Okay, I have decided that writing 5 lengthened paragraphs on why the Raps lost to the Lakes(03/12/08 ) will only annoy me. So, here’s a list of reasons. Plus I have a towering mountain of laundry to do and you can bet your autographed vintage Oscar Robinson jersey that my Kobe Bryant jersey will indisputably be in the mix.

Cons:

- Tj Ford still needs to appreciate his teammates.

- I feel his chief goal is to become point-guard option number one.

- Jose Calderon is playing uncharacteristically squandering redundant possessions.

- I feel Jose is thinking about the summer pay day…

- Moon needs to learn how to drive explosively instead of shooting long-distance jumpers.

Pros:

- With C.B.4 out we still put up a fight.

- I’m really feeling Bargnani’s growth in the last month or so.

- Rasho is showing glimpses of why he was part of a Championship with the Spurs.

- Kobe Bryant is impossible to guard so Parker keep your head up.

- Anthony Parker is showing glimpses of perfection offensively.

- This is not a demoralizing loss for the raptors’ mind sets.

- I’m also feeling the new guy, whatever his name is, Brezvitch, I think.

A list off the top of the dome: Respect for opposing teams, no matter their record. Strong first Q. Defensive intensity, Intelligence, Ball movement, Pride, Heart….

These are just a few things the raps lacked vs. a battered Indiana lineup (2/29/08), missing their main players. And believe you me, there were plenty more lackings…My point is I stayed home Friday night anticipating a Pacer demolishing and what do I get for my loyal devotion? A disheartening L. I swear, sometimes I feel like wearing my Vince Carter Jersey to work the next day.

A basketball follower, who even has the most miniscule of basketball familiarity, probably knows that the Detroit Pistons are, and have been for many years now, an awe-inspiring basketball squad. The entire basketball organization has been doing it and doing it well for years. You can pretty much guarantee their entry to the Nba Playoffs every year the instant the referee tosses up the ball in game one. What’s more is they frequently make dust of cushy teams from the East and make their way to the Eastern Conference Finals, and even some years to the finals itself. They won it all a few years back and I will enlighten y’all why they’ve been outright successful, with what I like to call, the Fantastic Four.

1. Chancey Billups: This gut-throat defender is a coach’s dream on the point. He’s quick, versatile, physically powerful, and has a no fail manner. He provides the glue that keeps the Pistons as one big happy family, and rightfully so since he is a point-man. He rarely takes foolish shots. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen him do so. He has the ability to dagger a three open or defended, especially in late-clock situations. Hence, they call him Mr. Big Shot. The most fitting comparison I can give you is NBA’s theme this year, wherever Chancey goes, amazing happens. On top of all the skill and notoriety, he is a modest dude that keeps his more wild teammates in check, sort of like a coach on the court. When the Pistons played the Raps, he along with his coaching staff, were clever enough to realize that most of our offence runs through Calderon. So every chance they had, both in Toronto and Detroit, Chancey attacked Jose causing him to play stiff defense and to eventually tire. And this of course results in Jose being less effective on the offensive end. Brains people Brains! I also feel Jose needs that, a slap in his face that says ‘hey, you’re good, but you’re far from great’…to enthuse him even more. If Calderon can play as wise, calm, and defensive, as Chancy does, I’ll bet all my sneakers that he will make the All star team next year.

2. Rasheed Wallace: This gentleman (more like misunderstood Giant, & yes I stole that from the Doritos commercial)… pretty much does it all. From rebounding, to inside game, to defensive tenacity, to perimeter shooting..he’s got it all down pat. He’s a branch of a rare breed that unfortunately comes in handfuls within the Nba. He’s big, tall, lanky, tough, and not very slow to the point of having a negative effect on his teammates. I remember when Wallace played in the west for Portland, he was the only beast(along with Shaq of course) that had the right body frame and cleverness to effectively defend Kevin Garnet. That task, by the way is nearly unachievable. This kat is to talented man, I mean I was in disbelief when he shot the whole All-Star game left-handed, including threes. My natural dribble is left handed for some odd reason, and lay ups too, but long-range shooting? Are you fucking kidding me? That’s it…my mind is made…I’m working on my left hand shooting mechanics..just for kicks of course. In addition to his authentic gifts, comes a wild character that can mix well with particular groups. This is the type of player the Toronto Raptors need, as our team is jam-packed with loads of light-hearted personalities. You know: the Calderons, the Boshes, the Parkers, the Bargnanis, and pretty well the whole daym team. We need that one competitor that comes in and adds a unique flavor to the team. A teammate with a fuming attitude that will protect his teammates in all situations, and at all costs. A player who is deep-down..evil in a sense. A contestant that’s willing to get down and dirty, dive for lose balls, take excruciating charges, talk a little trash, and most importantly, one who truly understands the purpose of all the nitty gritty.

In my belief, the ultimate competitor, is one who truly believes that giving an excellent performance isn’t all about the stat sheet; it’s much more then that, it’s about giving you and your teammates a better opportunity to overcome any odds, opposing team’s superstars, opposing teams intensity, anything & everything. Grit would best typify the characteristic most of the Toronto Raptor’s lack. I can only think of two recent players that suited up in the red and white that exemplified grit: Mo Pete, and Garbo. Unfortunately, MP3 made his departure, and till date I feel that was one of Brian Colangelo’s very rare blunders. But I am exceptionally happy for Mo and the New Orleans Hornets, as they are really fun to watch…doing remarkable with the top record in the West. And I happened to take in one of their games vs. San Antonio, and they demolished them. Chris Paul is absolutely marvelous. I’ll write about him in the coming months for sure. Back to the Raps though. Garbo was a solid rock for us last year, and I feel that the Raps miss his company all over the court. He did the little things which transformed in to little ruptures of energy. We need grit. I hope the new Slovenian dude can offer us a little somethin somethin. Furthermore, I hope this off-season Brian tries his best to nurse a couple holes that need attention before acquiring anything else, because we need rebounding and grit, grit, and mor grit.

3. Richard Hamilton is probably the most distinguishable player in the league because he wears that silly mask over his face as a safety precaution. This veteran is probably the most brilliant mid-range shooter in the whole world, and probably has been for 3 years. For myself, I’ve examined his game to extremities for years…particularly battling for open shooting positions, off-screens jumpers and also the lean-in jumpers. Three all star appearances now–well deserved.

4. Tayshaun Prince: I’m keep this one short and sweet…Defender, great disherm, three-point menace, game comprehension, deadly shooter, sporadic dunker.  

There are two leading attributes that the Fantastic Four embody and have in common. The first being the ability to leave their egocentricities in the locker room. There is nothing worse than having a player thinking he’s Michel Jordan because he had a few good games. In fact, it just leads to jealousy, resentment, hatred, etc. But no, these Pistons all care for one another and take pride in making the right decision when it comes to scoring the basketball. And they do it effortlessly with fluency, which brings us to my the next point: Balance. These four guys I mentioned all have balance, in terms of defense, shooting, field goal percentage, unselfishness, and assists. When Billups, Wallace, Hamilton, and Prince set out onto the court, all they really care about is inflammation of the win column. Don’t eve get me started on the Coach Flip Saunders…I’m telling you man, I see what he does, and no words can express his influence. On that note, the title to this post should really be called Fantastic Five. I completely understand the fresh hype in Boston and Orlando, and that Cleveland are only better this year, the Raps are still undersupplied, and the Pistons are getting old, but I’m going out on a limp and rooting for the old guys this playoffs. Lastly, I want to officially present you with my Eastern Conference Champions of 2007.