Raptors’ Patrick Patterson is writing his own future | Toronto Sun
You see Patterson isn’t interested in a career that doesn’t involve sports. He’s pragmatic enough to realize the playing part can’t go on forever but leaving the field of professional sports isn’t something that appeals to him. So when he signed with Excel Sports Management this past summer, an agency that just happens to be a founding partner of the Players’ Tribune, an opportunity was presented to him. The Players’ Tribune is a relatively new media platform founded by former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter that offers athlete’s a chance to tell their stories in the first person. There are podcasts, and videos, but what caught Patterson’s attention was the opportunity to write. “They asked me what role I wanted and I told them I wanted to be a contributor whether that was writing some things or whatever,” Patterson said. To date, Patterson has submitted three posts for the site, his most recent one (and the one he admits kind of blew up because it got so popular) on what it feels like when a professional athlete is traded. Patterson has experienced that twice already and as he points out in his story, it never gets easier.
When you come to the Game or see me out in the streets, Yell #WETHE3
— James Johnson (@IamJJ3) February 22, 2015
Masai Ujiri might be very smart, but let’s also remember that he constructed the Nuggets team that’s currently in fiery shambles (i.e., the team that just had to trade a first-round pick to get rid of JaVale McGee). And the greatest thing to happen to the Raptors in the past two years is Kyle Lowry, a player Ujiri tried to trade for a 2018 first-round pick. His two biggest moves have been dumping bad contracts on the Kings and Knicks, two teams on which, it turns out, it’s pretty easy to dump bad contracts! In the meantime, he’s had a very good team for two years now, but the rotation is too big and probably not good enough to actually contend in the East, and he hasn’t done anything to even try to change it. The Raptors are still in good shape, but it’ll be interesting to see when “credit for Raptors success” turns into “blame for Raptors shortcomings” for Toronto management.
Masai Ujiri criticized in Grantland, & defended by Rapture. | Raptors Rapture
[Masai has] had a very good team for two years now, but the rotation is too big and probably not good enough to actually contend in the East, and he hasn’t done anything to even try to change it. The rotation is “too big”??? That’s a problem how, exactly? As for contending; we’re in second place. That’s 14 of 16 Eastern teams looking up at the Raptors. Why do we need a change? The Raptors are still in good shape, but it’ll be interesting to see when “credit for Raptors success” turns into “blame for Raptors shortcomings” for Toronto management. How about “never”? Look, Masai isn’t perfect. I continue to worry about the front court, where the Raps are paper-thin. Our GM could have found some cheap help by now. Hassan Whiteside was on the scrap heap a few months ago. Why didn’t we sign him? Now he’s putting up whacky rebounding numbers for the HEAT. Tarik Black was on waivers. Why not him? That’s legitimate criticism, not the shallow noise Sharp cooked up.
Weekend Poll: Are You Afraid of the Heat? | Raptors HQ
Heading into the All-Star break, the assumption was that the top three seeds in the East would coast through a breezy first round match-up while the fourth and fifth seeds engaged in a bloodbath of a series, sending a very good team home early. But with the Miami Heat completing a blockbuster move to secure Goran Dragic, giving up only Shawne Williams, Danny Granger’s mangled knees and Norris Cole’s horrendous 38.6% shooting clip, the road to the second round and beyond might be slightly more treacherous for Toronto, even if they grab a top-three seed. Miami isn’t loaded with the kind of bench depth the Raptors possess, and they have been a banged-up bunch; only Mario Chalmers has played every game for the Heat this year. At the same time, even with the unfortunate circumstances arising around Chris Bosh’s health, a Heat line-up featuring Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, and Hassan Whiteside would present a host of problems for the Raptors in a playoff series. Whiteside’s presence on the boards (15.8 REB/36 minutes) and the scoring ability of Dragic and Wade from the backcourt are both elements that can exploit the Raptors’ biggest weaknesses over the course of seven games.
Toronto Raptors looking for redemption against struggling Pelicans | Toronto Star
Even without Davis in the lineup, the Raptors aren’t taking the struggling Pelicans for granted. The biggest reason? The last time the two teams played, in mid-January, Davis was also out. The Pelicans won anyway, squeaking past the Raptors 95-93 at the Air Canada Centre. They’ll be using that home court defeat as motivation, said Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan. “Especially the way we lost to them; I think it was a two-point game. It was one of those tough games we thought we should have won and we will be looking to redeem ourselves,” DeRozan said. The 95-73 drubbing handed to the Raptors by Houston Saturday night should also help motivate them, DeRozan said. “We got to be ready. If Anthony Davis isn’t playing or if they got their whole team we just got to be ready and understand that we can use the fuel from this game and this loss going into New Orleans and get a win,” said DeRozan.
Can the Pelicans steal another win? | The Bird Writes
The depleted Pelicans are going to need someone to get hot if they want to have a chance at stealing the win. Gordon, who is 2nd in the league in 3pt%, has been on fire since returning from injury. Amid all the injuries, this team will look towards him and Tyreke to carry the offense. Whoever can get hot has to keep getting the ball, e.g Ajinca vs the Raptors earlier this season shot 10-13 from the field.
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