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Dear Bryan,
As a long time Raptors fan, and long time fan of basketball in general, I am concerned with what you're game plan is going forward. Prior to the Raps entering the league I was a huge Celtics and Lakers fan. I know those are odd choices to cheer for at the same time, but I loved Boston because it was the team closest to where I lived, and how could you not love Larry Bird and the rich Celtics history. On the other hand I loved the style of play that Magic and Kareem brought to the floor. Obviously we can't create a rich history in one season, or with any amount of personnel changes, but we can create, or personify a style of play in one season and with personnel changes. My hope is that someday when I say the words "Now that is Raps basketball", it is not a negative thing. The Raptors, as an organization, do not have an identity, or at least not a positive one. That can and should change.
All I am asking is that you, Bryan Colangelo, decide on what that identity will be, and then stick to it. Are we a run and gun team, are we a defensive first team, or we something entirely new, it really doesn't matter. Once that is decided could you then please tell us what you intend to be, and then make the personnel changes needed to become that, and please don't waiver, or rethink or retool or give up on it. It would nice as fan to know that upper management had a plan, and that they were confident enough to share it with the general public. I am, of course, aware that it is easier to keep the status quo, because you have no accountability to us, the fans. I understand if you tell us that you plan to build a run and gun team, and then bring in someone that doesn't fit that mold, we can call you on it. Well quite obviously that game plan has not worked for you so far, and you have ended up with a team that looks a glued together jigsaw puzzle put together by a 7 year old on a sugar high. It's possible that if you actually, publicly, verbally commit to a game plan, you would be more apt to follow it. I am sorry to come off so negative, but it seems that you have enough people at MLSE blowing sunshine up your ass, that a dose of reality will do you some good.
Bryan, you are 100% capable of doing this job, I have no doubt about it, but it seems to me that you have not actually envisioned an end product. I know you inherited someone else's mess when you came on board, and you were probably told that Chris Bosh was the face of the Raptors, and to build around him. You're first mistake was buying into that dream. Chris Bosh is a fantastic player and for 6 years of his 7 he was a franchise asset, but he was not a franchise player. I understand that this was the reason for all your moves up until he left, and while the moves did not pan out, it was not that they were bad ideas at all. Bosh and JO, and Bosh and Hedo should have worked, on paper they were great choices, and I was personally excited by both pick ups, and I even thought that Bellinelli would play his way into the starting line up, the way he has in NO. Well the past is the past and so let's move on, and put it behind us.
You have an opportunity to rebuild the Raptors, not just the team, but the whole identity. I assume that you are working on some behind the scenes things with the trade deadline coming up, and I also assume there are big plans for the draft. It sure would be nice to hear a State of the Raptors address sometime soon.
As a long time Raptors fan, and long time fan of basketball in general, I am concerned with what you're game plan is going forward. Prior to the Raps entering the league I was a huge Celtics and Lakers fan. I know those are odd choices to cheer for at the same time, but I loved Boston because it was the team closest to where I lived, and how could you not love Larry Bird and the rich Celtics history. On the other hand I loved the style of play that Magic and Kareem brought to the floor. Obviously we can't create a rich history in one season, or with any amount of personnel changes, but we can create, or personify a style of play in one season and with personnel changes. My hope is that someday when I say the words "Now that is Raps basketball", it is not a negative thing. The Raptors, as an organization, do not have an identity, or at least not a positive one. That can and should change.
All I am asking is that you, Bryan Colangelo, decide on what that identity will be, and then stick to it. Are we a run and gun team, are we a defensive first team, or we something entirely new, it really doesn't matter. Once that is decided could you then please tell us what you intend to be, and then make the personnel changes needed to become that, and please don't waiver, or rethink or retool or give up on it. It would nice as fan to know that upper management had a plan, and that they were confident enough to share it with the general public. I am, of course, aware that it is easier to keep the status quo, because you have no accountability to us, the fans. I understand if you tell us that you plan to build a run and gun team, and then bring in someone that doesn't fit that mold, we can call you on it. Well quite obviously that game plan has not worked for you so far, and you have ended up with a team that looks a glued together jigsaw puzzle put together by a 7 year old on a sugar high. It's possible that if you actually, publicly, verbally commit to a game plan, you would be more apt to follow it. I am sorry to come off so negative, but it seems that you have enough people at MLSE blowing sunshine up your ass, that a dose of reality will do you some good.
Bryan, you are 100% capable of doing this job, I have no doubt about it, but it seems to me that you have not actually envisioned an end product. I know you inherited someone else's mess when you came on board, and you were probably told that Chris Bosh was the face of the Raptors, and to build around him. You're first mistake was buying into that dream. Chris Bosh is a fantastic player and for 6 years of his 7 he was a franchise asset, but he was not a franchise player. I understand that this was the reason for all your moves up until he left, and while the moves did not pan out, it was not that they were bad ideas at all. Bosh and JO, and Bosh and Hedo should have worked, on paper they were great choices, and I was personally excited by both pick ups, and I even thought that Bellinelli would play his way into the starting line up, the way he has in NO. Well the past is the past and so let's move on, and put it behind us.
You have an opportunity to rebuild the Raptors, not just the team, but the whole identity. I assume that you are working on some behind the scenes things with the trade deadline coming up, and I also assume there are big plans for the draft. It sure would be nice to hear a State of the Raptors address sometime soon.
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