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Off the mainpage - http://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2015/...ng-to-settle/:
Tim breaks down main arguments for being continuing with current state of Raptor affairs:
Money shot to end:
Another article is relevant to this topic. I am only going to include Raptor parts of this article - Toronto: City of Losers. It
But if you don’t, here’s a quick recap of the city’s dismal results since 1995.
I recently had a discussion with another Raptor fan on Twitter who brought up a number of arguments I’ve heard far too many times before. And they all can be boiled down to the belief that the Raptors have no chance of ever winning a title, so should basically aim low and forget about striving for excellence.
And it breaks my heart every time I encounter this attitude.
Perhaps it’s the fact that only one NBA team over the last 20 years have had fewer playoff appearances than the Raptors1: The Golden State Warriors, who are currently three wins away from winning an NBA title. Perhaps it’s because in those seven playoff appearances, the team has gotten beyond the first round just once. Perhaps it’s the fact they have more sub-.500 seasons than plus-.500 seasons and have never been able to hit the 50 win mark, a fact that only one other NBA franchise can lay claim to over the last 20 years. The Washington Wizards.
Yes, the same Wizards who just swept the Raptors in the playoffs.
So maybe it’s somewhat understandable some Raptor fans have a rather pessimistic view of the future of the team. Add the fact that none of Toronto’s major sports franchise have had much success over the last two decades and you’re got a breeding ground for the hopeless and cynical.
And it breaks my heart every time I encounter this attitude.
Perhaps it’s the fact that only one NBA team over the last 20 years have had fewer playoff appearances than the Raptors1: The Golden State Warriors, who are currently three wins away from winning an NBA title. Perhaps it’s because in those seven playoff appearances, the team has gotten beyond the first round just once. Perhaps it’s the fact they have more sub-.500 seasons than plus-.500 seasons and have never been able to hit the 50 win mark, a fact that only one other NBA franchise can lay claim to over the last 20 years. The Washington Wizards.
Yes, the same Wizards who just swept the Raptors in the playoffs.
So maybe it’s somewhat understandable some Raptor fans have a rather pessimistic view of the future of the team. Add the fact that none of Toronto’s major sports franchise have had much success over the last two decades and you’re got a breeding ground for the hopeless and cynical.
“NOT EVERY TEAM CAN WIN A TITLE”
“STARS ALWAYS LEAVE THE RAPTORS”
“WE NEED TO HOLD ONTO THE GOOD PLAYERS WE HAVE”
“I JUST WANT TO SEE THE RAPTORS WIN A PLAYOFF SERIES OR TWO”
Money shot to end:
No one achieved anything worthwhile by aiming low.
Another article is relevant to this topic. I am only going to include Raptor parts of this article - Toronto: City of Losers. It
But if you don’t, here’s a quick recap of the city’s dismal results since 1995.
The Raptors, in this their twentieth season, have won a grand total of one, I repeat one, playoff series. Canada’s only baseball team, meanwhile, holds the current Major League Baseball playoff drought at 21 years. In 2007, Toronto got a Major League Soccer franchise and since then that team has made the playoffs zero times. And the Leafs – oh what a time to talk about the Leafs – just missed the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 seasons (and that one time came in a shortened campaign). Then there’s that whole zero Stanley Cups in 47 years thing – the longest victory drought in the history of the NHL. They haven’t won a cup since the league expanded beyond the Original Six.
The Toronto Raptors have averaged an attendance capacity of 92.1 per cent over the past 14 seasons – since ESPN began posting these numbers online. This is despite making the playoffs just five times during that span. And after this year’s embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Wizards, Toronto has lost that opening round matchup every year since 2002.
So what do real fans do?
They show up outside the Air Canada Centre to cheer on the Raptors, like they did – in the thousands – during this year’s and last year’s playoff appearance.
They show up outside the Air Canada Centre to cheer on the Raptors, like they did – in the thousands – during this year’s and last year’s playoff appearance.
The Raptors, for all the good moves they made – and yes Masai Ujiri did make some great ones – will not be able to make a serious run with the quick fix roster they have assembled. They’re just not good enough. A tear down is probably in their best interest, though it won’t happen.
Kurt Badenhausen, a senior editor at Forbes magazine who focuses on the business of sports, says part of the reluctance is because of economics.
“[Teams] who play in a big market and charge exorbitant ticket prices, it’s very hard to blow things up and do a full fledged rebuild,” he says. “To ask your fans to pay $150 or more for a ticket when you’re putting well below average talent out on the ice or out on the floor, it’s very hard to ask.”
But here’s the thing: “hard to ask” is no excuse.
It’s been done before.
“[Teams] who play in a big market and charge exorbitant ticket prices, it’s very hard to blow things up and do a full fledged rebuild,” he says. “To ask your fans to pay $150 or more for a ticket when you’re putting well below average talent out on the ice or out on the floor, it’s very hard to ask.”
But here’s the thing: “hard to ask” is no excuse.
It’s been done before.
Last week ESPN writer J.A. Adande said Toronto as an NBA destination has been an “afterthought” for a long time.
“Before the Raptors can build a championship-contending team, they have to become a true contender for free agents’ services,” Adande wrote.
He’s right.
“Before the Raptors can build a championship-contending team, they have to become a true contender for free agents’ services,” Adande wrote.
He’s right.
The big question: will this trend continue? Will Toronto fans ever be free?
The facts aren’t good: this market isn’t getting any smaller and fans continue to show up.
The facts aren’t good: this market isn’t getting any smaller and fans continue to show up.
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