In A World of Sports

Yes, tonight’s game against the Clippers marks Toronto’s 1000^th regular season game.  I’m impressed.  This team has had some serious growing pains but with a President/GM with a knack for picking talent and a solid vision for the team, I like their odds of remaining competitive for years to come.  Colangelo has built a great foundation for an up-tempo team with a lot of nice pieces.  The Raptors are still a couple key pieces away from being able to compete against the likes of Detroit or Boston in a seven game series, we still have a lot to cheer about when it comes to this team. 

So, in honour of this event, I have decided to come up with Toronto’s best line-up of all-time. 

To qualify for this list, a player simply had to have played at least a season for the Raptors.  And this list is based not only on their time as a Raptor, but career achievements as well.  They didn’t have to have their best years in a Raptor jersey.  So without further ado, here is my list of 5 starters, and 5 backups.  The backups aren’t necessarily career bench players, they are just the second best we’ve had in that spot.

Point Guard – Damon Stoudemire

“Mighty Mouse” says it all.  He played on a garbage team and put up some great numbers, and won rookie of the year honours. Sadly he was unhappy and shipped out of town to Portland.  The return package for him was pretty good though, Alvin Williams, two 1^st rounders and more?  Stoudemire never had numbers quite like he did in Toronto, but his play here helped pave the way for tonight’s 1000^th game.

Backup – T.J. Ford

This was a tough one.  Billups didn’t qualify because he played less than half a season for our beloved dinosaurs, otherwise he would have taken the starting job from Mighty.  Then it came down to a tri-fecta for me, Alvin Williams, T.J. Ford, and Jose Calderon.  Williams I just can’t pick here, his career was shortened by injuries and though he is the career assists leader for the Raptors, I couldn’t take him.  Calderon is great.  So efficient and smart, and he has great chemistry with this team.  But he has only been on the job as a starter for less than half a year.  So I went with Ford.  He had good years in college, and Milwaukee, and before his injury showed no signs of having his starting job threatened by Calderon.  But really I could this position could have gone to either one.

Shooting Guard – Vince Carter

First class douchebag.  Can’t stand a guy who quits on his team the way he did but I have to admit he truly ushered in the fans and helped this team avoid the fate that the Grizzlies suffered.  He also won rookie of the year in 98-99, and a dunk contest (which these days is a joke, the judges give out 10’s like hookers give out herpes).  Vincanity captivated a city and led us to the playoffs.  If he didn’t leave on such bad terms, the fans would still talk about him jumping over that 7 footer in the Olympics instead of placing him slightly lower than Hitler on their all-time list of most hated people.  Backup – Jalen Rose

This guy was a great interview.  I really dug his quotes, he is like Shaq’s little brother in that respect.  He also put up some pretty good numbers over his career and put in solid minutes and effort in T.O.  When he went to the bench, and came on with the second unit he was like a gift from God.  He excelled in this role for us despite the fact that I’m sure he didn’t like it.  He wasn’t very athletic though.  Watching him move around the floor he looked like a lazy person by nature and I just wonder how good he could have been if he was naturally athletic or knew how to run. 

Small Forward – Tracy McGrady

He didn’t have the best numbers as a Raptor but we got to see him represent us in an all-star game before he bolted the second he could for another city.  His wonky back is really holding him back and his knack for losing in the playoffs makes me not entirely sad to see him go, I just wish we got more for him (a future 1^st rounder, I can’t even tell you what that pick turned into).

Backup – Anthony Parker

I really dig this guy.  I could have put him at the shooting guard position but I moved him to small forward so I could include him on this list because Jalen’s career earns him the honour at SG.  He is a strong defender and can shoot the lights out from 3 when he’s on.  He can handle the ball and cut to the basket effectively as well.  Parker still gets plagued by inconsistent play on some nights and he is allergic to trying to defend Kobe Bryant. 

Power Forward – Chris Bosh

No question here.  Bosh is the man around whom this franchise will be built for years.  The 2003 draft had some ridiculous talent and I would only take Lebron over Bosh.  Give me Bosh over Wade or Carmelo.  I didn’t feel that way about Wade a couple years ago, but I feel Bosh is the second best product from that draft.  I love his attitude too, he is a consummate team player and tireless worker.  Nothing gets me more excited watching a game than seeing Bosh hustle for loose balls.  My only knock on him is he sometimes settles for the outside shot too often, especially when he is being defended by players not nearly in his class. Backup – Charles Oakley

He was a tough competitor and the best rebounder the Raps have ever had.  Oakley put in some pretty good years here but had his better years before he landed in Toronto.  He kept Carter in line for a few years though and helped keep this team in the game with his work ethic on the glass which is a problem that has plagued this team for as long as I can remember.

Center – Marcus Camby

So he only had a couple years with the Raptors.  I don’t care.  What he has matured into in Denver earns him this spot in my mind.  He struggled early in his career and was constantly questioned about his attitude and drive, but has turned into one of the best defensive players in the league.  He rebounds and blocks and I still like the fact that he punched Van Gundy.

Backup – Antonio Davis

Davis was another guy like Oakley who consistently gave you effort and went to his first and only all-star game as a member of the Raptors.  He came back in a stupid trade for Rose and a 1^st rounder which eventually saw him waived and possibly taint his years as a Raptor fan favourite, but he deserves this spot behind Camby.

If you disagree post a comment.  Give me your suggestions for players who should appear on this team.