Who is the Worst Winter Sports Team in Toronto?

Ordinarily, I would pick the Maple Leafs hands down and not think twice.

(FYI, I am not impressed by the Leafs’ current mini streak where they’ve garnered five of a possible six points in their last three games. They are still 29th in a 30 team league. Plus, in typical fashion, the Toronto sports media can’t get back on the bandwagon quick enough, evidenced by the Toronto Stars’ ridiculous ‘The Road to Redemption?’ headline in this morning’s sports section. Thanks for proving your stupidity, guys!)

However, I watched the Toronto Raptors play the Bobcats last night and a new contender has emerged for the title of worst team in Toronto (a 35 point loss tends to put you in the running). Ok, well I didn’t so much watch the game as I checked out two minutes of highlights this morning, but I have such an attuned sports eye that I can disseminate the fortunes of a team in one highlight package.

We’ve been told all year how great the Raptor’s offence is. That’s great to hear and makes for exciting basketball to watch (I’m told), but let us not forget that there are two ends in a basketball court.

The Raptor’s defence is TERRIBLE. In 120 seconds of highlights, every defensive possession had at least four Toronto players standing around, not moving their feet, and not within an arm’s reach of an opposing player.

I’m not a basketball genius, but I believe it’s prudent to maybe put your hand in someone’s face when they’re trying to shoot or, oh I don’t know, block their path to the basket. Apparently, such defensive strategy is lost on the Raptors.

Usually, you blame defensive miscues on the coach, but Jay Triano is the only member of the organization with a little grit and sandpaper in him. Have you seen the footage of Triano snapping the dry erase board over his knee during a timeout last week? Fantastic stuff.

To play good defence in the NBA you need blue collar guys not afraid to get their hands dirty and relish opportunities for physical play. You need a certain degree of toughness that can’t be taught—it’s an innate skill burned into your DNA.

Do any of the following players sound like they possess the above: Andrea Bargnani, Marco Bellini, Hedo Turkgolu, Chris Bosh or Amir Johnson?

I don’t see one guy capable of playing with a stubbed toe, let alone a monster in the defensive zone.

The Raptors are soft. They get pushed around on a nightly basis because they have no one on their roster capable of stepping up to opposing tough guys.

The softness starts with the guy responsible for hiring all of these defensive stiffs: general manager Brian Colangelo. He is a European-styled dandy who looks like he should be one of the contestants on Project Runway rather than the GM of an NBA team.

I’ll bet Colangelo falls to pieces if his $600 Italian loafers get a smudge; how are his players supposed to project a rough, tough exterior when they have Liberace as their boss?

The Raptors should get rid of Colangelo and bring back Charles Oakley as an assistant coach. Then Bosh and the boys will get on the job training in truculence.