Division Titles - Leafs vs Raptors

photoWILD · Post #1 » by **photoWILD** » Sun Apr 8, 2007 11:32 pm

I was astounded when I read this:

"The Raptors own as many division titles (one) in their 11 seasons as the Leafs have won in the past 43 years. The Maple Leafs' most recent division title came in 1999-2000 when they went on to lose in the conference sem-finals. For their previous division title before that, one has to go back to 1962-63, one of their four Stanley Cup years in the 1960s."

Now I remember the reason why I stopped being a Leaf Die-Hard - it is an absolutely futile endeavour! We never have the players to make a great team to consistently contend for the playoffs or the Stanley Cup.

Seriously, it's time to bring in the heavy guns and get a guy who knows hockey like Brian Colangelo knows basketball. Who cares what it takes, money should not be an issue. If guys like Ken Holland, Lou Lamoriello, Pierre Lacroix or Brian Burke become available, the Leafs should do whatever they can to acquire their services.

Ultimately, the Leafs need a GM who knows what the hell he is doing from top to bottom to create a winning atmosphere within the organization. Obviously, player changes are going to be needed and we need someone who has an unbelievable ability to judge talent.

When (hopefully) the Leafs FINALLY get someone to properly run the organization, who makes some impressive moves to improve the club, I may get back on board and start watching some Leafs games to my girlfriend's dismay!

But when will this time come? Will the Leafs keep JFJ, or will they finally realize that he has taken this team nowhere in the years he has been running things and fire his ass.

Me, I hope he get's fired! The sooner the better!

Go RAPTORS!

trevc3 · Post #2 » by **trevc3** » Sun Apr 8, 2007 11:36 pm

It's not at all a fair comparison.

Raptors play in a division with 4 other AWFUL teams.

Leafs play in a divison with 2 of the top teams in the league, and 1 other one that by all accounts should have made the playoffs.

You just can't compare hockey to basketball. You can't compare the Leafs to the Raptors.

photoWILD · Post #3 » by **photoWILD** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 12:22 am

It's not at all a fair comparison.

Raptors play in a division with 4 other AWFUL teams.

Leafs play in a divison with 2 of the top teams in the league, and 1 other one that by all accounts should have made the playoffs.

You just can't compare hockey to basketball. You can't compare the Leafs to the Raptors.

Comparisons aside, the Raptors have shown what can happen when a team overhauls its management, its roster and comes up with sometihing positive.

But, have any of those teams that the Raptors are competing against in their division won an Eastern Conference Championship or an NBA Title since 1943 when the Leafs last won a Divisional Title.

I think they have!

The Leafs have won nothing! And every year I get a little more bitter...soo soo many years...

:cry:

Post #4 » by **UTMCretin** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 12:39 am

A new low for Leaf ineptitude

AOC · Post #5 » by **AOC** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 12:59 am

trevc3 wrote:It's not at all a fair comparison.

Raptors play in a division with 4 other AWFUL teams.

Leafs play in a divison with 2 of the top teams in the league, and 1 other one that by all accounts should have made the playoffs.

You just can't compare hockey to basketball. You can't compare the Leafs to the Raptors.

Yeah, but you're only talking about this year or last year. What about all of the other years, where the Leafs could outspend any team in the league?

NeverGoingToWin · Post #6 » by **NeverGoingToWin** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 1:01 am

It is bad enough having to read all the Leafs Hate on the raptors board that I do not need to see it on this board as well.

Post #7 » by **Crowned** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 1:31 am

AirCanada_1515 wrote:It is bad enough having to read all the Leafs Hate on the raptors board that I do not need to see it on this board as well.

That's being taken care of, don't worry about it.

Hustle&Flow · Post #8 » by **Hustle&Flow** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 1:46 am

trevc3 wrote:It's not at all a fair comparison.

Raptors play in a division with 4 other AWFUL teams.

Leafs play in a divison with 2 of the top teams in the league, and 1 other one that by all accounts should have made the playoffs.

You just can't compare hockey to basketball. You can't compare the Leafs to the Raptors.

I think its a fair comparisons. You need to stop supporting the woeful Leafs like the Raptor fans stopped supporting the woeful Raptors. Only then you will see improvements.

trevc3 · Post #9 » by **trevc3** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 4:16 am

Let's face it..there is no way the entire fan base is going to stop supporting them, so I might as well keep on going.

It's not my style to stop supporting my teams. I've been a Raps fan since 1995, and haven't once stop supporting them. Been a Leafs and Jays fan ever since I can remember and never stopped supporting either one of them either.

kelso · Post #10 » by **kelso** » Mon Apr 9, 2007 10:22 pm

trevc3 wrote:It's not at all a fair comparison.

Raptors play in a division with 4 other AWFUL teams.

Leafs play in a divison with 2 of the top teams in the league, and 1 other one that by all accounts should have made the playoffs.

You just can't compare hockey to basketball. You can't compare the Leafs to the Raptors.

A team from the Atlantic division represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA championships in 4 of the last 8 years (NJ x2, PHI x1, NYK x 1) where as the Leafs division (since they got moved to the Eastern conference) has only done it once in he same period of time (BUF x 1).

As mentioned previously, the Leafs had all but two of those seasons to operate in without a salary cap (as the most profitable franchise in the league as well) with no challenges in attracting free agents and they could have any coach/GM in the league they wanted. the Raptors have had a salary cap, draft restrictions, challenges attracting and retaining players/coaches/managers, etc.