The Search Goes On

Just wondering, but should the Maple Leafs really be looking for a "Bryan Colangelo of hockey" now?

That was one of the stated goals, you may remember, when John Ferguson Jr. was cashiered Jan. 22nd, that the MLSE brass was so very much in love with the sainted Colangelo that all they needed to do was locate a hockey man of similar qualities and all would be well.

Wondered about that at the time. Wondered why this halo surrounds the Raptor boss even though he has doesn't own an NBA championship ring and his team has yet to even win a playoff round in Toronto.

Sure it's impressive what he did in Phoenix, and yes, the Raptors were a laughingstock before he arrived and became a solid team in the weak Eastern Conference in his very first year.

But to the no-ring past and playoff disappointment of last spring we can now add a Raptor squad that is plummeting, possibly all the way to the seventh seed in the east unless they can get this thing straightened out soon.

The once formidable point guard tandem now looks shaky, no one knows what Andrea Bargnani is going to deliver on a nightly basis, nobody seems to want the ball at crunch time and doesn't it seem just a little strange that player who wasn't even in the NBA last year starts for this squad?

The Raps are 2-8 in their last 10, an abomination on the road, play matador defence many nights and can't seem to find their way in the absence of star forward Chris Bosh.

It seems pretty clear, based on the evidence, that this team isn't even as good as last year's group, and that a similar early-round ouster may be in the cards.

At some point, one should think, this will begin to reflect upon Colangelo.

And while we know MLSE always aims low when it comes to managers and expectations - and what they care about most is that the fans have started filling the building again in the Colangelo era - surely the club should really be looking for a hockey executive who can deliver more than their basketball man has so far, or, really, in his career.

If it's a basketball reference they need, shouldn't they be hunting for the Gregg Popovich of hockey?

Comments

[Dwight Smith]

Colangelo is overrated he's the JP Ricciardi of the NBA, Bargnani is a bust, Delfino is garbage you give any nba player 25 minutes per game and your getting those same stats. I’ve been saying for a long time this team needs a second scorer who can average in the high teens consistently, when Ford tries to score and get to the hoop he’s called eratic and a hog. At this point I actually hope the Raptors don’t make the playoffs, I’d rather get a lotto pick and hope for a guy like that big center from conneticut, but then again Colangelo will probably draft some overrated euro again. Without Bosh this team is a laughingstock and please sam bench bargnani and his eddy curry rebounding numbers.

[Jim Robinson]

Luckily for the Raptors the east is so weak, but not so luckily 7th seed would mean detroit

[Scott]

Damien,
You should know that this season (and every season) is truly based on how the team does in the playoffs, assuming they make the playoffs, which the Raptors will even with this terrible road trip. So please do not sit there and blast Colangelo right now because you could bee changing your tone when May hits. All I ask is to withhold judgement until the season (playoffs) are over.

[Luke]

It's a little quick to suggest that Bryan Colangelo isn't leading the Raptors in the right direction isn't it? For a team in a place where they were two years ago even if they were to fall down the standings a little further this year things are still on the right track. There are obvious problems with the team this year but the salary cap has been structured in such a way where there will be the possibility and almost certainly will be more impactful moves made this summer and next. To look at such a small window of time and not take such a quick turn around and such intelligent future plans into account is really quite foolish in my opinion. It's extremely easy to compare the Leafs as currently constructed with the Raptors prior to Bryan taking over. What everyone in "Leaf Land" wants is for as quick a turnaround as possible combined with a clear and intelligent vision for the future. Say what you will about 3 weeks in a basketball season but it's very silly not to look at the bigger picture in what is a much bigger scenario. And if you'd prefer to look at a different general manager to model the Leaf predecessor after, you might want to look at RC Buford who has actually been San Antonio's General Manager for their last three championships. Gregg Popovich is the Head Coach

[larry tanner]

you should stick to commenting on hockey. your complete lack of knowledge of basketball is stunning.

[Bob Kamps]

Nice attack Damien. The man has been on the job for less than 2 years and you are already trashing him. You gave JFJ longer than that and he took a bad team and made it worse. At least the Raptors future looks somewhat optimistic, which is more than I can say for the Maple Leafs. The Leafs need to hire an experienced hockey person but most of all, Richard Peddie and the Board need to keep their noses out of the hockey operations.

[MIchael]

Damien,

Stick to hockey, I don't think you understand basketball as well. Shouldn't Colangelo be commended for finding a rookie who is able to start in the NBA (for the second year in a row).
Sure, they are on a slide right now, but overall this has been a successful season. They have a decent chance of making it out of the first round and their future is only going to get better, young players with a lot of cap space.
Maybe Colangelo's Phoenix teams didn't win championships, but at least they were real contenders. In one year he took the Raptors from laughing stock to a division championship. (Admittedly it helped that the Emery had cleared a lot of salary space for him).

