Time to consider ditching anthems
Hi, Doug. While the league in general is on the forefront of social justice, arguably no other NBA team does as much as the Raptors. And it struck me talking to my daughter and wife, who’s a teacher, that most classes today begin with a land acknowledgement that pays tribute to the Indigenous peoples whose land schools are built on. Do you know if MLSE or the Raptors have considered beginning each home game with an acknowledgement? It’d be an incredibly powerful statement, especially with the activism around anthems played before each game. — Jason I don’t know if they’ve ever considered anything like that and it would be a historic acknowledgement, but I don’t see where it would fit in the pre-game program. I also think they should be considering doing away entirely with the anthems.
I know your feelings on awards, and also understand that they are based on the regular season. Regardless, is it not rather ironic that Masai Ujiri has not been officially acknowledged for what he has done the last two years, but Lawrence Frank wins this year? That team is seriously flawed, and unless there is a miracle next season it will be back to the Clippers of old for many seasons given how many draft picks they have lost.
— Mike K. Regular season or not, they got it dead wrong with executive of the year. If it wasn’t Pat Riley it should have been Sam Presti, and I’m not sure I’d have Frank in my top five. They blew it.
How much weight do you give to a good playoff performance in the upward curve of a young player’s career?—
Paul M A ton. Learning to compete in the playoffs — experiencing the intensity of every game, every quarter — is invaluable. It’s why every team every year that’s on the fringe should do whatever it takes to get into the No. 8 slot. No one ever got any better watching the lottery.
So, LeBron walked off the floor with time still on the Game 3 clock. I know he’s a great basketball player. I know he’s a HOFer, one of the best to ever play the game. But it wasn’t the first time the spoil sport came out in him on the court ... I sure wish he’d stop.
— Stuart It was a rather petulant move, for sure, that didn’t sit well with many people. But all things considered, we’re still pretty lucky as fans of the game to have watched him all these years.