NBA playoffs 2013: Here’s hoping Canadian-born Grizzlies bear up against Spurs: Kelly

Source: The Star

The Memphis (née Vancouver) Grizzlies are as close as we’re ever going to get to putting a Canadian franchise in the NBA finals.

Toronto Raptors: How the 2012 Offseason Will Get Bryan Colangelo Fired

Source: Bleacher Report

The Toronto Raptors 2012 offseason began with a bit of a curveball thrown their way. Because the Raptors finished the season strong by winning 98-67 over the New Jersey Nets, the Raptors lost the chance to pick seventh overall and lost out on potential star small forward Harrison Barnes.

The Raptors finished tied with the Golden State Warriors, thus essentially a coin-flip was done in order to see who picked first. The Raptors drew the short end and had to pick eighth instead of seventh.

Because they lost out

NBA playoffs 2013: Spurs take down Grizzlies in Game 1 of Western final

Source: The Star

Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists while Kawhi Leonard added 18 points.

Grizzlies try to extend best playoff run vs Spurs (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- On the best playoff run in their short history, the Memphis Grizzlies refuse to be satisfied with just reaching their first Western Conference final.

Raptors Doing 180 and Considering Replacing GM Colangelo with Nuggets' Ujiri?

Source: Raptors HQ by Adam Francis

Ok so let me get this straight.

The Toronto Raptors hired an executive search firm to find a potential replacement for Bryan Colangelo, something the board of a, you know, basketball team, couldn't do themselves.

Wait though.

That executive search firm then does its due diligence, and recommends Denver Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri, who...

...USED TO BE THE RAPTORS ASSISTANT GM, AND WHO MLSE LET

The end of the weekend mail

Source: TheStar.com by Toronto Star

Okay, let’s get this out of the way before the deluge of “what’s going on with the Raptors” calls, e-mails and texts begin.

Have fun.

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Q: Greetings, Mr. Smith. How long do you think it will take for the NBA to dub Toronto's/Texas's big Myck "El Kabongo"? Or maybe just "Quickdraw"? "Baba Louie"?

Maybe a Top Five list of your all-time coolest NBA nicknames?

Thanks for the great blog!

David M., Ottawa

A: Wow, so many to choose from, it’s virtually impossible.

But I’ll do it because that’s what we do, with one codicil: Nothing with “Big” in

NBA playoffs 2013: Pacers knock out Knicks with Game 6 win

Source: The Star

Indiana moves on to Eastern Conference finals matchup with Miami Heat.

NBA playoffs 2013: Spurs’ experience could be difference in conference final vs. Memphis

Source: The Star

The Grizzlies are making their first appearance in a conference final while the Spurs, though getting older, are healthy and possess a wealth of post-season experience.

NBA playoffs 2013: Addition by subtraction has transformed Memphis Grizzlies

Source: The Star

The mid-season trade of Rudy Gay to the Raptors has made the Grizzlies a better team and lifted them to the Western Conference final for the first time in franchise history.

Report Raptors going after Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri to take over organization (NBC Sports)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Toronto has until Monday to decide the fate of Bryan Colangelo as GM and the guy steering the Raptors ship — do they pick up his option for next season or release him? It looks more and more like the new management of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — which owns the Raptors — wants…

Raptors interested in Nuggets GM Ujiri (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri is the top candidate to take over the Toronto Raptors front office, according to CBS Sports.

We have a lot of Andrew Wiggins, Steve Nash, a few commits and more Wiggins in Canadian Content

Source: Raptors HQ by rbala

first we start off with some National Program news ...

CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME WELCOMES 2013 INDUCTION CLASS | Canada Basketball

GROUPS DRAWN FOR FIBA AMERICAS U16 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN | Canada Basketball

McKenzie to oversee national women’s basketball development team - Sports - Cape Breton Post

Now

Report: Raptors Target Masai Ujiri

Source: theScore by Joseph Casciaro

On Friday we learned from Doug Smith that the Raptors have until Monday to decide whether or not to pick up Bryan Colangelo’s option for next season. Smith also reported that Tim Leiweke and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have hired a search firm to narrow down a list of potential Colangelo successors. Two names mentioned

Raptors Target Masai Ujiri As Top Candidate

Source: Yardbarker

The Toronto Raptors are pursuing Masai Ujiri to become the team's top basketball executive, according to sources. Ujiri was named the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year for his work as general manager of the Nuggets. Ujiri's contract with the Nuggets expires this summer and he has been in discussions on an extension. Korn/Ferry International, the search firm hired by MLSE to search for a new GM for the Raptors, has identified Ujiri as its top candidate. MLSE has until Monday to make a decision on whether to retain Bryan Colangelo, who could stay with the franchise under a new decision-maker. Ujiri worked for three years with the Raptors under Colangelo before becoming GM of the Nuggets.

Before considering Masai Ujiri, the Toronto Raptors reportedly consulted a head-hunting firm to find a GM (Ball Don't Lie)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Toronto Raptors have been rumored to be hot on Phil Jackson’s trail , not as a head coach, but for a job running the team’s front office. They’re also trying to figure out the direction of the franchise after yet another year lost to the middling depths of the low lottery, while sussing out a payroll that currently is set to send them into luxury tax territory next season. They also have until Monday, because of a contract deadline, to determine whether or not current general manager Bryan Colangelo will be the man to lead them out of the mess that, um, Bryan Colangelo just made. It’s clear that Tim Leiweke (the new CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) needs some help in figuring out what to do with the team his company owns, and any outside help is appreciated. Instead of going with a basketball mind, someone who has been there before or someone who is willing to think in hoop-related terms while minding this mess, MLSE has gone elsewhere. They’ve hired a head-hunting firm, weirdly. From the great Doug Smith at the Toronto Star : While not officially on the job yet, Leiweke has been given all responsibility to determine Colangelo’s fate. The two men have met and discussed plans for the Raptors future but neither has spoken publicly about their feelings.

Source: Raptors Making a Run at Ujiri

Source: Raptors Republic by Doc Naismith

This according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Ujiri’s contract expires this summer in Denver and apparently Leiweke has expressed interested in bringing him back to Toronto. Thoughts?

Documentary is an ode to NYC playground basketball (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- Half-moon hoops, double rims, chain-linked fences for out-of-bounds lines and no net that anyone can recall.

The start of the weekend mail

Source: TheStar.com by Toronto Star

Looks like it’s going to be a nice day in these parts for the long weekend, hope it is wherever you’re going to be.

Here’s some stuff to get you started, there’s a bit more for tomorrow (you can still get in on the fun if you want) and I’ll have some time after Mighty Navy Tigers practice and a couple of NBA West preview things get written to putter around so feel free to send some more.

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Q: I was reading a Raps article that had various clips of turning points in the season...While watching the Bobcat's clip from early in the season I was struck, not by the non-called foul, but how quickly Bargnani's star has fallen. I mean here he was, early in the season, the go to guy for the last second

MLSE Hires Firm To Search For New Raptors' GM, No Decision Yet On Colangelo

Source: Yardbarker

MLSE, owner of the Toronto Raptors, have hired a firm to search for a possible replacement for Bryan Colangelo. The Raptors have until Monday to make a decision on whether to pick up their option on Colangelo's contract for the 13-14 season. Kevin Pritchard and Troy Weaver are two names being mentioned as candidates to replace Colangelo, should the Raptors make a move. Tim Leiweke became CEO of MLSE last month and will have final say on the Raptors' general manager position.

Finally, Some Colangelo News – Report: MLSE Looking For Possible Replacement

Source: theScore by Joseph Casciaro

We’ve been waiting for what we thought was imminent news on the job status of Bryan Colangelo for a couple of weeks now, and on Friday afternoon, some finally trickled through.

First, citing multiple NBA sources, Doug Smith reported in the Toronto Star that Tim Leiweke and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have “hired a head-hunting firm to whittle down a list of possible replacements” for Colangelo.