A GM that finds good players in unusual places and has built a team of hardworking, likable players who are entertaining to watch is exactly what the Leafs need.

[Dave Kearney]

This discussion reminds me of the situation with the Leafs. Management is soundly criticized, but the coach is let off the hook. One only has to look at Paul Maurice's PP and PK stats, as well as numerous late game blown leads, to know coaching is a major Leaf problem. The situation with the Raptors is the same. Sam Mitchell's team shoots from the outside. He's got a 7 foot guy standing on the 3-point line and then complains that the team can't rebound. How many games have the Raptors lost in the last 2 minutes?

[Kevin]

Hi Damien,

In the comparison I think you have to look at the overall plan. Is there one on the hockey side? Colangelo has a plan for the basketball team. The success the Raptors experienced last year has really put this year's team under a lot more pressure than expected. I think five years from now we should see a team that consistently goes to the playoffs and may have a chance to go to the finals. The Leafs have not recovered from their 1993 run to the final four.

[Sammy]

Hey Damien..

I know the Raptors aren't your beat, but I commend you for showing a level of neutrality in your observations. Pretty funny!

[Donnie]

Are you serious?
You take things out of context more than most RealGM fans on TJ vs. Jose debate.
Once the Raptors do well, you will just jump back on the bandwagon and say BC did a great job (maybe not another article but in your mind).
Toronto Star usually makes me more informed about sports by the end of the day, you just ruined it.
I hope your bosses read all these comments and give you something to think about.

[chris]

A little harsh on the assesment of Colangelo, dontcha think Damien?

The Raptors are where they should be in terms of their development from rock bottom two years ago. Last year they played way over their heads in winning the NBA's Atlantic Division. No way they catch everyone by surprise this season. A few more seasons and they will be contending for the NBA crown. So you'll still have to say that the Maple Leafs need to search for their hockey version of Bryan Colangelo.

[Mailing it in?]

Damien, I know the raptors haven't been playing that well lately, but there's no need for you to mail it in as well.

A quick look at the numbers indicates that Toronto has the 12th best road record, admittedly not that impressive until you compare it to 05-06, when Colangelo started on the job, Toronto was 24th in terms of road record. If their current record makes this team assembled by Colangelo abominable on the road what superlative should be applied to the rest?

Maybe expecting something close to analysis is asking a little too much from a post, but please at least do rudimentary research beyond looking at the last 10 games column in the standings.

[morgan Daniels]

I think you are forgetting a few historical realities.

1. Bryan Colangelo was NBA Executive of the year last year. Nuff said.

2. Would you wanna trade him back for Rob Babcock? How about Isiah Thomas? I don't think so. The grass may be greener elsewhere, but its greener than it used to be.

3. Most major US basketball stars have NO INTEREST in playing in Toronto, for all kinds of economic and sociological reasons. Remember Tracy McGrady? Vince Carter? Alonzo Mourning? Colangelo was correct in realizing a different internationally flavoured, team focused strategy had to take place in Toronto. The franchise simply could not withstand another mega-star give away because he didn't want to be here.

The city of Toronto is at a major disadvantage in this area, and I think you do yourself a disservice as a credible jouralist to pretend otherwise.

Perhaps Bargnani isn't a star like Brandon Roy after all, no guarantee Brandon Roy wouldn't want to go the same route as Tracy Mcgrady and Vince Carter either.

Should he trade half the team for a Kevin Garnett? For the same reason, I doubt such a scenario would be available to the raptors. Sorry!

The raptors obviously have some key pieces of the puzzle missing, but Bryan Colangelo has made something out of a completely hopeless situation. Whoever runs the leafs need to do the same.

[Psych!]

Honestly, I read DC's comments regularly and I think he suffers from some form of chronic depression. This man is never happy, he can always see the dark side of even the most optimistic news. Might I suggest some Prozac? Seriously Mr. Cox, for someone who's job is to cover ENTERTAINMENT, you need to lighten up.

[cam]

Hi Damien,

If you're going to write a basketball post maybe you should get your details sorted out before you post. Gregg Popovich has never been a general manager in the NBA or anywhere else.

Picking on the Leafs might be easy but I think you're reaching here. Will you be attacking TFC next week? Or maybe the Marlies?

