Re: Maybe we are REALLY too young and immature

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Nah, that can't be can it?  Afterall, what would Oakley and Davis know about
what it takes to win?  Those of us on this list who have been professing the
same sentiment have been accused of all kinds of foolishness.  I think the
point is we are who we are, and though we don't all have to like it, we have
to accept it for now and hope that they can mesh together soon, unlike the
Raptors.

Speaking of the Raptors, everyone is talking about how McGrady is gonna fly
the coop asap.  You heard it here first, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF VINCE WALKS
AS WELL!!  He would like nothing better than to play in a bigtime basketball
market, a little birdie told me.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Lok <kevin.lok@lycosmail.com>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2000 12:40 AM
Subject: Maybe we are REALLY too young and immature


> Hi everybody,
>
> after reading this article, maybe we are too harsh on our C's (can't
> believe I'm saying this). maybe the C's are REALLY too young and
> immature.
>
> kevin/singapore
>
> Thursday, January 13, 2000
> Raptors' world not quite right
> By STEVE SIMMONS -- Toronto Sun
>   There is this look on Charles Oakley's face, the kind of expression
> you see when someone has had their parking spot snatched from them on
> a cold winter's night.
>  It is a look of part wonder and part anger, and right now it is the
> look of a confused Toronto Raptors team at this most confusing time.
>  There is this suspicious undercurrent of change and discomfort on
> what seemed to be the darling team of this NBA season. "This is
> Showtime," the hyperbole in the advertisements read. But there is
> something more wrong with the show right now than a couple of shooters
> injured.
>  "This ain't no step,'' Oakley said after the Raptors defeated the
> Orlando Magic 108-102 last night, a victory that ended a three-game
> losing streak. "We're lucky to get a win. We can't be happy with that.
>  "If you understand basketball, you understand what's going on ...
> that was sloppy. We can't be happy with that.
>  "We need work, no matter what people say. We got to understand
> things. We got to understand. You do that in the playoffs, you have a
> short playoffs. First round, you be home. You can't play the game like
> that.''
>  Hang around a team long enough and you pick up on a kind of aura that
> is more powerful than any statistic and often more powerful than
> reason. And right now, there is a definite sense that the Raptors
> aren't a team but a collection of individuals, dancing away to
> different tunes.
>  There is no shortage of talent, even with Dell Curry and Dee Brown in
> absentia. There is, in Oakley's words, a fundamental lack of
> understanding of what it takes to play winning basketball in the NBA.
> Playoff-winning basketball.
>  "We'll take the win, but we made so many mistakes,'' said Antonio
> Davis, the impressive Raptors forward. "For some reason, we get our
> game plan and for some reason we can't get five players on the floor
> sticking to that game plan. It sounds very simple but in some ways
> it's complex.''
>  And for coach Butch Carter, it's confounding. At timeout after
> timeout last night, his disgust was evident. Whatever message he's
> attempting, it isn't necessarily getting through. This is the first
> season in which this team has been expected to win; and this remains a
> team in discovery, if not at this stage a disappointing team.
>  There is a statute of limitations on the growth of any team and it is
> far too early to believe the Raptors have reached their limit. But
> still, there has to be concern -- especially considering how many
> players voice it -- that this isn't the right mix of athletes, no
> matter how much talent the Raptors have. You listen to Charles Oakley
> and Antonio Davis and you come away wondering whether this team ever
> will work the way they want it to work, whether some kind of changes
> aren't necessary. You listen to them and you hear in their voices
> doubt that this unit can reach the next level.
>  There is no genuine centre on the roster. That's a problem. There is
> Alvin Williams miscast as starting point guard. That's a problem.
> There is Doug Christie and Tracy McGrady, both athletically gifted,
> not necessarily fitting in every night. That's a problem that
> shouldn't be one. Last night, there was a surprise of 22 points from
> Muggsy Bogues but that is almost as unique as the point guard himself.
>  Vince Carter scored 30 points and, with assists, accounted for almost
> 40 points against Orlando. When he scores 30, it can hide some of the
> Raptors' flaws. Toronto is 5-1 when Carter scores 30.
>  "But we can't expect him to do that,'' Davis said. "We can't rely on
> Vince Carter. We've got to be a team.''
>  "We need to get our continuity back,'' Carter said. "We need to
> believe in each other.''
>  Charles Oakley says not enough of his teammates understand what it
> takes, or understand enough about winning. Davis already has addressed
> the issue of a more steadfast attitude toward winning.
>  The learning curve has been blurred by athleticism but, as Oakley
> said, "I don't care who you are. You still got to understand.''
>  When the Raptors began this season on a tear, it almost came too fast
> and too easily.
>  "This ain't about talk,'' Oakley said. "Don't talk about it, do it.
> Some guys (here) don't get that.''
>