In addition, Smith reports that the Raptors have until Monday to decide whether or

Unlikely Big 3 has Memphis in 1st Western finals (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Miami Heat have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Spurs have dominated for years with the trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Myck Kabongo has no regrets after turbulent NCAA basketball season

Source: The Star

An NCAA suspension robbed him of all but 11 games of the most important season of his young life and he needs to re-establish himself as a bonafide NBA talent.

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo: MLSE hires firm to look for possible replacement, sources say

Source: The Star

Multiple NBA sources say MLSE has hired a head-hunting firm to whittle down a list of possible replacements to replace Colangelo. Deadline to pick up Colangelo’s option year is Monday.

Regardless of Decision on Colangelo, Raptors Continue to Look Lost at Sea

Source: Raptors HQ by Adam Francis

It's a busy day in Toronto.

We had an earthquake.

We've got allegations swirling about our mayor smoking crack.

And the post-mortem of the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff collapse continues.

But in terms of decisions regarding the leadership of the Toronto Raptors, we've had the opposite of a busy day.

Or a busy week for that matter.

There's still no

100 (or way fewer) Words: John Lucas III

Source: Raptors Republic by Blake Murphy

Throughout the NBA playoffs, where we Raptor fans are left to wallow, Raptors Republic brings you the 100 Words Series. Calling on RR writers and other Raptor scribes from around the internet and MSM, we’ll provide the Republic with 100-word takes on players, coaches, management and announcers. Look for these two or three times a week, continuing today with John Lucas. The mission I charged the contributors with was simple: you have 100 words (prose, poetry, song, whatever) to discuss said player.

Andrew Thompson, Raptors Republic
John Lucas the third will go down in memory for me. Not because of the way he played, which was to shoot a lot in a little bit of time and then sit down again, but because he

Phil Jackson was in Seattle group's plan (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Retired coach Phil Jackson said Thursday night he was interested in a front-office post with the Seattle group, which failed in a bid to relocate the Sacramento Kings Thursday.

The combine's like a festival of basketball

Source: TheStar.com by Toronto Star

Our usual Friday of little things that may or may not matter and sorry we’re a bit late, sleep got in the way until 7 a.m. my time.

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So what’s this draft combine like?

Well, we finally got to find out first hand and it’s like a festival of basketball and front office schmoozefest.

For the past few years, the prying eyes of the media were shut out of the actual workouts, the facility wasn’t big enough to hold us all, the teams and front office personnel wanted some privacy and we’d all wait at a hotel for the players to come back to do media interviews in some stuffy ballroom.

Not any more.

The gym’s huge – three full courts – and the players are broken up into five groups

NBA playoffs 2013: San Antonio Spurs eliminate Golden State Warriors

Source: The Star

Tim Duncan had 19 points and six rebounds, as the Spurs held off a furious final rally to eliminate the Warriors with a 94-82 victory

Kelly Olynyk carries rare skill set to NBA draft

Source: The Star

Seven-footer Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops is seen as a late-lottery pick in next month’s NBA draft.

Will The Grizzlies Regret Trading Rudy Gay?

Source: Yardbarker

The Memphis Grizzlies finished off a depleted Oklahoma City Thunder team last night, and have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. The Grizzlies have a very good team built around the size and strength of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph  down low, and the gritty defense of Tony Allen and Mike Conley on the perimeter. The Grizzlies play “championship style” basketball, which means they rebound well and they play great defense. However, the one thing they lack is somebody who can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James on a nightly basis. That they don’t have. But they make up for it with their defense, rebounding, and all around team play. But as we have seen, good all around team play can only take you so far in the NBA playoffs, and at some point you need to have somebody step up and become the go-to guy. That seems to be the one piece the Grizzlies lack, and ironically it just might be the piece that they gave up when they traded Rudy G

NBA playoffs: New York Knicks stay alive with Game 5 victory over Pacers

Source: The Star

The Knicks trail 3-2 and will need a victory Saturday in Indiana.

Why the NBA Draft Lottery Is More Important to the Cleveland Cavaliers Than You Think (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

COMMENTARY | The NBA draft lottery appears, at first glance at least, like a cruel and unusual joke perpetrated by David Stern on the down-and-out franchises of the NBA.

