Stephen Brotherston

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Brothersteve is Moving To Hoopsworld.com

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 17, 2010, 3:51 pm
Sorry for the lack of new stories recently, the articles you used to find here are now at HOOPSWORLD.com. The first post Does Bryan Colangelo Have A Plan?is up. And you can find all my Hoopsworld articles  here. Thank you to everyone who has supported Brothersteve’s Raptors.  This opportunity...
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Should The Toronto Raptors Pursue Emeka Okafor

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 12, 2010, 2:59 pm
ESPN has dredged up the obvious and long-standing rumor that the New Orleans Hornets would like to get out from under the contracts of Emeka Okafor, James Posey, and/or Peja Stojalovic. And as New Orleans is a small market team that will be in the luxury tax again next season, it probably wasn̵...
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Sacramento Kings' Andres Nocioni For The Toronto Raptors Hedo Turkoglu?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 10, 2010, 3:34 pm
Nothing like some European reporting to stir up trade rumors just when most General Managers and players in North America are cautiously side-stepping questions in fear of invoking David Stern’s wrath. Andres Nocioni has two years left on his contract in Sacramento for about $13.5 million an...
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Toronto Raptors 2010 Draft Options

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 9, 2010, 8:45 pm
Many Toronto fans are hoping the Raptors are planning to either move up in the 2010 NBA Draft or at least acquire another pick.  Either or both are possible.  It’s even possible the Raptors trade out of the draft altogether. But as it stands now, the Raptors are picking thirteenth overall a...
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Toronto Raptors Can Be A Playoff Team Again Next Season: The Two Obvious Moves

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 8, 2010, 5:02 pm
Many fans and GMs are willing to sacrifice it all for a slim chance to be an NBA Finals team.  But the reality is, unless you are willing to spend will over $10 million in luxury tax dollars, it is not going to happen under this CBA.  And there is a good chance it won’t happen under the next...
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Toronto Raptors Most Maligned Players: Deserving Or Not?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 7, 2010, 2:16 am
When assessing the talents of a number of current Toronto Raptors, one might be led by the comments from disgruntled writers into thinking that the Raptors were made up of a bunch of losers and hacks. But as these are often the musings of the close followers of a team that missed the playoffs on th...
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Bryan Colangelo's Raptors: What Is There To Work With Anyway?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 4, 2010, 3:51 pm
In June, when NBA teams start evaluating draft picks and trying to determine what their team needs are, there is another not so subtle analysis going on. What assets and skills does the team have and what is it missing? And a large part of that analysis revolves around who will be on the team next...
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Are The Toronto Raptors Looking For Another Draft Pick?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Jun 2, 2010, 11:54 am
As the Toronto Raptors begin working out prospects for this year’s draft, one can’t help but wonder if Bryan Colangelo is angling to get another pick.  Not that the Raptors’ GM hasn’t been accused of trying this in the past.  And acquiring additional draft picks is never a ...
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NBA Finals: Where Massive Payrolls Happen

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 31, 2010, 12:08 am
The utter disappointment of watching two teams that have purchased their way into the NBA Finals yet again is just beginning to sink in.  A Magic-Suns Finals would have at least provided some variety. The LA Lakers rode their league leading $91 million payroll to first place in the West and the We...
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Toronto Raptors Bryan Colangelo: Rebuilding or Reloading?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 28, 2010, 3:05 pm
As the NBA playoffs move inevitably towards the Finals, the hopes and concerns of players, fans, and media have begun to dominate every NBA city.  Except of course in Boston, Orlando, LA, and Phoenix where those lucky fans still get to talk about this season! Except for Steve Nash saying that Chri...
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A Cavalier Solution: Targeting Chris Bosh?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 25, 2010, 3:21 pm
On the long May 24 weekend in Canada, I got the chance to discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers, the future of LeBron James, and the despair that the comes from watching a first-place team make an early exit from the playoffs with some hard-core fans visiting from Cleveland. And as Cavalier fans feel LeB...
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NBA Playoffs: No Country For Young Men

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 24, 2010, 8:09 pm
As the excitement of the NBA draft approaches, it is time to look closely at what really matters and remember that the NBA playoffs are not a place young teams do well. A young group of star athletes may look good in round one, but it is the veteran teams that most often survive round two and thriv...
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Raptors Lottery Hopes Stall at Pick 13

