The AltRaps Blog

Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo announced six front-office promotions yesterday, including Maurizio Gherardini, who moves from VP and assistant GM to senior VP of basketball operations.
Marc Eversley (formerly director of basketball operations) has been promoted to assistant GM of player development.
Masai Ujiri (formerly director of global scouting) has been promoted to assistant GM of [...]

“I met Sam [on Wednesday] and it was a normal, end-of-season meeting,” Colangelo said yesterday. “We discussed a lot of things – the season, the off-season, the state of the team, our relationship, everything. It was a good meeting and we both walked out of the room on the basis that he was coaching the [...]

 
In a season where there was far too much give-up in the Raptors at times, this basketball team refused to go down without a fight.
And while that may sound trite, it is a step in the right direction for a team whose biggest deficiency all season has been toughness whether it be mental or [...]

"We’re feeling good. We understood what happened," point guard T.J. Ford said. "They came out and they were very aggressive. I think everyone understands what their game plan against us is and from the second quarter on … well, without that first quarter, I think we win the game."
"We’ve played the same way all season," [...]

How many ways can one team screw up one game? The short answer: Lots of ways. The long answer: Watch Sunday’s playoff debut from the Toronto Raptors, and start counting.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altraps.com%2F2008%2F04%2F21%2Flinkage-april-21%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Linkage+-+April+21′;
addthis_pub = ”;

"We’re trying to build on what we have been doing," Mitchell said.
"The message I had for the guys today was we have had four pretty good defensive games and we want to build on that and continue to try and get better."

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altraps.com%2F2008%2F04%2F17%2Flinkage-april-17%2F’;
addthis_title = [...]

In a star-driven league where its marquee players get preferential treatment, the Raptors are hoping Chris Bosh is afforded the same luxuries.
In the most basic of terms, it’s known as getting the calls when an official blows his whistle.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altraps.com%2F2008%2F04%2F16%2Flinkage-april-16%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Linkage+-+April+16′;
addthis_pub [...]

If things don’t change, that was Jack Armstrong’s last game as a Raptor analyst and that, frankly, sucks. The guy brings insight and entertainment to every game he does and to not have him around next season diminishes the product and the game. I have no idea what the tallest of foreheads at the various [...]

It is the time of the season when the playing time goes to those who are producing. The time for trying different things is over, unless it is out of necessity, and that wouldn’t be a good thing.
It is time to go with what is working.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altraps.com%2F2008%2F04%2F02%2Flinkage-april-2%2F’;
addthis_title [...]

Despite Bosh’s 32 points, including 17 in the opening 12 minutes, and each starter reaching double digits in scoring, Mitchell was impressed with his team’s defence, especially in the second half when the high-flying Bobcats were held to 35% shooting.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altraps.com%2F2008%2F04%2F01%2Flinkage-april-1%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Linkage+-+April+1′;
addthis_pub [...]