Grizzlies rest, prepare for 1st conference finals (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Grizzlies are enjoying a day off after clinching the franchise's first berth in the Western Conference finals. Good thing too since they can use a little rest after all that hard work.

News and Notes for May 16th

Source: Dino Nation Blog

The Playoffs: So Miami and Memphis have moved on to the conference final. This makes only 4 franchises to have yet to play in a Conference Finals. The Raptors being one of the four along with the Clippers, Bobcats and one other team not to reach the Conference Finals.  It stings when you realize the Grizzlies once that Vancouver team that we laughed about. The latest Raptors’ mess is the simple

Too Much Sympathy for Bryan Colangelo (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

COMMENTARY | This week a large contingent of the local media here in Toronto are up in arms over how Bryan Colangelo is being treated by MLSE and new CEO Tim Leiweke.

Kevin Durant can’t be blamed for Oklahoma City Thunder’s failure in NBA playoffs: Smith

Source: The Star

In this week’s edition of Nothing But Net, a warning for those teams reliant on one superstar, why potential draft picks shouldn’t duck testing at the NBA combine and the Bulls.

100 (or more?) Words: Jonas Valanciunas

Source: Raptors Republic by Blake Murphy

Throughout the NBA playoffs, where we Raptor fans are left to wallow, Raptors Republic brings you the 100 Words Series. Calling on RR writers and other Raptor scribes from around the internet and MSM, we’ll provide the Republic with 100-word takes on players, coaches, management and announcers. Look for these two or three times a week, continuing today with Jonas Valanciunas. The mission I charged the contributors with was simple: you have 100 words (prose, poetry, song, whatever) to discuss said player.

Adam Francis, Raptors HQ
My expectation for Jonas Valanciunas this past season was as

Grizzlies Success Without Gay Doesn’t Mean Raptors Are Doomed With Him

Source: theScore by Joseph Casciaro

With the Grizzlies booking the franchise’s first trip to the Conference Finals on Wednesday night, much of the talk was about how obviously improved the team is in a post-Rudy Gay world.

Gay’s supporters and Raptors diehards can point to the fact that the Thunder would have been the favoured team in the West semifinal series had Russell Westbrook been healthy, but the fact remains that the Grizzlies have a better record since trading Rudy and that the team’s two most successful post-seasons came with Gay either injured or long gone.

Had Gay taken advantage of his talents more in Memphis, there’s no doubt that

100 Words: Jonas Valanciunas

Source: Raptors Republic by Blake Murphy

Throughout the NBA playoffs, where we Raptor fans are left to wallow, Raptors Republic brings you the 100 Words Series. Calling on RR writers and other Raptor scribes from around the internet and MSM, we’ll provide the Republic with 100-word takes on players, coaches, management and announcers. Look for these two or three times a week, continuing today with Jonas Valanciunas. The mission I charged the contributors with was simple: you have 100 words (prose, poetry, song, whatever) to discuss said player.

Adam Francis, Raptors HQ
My expectation for Jonas Valanciunas this past season was as

NBA playoffs: Memphis Grizzlies eliminate Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder

Source: The Star

Despite trading leading scorer Rudy Gay to the Raptors, the Grizzlies advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

Why Raptors Amir Johnson should never switch to baseball

Source: Yardbarker

About a month ago, I caught a tweet exchange between Raptors Amir Johnson and Wizards point guard John Wall. He was expressing to Wall that he understood how he felt when he threw out a terrible first pitch at the Nationals game two years ago. Amir botched his own at a Toronto Blue Jays game recently. Check the pitch and the tweet exchange. Man Now I See How @john_wall Felt #NotAsEasyAsItLooks On TV HaHaHa — Amir Johnson (@IamAmirJohnson) April 20, 2013   @iamamirjohnson lol it was tough bra? — John Wall (@John_Wall) April 20, 2013     video via Amir Johnson

The NBA does what the NBA does, protect its own

Source: TheStar.com by Toronto Star

This was a rise like a Phoenix.

