Chapter 1206: Chapter 382: Madness Before the Trade Deadline
Because they’ve already confirmed that with the current lineup, it’s hard to compete with the Warriors.
Since that’s the case, there’s no need to continue testing the lineup.
Completing trades earlier gives more time to adjust before the playoffs.
Just like that, by January of this season, trade rumors are flying all over the place.
Roger’s Golden State Warriors are one of the few teams not affected, as their roster was already finalized with the last upgrades in November, with only a steady progression remaining.
After the Christmas game, the Warriors’ rotation for this season was basically fully determined.
Boris Diaw won’t be starting because in regular season games, his role is still not as significant as Jason Richardson’s.
Jason Richardson’s offensive firepower is something the Frenchman doesn’t have, and his ability to guard the second position is also stronger.
Replace Tayshaun Prince? That’s even more impossible because Tayshaun Prince is the greatest guarantee of the Warriors’ wing defense.
But Diaw can still enter the main rotation and showcase his talents, and in cases where two ball handlers are needed, Spoelstra increases Boris Diaw’s role.
In fact, this is also why in the original timeline, Boris Diaw’s regular season stats were mediocre.
Because he doesn’t have the chance to perform in every game.
But in some playoff rounds where he’s needed to play an important role, his stats are impeccable.
In the 2006 playoffs, in the first round, the Suns crushed the Los Angeles Lakers, and because Stoudemire was out for the season, Diaw was heavily used, averaging 18+6+6 in the series. In the second round against the Clippers, he averaged 14+6+6.
In the 2014 West finals, when the Spurs played the Thunder, and Popovich needed to increase offense by utilizing Diaw, the 32-year-old still managed 13+5+3 in a single round.
Boris Diaw can usually blend into the system, but if you assign him a bigger role, he can handle it.
And most importantly, he won’t become upset because of fluctuations in his role.
When he’s not needed, he’ll sip coffee, enjoy wine, and take his camera to roam the streets of San Francisco, acting as a photographer.
When he is needed, he goes all in, because he loves basketball after all.
He’s like an understanding KTV hostess, not disturbing your life, only giving all her love and passion when you need it.
Just like that, by mid-January, the Warriors had surpassed the Los Angeles Lakers, reclaiming the top seat in the West.
On January 15th, in the 38th game of the season, the Warriors visited Toronto to challenge Vince Carter’s Raptors.
Though it was said to be led by Carter, in actuality, tensions between the Raptors and Carter had reached the boiling point.
All grudges began in 2003; back then, the Raptors aimed to rebuild and started by handling the coach and GM. Carter watched his confidants and mentors leave the team in anger, but Raptors chairman Richard Peddie reassured him: Don’t worry, our flyer, we will trade for Canada’s son, Steve Nash, and have your idol Dr. J as the GM. Everything will get better!
In reality, this turned out to be nothing but an empty promise.
Last summer, Steve Nash didn’t reject playing in Canada, but the Raptors’ offer was far lower than what the Lakers proposed, lacking the sincerity expected, so Nash chose to renew with the Lakers.
As for Dr. J, he never even received an invitation from the Toronto Raptors.
And the new GM, the brother of former Hawks GM Pete Babcock, Rob Babcock, was focused solely on elevating Chris Bosh. He even revoked the dedicated parking space Carter’s mother had at the home arena and laid off Carter’s personal therapist.
Everything Rob Babcock did was sending a message to Vince Carter: "You better know your place."
With such actions from the Raptors, Carter began to lose motivation this season.
In the games he played for the Raptors, he averaged only 15.9 points. It was evident to everyone that it wasn’t a decline in ability but an unwillingness to play.
Carter didn’t hide this, openly telling reporters: "Toronto’s actions made me lose heart, so I didn’t give my all."
This was another example of Vince Carter being inept at dealing with the media; he thought this explanation would garner sympathy, but instead, it only labeled him as having "no professional attitude."
And tonight, in the game against the Warriors, Vince Carter’s professional attitude hit rock bottom.
After a timeout in the third quarter, Carter went on the court and told Roger: "We’ll bet on Jason Richardson’s shooting to trap you next; just pass the ball to him."
"Vince, why are you giving up on yourself?" Roger really couldn’t understand Vince Carter’s actions; the gap between him and a few others was widening for a reason.
"Giving up on myself? Don’t lecture me condescendingly; you haven’t experienced betrayal from a team."
"I don’t want to rehash old scores, but the Chicago Bulls betrayed me, the Atlanta Hawks betrayed me, and the Orlando Magic betrayed me too."
"There’s nothing to say between us; you’re the winner, so whatever you say makes sense!"
Needless to say, such a Raptors team stood no chance.