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 19, 2010, 4:37 pm
With only the slimmest of hope, the Toronto Raptors entered the NBA draft lottery looking to improve upon their thirteenth selection in 36 days from now. But as expected, none of the late lottery hopefuls changed position and that is how the draft lottery should work most times. So the Raptors are...
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Orlando Magic Should Pursue Chris Bosh

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 19, 2010, 1:36 am
In the summer of big free agent possibilities, it is often forgotten that not just teams with salary cap space can be contenders for the best free agents available. Free Agents in the midst of their NBA careers who can command maximum contracts have little reason to join another team’s decima...
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The NBA Season Ends Painfully For James, Wade, Bosh, and Johnson

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 15, 2010, 12:25 pm
It’s official, the top four free agent candidates for the summer of 2010 are all unhappy.  Each player’s team failed to live up to reasonable expectations and bowed out of the playoff picture in disgrace. The only big free agent possibility still in the playoffs is the one not expected...
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Maurizio Gherardini Says Changes Are Coming To the Toronto Raptors

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 12, 2010, 9:09 pm
In what hardly qualifies as news, the Toronto Raptors will be adding some new players next season.  At least the Raptors management are not avoiding the obvious. Toronto Raptors Vice President, Maurizio Gherardini, released a brief interview to Sportando, before the Euroleague Final between Regal...
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Toronto Raptors Hedo Turkoglu: A Bad Season Does Not Equal A Bad Player

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 10, 2010, 2:51 pm
Do you throw a potential team leader and former NBA finals starter out with the bath water after a single washed-out season? Do you give up on a 30-year-old near-star player because he showed up to camp out-of-shape, faced serious family medical issues during the season, broke his orbital bone and ...
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Toronto Raptors Off-Season Decisions: The Case For Sonny Weems

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 7, 2010, 12:44 pm
In what should be the easiest off-season decision that Bryan Colangelo has to make, the Toronto Raptors hold a $854,000 team option for Sonny Weems services next year. The former college slam-dunk champion has shown that he deserves a spot on a NBA team.  Weems is one potential free agent who will...
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Raptors Fans Have Been Telling Chris Bosh What To Do

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 6, 2010, 3:12 pm
Chris Bosh’s self-created Twittergate has made quite the stir amongst Raptors fans. Inferring that he doesn’t know what to do and asking his 100,000 twitter followers to give 140 character answers to the Raptors biggest off-season question ever has created more buzz than just about ...
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Toronto Raptors Off-Season Decisions: The Case For Amir Johnson

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 4, 2010, 4:28 pm
After resolving the Chris Bosh situation, Bryan Colangelo’s off-season work may have just begun. Leaving aside the numerous trade scenarios that must be under consideration, the Toronto Raptors have five free agents to make decisions about.  And only Sonny Weems is under the team’s con...
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Chris Bosh Doesn't Know What To Do? Tell Him!

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - May 2, 2010, 11:28 am
On April 30, Chris Bosh posted a couple of questions to his twitter account for his more than 100,000 followers to consider: http://twitter.com/chrisbosh “Been wanting to ask. Where should I go next season and why?” “Ok… Let me rephrase the question. Should I stay or sho...
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Toronto Raptors Have What Dwyane Wade Wants

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 29, 2010, 3:14 pm
There are two major stars on two different teams and each has what the other wants.  Each other! There was no mistaking what Dwyane Wade was saying after being rolled over by the Celtics in this year’s playoffs.  That was the last time the he would be on a team that doesn’t go deep in...
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LeBron James Admits The Cavaliers Picked Their First Round Opponent

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 28, 2010, 4:51 pm
In a statement that should rankle all Toronto Raptors players and fans alike, LeBron James admitted it was Chicago who they wanted to face in the first round. The mystery of why Cleveland was playing their starters in a meaningless game against Toronto after they had secured first place overall and...
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What If Chris Bosh Walks: A Raptors Disaster Recovery Plan

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 28, 2010, 12:28 pm
What if the unthinkable happens this summer and Chris Bosh walks away from the Toronto Raptors for nothing? No sign and trade deal, no talent coming back, not even a trade exception to work with. It could happen. As unlikely as it is that Chris Bosh walks away from over $30 million in guaranteed ...
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A Jurassic Spark: 10 Players Who Can Help the Raptors Forget About Chris Bosh

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 25, 2010, 4:06 pm
It seems like no one in the Raptors organization really wants Chris Bosh to depart for greener pastures this summer and it also seems like Chris Bosh loves Toronto, the fans, and the Raptors organization. But it also seems inevitable that Bosh will be gone by the time next season starts and that Ch...
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Toronto Raptors Not Planning To Spend Big In 2010-11