The NBA’s decision yesterday to deny a relocation bid from Sacramento to move the Kings to Seattle ends – probably – one of the longest dragged out sagas of recent times.

And says a lot about what the league’s priorities are with its franchises.

We will forget for a second the personal choice because anyone who would pick Sacramento over Seattle given the choice would have to have her or his head examined, the cities are nowhere close to each other in that regard.

But the NBA has always said it wasn’t a Seattle issue; it was a Sacramento issue and if the people there could come up with a way to keep the team, it would stay, despite the stated intentions of the

NBA draft combine highlights Canadian talent

Source: The Star

The depth of young basketball talent in Canada is apparent as lead-up to this year’s NBA draft begins in earnest this week.

Grizzlies go from uncertain future to West finals (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Midway through the season, the Memphis Grizzlies came through Oklahoma City and left with questions swirling about the franchise's future after leading scorer Rudy Gay was traded away in the club's second big deal in just over a week.

VIDEO: Tayshaun Prince turns back the clock; puts Serge Ibaka on a poster

Source: Yardbarker

When the Grizzlies decided to part ways with Rudy Gay, many assumed they had given up on their season and were planning for the future. However, the addition on Tayshaun Prince from the Rudy Gay trade has proved to be a positive development for this Grizzlies team. Even so, Prince isn’t exactly known for his athleticism, especially on the offensive end. However, during the 3rd quarter of game five of the Grizzlies Western Semi-Final series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Prince turned back the clock to 2004 when he won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, and cranked home this ferocious dunk on Serge Ibaka and the Thunder: By: Frank Santos The post VIDEO: Tayshaun Prince turns back the clock; puts Serge Ibaka on a poster appeared first on Pass The Pill - Kings of Hoops.

Tayshaun Prince dunks all over 3 Thunder players on the fast break (Video) (Ball Don't Lie)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

When the Memphis Grizzlies traded small forward Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors in late January, one of the criticisms of the deal was that they had sacrificed much needed scoring and wing athleticism for the more virtual gain of long-term financial health. Veteran Tayshaun Prince, his replacement, was considered a good player on the wrong side of his career. The Grizzlies' post-trade performance has silenced most critics, but it's still the case that Prince isn't thought of as an athletic dynamo. On Wednesday night, in Game 5 of the Grizzlies' Western Conference Semifinals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Prince proved that his athleticism deserves some notice. With just over 7:10 left in the third quarter, Memphis point guard turned a long rebound into a 4-on-3 fast break. Although the numbers were roughly even, Prince found a seam down the middle of the floor, took the pass a step outside the free-throw line, and exploded over three Thunder players for one of the flashiest plays of the playoffs so far. Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, and Reggie Jackson have all seen better days.

NBA playoffs: Miami Heat rally to eliminate Bulls in Game 5

Source: The Star

LeBron James scored 23 points, Dwyane Wade added 18 and the Heat rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit.

NBA owners reject Sacramento Kings’ proposed move to Seattle

Source: The Star

NBA will now talk to Kings owners about working out a deal with a competing ownership group in Sacramento.

Heat Chris Bosh ESPN E:60 Feature (Video)

Source: Yardbarker

  Ever since Chris Bosh left the Toronto Raptors to go play for the Miami Heat three seasons ago, he’s been a lightning rod for ridicule by anybody and everybody primarily because of his quirky demeanor. Bosh’s sexuality, toughness, and superstar legitimacy  have been questioned perpetually and I’m sure he’s fully aware of it, which is probably why he agreed to do this E:60 profile. From the outside looking in, you would think that the Heat forward has it all, gorgeous wife, beautiful kids, he plays for the reigning champs, he’s wealthy and lives in South Beach; but everyone wants to be respected for who they are and that may be the one thing Bosh feels he doesn’t have. It’s a well done feature on Bosh with appearances by his wife and teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Check it out here: H/T to the Basketball Jones for the video.  

Andrew Wiggins prompts soaring expectations at Kansas

Source: The Star

After losing entire starting lineup, Andrew Wiggins likely saw in Kansas a place where he could shine.