Kenny Smith's videos-interesting comments re Raps

[whoknows]

Reality check!
- watch the second video (most feared NBA team) to see how Raptors are seen by the NBA analysts & in general by NBA players

Hope now some of you better understand why it is still hard for TO (even with BC running it) to attract most top NBA players and why we have to overpay regular players.
It is the lack of exposure a player would get when playing in TO.

The interviewer even asks:
"how much more do we have to pay you to watch Toronto?"

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/video/Y! ... %20-%20NBA

Couple of interesting comments never the less...

Also, the first video (Slam Dunk Preview) is interesting. Kenny picks Rudy Gay in the dunk competition...


edit: sorry, I don't know how to add a short link that works...

[thebossman]

when postin just the plain url like www.realgm.com dont put the URL tags on

also when posting.. if you hover over URL with your mouse it shows you how you can post a url fancy style.

[CrookedJ]

Boooo Kenny "The Jet" Smith . . . **** loser . . .admits that he can't even bother to watch the Raps.

OT . . .does anyone recall him actually being called "The Jet" when he played? I watched his whole career and think this nickname started after he was on TV.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

I think the city of Toronto has embraced the Raptors. I live in California and don't hear anything on ESPN or TNT about them. But I think Toronto is recognizing the Raptors as a team to watch. I mean the Raps are recording sell-outs almost every single home game. Look at RealGM...it has a huge Raptors fan base.

[raptorsfan1985]

Uh isnt Kenny president or commissioner of the new basketball league that has Toronto as an expansion team? Outside of TSN I honestly think the Raptors do get significant media coverage IN TORONTO. Obviously not as much as the Leafs but its like that in other cities. NY has the Yankees, Boston has the Red Sox. The only city I can think of where NBA comes first is LA.

[chunkybwoy_53]

Although there is a ring of truth about Kenny's analysis of how Toronto as a city and the Raptors as a team are perceived by other cities in the league. his take on the Raptors following in Toronto however is completely off base...Kenny you're wrong although you may have been right about Charlie V after all.

[some_rand]

lol at the showing clips of JOSH howard

[HiJiNX]

Would anybody care about San Antonio if they weren't good? When we're worthy of the acclaim, we will get it.

[TdotFTW]

BOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo

[ARaptor4Life]

Ok, Kenny says that he doesnt watch Toronto at all... and then he wants to comment on how the city has embraced the team??

Are you kidding me? How hypocritical can one person be.... has he seen how the crowds can be, that the building was 3/4 full during our bad years and constant sell outs throughout the year....

its amazing what these bastards will say when you put a mic in their face... really though, i shouldve expected it, kenny has never been much of an educated man nor any type of respected expert..

[Magic All The Way]

He only answered cause he was asked the question. IMO, since he already said he doesn't watch us that much, anything he said about us shouldn't be taken that seriously. What's interesting is the fact that they don't hear about us much.

[James699]

I hate to say this, but he brings up a valid point. The only way ppl in America watch the Raptors was when they had all American players and Vince Carter. They were getting so much attention back then. But it has slowly died. The reason we are unexciting is because of the amount of European players we have. Another reason is because our players are very quiet guys and do not disturb other players (trash talk). Be honest, how many guys living in America would watch the Raptors when they have guys on the team from Europe that they never heard of? How many times has Bargnani or Calderon on been on the Slam magazine cover? How many times have pppl bought a Bargnani jersey living in United States = 0. I guarantee you, if we had all American players on our team, and a young superstar like Kevin Durant , we would be getting a lot of attention.

"I dont think I hurt the team, the league hurt the team by putting it in Canada" - Charles Oakley.

[punjabi_newfie]

Its very difficult to disagree with what Kenny said.

He is just stating the facts. He isn't refusing to watch Raptor games, he doesn't watch them because he (and the general fan) doesn't have an outlet to do so. You cannot watch a Raptors game unless you have the NBA package. The one or two nationally televised games is not enough for Joe Blow American to fall in love with a Bosh, TJ or Calderon.

Secondly, as some posters have been saying, the Raptors do lack that "star" quality that is present in other small market teams. I personally don't see the Raptors in any different position then the likes of Minny, Portland, Seattle, San Antonio, Memphis, etc. These are all small NBA markets. The only reason that these teams get any positive attention is for one of two reasons:

1) The team is very very good.

2) A player on the team is exciting, and "highlight" worthy.

The fact is, the current Raptors don't fit either of those qualities.

In due time tho, the ever improving team will fall into the first category, and ESPN, FoxSports and such will be forced to provide more coverage for our team.

[Vlade Divac]

Everything is clear when you look at our local TV ratings.

Junior Curling Championship 319.000
Raptors game 210.000

[alysomji]

There's a lot of people watching the Raps online outside of Canada. Honestly, if you have a good internet connection, there's little you can't find out / watch with respect to the Raps (providing you know what websites to go to).

[bling_singh]

Deja Vu. Kenny Smith talking about Canada reminded me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

Such an idiot but truer words had never been spoken. Damn near prophetic.

[gcsw]

Considering Toronto is the largest city after NY, LA and Chi in North America, Kenny is absolutely right. Basically no one cares about the Raps here. It is a shame that Canadians find junior curling more interesting than basketball.

[Darrick Martin]

We need to consistently win and become a contender in order to get some noise.

Sure as hell, if I was living in the US, I could give a rats ass about the Raptors and I am sure most of you would be the same.

[Rod_Strickland]

Everything is clear when you look at our local TV ratings.

Junior Curling Championship 319.000
Raptors game 210.000

haha, sad if this is true.

[Vlade Divac]

-= original quote snipped =-



haha, sad if this is true.

of course it is true, check toronto star from monday