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 22, 2010, 10:42 am
In Bryan Colangelo’s end-of-season address to the media and indirectly to the fans he said something most of us were not used to hearing.  The Toronto Raptors had two scenarios for next season in which they would spend $3 million and $7 million over the luxury tax cap. Now for a team that ha...
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Has Chris Bosh Already Left The Toronto Raptors?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 19, 2010, 11:25 am
Anyone who watched Chris Bosh in his end-of-season interview at the ACC media center had to come away somewhat discouraged by what they heard. Raptors Video Player, April 14, 2010.  Chris Bosh presser in 3 segments. What Chris Bosh did not say was he is leaving the Raptors. What Chris Bosh did s...
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Hedo Turkoglu's MDG Moment, Nothing To Hide in 2009-10

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 18, 2010, 11:22 am
Just like the popular MDG commercial where MDG comes in a clear bottle and has nothing to hide, Hedo Turkoglu arrived in Toronto to start the 2009-10 season and stepped into the role of “Gary” who calls in to work tired. Just in case you missed the infamous MDG commercial.  MDG announc...
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Raptors Wrap-up

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 16, 2010, 4:58 pm
What’s ugly on both sides and good in the middle? The Toronto Raptors 2009-10 basketball season. A slow start that only got worse was turned into a strong charge that looked like a rookie hitting the wall after the All-Star break.  The Raptors season in a flash looked like this: Games Reco...
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Raptors Game 82: We Want More CB4?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 15, 2010, 1:33 am
Fans walking into the final game of the 2009-10 season at the ACC were handed signs to hold during the game. The front said, “We Want More” The back said, “CB4″ But most of the fans were not thinking about CB4. They were thinking about the Raptors chances of getting into ...
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Toronto Raptors Last Hope: Are The Bulls Spent?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 14, 2010, 12:14 am
No one can accuse the Chicago Bulls of leaving anything on the table in their next to last game of the season.  There was no holding back. And in the month of April, the Bulls best players have dragged their team back from the brink of playoff elimination to be just one win away from the eighth an...
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Toronto Raptors Speedster Sonny Weems Is Stepping Up

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 13, 2010, 12:58 pm
But for 55 minutes of play last year in Denver, Sonny Weems would be the Raptors best rookie wing player in recent memory.  And Weems play of late should have him labeled as one the NBA’s up and coming young players. Weems came into this season as an unknown former college senior “proj...
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Toronto Raptors Still Going For Eighth In Game 82

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 12, 2010, 11:43 pm
Whoever said all they wanted was to be playing meaningful games in April must have been stark raving mad!  Every game in April has been meaningful for the Raptors and it is driving their fans crazy. The Toronto Raptors have been playing meaningful games all month and have yet to win one on their h...
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The Toronto Raptors Season Isn't Over – Yet!

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 12, 2010, 6:53 pm
At least there is only two games to go. The Toronto Raptors had their chance to put the Chicago Bulls out of their misery at the ACC on Sunday night but apparently most of them decided it would be just too much effort. Well not everyone thought it was too much effort. Hedo Turkoglu had his best g...
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Sunday Showdown: Raptors – Bulls, Someone Want Eighth?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 10, 2010, 9:18 pm
Talk about backing into the playoffs. Two teams supposedly battling for the last playoff spot in the East.  Will one team please step up and take it! Since the All-Star break, neither team has done anything to suggest that actually making the playoffs is important to them.  Equally there is noth...
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What is Up With the Raptors Matt Devlin?

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 7, 2010, 12:16 pm
When Matt Devlin came to the Raptors, Raptors fans had reason to be excited. While Chuck had been a very popular broadcaster and was a first class representative for the Raptors organization. Matt Devlin came with NBA broadcasting experience that gave Raptors fans confidence they were in good hands...
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Toronto Raptors Lose Game, Chris Bosh, And Maybe The Season

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 7, 2010, 12:43 am
In the first quarter of the 113-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chris Bosh went down after an inadvertent elbow to the face.  With blood streaming to the floor, the best the Raptors could hope for was a severe cut inside the All-Star’s mouth. But before the half, the broadcast crew had ...
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LeBron James and The Cavs Can Pick Their Playoff Opponent

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 6, 2010, 1:24 pm
LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched first overall in the NBA this season with two weeks to go before the playoffs start.  And such success comes with perks. As reported at Cleveland.com,  the Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown says,” It’s a luxury to be able to re...
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Bucks, Bobcats, Raptors, Bulls: The Race For Eighth Isn't Over!

