OK Raptors fans, a quick observation a third of the way through the season.
While not world-beaters right now, you can take solace in the fact that unlike the predictions from many media members to the south, who by the way could throw a dart at a map of Canada and wherever it lands, call it Toronto, they are not the worst team in the league. True, there are still 62 games to play and it can change quickly, but squads such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats have just as much improving to do.
Currently Raptors head coach Jay Triano has done well considering the magnitude of his task.
You can't do two things at once so let's call it the same as trying to push and pull at the same time. You rarely win big with young players and for young players to win when they get older they need to develop, meaning they have to play and take their lumps.
So which one is it? Well in Toronto's case, Triano is trying to do both as he trots the young guys out there and does his best to try and garner victories.
First off, for his job security, Triano is trying to win, and who wouldn't?
I don't subscribe to this idea of losing to get draft picks. That's just foolish and it can blow up in your face. Initially, you have to draft well and then those players still have to stay healthy and develop. There is no guarantee not to mention the losing culture that is created and the negative perception the rest of the league takes of a franchise that consistently registers more wins than losses year after year (hello, = Clippers).
And even if you get the right bounces in the lottery, those young players still need to develop into bona fide stars.
If you're lucky, you come out like the Oklahoma City Thunder who are a good young team. They are a sexy pick right now, but since 2005 they endured four straight losing seasons before the turnaround last year at 50-32 and a first round playoff loss.
They are finally a contender again but still have not won anything...yet.
Smart drafting and putting the right pieces together are signs that it can work.
But in this world of "I want it, and I want it now" I wonder if Raptors fans truly have that kind of patience at this stage.
If they don't, they may have to just simply watch and wait it out.
Or you could be like the Boston Celtics a few years ago waiting for the ping-pong balls to drop the right way to get Greg Oden.
So how did that work out?
Thank goodness for Boston it didn't, and they were able to make trades to become a title team. But this is where development comes into play. If Al Jefferson did not show promise as low-post scorer, there is no way Minnesota makes that deal giving up Kevin Garnett. The bottom line is, development of young talent is essential to success. So yes folks, the young guys need to take their lumps at times in order to improve and that's what's happening in Toronto right now.
A record of 10-17 a third of the way around the track is not great, but then again considering where the franchise is currently, it could be worse and you never know what happens down the road. So Raptors fans need to sit, watch and wait to see how players and everything connected with the team develops.
***
I guess if you own an NBA team and you sign the cheques, you can do what you want. Donald Carter used to sit courtside at Dallas Mavericks games with his cowboy hat. The late Larry Miller was a fixture courtside in Utah and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Remember the time that Jordan posted up Stockton and dunked on him and Miller said to Jordan words to the effect "Why don't you dunk on someone your own size?"
And then later when Jordan slammed it on Melvin Turpin he ran back down court with his palms skyward as if to ask Miller "was he big enough?"
But at least the likes of Miller, Carter, Mark Cuban and yes, now even Michael Jordan sit courtside and cheer their teams trying to coax a victory out of them. So what the heck is with Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers owner, doing sitting courtside and giving the business to his point guard Baron Davis ***
And finally, Kobe Bryant and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers make their only appearance in Toronto on Sunday.
Bryant was touched by his former high school naming the gym after him. But after an off night in the Lakers win over the Sixers where Bryant scored only nine points on three of 11 from the floor, the Raptors had better beware.
