Rose takes shot at Babcock

Rose takes shot at Babcock
By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun



Jalen Rose was incredulous that Raptors GM Rob Babcock would predict that the team will struggle this season. (CP File Photo)

Raptors general manager Rob Babcock set off a firestorm of controversy by predicting that his club may win fewer games this year.

Babcock told the Toronto Sun earlier this week that, because the franchise currently is going through a rebuilding phase, chances are they'll win fewer games than last year. The Raptors missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season last year.

Babcock's outspoken comments resulted in a backlash from fans, the media and now the players.

On the Best Damn Sports Show Period, Raptors veteran Jalen Rose was incredulous that his GM would make such a prediction -- although it must be said that Babcock's statement clearly echoed the thoughts of many basketball insiders who believe that, because of the loss of veteran forward Donyell Marshall to free agency, the Raptors will have a very difficult time matching last year's 33-49 mark. Still, there are those who believe that the second-year GM should not have made such a prediction when the franchise is trying to win back support from its wanning fan base.

"I've never been part of a situation like that -- and I'm sure I've never heard anybody in professional sports make a comment so negative that early in the season," Rose said. "Even bad teams have optimism. You don't want to take away the optimism so early in the season. The Bad News Bears coach wouldn't even tell (his team) that."

Second-year forward Matt Bonner, who signed a two-year deal worth about $4 million US over the summer to remain in Toronto, took Babcock's comments in stride.

"I'm keeping the faith," Bonner said yesterday from the IMG training centre in Florida. "Maybe the experts look at us on paper and see (the inexperience). But I don't think a youth movement is any excuse to write us off.

"If you put it all together, any team can have a surprise season and make the playoffs. That happens pretty much every year. And I think we can make the playoffs."

Bonner added that he wouldn't have signed with the Raptors if he didn't believe that Babcock had the franchise heading in the right direction.

"If you ask me, I believe we should go 82-0 this season," Bonner said with just a hint of laughter. "I'm a competitor. I would like to go 82-0. Realistically that probably won't happen, but last year there wasn't one game that I didn't think we could win heading into the game, and that's not going to change this year."

I wanna see how Babcock replies to these guys. Good job by Rose. I would be saying the same thing aswell

Bobcats added a veteran..I dunno if he can still contribute..The guy is getting weaker and weaker.

"The Bad News Bears coach wouldn't even tell (his team) that."

maybe they should follow Blue Chips and give a few college players under the table payments to sign for the team as FA's.

Bobcats added a veteran..I dunno if he can still contribute..The guy is getting weaker and weaker.

What the hell are you talking about

I think he misread "Babcock" as "Bobcats" ... ah, banned users coming back. Always so intelligent.

Some Canadian guy will get Babcock shot. It will happen, trust me.

Sorry I miss read it I thought it was Bobcats

That is NOT cool I mean, this is pretty much the same team from last year except donyell marshall and added 2 rookies. It's not like we stripped the team down or anything. Not even the Nets said anything like that last year when they lost kenyon martin (which is a much bigger loss than donyell marshall to the raptors) and pretty much looked completely miserable until Vince Carter got traded.

I'm more impressed with what Bonner had to say. I'd like to know when Babcock's getting fired. I mean, he did his job, laid out a rebuilding plan, let's just replace him before he screws up again.

That had to be said by somone on that team, the fans are the only ones who really have the right to publicly critisize there team.

if i was toronto owner, i would fucking fire babcock and tell him "go to hell you fucking bitch!!!"

if i was toronto owner, i would fucking fire babcock and tell him "go to hell you fucking bitch!!!"

Damn I forgot the owners name but I know he is as dumb as Babcock. He is the one who choose him over Julius Erving and so on.

He is the one who choose him over Julius Erving and so on.

Honestly. Can anyone one of you damned Erving supporters give me ANY evidence, ANY, that he could have been a good GM. Don't give me any of the "he's a good player so he'll be a good general manager" or "Vince would have stayed" bull crap either. I'm tired of hearing people who wanted Julius Erving instead of Babcock.

C'mon asdf can you truly say that right now you wouldnt rather have Dr.J running the Raps instead of Babcock and his horrible GMing?

He is the one who choose him over Julius Erving and so on.

Honestly. Can anyone one of you damned Erving supporters give me ANY evidence, ANY, that he could have been a good GM. Don't give me any of the "he's a good player so he'll be a good general manager" or "Vince would have stayed" bull crap either. I'm tired of hearing people who wanted Julius Erving instead of Babcock.

Hey man. If he stayed Vince would of been happy and players would come to play for the Raptors at least. I wouldn't mind having him as our GM too.

Wasn't really a "shot"...

Sorry I miss read it I thought it was Bobcats

Did you even read the article? cause its kind of hard to mistake a whole team for a GM.. I went back through the article and replaced babcock with bobcats and it made nooooo sense at all... the intellegence of this board is overwhelming

Honestly. Can anyone one of you damned Erving supporters give me ANY evidence, ANY, that he could have been a good GM. Don't give me any of the "he's a good player so he'll be a good general manager" or "Vince would have stayed" bull crap either. I'm tired of hearing people who wanted Julius Erving instead of Babcock.

I just want to know, is there any evidence that he was going to be a bad GM?? Maybe worse than Babcock?

Erving has had absolutely no experience in the General Management department, so that's just as big as taking a risk as taking Rob Babcock, who by the way has 17 years of management experience. C'mon. 17 years and a guy who doesn't even have experience. It's just like hiring anyone else in a job, would you take the experienced guy who knows what he's doing (or at least he seemed like that before we signed him), or the guy who doesn't even know crap about the profession?

Babcock had 17 years of managment experience?? In which teams??

Erving has had absolutely no experience in the General Management department, so that's just as big as taking a risk as taking Rob Babcock, who by the way has 17 years of management experience. C'mon. 17 years and a guy who doesn't even have experience. It's just like hiring anyone else in a job, would you take the experienced guy who knows what he's doing (or at least he seemed like that before we signed him), or the guy who doesn't even know crap about the profession?

We took a risk on Isiah Thomas.

Fuck Rose, he's the shittiest player we got.. honestly.. why do we keep the left handed homo?

We took a risk on Isiah Thomas.

Yeah, but we were still an expansion team, and you're not really expected to win right away at the start, so any risks were more accepted for their potential benefits. And I don't know why you suddenly decided to include that, because when you choose a GM, a coach, or anyone for that matter, there's always a chance that the guy might flop. I was just saying that with Babcock there was less of a risk because of the fact that Dr. J was a bigger question mark.

Fuck Rose, he's the shittiest player we got.. honestly.. why do we keep the left handed homo?

We'll give you Carlos Arroyo and Ronald Dupree for him.

Ronald Dupree? Hell yeah, I'm in!