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 5, 2010, 1:32 pm
When Derrick Rose said the Bulls were going to make the playoffs, there seemed to be a disconnect with reality.  But last few days may have changed everything. The unlikely has happened to everyone involved.  The fight for eighth in the East could go down to the final day of the season. Milwauke...
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Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan vs. Sonny Weems

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 2, 2010, 3:45 pm
Almost from the moment DeMar DeRozan was drafted ninth overall in 2009, the rookie was a virtual lock to be the Toronto Raptors starting shooting guard. And almost to the moment Sonny Weems was drafted ninth in the second round of the 2008 draft by the Chicago Bulls, Weems was traded to the Denver ...
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Raptors Roll Over Clippers On Bosh's Monster Game

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Apr 1, 2010, 12:35 am
On the back of Chris Bosh’s 34 points, 11 boards, and 3 blocked shots; the Toronto Raptors blew out the 27-48 Los Angeles Clippers by a score of 114-92. Normally, one doesn’t get excited by the expected demolishment of the hapless Clippers on your own team’s home floor.  But toni...
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Toronto Raptors Have a Magic Number!

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 31, 2010, 11:26 am
Morning of March 31, 2010, Toronto Raptors magic number is 7. On the last day of March with less than 10 games remaining the Toronto Raptors are seeded in this year’s playoff race.  May all the whiners and naysayers please take a seat. Forgotten is last year’s abysmal season.  A dist...
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NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Race For Eighth Heats Up

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 30, 2010, 1:22 pm
The final two weeks of the NBA season are upon us and there are some great battles for playoff position still to be held. In the West, the Lakers have a nearly insurmountable lead for first and Memphis has fallen too far off the pace to reach eighth.  But only four losses separate the second place...
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Chris Bosh and the Raptors: Shades of Last Season

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 29, 2010, 1:13 pm
When Chris Bosh isn’t 100%, like in after a return from injury, he seems to lose his ability to impose his will on the other team.  (Not really a surprise.) This shows in a decline in blocks, steals, boards, and to a lesser extent scoring.  (Like now.) In the last 2 games, the Raptors have...
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Toronto Raptors Player Updates with 11 Games Left

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 27, 2010, 7:50 pm
Since Bosh was injured in the game after the All-Star break, the Toronto Raptors have struggled.  A 6-13 mark that includes just one win against a playoff bound team. “The once powerful Raptor offense has all but vanished and the oft maligned Raptors defense has been trying to set new lows...
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Toronto Raptors Show Show Grit Against Nuggets

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 27, 2010, 1:28 pm
After a couple of really poor efforts at home, the Toronto Raptors came to life against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. But in the end, it wasn’t enough as Toronto fell 97-96 on a buzzer beater by Carmelo Anthony after a mad scramble for the ball. The game was notable for several reasons...
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Toronto Raptors After 70 Games: 500 Again

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 25, 2010, 4:01 pm
At the 70 game mark of the Raptors season, the local fans are getting restless. Boos can now be heard raining down in the ACC even when the Raptors merely fail to get off to good start in a game. The once powerful Raptor offense has all but vanished and the oft maligned Raptors defense has been try...
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Toronto Raptors Getting No Respect

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 24, 2010, 2:55 pm
Chris Bosh gets injured and the Toronto Raptors impressive run comes to an end.  Chris Bosh returns, possibly too early, and is wildly inconsistent in his play. “If the Nets game is excluded, Bosh has averaged just 19.4 points on 43.8 percent shooting since his return.” Source: Bosh...
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The Week That Decides Eighth In The NBA East

Stephen Brotherston posted an article on - Mar 23, 2010, 12:54 pm
Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Bobcats, and Chicago Bulls playoff fates are likely to be determined by the end of March.  One week of important games that will set the tone for playoff seeding and which franchise will be without a chair when the music stops on April 14. The Milwaukee Bucks...
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About Me

Stephen Brotherston is another frustrated long time Toronto Maple Leafs fan, who started going to Raptor games in the “Skydome” and has been a Raptors season ticket holder for several seasons now. (In the best value seats found behind the basket across from the Raptors bench)

The game is different in person than it is on TV or from reading a box score, and it’s a lot more fun to watch!

Also very interested in Canadian politics and “green” issues (and the lack of attention they get at the federal level). Former executive of the Progressive Conservative Youth in Hamilton West, now the candidate for the Green Party on Hamilton Mountain.

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