Charles Barkley's preview of the Raptors 2012-13 Season

[TheGloveinRapsUniform]

I think my main problem with the preview was Barkley kept referring to the Rap's historical state rather than considering the current roster, hence the topic "preview of the Raptors 2012-13 season". I think it is highly unfair to bring up how crappy were the past raptors team when clearly this year, its an almost entirely different roster.

On paper, the Raps are younger, talented, filled in almost all positions and has a coach and system that has been proven to work.

On paper, Celtics are old, Knicks have chemistry issues, Nets have no defense and Philly has an injury prone center and no scorer.

Of course its an entirely different scenario when they step on the court, but this is what previews are for. You judge teams by what they are on paper.

At the moment, this is how i rank the Atlantic - Celtics, Nets, Knicks, Raptors, Sixers

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Charles is one funny guy and is known to say some ridiculous things, but I'm just curious which team you guys thought wasn't going to finish ahead of the Raptors in our division?

We're going to be last in our division whether Charles thinks so or not.

As a few others have said, I think it's fair to pick the Raptors to finish 5th in their division, to start the season. What irks me about guys like Barkley, is that they seem to do so based on their indepth knowledge of the other - American - teams, and then get to 5th place and go "oh ya, and I guess the Raptors will finish last". I don't care where the Raps are picked to finish, as long as the reporter respects us (organization and its fans) enough to properly evaluate and analyze the Raptors.

Personally, I think Boston is still the team to beat in our division. After that, I could see any of the other four teams finishing anywhere from 2nd to 5th, given the roster turnover/uncertainty with each team, for a variety of reasons.

[NoBan]

Guys, bashing Barkley for not knowing about basketball is just plain dumb. The dude has more basketball IQ in his foreskin than all message board posters in the world combined.

I understand he's go an..um.. unique delivery. I understand he's not vigorously reviewing stats and working sources behind the scenes, but the guy knows his shit. He knows what it takes to win in the NBA. He can quickly assess a basketball related situation and determine a valid point of view based on his own unique perspective.

Chuck is spot on - we don't have the horses to compete in the deepest division in the NBA. His indifference towards the Raps is not something exclusive to him or to the Raps. It's what national media members do to perennial lottery teams. If you are dismissing his point of view because you don't think he's qualified to speak on the subject, then you are kidding yourself.

What I do agree with is that our spot of last in the division is not a foregone conclusion. However likely it may seem, injuries happen, relationships implode and guys exceed expectations all over the league. Like everyone else here, I'm hoping for a better result than a 5th straight lottery and the Atlantic division cellar. But at the same time, the only realistic response to Chuck here is that he's correct and we've got work to do to prove him wrong.

[ebrian]

Charles is one funny guy and is known to say some ridiculous things, but I'm just curious which team you guys thought wasn't going to finish ahead of the Raptors in our division?

We're going to be last in our division whether Charles thinks so or not.

[DoNDaDDa]

he prob. spent the whole night previous at the casino getting smashed & loosing more of his money.. hence why he had nothing constructive to say.. instead he fumbled all his words didnt even mention anything raptor related...he couldnt even count how many teams he thinks are ahead of us in the division & they call that a team preview..what a joke!!

we have a tough division this year but i think we finish ahead of 76ers...

[ahoang]

he should just stick to javale mcgee bashing!

[Gman]

Explain to me why we care about somebodies opinion who can't count to Five. I kept expecting him to look down at his fingers. I say this about very few people in this world. Barkley is stupid. He really is. He didn't say anything predicated on insight or comparison. He made a grand generality that exposed the fact that for Charles, Math is hard.

When I saw everybody's reaction here I had thought there had been some kind of indepth disturbing analysis done. Nope...
Just Chuck playing with some Lego.

[Green Maple Leaf]

You don't get respect you earn it. Look at how Raps have fared these last couple years, brutal. On top of all that, the fans have treated their star players like garbage (VC & Bosh). Not that I disagree with their treatment, but it does have an after effect.

[Nilanka]

Haha, I just watched the actual clip for the 1st time. I don't think Sir Charles could name one player on the roster.

"Hey Charles, what are your thoughts on abortion?"

"There's no way abortion could be one of the top 5 teams. Abortion shouldn't have any expectations this year."

[pillowmint]

I think it's a tough division, but what's the point in trashing a team that by all measures has gotten better? I have this sick feeling that he wouldn't be as hard on the Bobcats...and that is a team in dire straights.

Honestly, I'm tired of Charles. He strikes me as a guy who walks up to the bar and expects you to buy him a drink because he's there...despite being loaded.

Ugh! But white people problems was a funny sketch on SNL last year.

NO! I remain confident in my dislike. There I said it.

[mcHAPPY]

Sucks to hear bad news, but he's right. The Raptors are all but guaranteed a 5th place finish in the Atlantic.

5th is likely most probable but not a guarantee, in my opinion.

The Knicks were pretty bad for the majority of last year. Big turnover, egos, euphoria of new coach wearing off.... You never know.

Brooklyn is not a guarantee either. Little to no depth. Injuries in Lopez are always a possibility. Wallace is another year older and relies on athleticism. Who says all the new pieces mesh? This was a really bad team last year.

Philly lost best rebounder and post defender and scorer. Lost best wing defender. Lost leading scorer. Bynum's knees? Chemistry? Selfishness in young and age in Richardson?

My only point is while 5th is most likely it is hardly a definite.

[white men can't jump]

Yeah, I can't hate on Charles....I'm not saying he's a genius or anything, but like minks77 said, he's mostly just jokes. He's ok at the in-studio thing for TNT because he clearly knows how to watch the game and players, but that being said, he probably hasn't seen a Raptors game since one of Bosh's years here.

Not if (when?) Bynum's knees explode. Sixers are terrible without him, and might not even be that good with him; we'll see how well he handles constant double teams.

Totally agree with this. The Sixers could go in either direction after this trade. Bynum isn't even health right now, as they say they'll sit him most of preseason to rest his knees...And they did little else to upgrade their roster, mostly plugging holes (ie Nick Young taking Lou's bench scorer role, Dorrell Wright to help replace some of Iggy's game).

[tkfu]

Not if (when?) Bynum's knees explode. Sixers are terrible without him, and might not even be that good with him; we'll see how well he handles constant double teams.

[minks77]

wow, raps fans can be so sensitive, who knew?

Get a grip, he's 90% jokes and style and 10% on the money. Not a snowballs chance in hell this team doesn't finish last in the Atlantic. Our only prayer is devestating injuries to the competition.

[TheR3dMenace]

Sucks to hear bad news, but he's right. The Raptors are all but guaranteed a 5th place finish in the Atlantic.