your own ability to do this or not … but, not anyone else’s ability in this regard.
October 1, 2008 at 3:58 pm |
“It is imposible for me, you or anyone to evaluate talent, as a GM. We can evaluate what we see in the team and individual performance only.”
I am not making fun… I seriously DO NOT understand what this means. I’d like a little further explanation.
I am no expert, by any means, and my ability and accuracy may be limited, but I am still entitled to an opinion/observation.
October 3, 2008 at 8:08 am |
Vince Carter and Jerome Moiso were not there in 2005/2006.
October 3, 2008 at 9:25 am |
anonymous,
Thanks for catching that error. Duely noted and now edited. Thanks.