[chongo jones]

hello mr. coxe,
RC Buford is the GM not Popovich. I agree with some of the stuff you are saying....TJ Ford was a bad trade. With Charlie V and Andreas they would have had a formidable front line. It would have been simpler to swing a deal for a solid point guard who could have worked in tandem with Cha-chi calerdon. This one will come back to haunt Colangelo

[brad]

You are no doubt a great hockey writer, or at least a critical one, but its probably best if you just stick to what you know. The turn-around that BC has led in the last two years have been amazing, far better than any Toronto GM has done. He basically found Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Jorge Garbosa, picked up Carlos Delfino for nothing, turned the worst pick in Rap's history Rafael Araujo into a usable Kris Humphries; and while Jason Kapono may be a bit overpaid and Andrea Bargnani has taken a step back this year, they still have bright futures. I doubt there are many GM's in the league that could have made the same progress with such little assets that BC has made.

And by the way, Gregg Popovich is a coach, RC Burford in the GM of San Antonio; so unless they're looking for a coach to be the new GM......

[Jordan W]

Wow! All Leafs GM candidates beware, you better be winning playoff rounds in your 2nd season, or bear the wrath of Damien Cox! The Leafs are likely to remain terrible for at least 3 seasons no matter who they hire--they're that bad. If they pick someone with Fletcher's "playoffs or bust" attitude, double that duration. Before Colangelo arrived, the Raptors found themselves in a situation just as dire as that which their hockey cousins find themselves in now. While a turnaround in basketball can be made more quickly than in hockey, as there are far fewer players on a team, the Raps have done quite well for themselves since the arrival of their new GM, given where they were. The Leafs could (and probably will) do far worse than the basketball operation with their big hire, so whatever be the results, I hope that you'll hold them to the same standard as you've set here with the Raptors.

[Steve]

There is hard hitting journalism, and then there is Damien Cox. And that is not meant as a compliment. You should be writing for a tabloid since you only like to stir the pot and get under peoples skin. It is time you tried reporting on facts and doing a little research before posting your “Spin”. Most of us would have no problem with your articles if they contained all of the factual historic information, not just the 1 or 2 parts that you choose to “Spin”.

[Devang D]

Wow. Haha.
Our franchise player is out and your suprised we lost 5 in a row?
Stick to whatever it is they pay you for.

[Miles Hershberg]

Damien

Keep attacking Colangelo. He is a smart guy but he has to get rid of Mitchell. I sold my liscense last week because I know we are nothing until Mitchell is gone.

I truly appreciate your straight forward talk on the Leaf. When Colangelo arrived I bought a Raptors liscence and have gone to every home game in the last two years but three. I flew to New Jersey to watch them loose which is Ok except the best teams in the league all use zone. Sam tried zone for the first time in the play-offs. The dunked lights out against us because nobody knew what they were doing. Colangelo has picked a young talented but with a massive problem. Sam Mitchell is a terrible coach. Two examples. TJ Ford is a ball hog. He has gone nuts since him came back. It expecially occurs in the fourth. Last night he knocked us out of another game.

Sam Mitchell before Colangello was voted the worst coach in basketball. The with a totally revamped team he instituted they take a minimum of 100 shot a game which was a mockery. TJ Ford who Sam loves like a son hogged the ball again in the fourth and the only reason he was taken out is because the ref through him out. Sam plays Andrea like a shooting guard. In the Orlando game in the four they bring in Dwight Howard the #1 dunker and #1 rebounder in the league. Sam stays with small line up, TJ has four throw aways and was 5 fo 9 while they dunked and we were crushed.

[Steve Barnett]

Not sure that Cox was bashing Colangelo..I take it to mean we need a GM who has the autonomy of Colangelo,Someone who does not have to listen to the Dick and Larry show about how to build a hockey team. Lest we forget whether we wanted Bowman or not it was Dick Peddie who nixed it because he would of had to go back to making turnovers or whatever it was he did before he landed in Leafland...

[richard kory]

I'm glad to hear someone take a more comprehensive view of Bryan Colangelo. Results always speak for themselves in sports (and business' which pro sports are of course).

The key to turning around the Raptors was Wayne Emery clearing cap space particularily with the Jalen Rose trade. This allowed Colangelo to pick up enough loose ends from around the league to give them a little depth and provide alternatives.
However Emory was also directly quoted in interviews as insisting that draft picks over about 12th were long shots at best. Yet Colangelo insisted that the Raptors were going to be greatly improved and demanding that improvement as well from Sam Mitchell. If this was truly believed as he stated then he made a horrendous failure not trading their draft pick as many other teams still felt Raptors were a bottom feeder (even stated such in pre-season analysis) and that pick could have been traded for a premium player instead of ending up with a middling draft choice. That is the type of gutsy, insightful move that should be a criteria for a new Leaf GM--if they have they shown any sign of that? Otherwise Leafs will flounder as the intensity of the market cannot afford patience no matter how much lip service they give to that. Thanks for good, contrarian articles! (and contrarian doesn't mean necessarily opposite, but at least different!)