Raptors’ crunch time starts today vs Magic
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009In the interview Bryan Colangelo did with Eric Smith [FAN590], prior to the Raptors’ win vs the Bulls [Nov 11 2009], he said the following words:
“We’ll know what we’ve got by the end of the month.”
The Bosh Factor: Bryan Colangelo Won’t Be Patient With Early Losses
At the time, Toronto’s W-L Record was 3-4/.429.
11 days later, it is now 6-7/.462, good enough for 2nd place in the Atlantic Division and 9th place in the Eastern Conference.
Beginning with this afternoon’s home game vs Orlando, the Raptors will play 7 games over the next 11 days:
Game 14 Sun Nov 22 vs Orl [10-3/.769; 1st Southeast, 2nd EC]
Game 15 Tue Nov 24 vs Ind [5-5/.500; 4th Central, 8th EC]
Game 16 Wed Nov 25 @ CHA [3-9/.250; 4th (tie) Southeast, 10th (tie) EC]
Game 17 Fri Nov 27 @ BOS [9-4/.692; 1st Atlantic, 4th EC]
Game 18 Sun Nov 29 vs Pho [10-3/.769; 1st Pacific, 1st (tie) WC]
Game 19 Tue Dec 01 vs Was [3-9/.250; 4th (tie) Southeast, 12th (tie) EC]
Game 20 Wed Dec 02 @ ATL [11-3/.786; 1st Southeast, 1st EC]
which will take the team to the 1/4 pole of the regular season schedule.
This is the specific stretch of games that will reveal exactly what type of team the Raptors have, at the moment, and what can be expected from this group for the remainder of the season should there be no further major player personnel and/or coaching changes going forward.
While some voices in Raptorville believe the team’s performance during this stretch will turn out to be a source of tremendous optimism, and preceed a gradual upswing in the standings, as the season progresses …
45 Wins, and How the Raptors Will Get There [5-2, Nov 22 to Dec 02]
looking ahead, in September, from the vantage point of an astute NBA observer, this corner did not share that same perspective:
Raptors half-way through their first 20 games
|
GAME |
DATE |
OPP |
RESULT, W-L |
|
14 |
Sun Nov 22 |
Vs Orlando |
L, 5-9 [0-1] |
|
15 |
Tue Nov 24 |
Vs Indiana |
W, 6-9 [1-1] |
|
16 |
Wed Nov 25 |
@ CHARLOTTE |
L, 6-10 [1-2] |
|
17 |
Fri Nov 27 |
@ BOSTON |
L, 6-11 [1-3] |
|
18 |
Sun Nov 29 |
Vs Phoenix |
L, 6-12 [1-4] |
|
19 |
Tue Dec 01 |
Vs Washington |
W, 7-12 [2-4] |
|
20 |
Wed Dec 02 |
@ Atlanta |
L, 7-13 [2-5] |
According to his record, as a General Manager, Bryan Colangelo has a well-documented history of making an assessment of his team’s situation sometime in the first two weeks of December.
Tic toc, tic toc, tic toc … [Apr 11 2008]
If he likes what he has seen to that point, he continues moving forward, as is.
If, however, he does NOT like what he “thinks” he sees from his team … then, the fanbase best be prepared for a seismic shift, in terms of either player personnel and/or the head coach position.
Of scorpions, frogs, GMs & coaches [Apr 30 2008]
Wait a second … what’s really going on here [Dec 04 2008]
What is really going on here: Part II [Dec 05 2008]
Of scorpions, frogs, GMs & faces of the franchise [Mar 25 2009]
The next 2 weeks should prove to be a most interesting time in the 15 year history of the Toronto Raptors franchise.
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